Almost lost my brand new job tonight...

[Joe]

   Well, this lady came in, and she was going through my line. She'd bought one of those bags of cedar that's only big enough for one use, and told me that she usually buys big bags of it, but that the place she buys from is out. I asked what it was for, and she told me for her mice.
  Of course I had to tell her about the problems with it, and she was very open to that, and I'm pretty sure she's gona change to Aspen or Carefresh now.
  Anyway...as I was doing this, there was a supervisor standing right behind me. Telling this lady there's a problem with it was something I felt I had to do, but it meant I was detering a customer from buying one of our products...my supervisor just told me "Don't let it happen again," and walked off. *shew*
  I didn't know we carried that. It'd be no problem if we took it off the shelves...I'm planning on writing a letter to the top people to let them know of the potential health risks it can cause in small animals. Hopefully they'll take it off the shelves.

[emmamay]

i hope your supervisor doesnt think to much of it!
and i hope they do take it off the shelves!
good luck!

[Valerie]

Hey Joe,

I work at a Petco and of course I was unsucessful at getting us not to carry cedar.  However, what I was able to get done was for us to post a sign next to the cedar that says:

Cedar is safe only for use with dogs.

Our cedar sales have plumeted, but our Carefresh sales have risen.

I've never understood why petstores would promote and use cedar or pine.  If you look at it from the store's perspective, Carefresh is more expensive and better for the animals.  So not only are you selling a better product, but you are selling one that cost more.  Higher cost=higher profit.  Logical from all perspective if you ask me.

Valerie

[Joe]

   Well, I work at a grocery store, so I don't see why we sell it in the first place...but I do intend to add into my little letter that Carefresh and Aspen are better, and also more expensive. It's a win-win situation...I don't see why they wouldn't take it. We'll see.

[Deedles]

Just arguing solely from a retail point of view (not that Ive ever worked in retail)...

Say product A (cedar) costs $5 dollars to the consumer.
And say product B (carefresh) costs $10 to the consumer... It might seem logical for everyone that the store should be selling product B, put people fail to look at the other side of the story.

I product A costs $1 wholesale, and product B costs $9 dollars wholesale, than the store would actually be making a profit selling product A. ($4 return on product A, while just $1 return on product B).

This might be the case... then again, I dont know.

Disclaimer: Prices where exagerated to prove a point. And no I DONT support pine OR cedar... I was just trying to make a point. (I know you guys know, but sometimes you gotta clarify things).

-D

[Bonnie]

Joe, dont you work at  a Petsmart? I understand the basic point of view... but Petsmart has that regulation that says cedar is NOT allowed in the cages at the store- well it's like that for a reason, someone at the tops smarted up (for once)-unfortunatly it's still sold.

As a manager myself, I tell people not to buy cedar and pine, and I tell all my associates to tell people, too. I really dont care if the cedar sits there for a year.  

I think you did very very good, no matter what your supervisor told you! Yay Joe! :ratsmile:

[Suebee]

  Well, I work at a grocery store, so I don't see why we sell it in the first place...

I think that answers you question, Bonnie.

[WeeRaffins]

Phew! Glad you've still got your job!  

[Bonnie]

  Well, I work at a grocery store, so I don't see why we sell it in the first place...

I think that answers you question, Bonnie.

Sorry, it was early and I didn't read that part fully. I was still 1/2 asleep. Come to think of it, I still am... I could have sworn it was Joe that was going to work at the Petstore (on the old board) Oh well  :ratsmile:

[Joe]

   I was hoping to end up at my local (good) PetCo, but they enver did get back to me.

  Guess what! Someone came through my line with cedar again. Well, needless to say I infromed them of the problem with it. No supervisors around this thime, though.  

[Bonnie]

So you work at a grocery store that sells shavings? That's so odd... At least you are spreading the word

[Deedles]

Well... perhaps to avoid any complications with your boss in the future, if you see somebody buying cedar or pine... you can try to sell them on the fact that they work great in your sock drawer, or hanging from a closet. *grin*

-Debi

[Chic 2000]

Well, I am glad to see that you are spreading the word about the unhealthyness of pine and cedar shavings.  But maybe you could try to make the responce sound more like an "up-sell" rather than a discouragement.  Now if your store doesn't provide any alternative to buying pine and cedar then try to make the store understand from an economic POV why they should stock aspen and carefresh in your letter.  It's all about the money, rather than the health of critters store owners are concerned about.  Sounds harsh but that's business.  There is no room for emotions in business.

Pine and cedar is cheaper to sell and stock and stuff than Apsen and Carefresh.  And if people are going to purchase the cheaper (non-healthy) stuff over the good stuff, then why sell it?  Instead of discouraging a sale by telling the customer not to buy pine and cedar, upsell the customer.  Get them to buy the more expensive stuff because it deffinatly is better, but customers have to have the choice.  "You could buy that pine/or cedar but you should buy some Aspen or Carefresh because it's a much better choice overall.  It may be a "tad" more pricey but you'll have healthier critters and be happier with aspen/or Carefresh in the long run." Or something like that.  Give's them the choice but also makes them consider buying that more expensive Aspen or Carefresh.  The more that sells, the more profit and encouragement to buy more expensive goods which sounds good to a tight-butt supervisor's ears.  

But on the otherhand, you said your store doesn't stock Aspen or Carefresh.  So, despite what the heart says inside you do have to listen to the $$.  If you tell them to by something somewhere else in a different store then that's bad for business.  And that's what got you in trouble.  It's all about retail, but you should still try to  convince the store to stock the pricier (but better) stuff is all about "Why should we stock it?"  "Will the customer buy it?"  I worked several retail jobs.  They tend to stink, but a job is a job.  Sometimes you have to play the salesman with the customer as long as your store actually stocks the item.  If I was to tell people to buy cookies at Larry's Market (local grocery store) becasue they had a healthier selection for them than the "fat-pill" cookies we sell in our store, I'd be out of a job.