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Booted from PetSmart!

hardballer

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
925
Location
West Coast of Wisconsin
Update 5/17/11 - This misunderstanding has been resolved satisfactorily. PetSmart Called me and apologized. They say OC is A-OK in accordance with State Laws. I encourage all of my friends and patriots to thank PetSmart and patronize their store in the future. Thank you to all of you, my fine friends from sea to shining sea and to PetSmart for their quick action to resolve this misunderstanding.

Hardballer out!

Was shopping at PetSmart Thursday evening with my wife. Spent just about an hour in the store, Looked at the birds, the fish, the lizards, the cats, the rats etc. filled the cart with cat food and other items. Just about got to the counter (cart full, done shopping) when the manager, Debbie Pientok walked up and informed us that PetSmart corporate policy is no guns. The stores are not signed, I looked. She said they don't put signs up and we don't know why.

She was polite at first. But after we told her we would no longer be shopping there, she became very aggressive and had a rather dismissive, arrogant attitude. Like we didn't matter to her or to corporate PetSmart. I was actually shocked because we had been in the store so many times before with no problem.

She did not care that we would no longer patronize the store. She appeared not to care that others might not Patronize the store either. And she certainly did not care who heard our discussion. I told her that it is legal to open carry in Wisconsin. She did not think so.

As my wife started to empty the cart, and told her that she; the manager, was taking our Constitutional Rights away by doing this, the manager softened her approach, did a 180 and wanted to make nice in her store; I assume, so there would not be any negative PR. Said it wasn't her but rather corporate and she sympathized with us and carried similar views as we do but she also saw corporate's view as well.

I said that it was our constitutional right and there could be consequences due to her and corporates policy. I mentioned OCDO and WCI and the membership. I got a blank stare in return.

This is just more liberal Corporate BS. Trying to ram Liberal views down our throats.

Could use a little help here guys. This is PetSmart Onalaska.
PetSmart
Onalaska
Debbie Pientok MGR.
Store Manager
9342 State Highway 16
Onalaska WI 54650
PH.608-781-5510
FAX 608-781-5548

Corporate Office
PetSmart, Inc.
Store Support Group
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
(623) 580-6100
(800) 738-1385
 
Last edited:

baldp8

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2011
Messages
53
Location
Fitchburg, WI
I sent a note asking for clarification of their policy on this as well. I shop at one of their Madison stores sometimes because it's close to my work. I've never carried there though.
 

Blk97F150

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
1,179
Location
Virginia
I got a quick reply.

From : PetSmart Customer Care <customercare@petsmart.com>
To : (my email address)
Subject : Re: Customer Service Contact Us Form Submission
Date : Fri, May 13, 2011 07:39 AM

Dear Mike,

Thank you for contacting PetSmart.

We do not allow firearms in our stores.

If you have any other questions or need additional information, please
let us know. Thank you for shopping with PetSmart for all your pet
supply needs.

Sincerely,

Jesse
PetSmart Customer Care
www.petsmart.com
Phone: 1-888-839-9638

My resonse back:

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Can you please clairify if that includes firearms carried in accordance with all state and federal laws?

Please send me a copy of your corporate policy regarding this topic.

Thank you again
Mike
 

Krusty

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
281
Location
Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
As I see it, it's their store and they do have the right to ban firearms in their stores. We as consumers also have the right to do business in stores more to our liking. I have no reason to shop in a Pet Smart store, and attitudes such as this will also keep me from ever going into one of their stores.

@Hardballer I hope your wife let PetSmart empty the cart as they restocked all that unsold merchandise.
 
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paul@paul-fisher.com

Regular Member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
4,049
Location
Chandler, AZ
I am pretty sure I have OC'ed at the one in Delavan with no issues. Usually I run in, pick up a 40 lb bag of Eukeneuba for my Lab and check out. Maybe they didn't notice?
 

GLOCK21GB

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
4,347
Location
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
I am pretty sure I have OC'ed at the one in Delavan with no issues. Usually I run in, pick up a 40 lb bag of Eukeneuba for my Lab and check out. Maybe they didn't notice?

I have OC in the Green Bay store many times no issues..But Since I get ticked off when companies tell my friends they can't legally open carry , I will cease doing business with them until they change their policy. I will be contacting them too in the next few minutes.
 

bigdaddy1

Regular Member
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
1,320
Location
Southsider der hey
My message was;

had just heard that your company policy is to infringe on customers right to self protection. As a long time regular customer of your Petsmart stores I will have to discontinue my patronage of your facilities. I can not morally shop and spend my hard earned money with a company that disregards the constitution of the United States. If your corporate policy changes and you choose to follow federal and state laws please let me know and I will continue shopping at your stores.
 

paul@paul-fisher.com

Regular Member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
4,049
Location
Chandler, AZ
Here's what I sent:

I have just heard that Petsmart doesn't respect my right to self defense. I open carry my firearm every day, every where. In WI, concealed carry is illegal, so this is my only means of self defense. I will no longer go to your store or buy from you until you rescind the policy. While you, as a private property owner, have the right to exclude firearms, I as a private citizen, can choose to not spend my hard earned money in a criminal free fire zone. You do realize that criminals, by definition, will disobey your rules, right?

Please let me know when I can safely shop at your store again, until then, I will go out of my way and openly carry and shop at Petco.
 

HandyHamlet

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2010
Messages
2,772
Location
Terra, Sol
I have several Ma and Pa shops and a feed store I support. They are a bit farther than the corp stores but they will deliver! They carry the high end/healthy brand of kibble the corp stores do NOT carry. The shopping experience is far superior. Hopefully you can find an alternative. And with the price of gas it might even be easier to order off line.

Corporations can suck it.
 

Shotgun

Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
2,668
Location
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
I'll also contact Petsmart. I've shopped in their Madison east side store, but I don't recall whether I wore a gun at the time.

I shop more frequently at Mounds Pet Food and have OC'd there without any problems.
 

MKEgal

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
4,383
Location
in front of my computer, WI
I think the first knee-jerk response from 'Jesse' (and perhaps the manager who raised this issue) was based on what she was told when she became an employee. Low-level employees (& even managers) shouldn't be making corporate policy. This needs to be addressed at a much higher level.

Sent my response through their online form:
This issue needs to be handled by a corporate lawyer or executive. Please bump it up the chain.

I've read an email from Jesse at your Customer Care center saying that PetSmart prohibits customers & employees from lawful self-defense, but I know that stores do not take any steps to ensure the safety of those disarmed customers and employees in the store or parking lot.

I carry my pistol every day, lawfully & peacefully. The only person to whom I am any threat is the one trying to harm me.

I will no longer buy from PetSmart until you rescind the policy. As a private property owner you have the right to exclude almost anyone for almost any reason. As a private citizen I can choose to not spend my money in a defense-free zone, & I can tell my friends not to shop there.

Criminals will disobey your store rules just as they disobey much more serious laws against robbery, assault, murder... And in fact, experience shows that criminals prefer to attack where they know people won't be able to defend themselves effectively.

Please make PetSmart like the myriad of other businesses across the country that simply follow the law wherever they are. If the gov't there does not prohibit the lawful carry of a pistol for self-protection, the store should not either.

Please send me a copy of the current policy & notify me when it is changed to allow self-defense. (And if it's copied from an employee manual, realize that it doesn't apply to customers, so you need to re-train your staff.)

BTW, I don't know of any successful business that doesn't understand that it takes more $ to get a customer than to keep one, and that one happy customer might tell a couple people but an unhappy customer will tell a dozen. So remind them that not only will you not spend money there, but you'll tell friends.
 

Blk97F150

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
1,179
Location
Virginia
The reply to my latest email (that was posted above...):

From : PetSmart Customer Care <customercare@petsmart.com>
To : (my email address)
Subject : Re: Customer Service Contact Us Form Submission
Date : Fri, May 13, 2011 09:01 AM

Dear Mike,

Thank you for your e-mail. I have taken the liberty of entering a customer inquiry on your behalf. Your inquiry will be addressed by a member of our Management Team within 3-5 business days, and you can expect a reply at that time.

Sincerely,
Jesse
PetSmart Customer Care
 

Blk97F150

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
1,179
Location
Virginia
And my reply. I'll post the response from the Petsmart Management as well:

Thank you Jesse, your attention to this matter is appreciated.

I look forward to the response from management.

Mike
 

usamarshal

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
251
Location
Ohio
My response:

Thank you for your interest in shopping at our PetSmart stores. I do apologize, but you would need to contact your local store for that information. You may use the link below to locate your nearest store: http://stores.petsmart.com/

I don't think anyone knows what there talking about there...haha :p
 

usamarshal

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
251
Location
Ohio
From the email I received and posted here it looks to be like the franchise gets to decide that?
 
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