Holly S Yuy

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker District 2 Frederick, Maryland

Poor Customer Service

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I’ve been a great customer for a number of years, supporting a local business. Over the years I’ve allowed the little things slide - fish that died within a week, leaky tanks.

Several months ago I purchased another expensive pacman frog from them and it lasted less than a week! I was told it probably died of constipation - if it was constipated, then it came that way. The explanation I got was that the frog was probably too young to sell - then how about not selling it to anyone?!?! No refund, no credit, no replacement.

That should’ve been my clue . . .

We went on vacation for a week and I left my two frogs at Rick’s, which I’ve done before. Today I go pick up the frogs - they charged me $160 for 8 days of boarding!

I’ve never been charged that amount for “boarding”! Apparently boarding rabbits or guinea pigs is the same as frogs. The cashier was clueless and another employee told me the sign had been up for several months about the fees. That’s all you’ve got as a response?!

So much for warm and fuzzy customer service! It would’ve been cheaper just to buy them back!!!

Time to take my business elsewhere .

. .

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Loss:
$160
Cons:
  • No guaranty on animals they sell
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Anonymous
map-marker Frederick, Maryland

Devestatingly sad

I went in to get a few things for my gerbils that I have and when I was looking around at some of the animals I saw around 6 or 7 black bear hamsters in a ten gallon tank, fully grown and one of them was fighting with another repeatedly. I convinced my mother to let me get the one that was being fought with as she surely would have been killed if I left the store without her.

As you may know black bear hamsters are generally known for their gentle behavior toward humans, but these hamsters were obviously mishandled or under handled as almost all were trying to bite my hand as I put my hand in the tank to stop the fighting (as the tank was easy for anyone to access!). I did this several times as the hamster continued to fight with the other. I finally went to get some help from a worker there who came over to the cage and scruffed the aggressor on the neck several times! This makes no sense to do that though as the hamster was only doing what it's instincts tell her to do.

Hamsters are naturally meant to live alone either wise they may fight to the death for territory. They would not move the aggressor to another tank or separate them all which would have been preferable so I decided to get the hamster that was being attacked. I don't remember at what point, but none the less I got a bite from one of her sisters as my hand was in the tank. When the cashier came over to get my new hamster from the tank she also got bit by another one of her sisters very badly.

When I asked how old they were they said about 9 weeks. I wonder what they endoured during those 9 weeks for surely they did not have a proper place before. My hamster which I have since then named Maybelle is enjoying her life at my house though is very scared of me and my family still (I have had her for about 2 months) and she bites us out of fear. I hope I can get her unafraid of humans soon.

Oddly she will sometimes let me pet her though I can not pick her up right now. She is doing marvelously though and I love her very much. She is so cute and I hope all her sisters are ok. I personally think that all ricks cares about is their reptiles and fish.

All their mammals and birds seem to be not properly cared for. Please do not buy anything form Ricks except for your next pet as they deserve loving homes.

Thank you!!! Sincerely, an animal lover

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Reason of review:
animal misstreatment

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

1 comment
Guest

That post is far too long to read in its entirety, particularly when you can't get past the fifth word in the title without a misspelling. Difficult and tiresome to read.

Anonymous
map-marker Baltimore, Maryland

Other Product Review

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Listen guys this is important! I go there a lot and I just was there earlier today.

They're service is some of the nicest people I know! They are very polite, kind and helpful! They do not confine the animals in too small of areas. Pet smart and other stores do the same thing but worse!

Stop hating on people!

You guys are just as bad 1st grade tattler! You should be ashamed!

View full review
Reason of review:
Good quality
Anonymous
map-marker Frederick, Maryland

Filthy place

Ricks Fish And Pet Supply - Filthy place
Ricks Fish And Pet Supply - Filthy place - Image 2
Ricks Fish And Pet Supply - Filthy place - Image 3
Ricks Fish And Pet Supply - Filthy place - Image 4

Unfortunately this is the only place to buy live rodents for feeding animals such as snakes. The stench of the store smells like a hoarders house.

Between the stained carpet and old boxes of product today I found this (see images). They used to keep birds across from the front counter it they have been moved/sold. What's left behind is disgusting! Old bird seed and some excrement along the top of the fish tank and loads of dust behind the tank.

Look closer you will see an expired bottle of who knows what and an electrical cord that a hold could easily get a hold of. Filthy filthy place.

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Pros:
  • That they sell rodents
Reason of review:
You sell live rodents
Devion Jca
map-marker Frederick, Maryland

Do Not Purchase The Fish......

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I went into Rick's Fish and Pet Friday evening at 6pm and spent $40 on fish by Sunday at 5am I had 23 dead fish. I currently have four different types of freshwater tanks in my home.

Every tank that I introduced fish that I had purchased from Rick's Fish and Pet those fish died and I have so far lost 4 of my already established fish. :-( Very disappointed they didnt want to check their tanks or do anything about all my losses.

I WILL NEVER go back. They must use diseased water to send fish home in or all the fish are ill it introduced an illness into my tanks, I am now losing my pets because of their nasty fish tanks

View full review
Loss:
$40
Cons:
  • One of my feeder fish died in bag before i left store
  • Cashier told me all oscars eat dead fish
  • I have expensive fish theirs made ill
Reason of review:
killing my pets with junk fish

Preferred solution: Full refund

2 comments
Guest

Funny I’ve bought all 36 of my fish from rick introducing 6 fish at a time. I feed them live fish, brine and black worms from Ricks.

Never had a sick fish, never had a outbreak of any kind.. my fish just keep growing and seem happy as every

Guest

First

Just because you have four tanks does not mean you know anything. 23 dead fish.

Sounds like you overloaded your tank or tanks and the fish died from their own waste. Even if you had gotten a disease from his tanks, the losses would not have happened so fast.

Second.

I quarantine my fish before I but them in my tank.

If you have four tanks one should be used for this. YOU SIR SHOULD NOT SLANDER A GOOD STORE BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE A NOOB

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Justin Zcw
map-marker Livingston, New Jersey

Ricks Animal Cruelty

I recently wrote another blog on Ricks Fish and Pet of Frederick, Maryland. I would like to add to the closing statement of that blog about the poor footlong fish in a 10 gallon tank.

That was not the only animal that was suffering in a confined space, Ricks also keeps guinea pigs, Rabbits, Ferrets, and Terantulas in an undersized habitat. In the wild, these animals have a widespan of habitat, Ricks should recreate that a little better. I can only imagine how horrible it would be to live in a small space for the rest of my life. Ricks customer service is horrble as well, everytime I would ask a question the employees would act arrogant and give me a wrong answer with an attitude.

If I had to describe Ricks Fish and Pet, I would say that you would have to buy what they recomend or they will refuse service, and it is a pet store full of animal cruelty and arrogant employees that make you feel unwelcome. Go to Petsmart, they have a huge store, plenty of room, and welcoming customer service.

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1 comment
Guest

If you say Rick's has bad costumer service i believe you are the *** here. Every single time i have been there all of the employees have right away asked me if i need help and if i have any questions about the animals or their care they are able to answer them.

they are some of the most knowledgeable people and extremely helpful, they always know what they are talking about and if they are not positive they check with another employee who is.Not everyone is perfect but the people at this store and the owner sure as *** are pretty close, they know what they are doing.

Justin Zcw
map-marker Livingston, New Jersey

Ricks, Buy This Or No Service, Policy.

As an animal lover, I have had my fair share of animal friends. I shop at various pet stores, but none have ever treated me so bad like Ricks Fish and Pet store in Frederick, Maryland.

I go into Ricks to purchase Cichlids for my 20 gallon tall tank, and they tell me that this tank is too small and that they could not sell me any fish because of this tank size. So when I am about to leave I notice that they had a foot long fish in a 10 gallon tank, Coincidence?

No just true animal cruelty.

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1 comment
Guest

The display tanks aren't 10 gallons, first off. They're also connected to a large, heavy duty filtration system and multiple sumps, which effectively increase the quantity of water being filtered through the system.

Unless you have a similar system at home, its really not comparable.

Would you rather they sell you the fish anyways just to make a sale?

Then you'd just be back complaining when the fish is sick and stressed from overcrowding, or trying to return it to the store when it outgrows your 20gal. I think its pretty responsible and quite respectable that they'll miss out on a potential sale in favor of the health and welfare of the animals they sell.

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