Petco vs. PetMeds.com; lessons learned

Ever since Emma came to live with me six and a half years ago, I have kept her on a constant monthly regimen of heart worm medication and Frontline Plus for fleas and ticks.  The results have been very good… no heartworms and no fleas or ticks.  As you know, I’ve spent the last two summers in tick infested areas.  Made me wish I could use that medication on myself.

An example of a fallen tree that Bridgett and I can’t manhandle off of the trails we are checking.  The rest of tonight’s pics are from our trail checking journey this morning.

I douse Emma with Frontline Plus on the first of each month, and I used up the last treatment about two weeks ago.  Time to get a new supply.  While I was in Fargo yesterday, a Petco store was located in the same mall where my sponge candy store is so I stopped in.  The stuff isn’t cheap, so it is kept behind the counter at checkout.  I asked for a six month supply for a dog under 40 pounds.

Spotted a big nest about 40’ up in a tree in a stand of pines.  I had found this nest last year, but nothing was ever in it.

The young girl stuffed the two boxes in a bag and said, “That will be $148.33.”  I know Frontline is expensive, but it seemed to me the price had gone up.  I paid the bill and went on my way.  I finished the rest of my stops in Fargo and headed home, but that price kept nagging at me.

This year a pair of ravens are using the nest.  They were both present, but quiet as church mice.  Don’t know if the eggs were hatching or what.  Ravens can be very boisterous and loud.

When I got home, I opened the bag and both boxes were for dogs in the 45-88 lb. range.  Grrr.  That could have knocked Emma for a loop, and the larger the dog the more expensive the medication is.  Kind of ticked me off since it’s a 150 mile round trip for me to shop in Fargo.  I only go there about once a month.

Bridgett noticed this large deadfall swinging above our heads today on one of the trails.  It was hooked into one of the huge maple trees in the area and swinging like the pendulum on an old grandfathers clock in the stiff breeze.

So, I decided to check out PetMeds.com to see what their price would be on the same meds.  It turned out that I could get a full year’s supply for dogs under 40 lbs. for $141!  Twice as much medication for less than half the price.  You can bet that I decided to order a 12 month supply.  I called Petco, explained their screw up, and was assured I could get a refund for my purchase next month when I returned it as long as I had the receipt.

Can you believe that I got Bridgett to (almost) stand directly under this giants’ hanging swing to give you an idea of how large it is?  She’s no dummy.    I’m sure it will come crashing down in the not too distant future.

Seemed like my problem was solved, right?  Not so.  I got an email from PetMeds that said I had to call them ASAP.  Turns out with first time buyers, you can’t have things delivered to a location other than your billing address.  I tried to explain that I was an RV full-timer that traveled around the country, etc., etc., etc.  It didn’t do any good, so now the Frontline is being sent to Sioux Falls, and then I’ll have to pay the postage to have it sent here to Minnesota.  Dumb! 

Blue Flag Iris

I got an email from PetMeds this morning asking me to rate my experience with the customer service person I spoke to yesterday.  I responded with a complaint about not being able to have the product sent to my location, but I doubt I’ll get any response about that.  They’ve got my money for Pete’s sake, so why does it matter where it’s sent?  It’s not a prescription medication after all.

My lessons learned?  Don’t buy flea and tick meds from Petco… way over priced!  And next time I’ll be able to have the stuff sent to my location (other than Sioux Falls) since I’ll be a customer in good standing (?).

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy