horror story from petco

[MattM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cracker:
<strong>... Don't specify Petco without an asterisk (eg. P*tco). It's apparent that freedom of speech doesn't count anymore after the Pet*warehouse settlement.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I wouldn't worry. Big corporations like PetCo have not only a staff attorney but a public relations manager.

The attorney will advise against this sort of litigation (Bob Novak of Pets Warehouse is representing himself) and the public relations manager will warn corporate of the immense negative publicity involved (Novak hasn't seemed to have learned yet that in the internet age, word of mouth travels at the speed of light).

Just as an FYI, freedom of speech never really counted in situations like this. Most people don't realize that the 1st amendment only protects you from the government restricting your right to free speech - it says nothing about private parties or companies.

[ May 03, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cracker:
<strong>For god's sake people. Learn something from your predecessors. Don't specify Petco without an asterisk (eg. P*tco). It's apparent that freedom of speech doesn't count anymore after the Pet*warehouse settlement. Be careful, people. Unless, of course, you're lawyers or know somebody from the ACLU.
Whitey</strong><hr></blockquote>

AHHHH! No, don't let them win. Say what you think, report your experiences accurately, and don't name call. There is nothing wrong with saying "I am unhappy with the Petco near me. When I go in there the tanks are overstocked, many of the fish are unhealthy, and the employees don't seem to know what they are doing. I am not going to shop there anymore."

Besides, if they were going to come after you, any good lawyer would get you on P*tco.

RR

Don't let them take away your right to say what you think.

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by EmilyB:
<strong>I saw a fish in the last stages of starvation at a similar chain, and that is something I will never forget. I will never enter another store like that again.</strong><hr></blockquote>

it always breaks my heart to go into a store and see the critters ailing. i'm always on the hunt for a good store. i finally found one - the only inconvenience is that it's an hour away. worth it though. when i come across a place with sick babies, i tear up. my husband always has to pull me away while telling me, "you can't save them all, hon. just let it go."

i wonder if enough of us had the courage to do something, we could keep some of these clowns from carrying livestock. the same thing is true for birds. i can never handle seeing a neglected bird - no food or water, raggedy feathers, all puffed up, dirty cages, broken blood feathers... what is happening to the pet industries these days?

 

[Saxe]

Righty, I read up on the Novak suit. The issue mainly was the defendants could not keep up with the legal fees with defending themselves. Even though they believe they were within legal limits they could not afford to keep pace with a million dollar lawsuit so they settled.

People used to say if you have a bad experience you can always spend your money somewhere else and use word of mouth to let your friends know. Heck you could even picket their stores. But apparently if you say it on the internet they can sue for big bucks. What's worse is that now its a precedent for future cases.

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Saxe:
<strong>Righty, I read up on the Novak suit. The issue mainly was the defendants could not keep up with the legal fees with defending themselves. Even though they believe they were within legal limits they could not afford to keep pace with a million dollar lawsuit so they settled.

People used to say if you have a bad experience you can always spend your money somewhere else and use word of mouth to let your friends know. Heck you could even picket their stores. But apparently if you say it on the internet they can sue for big bucks. What's worse is that now its a precedent for future cases.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Not being able to pay for legal fees is why the settled, yes. This is one of the dangers of living in a society where anyone can be sued for anything - the little guy loses simply because he can't afford to fight.

But look again at what started the suit. It was not just sharing a bad experience. It was categorically badmouthing a company. Saying 'they are liars' is different from saying 'I feel they lied to me' or 'they lied to me and here is how...'. One is libel, the other is an opinion or evidence. The lesson to take with us into this suit happy world is not 'don't speak up', its 'don't speak up without thinking'. I think this is good advice even before the pets warehouse mess.

I don't think it is a precedent for future cases because it did not go to court.

RR

 

[oranje]

i tend to stay away from petco(and large petstore chains) for the reason that they literally have -no clue- whatsoever how to care for their fish, and other animals for that matter. i just have this problem in that instead of running away in horror, and yelling at the people to care for their fish, i try to rescue them.

ive probably purchased 10 fish in total from petco, and all but one died within a week or so of my rescue. the first fish i ever rescued from them is my porcupine puffer, though, and i saved him from petco over 2 years ago. and hes still going strong.

 

[JennM]

Been there, done that, wrote the letter via email. Got a condescending reply, about new systems and "problems" replied to that, explaining my experience in the hobby AND in the business, and explaining that not overstocking, quarantine of sick or injured animals can resolve some of the problems. Never got a reply to that letter, never set foot in said store again. They never had my "fish" dollars, but now they've also lost my dog and cat dollars.

Everybody with a similar perception should do the same. Eventually the message will be heard.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MattM:
[QB]
Just as an FYI, freedom of speech never really counted in situations like this. Most people don't realize that the 1st amendment only protects you from the government restricting your right to free speech - it says nothing about private parties or companies.
<hr></blockquote>

But even in such civil cases, it's through the gov'ts threat of force that civil rulings are enforced. I would further qualify the 1st amendment protection as protection from gov't imprisonment due to what you say, not necessarily government fines/restrictions.