petsmart grooming - YorkieTalk.com Forums

hunniebunnie · 01-17-2006, 06:16 AM

i took bunjee to his first grooming on saturday. petsmart had a "puppy package" which included a face/tail/feet trim, nail trim, bath, blow dry, and ear cleaning for $15. i figure it was a pretty good deal so i made an appointment for bunjee.

first off, despite having an appointment, i still had to wait 30 min just to check-in. then they tell me the appointment was incorrectly written, bunjee was only down for a "puppy package bath" as opposed to a "puppy package trim". and when asking for a "puppy package" the bath only version is the default and i have to ask specifically for the puppy package trim... now i might be reading this wrong, but when the posters in the grooming area advertises the "puppy package with the trim" in big letters, then offer the bath version also in smaller print on the same poster, i would think the DEFAULT is what was written in BIG LETTERS ON THE FRIGGIN AD!!!!

And i told the girl who wrote down my appointment that i wanted bunjee to get a trim.

But what annoyed me the most is the sloppy job they did on bunjee. as i inspected bunjee when i took him back with me to the car, i noticed that his nails were trimmed poorly and in fact one of them was trimmed way too short. there was even what i thought was dried septic powder on that foot.

I'm just very disappointed with this grooming experience. I'm never bringing him to that petsmart grooming ever again. I think it's better to take him to a groomer who's more experienced. not to mention a specific groomer rather than just whoever's available. hopefully bunjee's next grooming experience will be better.

txshopper73 · 01-17-2006, 06:22 AM

One thing people have to realize is that groomers are under paid. No one wants to work for menial wages so who do these places get to do the grooming??? Newbies fresh out of school (and that's saying they even went to school).

It's difficult to find a good groomer. Places like petsmart have such a high overhead that it's hard for them to find good groomers for such little pay.

Many people here know of my friend Paula. She does grooming out of her house. She's been grooming for over 40 years and her work is truly artistic. Absolutely beautiful. How much does she charge? $17.50 for yorkies. She was telling me that by comparison, she makes less now than when she first started grooming back in the '60s. She is one that feels under appreciated and I can understand why.

chachi · 01-17-2006, 06:27 AM

I would never take my dogs to Petsmart to be groomed. Having said that the first private groomer experience we had was not to my liking either. Now we have a groomer that we like and ask for. It just takes experience to find a groomer you are satisfied with.

red98vett · 01-17-2006, 06:28 AM

Petsmart has OK and just plain Bad groomers as far as I'm concerned - I always stop and watch them when I'm in there and sometimes they LOOK like they're doing a good job but as far as yorkies go....I'm Not impressed with them at all -

I would advise you to find a nice private groomer and keep your fingers crossed....What I did was drive around WITH Chanel with me one day and we just cold called on different groomers in my area - I found one guy I'd like to try but so far just do my own grooming now so haven't made an appointment.

It does sound like you just had a quicky grooming and that's sad about his little nail - that would Piss me off - they should know what's too short and he was probably bleeding ....poor baby -

The good thing is - the hair will grow back -

and Kimberley - Paula can charge more - my last groomer charged $35.00 PER Yorkie and hardly cut anything at all.

chachi · 01-17-2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red98vett

Petsmart has OK and just plain Bad groomers as far as I'm concerned - I always stop and watch them when I'm in there and sometimes they LOOK like they're doing a good job but as far as yorkies go....I'm Not impressed with them at all -

I would advise you to find a nice private groomer and keep your fingers crossed....What I did was drive around WITH Chanel with me one day and we just cold called on different groomers in my area - I found one guy I'd like to try but so far just do my own grooming now so haven't made an appointment.

It does sound like you just had a quicky grooming and that's sad about his little nail - that would Piss me off - they should know what's too short and he was probably bleeding ....poor baby -

The good thing is - the hair will grow back -

and Kimberley - Paula can charge more - my last groomer charged $35.00 PER Yorkie and hardly cut anything at all.

Yes My groomer charges $35 for Jewels and she barely has anything cut.

Patti · 01-17-2006, 06:50 AM

I took my Pom to petsmart because she despeately needed to get her nails done and a bath. She has way too much coat for me to attempt a bath and she will bite me if I tried to do her nails. Well they charged me 35.00 because I wanted her done in 1 hour as she was use to going to our regular groomer(who has cut her hours to nothing and has someone new she is training(who I don't like) . Well she looked good but they didn't do her nails which I made a point of telling them were terribly long. So I had to take her back the next day. Maya hates to go in the car!

Rockster's Mom · 01-17-2006, 07:10 AM

I have heard to many horrible things about petsmart's grooming department. When I am at the check out, I also watch the groomers, and IMO some of them are not so nice with the animals. My groomer is wonderful. The first time I took him to her, she played with him before she started to work on him. She said she wants all the dogs to get to know her and get confortable with her before she starts grooming them. I thought that was very nice of her. I have taken Rocky back to her for the second time, and he just gave her kisses and did not even think twice about going with her. She also charges me $30 for a trim, nail clip, bath, and anal gland. If he is matted up it is more, but that never happens.

Jenn218 · 01-17-2006, 08:41 AM

I have one good groomer, but she is VERY hard to get to see! She only charges $25 and that is for everything (ears, nails, bath, style, glands, if wanted). She is so booked, that even if you make an appt. after yours, it can be months away.

In the mean time, I give Mojo his baths at home and ever now and then, a little trim up here and there. He does NOT let me do his nails (even though I rub his paw pads and everything, so he is use to me touching his feet), but I take him to the vet for that and normally, they don't even charge for it...some vets charge $10 just for that alone.

I also found another groomer that I like....she is okay, but not the best. She started out charging only $15 for everything but anal glands and is now at $20-25. She is not as gentle has I would like, but you get to stay and watch...she will ask you if you want this or that and what cut you want....I like to stay there and most places you have to drop them off and come back later.

Muffie's Mom · 01-17-2006, 08:52 AM

Check around where you live and ask other people with dogs who they use for a groomer.

I've found that "word of mouth advertising" is the best kind yet.

My groomer doesn't take any new people unless they are referred by someone that already uses her.

rnnw62 · 01-17-2006, 08:59 AM

I took Ted to Petsmart just once. I was not happy with
the job they did at all. I also did not like dropping him
off with no estimated time of when he would be done.
I don't crate Ted at home so leaving him sit in a cage
there didn't sit well with me. I found myself a very good
mobile groomer that I pay $45.00. She parks in my drive
way comes to the door to get him and he is back inside
our house in a half an hour. It's less of a hassle on me
and it is much less stressful on Teddy.

heather_lathrop · 01-17-2006, 09:04 AM

sometimes I wonder if they even hire people with experience to work there. Because I have seen some pretty scarry hair cuts walk out of there. I would definatly call and talk to a manager. File a complaint or something. Good luck next time around!!

mylittletigger · 01-17-2006, 09:15 AM

All groomers at Petsmart must go to grooming school.(this is a fact, not an opinion or guess)

I like my groomer, she's awesome. AND Guess what??? SHE WORKS FOR PETSMART. She's always gentle, and lets me know what happend during his visit.

I'm sorry that y'all have had bad experiences. Best of luck finding a new groomer.

ilovemyabbie · 01-17-2006, 09:18 AM

I am so sorry the experience wasn't great! or even good for that matter. I haven't heard anything bad about them except on here. I am sure you will find a private one that just suits your fancy. I am looking into opening my own business - only animal lovers should be doing jobs involving animals... that is just what i think anyway! Good Luck

Bridget's Mommy · 01-17-2006, 09:46 AM

I'm sorry that you had a bad grooming experience at Petsmart. I took Bridget there once and never went back - AWFUL! It really does take time and experience to find a groomer you are happy with. When we lived in California I tried several and didn't like any of them - one lady in Livermore, CA charged me $45, kept my baby in a cage for 3 hours, gave her a sloppy trim and barely brushed her out and then she got mad when I didn't want her to to put a bow in her hair - all her bows were cheap and ugly! Luckily, the first groomer I tried when I moved to Utah is FANTASTIC. He's a private groomer, does only one dog at a time and is reasonably priced. When you go to a new groomer, make a list of exactly what you expect and show a photo of the cut you want. You're paying good money for the service. You should get exactly what you want! Good luck!

Gizmo423 · 01-17-2006, 11:30 AM

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with PetsMart.

My mom took her dog there and had a really good groomer, then she took him back and had a bad groomer. So the next time she requested the groomer she had the first time and has used her ever since. When we got Sadie, we took her to the same groomer at PetsMart and are very pleased. She loves these dogs. She hugs and kisses them when they come in and is very patient and gentle with them.

I have been so happy with her that I took my yellow lab in and had her groomed. We have been very happy to get all that excess hair out of her. It is so pleasant not to have the hair flying around all the time.

So I think it all depends on the groomer you get. I think we might have just gotten lucky with our groomer at PetsMart. Of course, I let my mom go through the pains of finding a groomer because she had Peanut before we got Sadie.

01-17-2006, 06:16 AM	#1
hunniebunnie Follower of Yorkietology Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cali-fo-nee-ya Posts: 1,325	petsmart grooming i took bunjee to his first grooming on saturday. petsmart had a "puppy package" which included a face/tail/feet trim, nail trim, bath, blow dry, and ear cleaning for $15. i figure it was a pretty good deal so i made an appointment for bunjee. first off, despite having an appointment, i still had to wait 30 min just to check-in. then they tell me the appointment was incorrectly written, bunjee was only down for a "puppy package bath" as opposed to a "puppy package trim". and when asking for a "puppy package" the bath only version is the default and i have to ask specifically for the puppy package trim... now i might be reading this wrong, but when the posters in the grooming area advertises the "puppy package with the trim" in big letters, then offer the bath version also in smaller print on the same poster, i would think the DEFAULT is what was written in BIG LETTERS ON THE FRIGGIN AD!!!! And i told the girl who wrote down my appointment that i wanted bunjee to get a trim. But what annoyed me the most is the sloppy job they did on bunjee. as i inspected bunjee when i took him back with me to the car, i noticed that his nails were trimmed poorly and in fact one of them was trimmed way too short. there was even what i thought was dried septic powder on that foot. I'm just very disappointed with this grooming experience. I'm never bringing him to that petsmart grooming ever again. I think it's better to take him to a groomer who's more experienced. not to mention a specific groomer rather than just whoever's available. hopefully bunjee's next grooming experience will be better.

01-17-2006, 06:22 AM	#2
txshopper73 Donating YT 14K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 14,226 Blog Entries: 1	One thing people have to realize is that groomers are under paid. No one wants to work for menial wages so who do these places get to do the grooming??? Newbies fresh out of school (and that's saying they even went to school). It's difficult to find a good groomer. Places like petsmart have such a high overhead that it's hard for them to find good groomers for such little pay. Many people here know of my friend Paula. She does grooming out of her house. She's been grooming for over 40 years and her work is truly artistic. Absolutely beautiful. How much does she charge? $17.50 for yorkies. She was telling me that by comparison, she makes less now than when she first started grooming back in the '60s. She is one that feels under appreciated and I can understand why. __________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley

01-17-2006, 06:27 AM	#3
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I would never take my dogs to Petsmart to be groomed. Having said that the first private groomer experience we had was not to my liking either. Now we have a groomer that we like and ask for. It just takes experience to find a groomer you are satisfied with. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

01-17-2006, 06:28 AM	#4
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	Petsmart has OK and just plain Bad groomers as far as I'm concerned - I always stop and watch them when I'm in there and sometimes they LOOK like they're doing a good job but as far as yorkies go....I'm Not impressed with them at all - I would advise you to find a nice private groomer and keep your fingers crossed....What I did was drive around WITH Chanel with me one day and we just cold called on different groomers in my area - I found one guy I'd like to try but so far just do my own grooming now so haven't made an appointment. It does sound like you just had a quicky grooming and that's sad about his little nail - that would Piss me off - they should know what's too short and he was probably bleeding ....poor baby - The good thing is - the hair will grow back - and Kimberley - Paula can charge more - my last groomer charged $35.00 PER Yorkie and hardly cut anything at all. __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!

01-17-2006, 06:50 AM	#6
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I took my Pom to petsmart because she despeately needed to get her nails done and a bath. She has way too much coat for me to attempt a bath and she will bite me if I tried to do her nails. Well they charged me 35.00 because I wanted her done in 1 hour as she was use to going to our regular groomer(who has cut her hours to nothing and has someone new she is training(who I don't like) . Well she looked good but they didn't do her nails which I made a point of telling them were terribly long. So I had to take her back the next day. Maya hates to go in the car! __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

01-17-2006, 07:10 AM	#7
Rockster's Mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 1,279	I have heard to many horrible things about petsmart's grooming department. When I am at the check out, I also watch the groomers, and IMO some of them are not so nice with the animals. My groomer is wonderful. The first time I took him to her, she played with him before she started to work on him. She said she wants all the dogs to get to know her and get confortable with her before she starts grooming them. I thought that was very nice of her. I have taken Rocky back to her for the second time, and he just gave her kisses and did not even think twice about going with her. She also charges me $30 for a trim, nail clip, bath, and anal gland. If he is matted up it is more, but that never happens.

01-17-2006, 08:41 AM	#8
Jenn218 Mojo, LilyGrace & Me Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cuddling with my babies<3 Posts: 17,329	I have one good groomer, but she is VERY hard to get to see! She only charges $25 and that is for everything (ears, nails, bath, style, glands, if wanted). She is so booked, that even if you make an appt. after yours, it can be months away. In the mean time, I give Mojo his baths at home and ever now and then, a little trim up here and there. He does NOT let me do his nails (even though I rub his paw pads and everything, so he is use to me touching his feet), but I take him to the vet for that and normally, they don't even charge for it...some vets charge $10 just for that alone. I also found another groomer that I like....she is okay, but not the best. She started out charging only $15 for everything but anal glands and is now at $20-25. She is not as gentle has I would like, but you get to stay and watch...she will ask you if you want this or that and what cut you want....I like to stay there and most places you have to drop them off and come back later. __________________ Hi I'm Jenn Mom to..... Mojo,LilyGrace & DD Kate RIP Mojo FOREVER in our hearts!

01-17-2006, 08:52 AM	#9
Muffie's Mom And now Missy's Mom, too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,496	Check around where you live and ask other people with dogs who they use for a groomer. I've found that "word of mouth advertising" is the best kind yet. My groomer doesn't take any new people unless they are referred by someone that already uses her. __________________ Pat...Mom to Muffie & Missy! Our Photos are HERE Missy on Dogster Muffie on Dogster

01-17-2006, 08:59 AM	#10
rnnw62 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 1,610	I took Ted to Petsmart just once. I was not happy with the job they did at all. I also did not like dropping him off with no estimated time of when he would be done. I don't crate Ted at home so leaving him sit in a cage there didn't sit well with me. I found myself a very good mobile groomer that I pay $45.00. She parks in my drive way comes to the door to get him and he is back inside our house in a half an hour. It's less of a hassle on me and it is much less stressful on Teddy. __________________ Shelly, Teddy, Toby,Hanne & Indigo

01-17-2006, 09:04 AM	#11
heather_lathrop Gizmo and Gidget's Pet Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,326	sometimes I wonder if they even hire people with experience to work there. Because I have seen some pretty scarry hair cuts walk out of there. I would definatly call and talk to a manager. File a complaint or something. Good luck next time around!! __________________ Heather & Max - In honor of my sweet Ayden!

01-17-2006, 09:15 AM	#12
mylittletigger YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,216	All groomers at Petsmart must go to grooming school.(this is a fact, not an opinion or guess) I like my groomer, she's awesome. AND Guess what??? SHE WORKS FOR PETSMART. She's always gentle, and lets me know what happend during his visit. I'm sorry that y'all have had bad experiences. Best of luck finding a new groomer. __________________ Tigger's dogster http://www.dogster.com/?257308 Bear's dogster: www.dogster.com/?368626. Krystal, John, Tigger and Baby Bear.

01-17-2006, 09:18 AM	#13
ilovemyabbie YT Addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Georgia Posts: 282	I am so sorry the experience wasn't great! or even good for that matter. I haven't heard anything bad about them except on here. I am sure you will find a private one that just suits your fancy. I am looking into opening my own business - only animal lovers should be doing jobs involving animals... that is just what i think anyway! Good Luck __________________ EVERYBODY can do SOMETHING ! A little is MUCH better than NOTHING !!!

01-17-2006, 09:46 AM	#14
Bridget's Mommy YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 263	I'm sorry that you had a bad grooming experience at Petsmart. I took Bridget there once and never went back - AWFUL! It really does take time and experience to find a groomer you are happy with. When we lived in California I tried several and didn't like any of them - one lady in Livermore, CA charged me $45, kept my baby in a cage for 3 hours, gave her a sloppy trim and barely brushed her out and then she got mad when I didn't want her to to put a bow in her hair - all her bows were cheap and ugly! Luckily, the first groomer I tried when I moved to Utah is FANTASTIC. He's a private groomer, does only one dog at a time and is reasonably priced. When you go to a new groomer, make a list of exactly what you expect and show a photo of the cut you want. You're paying good money for the service. You should get exactly what you want! Good luck!

01-17-2006, 11:30 AM	#15
Gizmo423 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 55	PetsMart Grooming I'm sorry you had a bad experience with PetsMart. My mom took her dog there and had a really good groomer, then she took him back and had a bad groomer. So the next time she requested the groomer she had the first time and has used her ever since. When we got Sadie, we took her to the same groomer at PetsMart and are very pleased. She loves these dogs. She hugs and kisses them when they come in and is very patient and gentle with them. I have been so happy with her that I took my yellow lab in and had her groomed. We have been very happy to get all that excess hair out of her. It is so pleasant not to have the hair flying around all the time. So I think it all depends on the groomer you get. I think we might have just gotten lucky with our groomer at PetsMart. Of course, I let my mom go through the pains of finding a groomer because she had Peanut before we got Sadie.