Pet Sage Inc

Reviews 4

EM

Emily Little

My rescue pup has a sensitive tummy & before he came to us his foster had him on food that seems to only be available from PetSage, so I made the haul to Alexandria every couple of months. For the first two years, the service was hit & miss - one woman was very polite & always had a bag of kibble in hand as she offered to help me to my car, but most other times I got verbal or body language attitude. About 2 years ago, we moved further away, so I started buying larger quantities when I made the now 30-mile drive. After a couple of instances of the store not having in stock the four 12-packs of canned food that would get us through 4-5 months to match the 30 pound bags of kibble that we purchased, thus my having to make an extra trip, I decided to call ahead this Saturday toward the end of business hours to verify their inventory met my needs so that I knew whether to plan to make the trip Tuesday morning when they reopened. It did & the woman I spoke to offered to pull my order to the back, which I gladly accepted. Unfortunately, Tuesdays weather forced me to cancel my morning plans due to road conditions (it took 3 hours for my husband to commute 10 miles). I was able to get to Alexandria Thursday after work...... I walked in & was warmly greeted & responded in kind. I indicated that I had called Saturday & that the person Id spoken with had pulled my items to the back, so I was asked my last name, which I gave but indicated that I didnt remember being asked for my last name when I had called. She came back & said that my items hadnt been pulled because I hadnt given my last name. I rather gently reminded her that I hadnt been asked for my last name. She snorted in reply "well, you could have GIVEN your last name." I inhaled & exhaled & proceeded toward the back of the store to begin gathering what I needed (a total of four 30 pound bags in 2 separate flavors & four 12-packs of cans). She went through the stock room & was at my side a few moments later. I noticed that there were only three 12-packs of cans on the shelf & asked if there were any more in the stock room because I needed 4 (though I knew in my head I was two days later than Id expected when I called, so three might be all that was available). Susanna replied very snottily "what we have is here, so youre GETTING three." Right then & there I decided I was done with PetSage. I explained to her that I was not happy with her attitude about my getting three cases, but she didnt understand why I had any right to be frustrated and included "well you could have GIVEN (her emphasis) your last name" in her reply again (Id made no further mention of the phone call). Because of our dogs sensitivities I dont want to switch his food in rapid fashion, so I purchased half my current traditional amount to give us 2 months to figure out a new brand that will work for our boys digestive system at another store. Suffice it to say that check-out didnt improve her customer service, further solidifying my decision. While I strongly believe in patronizing small businesses, common courtesy & mutual respect are basic tenets of commerce which I am not willing to sacrifice. While I appreciated the offer to pull the items I called to check the status of, it is not my fault that I wasnt asked for my last name when I called. After leaving this store multiple times in the past questioning if they valued their customers, todays experience was finally the straw that broke the camels back.

---

KE

Kevin Johnson

Im not sure if the reviewers who say they got poor service here went to the same store Ive been visiting since 2004. I credit the product and service here in part for the long, healthy life of both my pets, and I will continue to come here as long as I live in northern Virginia. First, yes, prices are higher than the chain stores because they sell high quality product. If you arent interested in feeding your pet good quality foods, I strongly encourage you to reconsider. It make a huge difference. They watch closely the product itself and the companies who produce them. If a formula changes and they can not get a reasonable explanation as to why or what the new ingredients they wont carry the brand. We found pet sage when our dog was a puppy and our vet was struggling to find a cause. The staff here got engaged and invested. When we figured out it was food allergies they helped us find the right dog food and treats and they continue to this day to help us with whatever question we have, even to the mundane behavioral ones. Give them a shot. Be prepared to pay more, but know its quality. Dont be afraid to ask questions. And if youve had a bad experience try them again.

---

A

A Private User

My husband and I stopped in to inquire about an on-going issue with our calico who had a long suffered from a frequent vomiting problem which had recently escalated to multiple times a day. Over the years Id taken our kitty to 3 vets without a clear diagnosis. Our latest vet was working very closely with us thinking it may be a dietary issue causing fur to get stuck in her system. Within minutes of talking with the owner at PetSage she immediately advised to get our kitty off of the dry food (entirely!) and switch to high quality canned/wet food. The rationale being that as desert-based animals, cats need to get water from their food (not just a water bowl). While our girl turned her nose up at the canned food at first (change is hard!), she now gets crazy excited about her canned food, her energy level has increased, and best of all -- her vomiting problem has virtually disappeared!!! Shes gone from vomiting 2-4 times a day to less than once every 6 weeks or so -- and its only been a couple months on the new food. Shes even lost a bit of weight (although she wasnt heavy, just a bit of a belly pudge). PetSage knows there stuff and truly saved our little calico girl!

---

AN

Anita

As noted by a previous reviewer, I gave this place several chances. The owner is unfailingly rude. It baffles me how anyone has had a positive experience with her, because she has always had the same attitude toward me over the years. I have only shopped there when I need something unusual (maybe once or twice a year), or on the very rare occasions that I completely run out of food and dont have time to drive out to Fairfax. Since I expect her to be comically hostile, rolling her eyes, sighing, and making condescending remarks, she never disappoints. Obviously, shes a savvy businesswoman, because she has a niche market and courts local veterinarians for a constant stream of referrals. If youre willing to put in the time, you can find what you need elsewhere, but you have to do some digging. If you want to take her abuse and high prices, its more convenient to shop there.

---

---