VENT, buying a goldfish, need to be 18?????

[jme829]

SO dd10 was saving up for a goldfish....a plain old everday goldfish...I was doing some stuff around the house, so DD16 drove dd10 up to the local pet store to get one.

5 minutes later they are back (we live just down the street) . They asked dd16 for her I.D. (which she had) and refused to sell her the goldfish because she is not 18...

I had to take dd10 back up to get the stupid thing . Now a dog, a cat, a ferret, a lizard...yeah I can see...but a freaking goldfish? It's not a pirannha for cripes sakes...its a goldfish...

They said it was because it was a live animal.

SO dd is old enough to drive and hold a job, but cannot buy a fish...


Okkaaayyy then..

 

[rgf207]

I think some of these rules are out of hand.

The thing that really annoys me is having them take all information off my Driver's License to buy NyQuil.

When I'm really sick and need meds It really makes me mad to have to sit there while they fill out this form for NyQuil

 

[Jennasis]

SO dd10 was saving up for a goldfish....a plain old everday goldfish...I was doing some stuff around the house, so DD16 drove dd10 up to the local pet store to get one.

5 minutes later they are back (we live just down the street) . They asked dd16 for her I.D. (which she had) and refused to sell her the goldfish because she is not 18...

I had to take dd10 back up to get the stupid thing . Now a dog, a cat, a ferret, a lizard...yeah I can see...but a freaking goldfish? It's not a pirannha for cripes sakes...its a goldfish...

They said it was because it was a live animal.

SO dd is old enough to drive and hold a job, but cannot buy a fish...


Okkaaayyy then..

My guess is that anyone under 18 must have a parents permission (i.e WITH them) before being allowed to purchase a live animal. Otehrwise you could have a rash of underage kids running in and buying animals they aren't allowed to have and the animal gets flushed or mistreated/neglected. Orrrr you get sickos like my neighbors kids who bought lizards and fish from the pet store and dropped firecrackers into the bowl or ties firecrackers to them.

Sick folks out there.

Glad your son got his fish though!

 

[jme829]

My guess is that anyone under 18 must have a parents permission (i.e WITH them) before being allowed to purchase a live animal. Otehrwise you could have a rash of underage kids running in and buying animals they aren't allowed to have and the animal gets flushed or mistreated/neglected. Orrrr you get sickos like my neighbors kids who bought lizards and fish from the pet store and dropped firecrackers into the bowl or ties firecrackers to them.

Sick folks out there.

Glad your son got his fish though!

Well I guess I can understand that, and like I said for dogs, cats, etc...I don't see the problem with needing to be 18...

But really, for a goldfish, that is probably going to be dead by the end of the week anyways (they picked out a feeder fish.. not some of the more exotic ones..) I really don't see the point.

And really, there are some sick "adults" out there too, so I'm not sure what the 18 age requirement is going prevent..kwim??


Oh well, dd has her fish, she's happy (at least until we end up having to flush the thing)...

 

[Green Tea]

I'd worry more about an 18 year old fraternity boy would do with that goldfish than what a little kid could do.

 

[Jennasis]

Well I guess I can understand that, and like I said for dogs, cats, etc...I don't see the problem with needing to be 18...

But really, for a goldfish, that is probably going to be dead by the end of the week anyways (they picked out a feeder fish.. not some of the more exotic ones..) I really don't see the point.

And really, there are some sick "adults" out there too, so I'm not sure what the 18 age requirement is going prevent..kwim??


Oh well, dd has her fish, she's happy (at least until we end up having to flush the thing)...

I sure do know what you mean. But kids SHOULD have to have permission before buying a pet of any kind. Even if it is just a fish. JMHO of course!

 

[WriteDisney]

Well I guess I can understand that, and like I said for dogs, cats, etc...I don't see the problem with needing to be 18...

But really, for a goldfish, that is probably going to be dead by the end of the week anyways (they picked out a feeder fish.. not some of the more exotic ones..) I really don't see the point.

Watch out! DFiance won (or paid for after losing several times) this goldfish at a fair for me.. 4 years later he's still alive and kicking. I hope he makes it to his fifth birthday next September

 

[disney1990]

Speaking of Goldfish living a long time, read this story. It's amazing!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101468.html

 

[ckay87]

I think it's a good policy. Sorry. I'm just a real softie when it comes to critters.

 

[dakcp2001]

I think it's a good policy. Sorry. I'm just a real softie when it comes to critters.

I have to agree with you! I agree with the store and their policy.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I think it's a good policy. Sorry. I'm just a real softie when it comes to critters.

I have to agree with you! I agree with the store and their policy.

I'm glad it's not just me. I agree with this policy, as well.

 

[bookgirl]

I think that the petshop had gotten a ton of calls from irate parents who wanted to know why they were selling pets to minors who may not have had parent permmisson to come home with said pet. If that's thier policy then that's thier right.

I agree with the policy.

 

[Rora]

I think it's a good policy. Sorry. I'm just a real softie when it comes to critters.

Agreed.

OP- I do understand your frustration though!

 

[WriteDisney]

Speaking of Goldfish living a long time, read this story. It's amazing!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101468.html

Wow what a great and sad story....It is awesome that the fish lived so long

 

[Carly_Roach]

SO dd10 was saving up for a goldfish....a plain old everday goldfish...I was doing some stuff around the house, so DD16 drove dd10 up to the local pet store to get one.

5 minutes later they are back (we live just down the street) . They asked dd16 for her I.D. (which she had) and refused to sell her the goldfish because she is not 18...

I had to take dd10 back up to get the stupid thing . Now a dog, a cat, a ferret, a lizard...yeah I can see...but a freaking goldfish? It's not a pirannha for cripes sakes...its a goldfish...

They said it was because it was a live animal.

SO dd is old enough to drive and hold a job, but cannot buy a fish...


Okkaaayyy then..

There are really two issues being discussed here, but they both boil down to the same thing: people wanting the government to regulate rather than having to regulate themselves.

The "being 18 to buy a goldfish" is likely because of all the parents who didn't want to have to return any animal that their child bought at a store, even if (or especially if) they told their child that they couldn't have that animal. Their problem is solved if stores put a rule into place stating no one under the age of 18 can buy pets. Now the parent doesn't have to parent anymore. Nice, eh?

I've run into a similar issues recently. Once when I bought an R-rated movie at a self-scan and again when I bought Nyquil at a self-scan. I had to wait for the checkout clerk to clear the screen after she ascertained I was over 18. While I didn't have to give my driver's license for those items, (we only have to do that to buy products containing Pseudoephedrine -- thank you very much Michigan Legislature), it was still a nuisance.

And all because parents think these kinds of rules will make it "safe" for their kids to go in and buy products.

So my point is this: don't blame the store. They don't just abitrarily wake up and decide to limit their sales. They don't care if it's a teenager, child or an adult buying the goldfish; all they care about is selling the dang fish (or movie, or cough syrup).

If you want to get upset with anyone, get upset with the America Public for making the store change their rules. I know the store's an easier target, but you're complaining about the symptom instead of curing the disease.

 

[MissyDVC]

I have to agree with you! I agree with the store and their policy.

Me too

 

[NHdisneylover]

This was the policy way back in the 80s at Woolworths when my friend and I spent the day shopping. I remember becuase we thought it was so funny that the store would not let her buy a goldfish but I had had no problem getting my ears pierced earlier that day (we both had permission BTW). So, it is not a new thing at all.
I agree the stores do this to keep from having to deal with irate parents who would rather blame the store than their child when I child buys an animal without permission.

 

[georgina]

Just had to add - my son's tiny goldfish in a tiny bowl lived over 10 years. Then one day it just jumped out, landed on the floor, and wasn't discovered until hours later. We did not treat it particularly well; changed its water every few weeks or when it looked slimy, but it hung in there for a very long time.