Walmart fish?

Question

Does anyone know for sure what walmart is doing with the fish since most are phasing out fish sales. I would like some sort of proof if you have it.

There is a huge buzz about it over fish forums, and I just got completly bashed for saying that I heard that one store killed them, mind you I never siad it was a fact, just siad what I heard

I just emails walmart asking the question of what they are doing with them, ill be sure to update when I get a response

im sorry, im not asking why they are doing it, im asking what they are doing with the fish

Answer 1

Walmart is phasing out fish because it has become a significant loss item for them in the last several years. For years Walmart lost just a little money on fish, but made it up on the supplies. Now with competition from places like petco and petsmart, they are losing lots of money on fish... too much to make up for in supplies. They won't kill off the fish or anything like that, they will make arrangements with the suppliers to remove any left over fish when they phase that out at each store. It's the same reason all the smaller five and dime stores got out of fish when K-mart came along and why K-mart got out of fish when Wal-mart came along. Purely a matter of profits. I don't have a link or anything for you, but I recall hearing this on a money type news show quite a while back.

MM

Answer 2

Walmart Fish

Answer 3

When the store I work at upgraded to a newer tank system, my fish vendor came and picked up all fish in the tanks (to return to their stock) and gave the store credit for them. When the store relocated, I stopped ordering fish far in advance, and sold all remaining fish at clearance prices. If we stop selling fish at that store (and everything the home office does is always a big secret, even if everyone know about it), it will most likely be a combination of the two.

Also, their truly is no such thing as a Wal-Mart fish. Different stores have different fish vendors. And many of the fish vendors serve other pet stores as well.

Answer 4

Well, to start from the last first, Wal-Mart is not going to answer your email. I am not insulting you, but, this is coming as though it were from their minds, they have better things to do than to answer your trivial little question. Besides, with such a controversial subject, even if they were to answer it, do you really think they would answer it truthfully? My bet is that Wal-Mart is going to do exactly what you said they were going to do with the fish and I think everyone who slammed you for saying that is being unduly defensive or naive. Wal-Mart has been the subject of a huge campaign to stop their abuse toward fish. They have been under investigation for a long time. That is a fact. Instead of treating their fish with respect, they have decided to just not carry them anymore, which I think is, by far, the better choice. For the future fish. For the current fish, they are, most assuredly, doomed. No seller/retailer is going to want to buy them, and with the all the sicknesses and diseases they have, no seller/retailer would even take them for free. It is more than likely that they couldn't give them away if they tried. Wal-Mart has been the subject of so many anti-environmental issues as it is, do all of you really believe that they are going to have any second thoughts whatsoever about pouring out their thousands of gallons of water, along with all the fish, right down the drain? I don't know this for certain, but they've clearly, on so many issues, shown they have no scruples on such things as the environment, selling endangered species of food fish, womens' rights, handicapped individuals' rights, labor relations, healthcare, etc., so why would this issue be any different? I'm sorry if I'm insulting any Wal-Mart employees because I know there are good ones out there, but decisions like this don't come from the employees, they come from those who have already made their two or three billion dollars and the well-being of their crummy little fish are about the farthest thing from their concerns. This contempt, however, is not solely directed at Wal-Mart execs, but all execs everywhere who put the almighty dollar above the happiness, health and well-being of living creatures, humans included.

Answer 5

Walmart is not making many comments, but over 700 stores are stopping the sales of live fish. It could be because of the space being more profitable if they stock something else, but it is most likely due to complaints and surprise inspcetion along with the idea that stores who do get the most complaints don't make money on their fish. Yes, witnesses say that one store just tossed their entire stock of fish in the garbage as an easy way to get rid of them. Luckily my local store will continue selling live fish with the great quality they always have had.

Answer 6

I went to walmart tonight, to buy a betta fish. First of all, the people didn't help me, at all. But anyway, they did tell me that they are discontinuing their fish. I don't know why, they didn't go into detail, but every other time I go in their they have a lot more betta fish. And my friend got one a couple days ago, and there was a lot better of a selection then of the fish and accessories. I didn't end up buying my betta there because I've never had one before, and they didn't help me with buying all the stuff for it.

Answer 7

Simply answered, Mcdonalds in the south sells grits for breakfast while in the midwest they do not.....because of the demand. If your local wal-mart retailer has a demand for fish than they will continue to sell them. They already use this method with other items at wal marts nationwide. If you go to a specific location looking for something and they do not have it but have sold it before they will call another store to locate it. This is due to the fact that the demand at the other store was greater so they are able to continue the item.

As far as the health issue from wal mart fish. It is rediculious to classify a healthy fish as a "Wal-mart fish" or for that matter an unhealthy one. When you visit a wal-mart to purchace fish just be sure to take a look at the tanks, look for fish waste at the bottom of the tank and the number of dead fish in the tanks. While a few dead fish is normal even in the best of fish retailers there should not be more than one or two floating between the tanks. Personaly I would price check before shopping for fish at wal-mart though, for example. I purchaced an Albino oscar from Wal-mart and about 20 rosy red feeders. After visiting Petco which is closer for me i found that I saved about $5 by going to wal-mart for the oscar but the rosy reds are only $0.10 a piece at Petco compared to wal marts $0.28 a piece.

Answer 8

I was just at my local walmart. They had 5 Betta's on the shelf, 4 were female. I was "browsing" aka listening to the sales person sell the Betta fish. She said feed your fish 2 times a day= 6 pellets a day. She handed her a tiny package, so that the customer would have to buy more. I have a question, WHY does walmart sell bettas in BLUE water? Is this normal!? Why is it blue, I'm confused, someone e-mail me please and tell me! and there was a whole bunch of Black things floating in the Betta's jar, ew! I have no interest in ever owing a Betta from walmart. I got my Betta from petco. I got most of my supplies for 15-30% less of the cost from walmart. I love walmart for supplies but not fish. Their tank fish actually looked clean today. there were no dead fish floating, but they prob. took them out. But I feed my Betta every other day, but then again people have so many diff. ways its crazy! I am glad walmart is not going to sell fish anymore, but i hope they still sell supplies for cheap people like me!

Answer 9

I hope they do to be honest, I hate getting fish there. I have tired on several occasions and they end up just dying in a matter of weeks, I just now go to a fish store for them, they might be a little more expensive but at least they live.

Answer 10

Our Wal Mart still sells fish. When and where did you hear of this. Granted most fish I ever bought from there died soon afterwards. Now I go to the pet store when I do buy any.