I think this all comes down to the free market & ones ability to maintain a proper inventory to make money.

Just as I support Office Plus, I won't hide from the fact there are items I can't get @ the store and will get them from OfficeMax, however that tends to lean more on the technology side.

Wee Fishie is one of the only pet stores in town and will need to "step it up" and compete with Petco by offering a different variety of products, or as some mention, relocate downtown where they can cater to the 'anti-valley' crowd. (yes, they exist, I know people who even refuse to go out to Walmart/Freddies/Costco). But saying a business should pack up & move is a lot easier for all of us to type than actually perform... it would be quite the capital intensive move for them.

Don Abel, AIH, and Western Auto are still in business despite having a massive Home Depot here, so I think there's room as long as businesses are able to carve out a niche.

Wee Fishie will be fine, If they are a little more, I'll pay it because of their expertise. If Wee Fishie doesn't have something I need, sure I'll go to Petco.

It's really shouldn't be a huge deal. Folks who shop at Fred Meyer for pet food because of the convenience of one-stop shopping will likely continue to do so, and the same holds true for Wee Fishie loyalists. Petco brings an expansion of choice to our town, and that is always a good thing when talking about free markets. It also brings entry level retail jobs and likely philanthropic giving back to the community.

Do you know how many pet items I have ordered online because they aren't available in town or were WAY overpriced? The answer is - a lot!

Shopping at Petco means tax dollars that go back into the community for goods and services, and a brick and mortar store to deal with when you have return or customer service issues.

We'll likely hear the same doom and gloom over OfficeMax competing with Office Plus. Again - it keeps retailers honest and is great for consumers. Ultimately - it bodes well for out town.

Its the same way everywhere, big fish eats little fish. The little guy can survive, maybe become a niche store with very personal service. When Home Depot arrived everyone said Don Abels would be gone. They're still here.

I always try to support local businesses over the big chains. This helps keeps diversity in town. I also look for and by USA or Alaskan made products over things made in china etc..

Big chain stores suck. They use to much energy.

It feels like all of you people whining about prices are new to Juneau or something. Of course everything is more expensive at the local stores rather than the big chains. Ever go to Superbear and compare your bill for the same stuff at Wal-Mart? Try it sometime. That doesn't mean Wee Fishie is "ripping you off". My dog is the biggest problem child in the world. You have no idea. Every time I go to Wee Fishie I have a nice chat with whomever is working and they give me advice on how to better my dog for FREE instead of buying products at their store. They'll be getting my business no matter how much cheaper Petco is. No need to have Wee Fishie go out of business and then have Petco bail out leaving us with nothing. I'll pay an extra ten bucks for my dog's special food, no problem.

To me, going to Petco is like going to Wal*Mart. I would NEVER buy grocery store brand food for my dogs; they deserve better. Not food with fillers, by-products and stuff that causes cancer in them. My dogs deserve the best my money can buy and I will never buy anything from Petco. Wee Fishie Shoppe will always be my "go to" pet store.

You can easily get 100 bags of the fish food I buy in a one foot diameter box and it would weigh less than 10 lbs. If the difference in price between WF and Petco is $6 for the exact same fish food, it's a simple math equation. 100 bags x $6 = $600. I can tell you for sure it doesn't cost $600 to mail a box that size of non-perishable packaged fish food. I could deal with a couple of bucks difference but it's insane to more than double the price of something simply because you can and take advantage of people because they have no choice. In the end, that practice cost them customers who have been anxiously awaiting competition and have tired of that attitude. They are very nice guys though and it's too bad they didn't figure out that overpricing has cost them some customers.

Yes, I am being ripped off when I know that I can get 100 bags of the exact fish food I buy in a box that is a foot in diameter and have it weigh less than 10 lbs. It's a simple math equation. 100 x the $6 difference in price = $600. I can tell you that it doesn't cost $600 to mail a box that size of pre-packaged vacuum-packed fish food that is non-perishable. To more than double the price of something IS ripping people off. A lot of residents are growing tired of local businesses overpricing goods and services because they can and because we don't have "options." They are very nice guys who have worked hard and done well but I can't support a mentality that takes advantage of people.

Since Petco allows there customers to bring in pets.. the parking lot is gonna be filled with "Yellow Snow", or doggy treasure .

I have shopped at Petco down south and found their underage, ill informed, uncommitted staff unacceptable. When you pay minimum wage, train on the job anyone who can complete a job application, and show up for work.... you get what you pay for at Petco.
At We Fishie "E" and Andy are fully invested in quality customer service. They are well informed and experienced and employ staff who are committed to the same excellent customer service that they, themselves provide. Paying a little extra is well worth it to me in exchange for all the quality and accuracy provided at We Fishie.
If I took the advice of the last three teenaged Petco clerks I interacted with, my pet would have died. He has a very special diet that must be executed with care. Each of the three previous Petco clerks giving advice gave such conflicting advice as to destroy credibility of everyone in the store, competent or not !!
If "E" and Andy want to move their store out to Echo Cove, I would still make the trip and pay the extra bucks just to avoid Petco.
Additionally, with respect to the city's "Look local first" campaign..... the vast majority of the money spent in Petco will leave the state. "E" and Andy work, live, volunteer and play in Juneau (with the exception an occassional well earned Hawaii trip !!). They pay property taxes, invest in the community, spend money here almost every day of the year and provide a service to the community that Petco can NEVER match !!! I am a We Fishie die hard no matter what anyone finds to criticize in my post !!!

IceQueen, how does Petco=Puppy Mills? They don't sell puppies, they have given over 34 million dollars to animal rescue agencies, and the only dogs you'll be able to take home from their stores are dogs available from a local animal shelter that Petco is donating their space to. Why would you post an irresponsible statement like that? Even the weirdos at PETA have endorsed Petco after they mutually reached an agreement that Petco would never sell large parrots.

There IS a local business (not wee fishee) that buys and sells puppies from documented puppy mills, why don't you tell some truth about them instead of making up lies about Petco?

Concerned, I cannot speak to anything beyond fish, but I have not seen the well informed bit of which you speak. I have been called to rescue many dying tanks that have followed their instructions to a tee. People bought their entire system directly from Wee Fishie and it was designed by them. It was wholly defecient and in no way designed to maintain life, let alone mimic the nutural environment as is needed for vibrant life. Fish can live through a lot, but it takes a quality system for them to thrive. They can barely keep them alive. Petco really wont be light years ahead, though, but hopefully a little competition and a nationally visible owner who is constantly on PETAs radar will force everyone to improve. Oh, and here is a free tip for you. I dont care if Wee Fishie says you fish will live in harmony together, if they currently are or ever in their life cycle will be large enough to fit the other fish in their mouth, they will eat them. Vegetarian or not. just one of the more common misconceptions i hear attributed to Wee Fishie. "But they told me that Goldie wouldnt hurt anyone and would live peacefully with Small Fry!" Not...