Whether you are a first time visitor to our site or a veteran internet shopper, the staff of WhichPetstore.com want you to feel secure with your experiences. Therefore, we have compiled the following questions and answers. If you do not see your question here, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to receiving your questions.

ABOUT WHICHPETSTORE.COM

WhichPetstore.com is an online (virtual) directory to the best online pet stores and services. We provide reviews and links to a selected group of pet stores and services (called our Selected Stores). Our goal is to provide you with the best, safest, most reliable online pet stores so that you and your pet may enjoy a safe, simple shopping experience.

Many times, when people are looking for a particular store (whether online or offline), they pose the question with the word which in it. For instance: At which petstore can I buy a scratching post for my cat? At which petstore can I buy a new cage for my parakeet? At which petstore can I buy food for my pet ferret?

WhichPetstore.com is basically a shortened version of such questions. And, throughout the site, we provide the answers. We think it makes us pretty unique. Not many websites pose their name in a question form and answer the question right within the site.

In July 2001, we launched a similar project, WhichDrugstore.com. And, in the future, we shall research and coordinate more Which websites.

WhichPetstore.com is neither owned nor operated by a pet store, or any pet-related business. We are operated, maintained, and managed by the e-Services division of Anakena.com, a leading provider of e-Healthcare and e-Services. WhichPetstore.com operates independently from the pet stores and services listed in our directory.

WhichPetstore.com sells neither animals nor animal supplies. We are an online directory (guide) of the best online pet stores and service. We are not a store, ourselves.

The terms "Select Store" and "Selected Store" refer to the final selection of pet stores and services that are listed in WhichPetstore.com. The criteria we used to determine our Selected Stores was: website navigation, customer service, secure ordering, and the range, availability, versatility, and prices of products. Using this criteria as a basis, we will continue to research online pet stores and services to ensure that our Select Stores only consist of the best.

While conducting our research of pet stores and services, we discovered some specialty stores with a department or portion of their website devoted to pets and pet supplies. The specialty stores included in our directory offer unique pet products that are not offered at normal pet stores. After all, not everyone is looking for the everyday, run-of-the-mill pet food, toys, or products. By including such specialty stores in our directory, we are expanding the versatility of stores and the products they carry.

No, the staff of WhichPetstore.com are not veterinarians. Therefore, we will not dispense medical advice or tell you what your beloved family member may be suffering from. That's not a job we're prepared to have on our shoulders. In the best interest of your pet's health, please pose any medical questions to a licensed veterinary health-care professional; many of our Select Stores employ licensed veterinarians who are available for such consultations. Or, you may seek advice from your pet's normal veterinarian.

Yes, we publish and distribute the WhichPetstore.com newsletter where we inform you on a periodic basis of the best deals and specials of our Selected Stores. Newsletter registration is optional. In the left-hand navigation bar, you can register by submitting your e-mail address. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time, either directly on the site (left-hand navigation bar) or when you receive one of our newsletters.

We want to remind you that WhichPetstore.com operates independently from the pet stores and services listed in our site. Neither these sites nor any other third party will be allowed, given, or offered your e-mail address. For further assurance, please see our privacy policy.

Our contact information is detailed in contact us. We are anxious to hear your thoughts, questions, comments, and feedback. We are striving to be your best resource for the online purchasing of your pet supplies and products. Your feedback may help us improve our site and services.

As we are eager for you to return to our site, WhichPetstore.com will respect your rights to privacy. Any information submitted to us will be held in the strictest of confidence; we guarantee that we will not release, sell, or lend your information to any other party. We, cannot, however, be held responsible for the privacy policies of other sites connected to our site, nor will our policy apply to other sites. Please read our detailed privacy policy for a better understanding of our guarantee to protect your privacy.

PURCHASING OVER THE INTERNET

We understand your concerns regarding your security when shopping online. This feeling is only natural. And, truth be told, there are both secure and insecure sites out there.

For this reason, secure ordering is one of the criteria in determining our Selected Stores. The pet stores included in our directory utilize the latest encryption software - an industry standard secure sockets layer (SLL) technology and 128-bit security encryption. Such technology prohibits the interception and decoding of information sent during online transactions.

Please read the detailed security policies of our Selected Stores to calm even further your fears of purchasing online. For your safety, we recommend that any online purchases outside of our Selected Stores be done only at reputable sites with the latest encryption software.

One final note - E-mail is not encrypted and therefore, is not considered a secure means of transmitting credit card numbers. This means that purchasing online is, in fact, a more secure means of purchasing than via your personal e-mail!

We, at WhichPetstore.com, feel there is an endless list of reasons for purchasing over the Internet. For starters, purchasing over the internet is convenient; it can be done any time of day from any computer. In fact, you can place an order in pajamas and a mud mask without anyone knowing (except yourself, of course)!

You won't have to get dressed, drive to the mall, search 45 minutes for a parking space, enter the store, search for the items you need, wait in line 1 hour to pay ... Okay, you get the picture, purchasing from the internet is a rapid process that can save you valuable time, and free you from unwanted stress, headaches, and frustration (which, are indirect improvements of your physical well being.)

Another reason is that sometimes, you can even save money. Many websites offer products at prices below retail cost and most have some type of sales/clearance section. Some also offer and accept coupons. Still, others offer bulk discounts on large quantity orders or free shipping on orders over a certain amount. And, of course, if you are experiencing less headaches and stress, you may spend less on medicines!

Websites offer the same large selection and variety of products that an offline store offers. For out-of-stock products, most websites, will ship the product to you as soon as possible, without your having to return to the site. With an offline store, you would have to return to the store to pick up the item.

And, our favorite reasons - large, bulky items, and gifts for family and friends, can be delivered directly to the doorstep; awards programs that provide you with increased savings, free gifts, sample products, and special treatment; and the automatic re-order option - orders can be automatically filled on weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.

It can be. Many sites, including some of our Selected Stores, offer their products at up to 70% below the retail price! This is, of course, prior to any shipping charges or state taxes incurred.

Most websites have some type of sales/clearance section. Some also offer and accept coupons. Still others offer bulk discounts on large quantity orders or free shipping on orders over a certain amount.

While we cannot guarantee, monetary wise, that all of the products you purchase will be cheaper, we do know that the monetary value of the product is not the only factor to consider. You must take into consideration that time is money, and by purchasing over the internet, you save yourself valuable time (which indirectly translates into money).

At first, it may seem frustrating to register with a website. But, when you take into consideration the pluses to registering or having your account with a site, it can be worthwhile.

The first and most important is convenience. By registering and obtaining a user name, your name, address, and shipping information will automatically be retrieved each time you log into the site. As a result, you can benefit from one of more of the following - express check-out, quick-buy option, automatic reorder, items retained in your shopping basket for a certain time period with no obligation to purchase, and a history log of the purchases you've made. Any combination of these benefits allows you a faster, more convenient way to shop.

The second reason is that some sites require personal accounts for their Referral Program. With this program, you may receive credit towards future purchases when you refer a friend or family member to the site. Credit is added to your account if and when the referred person makes a purchase at the site. The referred customer must enter the e-mail address of your personal account in order for you to redeem the credit.

Thirdly, registering with a website allows you the option to receive the site's newsletter informing you of new products and promotions.

Lastly, some websites offer special sales, discounts, and deals only to their registered members.

In most cases, website registration is free. Some websites require you to register prior to finalizing your website purchase. Other websites have an optional registration process.

Prior to registering with a website, we encourage you to read the site's official privacy policy.

Yes, many, but not all sites do offer rewards programs. As with credit cards and airline companies, the reward programs are specific for each company. With some sites, the more you purchase, the more you save, others have a program in which dollars you spend accumulate to be used towards future purchases. If one of our Selected Stores has an established Awards Program, it will be indicated on the Store Details page. We have listed Awards Program underneath the Customer Service section of Website Features.

Well, not always, but it can be. If there should be any concern with purchasing online, it should lie in the purchasing of prescription drugs and medication, both for animals and humans. Our recommendation of making all your online purchases from a reliable, secured site is especially important in the case of prescription drugs. The reliable secured site you purchase your pet's prescription drugs and medication from should possess the proper licensing to sell pet medication in your State. We work closely with numerous reliable online pet pharmacies that sell both prescription and non-prescription pet meds. To view the Selected Stores in our medicines category, please click here

Simply stated - no. Any website that sells prescription drugs and medication for animals require a valid prescription to do so. The sale will not be completed without proper authorization. Some sites will accept a faxed prescription directly from you, others from the prescribing veterinarian. As every online pet pharmacy maintains their own policies, we suggest that prior to ordering, you read and understand the policy regarding prescription requirements of the pharmacy from whom you will be purchasing.

Surprisingly, our research did lead us to websites that sell animals via the internet. Because, WhichPetstore.com is dedicated to pet stores that sell pet products, supplies, and services, not animals, themselves, we have not included sites that sell animals.