Pet stores are your best bet for finding live animals ranging from pocket rodents such as hamsters to larger mammals like dogs. There are instances when particular animals stay in the store for several weeks without anyone buying until they disappear one day.

This article answers the question “What Happens to Hamsters That Don’t Get Sold?” by looking at the typical process national and local store chain stores follow to get rid of hamsters that remain unsold for long periods.

We also reveal how anyone can lay their hands on one of these “undesired” hamsters for next to nothing especially if they were born with some form of deformity. Let’s dive straight in.

What Happens to Hamsters That Don’t Get Sold?

Hamsters that don’t sell remain on the store’s shelves until someone snaps them up but their price is typically reduced by up to 25 percent weekly. Store chains may transport unsold animals to another branch with higher demand. At some point, these unsold animals may be made available for free adoption or sold as cheap as $1.

If you’ve noticed particular hamsters left unsold for long periods in your local store, it is only a matter of time before these tactics are employed.

1. Weekly Discounts

Most hamsters in pet stores are brought in at 4-6 weeks old and typically get sold within the first 2-3 weeks. However, stores begin to pay attention when particular ones keep getting rejected by consumers until desperation sets in.

In their bid to get rid of those hamsters, pet stores may offer weekly discounts that can be as much as 25 percent. This often gets the job done as most customers are thrilled to snap a hamster for under $10 when the typical price in the store is $15.

2. Transportation to a Local Branch

Sales in some branches are generally slower than others and often, local pet store chains and even national brands like PetSmart and Petco move live animals around when necessary to secure their sale. So, hamsters that may have kept too long in a certain branch could be transported to another with higher demand.

The results can be instant, with previously rejected ones getting snapped up by buyers in the new location within a few days.

3. Emotional Captions

Have you ever been moved to spontaneously order a hamster or another live animal after seeing an emotional caption such as “All My Siblings Got Bought and I’m All Alone”? Well, it’s because such attention-seeking methods are effective.

Many pet stores put up emotionally appealing captions and similar variations when certain hamsters have been at the venue for far too long. In most cases, this attracts a new set of eyes to the little guys and often, somebody feels the need to buy them.

Free Adoption

It is not uncommon for pet stores to offer hamsters nobody seemingly wants for free when they’ve been on their shelves for far too long. They may simply advertise free adoption to prospective buyers or even hamster food customers to get the particular animals out of their care.

In other instances, unsold animals may be given to local pet charities with good track records of rehoming.

Pet stores are forced to do this because it allows them to get rid of animals they’re otherwise forced to feed and spend money to care for. Offering them for free absolves them of the costs of care which can eat into their profits.

Complimentary Gift For Hamster Cage Purchases

Pet stores may offer live hamsters as complimentary gifts for customers that purchase certain supplies including cages and breeder tanks. These pocket rodents are often those that have spent a lot of time in the stores without attracting buyers.

Offering the unsold animals as gifts helps plug some rodent accessories quickly while getting rid of “burdensome” animals. It’s a smart strategy that allows them to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Reasons Why Consumers May Reject Certain Hamsters

Hamsters are some of the most popular pets in North America and demand is typically high. Here are the top reasons why live hamsters may remain unsold in pet stores for long periods.

Birth Defects

Hamsters are adorable little pets that bring a ray of sunlight into many homes but unfortunately, a few may be born with birth defects. It is not uncommon to find hamsters that are blind or missing valuable body parts like paws in stores.

These furry babies tend to have special needs and require round-the-clock care. With many of us stuck with ultra-busy lives, finding the time to provide the level of care required can be impossible so passing up the opportunity to purchase them may be the smartest choice.

Weird Looks

We may be used to hamsters looking a certain way but not all of them are born with a conventional appearance. When these little guys appear somewhat different, many would-be hamster parents tend to reject them.

For instance, pet stores may struggle to sell hairless breeds due to their lack of fur. Seeing hairless hamsters for the first time can be intriguing or scary depending on how you take it and passing up the chance to buy one is only logical.

DNA Issues

Have you ever seen an albino hamster? The probability of opting for a more “normal” breed over one of those can be high unless you’re extremely adventurous. Albinism is a genetic defect resulting from mutations that inhibit the body’s ability to produce melanin.

With features such as extremely pale eyes, skin, and fur, albinos may not be many people’s idea of what a pet hamster should look like. Pet stores could struggle to sell them compared to others with more “normal” looks.

Seasonality

The live pets business can be quite seasonal since most folks make more purchases in the summer than in other parts of the year. Hamsters in pet stores may remain unsold for longer periods during non-peak seasons which can force the stores to come up with innovative ways to flog them.

Conclusion: What Happens to Hamsters That Don’t Get Sold?

Hamsters that remain unsold may be re-offered to consumers with huge discounts and in most cases, the prices keep dropping weekly until somebody buys them. Pet stores can also offer the live hamsters as complimentary gifts for cage or accessory purchases or even transport them to other branches with higher demand.

Hamsters born with birth defects typically spend more time in stores because finding someone to commit enough time and resources to their care is not easy. Hairless and albino hamsters may also struggle to attract buyers due to their less conventional looks.