CountryMax - Oswego

Jay Thomas

2024-06

Great store in terms of range of products, plants, pet department staff and exotic pets and food / bedding and customer service..However, this is the worst workplace for the employees. Corporate does not care for its employees, cuts hours severely if things aren't going the way they want and despite a struggling staff that's UNDERstaffed and UNDERtrained / prepared they threaten to cut hours and no longer allow new hires, overworking and stressing out the current staff without a care. Miscommunication and pressure to do better by corporate meanwhile hounding staff, taking away 10-15 minute breaks even if you're working 8 hours, not notifying employees until they come in that their schedules are changed in any capacity. Store has a history of entire staff quitting within a certain amount of time due to working conditions, corporate, disorganization and uncleanliness. Despite staff trying their best, it's never enough and front desk employees are blamed for 90% of the stores problems despite excellent customer service and extra work. When problems are reported to corporate about working staff nothing gets done about those people reported and unproblematic employees get targeted.

Gabriela Mankowski

2024-05

Kieran and Ashton both helped me so much during my visit to the store today! Both had amazing costumer service and were beyond helpful! 10/10 experience because of them!

Pamela Whaley

2024-02

Apparently management came in fired everyone that been there awhile.. currently all new employees... not confident, not helpful, they do not know any of the products.. I asked for shavings.. 3 of them asked if that was grain.. cashier had no communication skills.. and lacked confidence. You have not prepared these new employees at all and have set them up to fail. I have ran into pass/ fired employees at other stores.. wondering why they got let go when the store was actually running smoothly

Medusa Maire

2020-06

Great place! Always helpful staff! All of the animal necessities and more in one place. Have been there many times and will be back again. There is so much from garden supplies to animals to clothes and much more. One of my favorite places to shop. Very clean and well organized store. I suggest everyone check this place out!

Destiny Southward

2024-05

I was in Looking at rats and 1 little guy was missing an eye. He was plucked from the fancy tank and put in the feeding tank so they could sell him at full price. Absolutely disgusting.

Dev14 Andyep

2024-02

Worst pet store ever , has only gone down hill over the years , animals in the cages are sick looking and look unhappy . Managers are no help what so ever , workers are pushed to theyre limit and feel like theyre only way to make this job work is to leave and not come back . Very disappointing and will never recommend or shop at Oswego Country Max again .

Margaret Battoe

2023-09

Have shopped at this store for years md gotten everything for my dogs, bunny and reptiles it's about 200 dollars a week I spend here. After calling about a problem today and brie giving me a it's not my problem attitude I'll go back to ordering my stuff online from chewy.

Jimmy Savage

2024-04

Mostly rude staff! Karen after Karen's here! Either be happy or be a Debbie Downer at home!

Cindy Mulcahey

2023-07

As I entered Country Max store this afternoon not a one of the workers greeted me nor did they ask 😑 if I needed help, there were 2 ladies standing behind the registers no they were not waiting on any customers!! I proceeded with my little doggy to the leashes and harnesses found what I was looking for, I went up to cash out before I cashed out I asked the cashier lady if she could help me to tighten up the harness she said in a nasty voice that she didn't know how to.I cashed out anyways, I won't be back at Oswego Country Max

Carol Hammond

2023-09

Love coming here. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. We have multiple pets and get their stuff here.

MaxMan Reptiles

2021-06

I have purchased two little chicken houses, and then they custom-made a similar house for me for my African crested porcupine.Not only is the quality of construction excellent, it was also done a timely manner.The in-store staff was extremely helpful in assisting me for the ordering, the Custom Concept, and loading it onto my trailer when it was ready to go.Absolutely impressed with the staff from the Oswego store, and the staff of the Woodshop. Definitely will be a repeat customer!

fuzz marshmallow

2020-06

Amazing experience. The associates were very knowledgeable and confident when I left with my 55 gallon aquarium tank that day I couldn't have happier. I now go back weekly to catch up and check out the new inventory along with order fish for my tank.

Photon Tom

2022-06

My 2 year old grandson inadvertently broke a $40 glass globe in the store today. Before I could stop him, he picked it up, it slipped from his hands, hit the floor and broke. The manager was concerned about whether anyone got hurt. I offered to pay for the item and he said that it wouldn’t be necessary; he was just concerned that no one was hurt. I very much appreciate the concern and kindness shown by him. We love CountryMax and shop there frequently. Thank you again for the way you handled the situation. We’ll be back (hopefully without a wrecking ball!).

John Haas

2019-06

Store is wonderful. Very clean, helpful, friendly staff. It's a cross between a pet shop and a farm store. They carry the Fox Farm brand soils and fertilizer. Small pets, reptiles, amphibian, rodents, spiders along with the food and habitat that they require. Dog and cat food/toys.It really is a one stop pet and garden store. My daughter loves the place.

Haley Maslona

2021-06

When visiting the aquarium section do not rely on a female staffer named Rebecca. She showed complete disrespect towards the customer and disregarded what customer had to say. I was simply trying to buy fish for a new tank and with lack of knowledge allowed myself to purchase warm water fish for a cold tank. Her instructions where to simply acclimate them. Next morning I arose to 2 dead fish and 2 dead snails. When asked for a refund I was given a yes from another staff member but then Rebecca came in and turn down my refund automatically. If you wish to purchase fish do not rely on this staff member for assistance.

Kay H.

2022-06

Loved this store even though they are a little pricey, they always have cute stuff. The husband stopped today to get LIVE BAIT as advertised out front. He was told they are out and have been for three months and don't know even they are getting any more . You'd think they would remove the sign from out front so people might not waist their time!!

Kaylee La Spisa

2020-06

Awesome store, awesome staff, awesome selection and great prices. Fish tanks are clean & well cared for, and the same goes for the rest of their live animals. Super super great staff who are passionate about what they do and offer great advice. Awesome fish stock and are able to order different stuff.

D-T-J

2021-06

Absolutely the worst customer service I have ever seen in retail. We started shopping 30 minutes before close, and took a cart full of merchandise out to the nursery area to pick up a few more plants before checking out. One employee made eye contact with us as we were going out the door, and there were half a dozen other people shopping outside at the time. A few minutes later when we tried to go inside to check out, we found that they had locked the door behind us and closed the store, so we had to abandon a cart full of merchandise outside the store (including several temperature-sensitive indoor plants) and leave. There was no intercom announcement warning that they were getting ready to close, and not a single employee tried to notify those of us who were shopping in the nursery that the store had already closed. The employees were definitely aware that there were customers still shopping outside...as one of the other customers approached the door with their plants to checkout, an employee stood inside the door shaking his head and gesturing with his hand across his throat, but he made no attempt to notify the other customers in the nursery area. That customer ended up doing the employees' job for them and walked around the nursery telling the other shoppers that the store had closed & locked everyone out. I would strongly suggest that the employees learn to use the intercom for something other than screaming bizarre noises and meme-y expressions, and make a "store closing" announcement instead.

Deborah Arden

2020-06

Great store, loaded with a huge variety of awesome products! However, I will travel a little farther to shop at a different location. Today's customer service at the Oswego store was very poor. Tried to purchase pine bark nuggets, they rung up the wrong item and did absolutely nothing to right the sale. I asked for a refund and left, and not once did anyone care to make the proper sale. Clerk told me they were out of them, yet I saw a huge pile of the product in the yard, and the yard worker saw the product, as well. Lame.Picked up the same product at the other end of town.Thank you, very little.

Paul Colloca

2019-06

The pet department is phenomenal. I am so happy to feel welcomed there. If I need something they are always right there waiting to help. 90% of the time they come up to me and ask before I get a chance to ask for help first. I cant say enough about how well I get treated there. I'm in here about every day and especially Chris already knows my name because they take their time to get to know their customers . Great job Country Max I'm proud to be a customer there.

Noah Christensen

2019-06

First off, the store is beautiful and the staff was helpful despite the new opening chaos at the store. They have a great selection of pet supplies including a fish and reptile section but it must be noted that their prices on fish livestock are 40+% higher than other competition in Cicero for example (Also note their 24 hr livestock guarantee.. this is sad). But for the Oswego area, it’s a breath of fresh air. Also, they have a massive Dog section, lots of toys, specialty foods and whatnot... but if you’re a cat owner, the store is underwhelming. Barely one isle for everything feline and the prices aren’t anything special either.

James Lalande

2019-06

The staff is very friendly and the bully sticks are reasonably priced. I just can't give 5 stars because their floor is polished concrete and is not really accommodating for pets. My dog slipped in there last week and injured her hip. So now I am leery about bringing her back in.

Emily Fellers

2019-06

I go into this country max every week or so to stock up on crickets and dog treats and it’s honestly one of the highlights of my week. I love getting to see what new critters the store has in and the staff is always very friendly and you can tell they love working with the animals and what they do.Chris in particular has been great at giving me advice for my pets and what’s best to get them to keep my furry(and scaly) babies happiest!

Thomas Nunez Smith

2023-06

The staff is amazingly friendly and so very helpful. We look forward to our regular trips there as we know it’s always going to be a great experience.

Kyle Harris

2021-06

Friendly & helpful staff... Good prices... Would have given 5 ⭐ but they lost my frequent buyer card and I only had 2 more purchases to go! 😠 They seriously need to get with the times and put their frequent buyer info into a computer and NOT on an index card to be misfiled and/or LOST!

LoftyJon

2019-06

Great experience and selection of animals along with reptiles. The associate was very accommodating and patient with me and my kids! They have a very large selection of supplies and food for what appears to be any animal.

Will Jimenez

2022-06

The staff was really welcoming and friendly to ppl not from around here. I likes this place. the kids had fun seeing all the animals they have there.

Stephanie Waggoner

2021-06

Store is very clean. The animals look healthy and well taken care of when we saw them. Prices on most items are reasonable. Staff was helpful.

Christopher Vezzose (Mourn)

2019-06

Absolutely will never go to this place again. Bought my niece a ghourami and an oscar for her birthday, well the first set of fish died over night, so we had them replace'em, well turns out the replacement fish had ick and infected the rest of my neices tank and all country max wants to say is "well sometimes their just sick" if a fish is sick or any animal for that matter you do not sell them to your consumers, you fix the problem, to make sure it doesnt happen again

Kaela Leavens

2022-06

Employee, Bobby was locking doors because of closing time, and he let us in to pick out the fish we came for. Kids and family very much appreciated it. Thank you Bobby.