Although a refund policy might not matter onced you've bonded with your ferret, it is an important protection against purchasing a ferret who may have an unnoticed problem that appears soon after, worms, mites, internal & external infections, blockages, etc. From calling almost every pet store from Los Vegas to Phoenix I also found that some are definately price gouging I suspect when dealing with out of state purchasers, Los Vegas stores where asking 2 to 3 times what stores in Arizona wanted for a ferret w/ basic supplies. Most stores may offer some type of health assurance, but not all. It is a minor point, but something to keep in mind if you have to travel to purchase a ferret. [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1588]