Mine wasn't the best start. In September, I impulse bought my chinchilla, Eddie, from a local pet shop because I felt so sorry for him. He was on his own and the shop didn't seem great with it's mammals (the reptile's were fine but there were three big rabbits in a plastic based hutch thing pet shops sell for one or two rabbits). I got him along with a cage, food, dust, a food dish and a water bottle.
I must admit, I knew NOTHING about Chinchillas, but he was so calm when I held him in the shop and I fell in love. I did my research that night though and went out to buy chews, a dust bath and a nest box the next day. I personally have no problem with the 15 years of having a pet. I look forward to it and I hope he lives a long life. I already owned a Bearded Dragon (who sadly passed away after five wonderful years last week due to tumour that I didn't know about and the vet said I had no way of knowing about) so the length of his lifespan didn't bother me, and I adore him.
I agree that those that mistreat their chinchillas are awful, but not every story that starts out with someone buying a pet they don't know anything about ends badly. I mean, does this guy look like he's mistreated?