OT: A little venting

[robb]

I stopped at a LFS today and I see a guy walking around with one of the workers. I heard him say "well it's a salt tank... I know that!" (shrugging his shoulders) He was obviously uneducated in fish keeping. Well I went about checking out what they had in stock. About 5 minutes later I see the guy paying for something so I head up to see what he got. He had it in a bag and was on his way out so I couldn't see what he had. So I turn to the worker and ask him what he bought. He told me he bought the 6"Achilles Tang they had and a fire fish. I asked the worker about what size tank that guy had and he said "i don't know". At that point I said "that tang requires a pretty good size tank" Then the kids responce was "yeah I hope he has at least a 50g!"
I know there are people that know what they are talking about at some LFS's. Why can't I find any?
Rant over.
Stepping down off my SB.

 

[tigerlover]

I thought i had found a good place too but it turns out they only learn enough to make money some people r so ignorant

 

[mishka]

It seems that just when you think you have an honest and knowledgeable LFS, you see or hear of something bad happening.

 

[tigerlover]

I wish I could disagree

 

[polarpooch]

Come on now, it's a business. They are there to sell you fish and supplies and turn a profit doing it. It's not the responsibility of the LFS to make sure the guy had a big enough tank, or if his water is good or anything else--that's the customer's responsibility (and I'll bet the customer knew what he was doing already). And as for the kid working there, it's a LOT harder to find good help than you think, especially when the wage is $9-$10 bucks an hour. It's the same reason my favorite LFS asked ME to help out there. I'm certainly no "expert", I'm just a hobbyist. But the pool of applicants was a little more than marginal...and I live in a smart city.
Think about this, online fish stores don't ask what size your tank is, and no one ever complains about that.
If you are really bothered by what happened, talk to the employee in question...or talk to the owner of the store. You just might get a good response. And realize not everyone you're going to encounter in the hobby is going to be Bob Fenner or Julian Sprung.

 

[tigerlover]

Originally posted by polarpooch
Come on now, it's a business. They are there to sell you fish and supplies and turn a profit doing it. It's not the responsibility of the LFS to make sure the guy had a big enough tank, or if his water is good or anything else--that's the customer's responsibility (and I'll bet the customer knew what he was doing already). And as for the kid working there, it's a LOT harder to find good help than you think, especially when the wage is $9-$10 bucks an hour. It's the same reason my favorite LFS asked ME to help out there. I'm certainly no "expert", I'm just a hobbyist. But the pool of applicants was a little more than marginal...and I live in a smart city.
Think about this, online fish stores don't ask what size your tank is, and no one ever complains about that.
If you are really bothered by what happened, talk to the employee in question...or talk to the owner of the store. You just might get a good response. And realize not everyone you're going to encounter in the hobby is going to be Bob Fenner or Julian Sprung.
although this is true it is the responsibility of a GOOD store owner to make sure his/her animals are going to good homes. Like when good dog breeders screen you.

 

[polarpooch]

although this is true it is the responsibility of a GOOD store owner to make sure his/her animals are going to good homes. Like when good dog breeders screen you.
It's a lovely thought, but we don't live in that world. And incidently, dog breeders of quite exceptional animals don't ask either, or there wouldn't be so many Siberian Huskies in shelters right now.

 

[mishka]

I think the customer has the responsibilty too, to ask if what they are buying is compatable with what they already have. I've done this, and been told not to buy what I was looking at. We are totally new to this hobby, and are not afraid to ask questions. My husband does all the technical stuff, I just check the temp daily, and look at the tank (and tell him what I think is pretty)

 

[tigerlover]

Originally posted by polarpooch

It's a lovely thought, but we don't live in that world. And incidently, dog breeders of quite exceptional animals don't ask either, or there wouldn't be so many Siberian Huskies in shelters right now.
I didn't say good dogs, I said good breeders

 

[teetee]

Yeah it's all a business, just like starting a war. It's a business and that's all that counts. It's a lovely thought to be compassionate and caring but that's all it is, a thought. In the meantime lets live the dream and make$$$$$$ at whatever cost

 

[polarpooch]

Yeah it's all a business, just like starting a war. It's a business and that's all that counts. It's a lovely thought to be compassionate and caring but that's all it is, a thought. In the meantime lets live the dream and make$$$$$$ at whatever cost
Sarcasm. How inventive. How you got from what I posted to this is a pretty LONG leap. Would love to hear how your reasoning worked here.

 

[tigerlover]

Originally posted by teetee
Yeah it's all a business, just like starting a war. It's a business and that's all that counts. It's a lovely thought to be compassionate and caring but that's all it is, a thought. In the meantime lets live the dream and make$$$$$$ at whatever cost
If that's what u think your no better than the store owners

 

[teetee]

Artticuno,
Sorry for being sarcastic. I guess that was my misplaced vent. Your comment "It's a lovely thought, but we don't live in that world" just stuck me as unfortunate.

 

[teetee]

sorry Polarpooch tt

 

[waterwolf]

Why do you people worry about LFS. Its not their problem what people do with fish they buy. Its a business. Do you think the mail-order companies care what people do with the livestock they buy? No because they are a business. Its like a Chevy dealership asking someone who is buying a corvette, "Do you have any speeding tickets, are you going to take care of this car, are you a safe driver". Buy some books or do some research before you trust what someone says you can or can't do. I have seen just as many contradictions on this board as in my LFS.
The only bad thing I have seen about my LFS is the price, other than that they are knowlegable but they are not going to tell you what you can or can't buy.

 

[tahoe ocean]

well, there are good points on both sides. but my feeling is that there is a halfway point. If a LFS sells a fish just to move inventory without helping the customer out, then that fish croaks, the buyer isn't going to return (in many cases). If the customer doesn't ask questions and the fish croaks, it isn't the store's fault. A good LFS should be informative and helpful and a good customer should ask questions and do reasearch. Unfortunately that is a pipedream.

 

[fshhub]

well, unfortunately, it is not the lfs's fault.
It may be a little different of a story, had the guy known what type of tank the guy had, but he did not. Maybe then, I could see an LFS advising against it, but that would be as far as it goes.
When you buy a car, tehy only need to make sure you have insurance and a liscence (in some states). It is not the dealers fault, if you intend to buya cavalier for 7 people to ride to wrk in, or commit a bank robbery with.In this particualr instance, it is more the purchasers fault, IMO. He should have asked, had he not known.
Last time I went to vicrtorias secret to get something for my wife, they did not offer to help me pick something, they just let me get it off the rack and pay for it. Assuming I that I knew what I was getting. NO different.
Now, some lfs's will go furhter and actually ask you, but if they do not know about your fishes or your set up, How can we blame them. We cannot hold them responsible for things like that, at least not completely.Especially when you figure these places hire PART TIME help so they are not there to make it a carreer, but to pick up some extra cash for school or something. The way the economy is, as a business owner, you really can only hope for somebdy that will give you an honest days work. Not for somebody who is a marine biologist, to work for a mere 6 or 8 bucks an hour. I know when I hire, I do not worry quite as much about getting a mechanic as I do somebody who can sell cars.
Now, luckily for me, most of ours are as bad or worse, but one I go to, if she does not know you and your tank, she will not sell. First she asks for stats, then she wil require a water sample for your first purchase. Otherwise she will refuse to sell to you. This I can assure is VERY rare.

 

[flamehawk]

Generally LFS' cannot be trusted to do the right thing and are in it for the profit not the"love of the game". It's definately customer beware> While the LFS that I go to are descent they will still give poor advice. Yesterday they had a fish sale( 25% off, picked up flame angel from Vietnam). The salesperson was suggesting that a customer buy a unicorn tang for a 60 gallon hex tank. I did speak to the customer and he already knew that this wouldn't work and discounted her suggestion. Glad to see he took it upon himself to be educated on what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately I have found that if we vote with our wallets, there would not be many LFSs' left at all. I certainly don't support their approach, especially when live animals from limited resources are being sold, but I vote by making right decisions. I see it as my reponsibility. Just my 2 cents that certainly should not be seen as an endoesement of what they do but rather a way with dealing with the part of the purchase decision I can control.
Smart, educated buying decisions will assist the hobby in prevailing for many years to come.... ok off my soap box!

 

[jillian ayers]

It would be nice if there were more places like Aquarium World in Houston. All of their employees are either already graduated marine biologists or are getting their degrees. When i walk in there, someone comes up to me almost instantly and asks if I need any help. I do not believe that they would allow anyone to purchase a fish without knowing everything about their tanks. They also, unlike a good deal of lfs I know, sell books on how to care for aquariums, both sw and fw. When I went looking to start a seahorse tank there, the girl who was there told me to start off with the equipment needed and to get as many books as I could afford on the subject. Very good advice I believe. Though I did not ask to buy the seahorses then, I'm sure they would not have allowed me to anyway. I'm glad there are some fish stores like that around. If allowed, I will try to take pics next time I go and show everyone what a nice place it is.

 

[flamehawk]

Great Jillian. You're right...wish there were more like them.