The things you look for in a LFS

[lion_crazz]

Instead of all the negativity, I think we should focus on the positive. Thus, I am asking you to list the things you look for when entering a local fish shop that would ensure to you that they are a good, professional store.
I would love to hear some different opinions on this.

 

[sepulatian]

I look for courteous staff that knows what they are talking about. That is not always easy to find. Sometimes I have to travel to find it, but it is always worth the trip IMO

 

[1journeyman]

Sadly I've given up on finding one.
*Well trained staff
*Clean, healthy tanks
*proper acclimation
*good selection

 

[2cold2fish]

16 year old sales staff that dont know the difference between feeder guppies and clown fish

. Ever brought home a dozen clownfish for $8.00?

 

[fenrir]

I found my permanent LFS when I herd the owner talk a customer out of buying a $150 coral because it wold die in a week under the customers lights. It's a mom and pop place and they know what there doing.

 

[poniegirl]

Clean tanks
An amazing DT with fish they won't sell (makes me believe they know how)
Good selection of frozens
Nice people

 

[peef]

1. Staff who is more interesed in helping you and your tank than just making a sale.
2. Staff who actually knows what they are talking about.
3. Clean tanks.
4. A LFS that isn't scared to say, "No I can't sell that to you it will die in your tank."
5. A LFS that will give repeat customers a few perks every once in awhile. If I spend three grand at your store come on, hook me up with a 1/2 priced coral or something.
6. A changing selection of fish, not just the same clowns, damsels, PJ cardinals, and yellow tangs.
7. My biggest one.....staff that doesn't think they are the pinnacle of knowledge about SWF. I am soooooo sick of hearing LFS staff talk like I am an idiot when I know substantially more than they do. I had a guy tell me that my 24g NC with 150w MH could in NO way provide the needs for ANY SPS coral. I was just like eh, ok if you say so buddy. AND HE WAS THE OWNER!!!!!! Woa....

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by PonieGirl
http:///forum/post/2453841
Clean tanks
An amazing DT with fish they won't sell (makes me believe they know how)
Nice people
Display tank with permanent fish/coral is the best sign that you have a store with someone who knows what they are doing. At least you know the water perameters and such are good.
You really can't expect the staff to have much of a clue but there should be a manager or someone there who does. Most highschool kids don't know a lot about this hobby. It isn't rocket science to clean glass and dip out fish/corals, can't blame the store for hiring minimum wage employees. Every once in a while you get lucky and find someone who knows the hobby and will work for minimum but thats hard to find.

 

[kerriann]

Originally Posted by 2cold2fish
http:///forum/post/2453777
16 year old sales staff that dont know the difference between feeder guppies and clown fish

. Ever brought home a dozen clownfish for $8.00?
woah, where did you get that deal from?? i see your in pittsburgh so i'm assuming you know somethin out here i don't know!

 

[ophiura]

1) Guarantee on the fish
2) Proactive water testing services with customer file
3) Low turnover staff
4) Clean tanks
5) Willingness to answer questions
6) Good reference material that employees or customers can use
7) Low pressure environment to inspect fish
8) Willingness to feed fish
9) Good capture and bagging techniques
10) Good selection
11) Restrictions on certain fish
12) Not stocking fish with low survival rates
13) Quality of display tanks
14) Willingness to reveal their own parameters
15) Reasonable specific gravity on invert systems - also separate systems
I'm sure there is more

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2454003
1) Guarantee on the fish
2) Proactive water testing services with customer file
3) Low turnover staff
4) Clean tanks
5) Willingness to answer questions
6) Good reference material that employees or customers can use
7) Low pressure environment to inspect fish
8) Willingness to feed fish
9) Good capture and bagging techniques
10) Good selection
11) Restrictions on certain fish
12) Not stocking fish with low survival rates
13) Quality of display tanks
14) Willingness to reveal their own parameters
15) Reasonable specific gravity on invert systems - also separate systems
I'm sure there is more

What fantasy world do you come from?

I'm sure there are stores in the bigger markets that can afford to price all that in but in the hinterlands you are blessed just to find a store that quarantines.

 

[ophiura]

A place I used to work did about 90% of that, and people complain about their prices a lot

They did not do 12 or 15 in particular and rarely did people ask about 14.

 

[spiderwoman]

Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2454003
1) Guarantee on the fish
2) Proactive water testing services with customer file
3) Low turnover staff
4) Clean tanks
5) Willingness to answer questions
6) Good reference material that employees or customers can use
7) Low pressure environment to inspect fish
8) Willingness to feed fish
9) Good capture and bagging techniques
10) Good selection
11) Restrictions on certain fish
12) Not stocking fish with low survival rates
13) Quality of display tanks
14) Willingness to reveal their own parameters
15) Reasonable specific gravity on invert systems - also separate systems
I'm sure there is more

That sounds a lot like my local store. They are a very small store, not a huge selection of fish, but what they have are great quality and always willing to answer any and all of my questions.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2454078
That sounds a lot like my local store. They are a very small store, not a huge selection of fish, but what they have are great quality and always willing to answer any and all of my questions.
That's the best kind of store IMO. I prefer privately owned stores over chain stores.

 

[beenbag497]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2454146
That's the best kind of store IMO. I prefer privately owned stores over chain stores.
me too...the way i can tell my lfs is good is that they feed there clowns steroids

(seriously kidding but they do have one GIANTclown

)

 

[2cold2fish]

Originally Posted by KerriAnn
http:///forum/post/2453992
woah, where did you get that deal from?? i see your in pittsburgh so i'm assuming you know somethin out here i don't know!
Truthfully I let him know he was bagging up clown fish. He said " oh...sorry about that, you want the other kind ?"

 

[mike22cha]

I look for what most everyone looks for. Healthy fish, healthy corals, knowledgable staff, proper setups, etc.
BUT you know you got a good lfs when they have a shark tank that is the proper size for the shark it houses.

 

[notsonoob]

If the staff doesn't try to blow smoke up my posterior....
If the staff is too busy telling me what to do when I'm not asking for advice, I tend walk out with nothing...
YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[krista921]

Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2454003
1) Guarantee on the fish
2) Proactive water testing services with customer file
3) Low turnover staff
4) Clean tanks
5) Willingness to answer questions
6) Good reference material that employees or customers can use
7) Low pressure environment to inspect fish
8) Willingness to feed fish
9) Good capture and bagging techniques
10) Good selection
11) Restrictions on certain fish
12) Not stocking fish with low survival rates
13) Quality of display tanks
14) Willingness to reveal their own parameters
15) Reasonable specific gravity on invert systems - also separate systems
I'm sure there is more

you just described my LFS

 

[crimzy]

Man, some of you are pretty demanding. Good fish store = healthy fish, clean tanks, reasonable prices.
Nothing else is really necessary.