Told LFS they're full of S?

[doodle1800]

Has anyone listened to a LFS's advice and afterwards told them they're full of Schhhiiiit? How long do you wait? Do you let them complete their sentence or cut them off? Or do you just look at them and let them walk away, hopefully. I know some LFS's are good - I'm asking about the ones that aren't.

 

[fshhub]

just shake my head and walsk away smiling, really gets him goin and wondering. I got tired of fighting with him on stupid things that he clearly has no idea about. Things like LR is bad, sand is bad, UGFs are the ONLY way it can be done. There isno such fish as a false percula clown. ONLY tomato clowns and clwonfish. If you do not get a UGF, the only other way it can be done si with this 300+ dollar Wet Dry system. You don't need to test for copper, it is supposed to be in the medications, bc it is the only thing that works. AND It's a pacific anemone, If you want the scientific name, you'll have to look it up in a book(a carpet).
Jut buy my things I need and leave. Since I don't want to go an hour just to getthermometers, food or such, i wil go there sometimes for them. But not fish or inverts.

 

[overanalyzer]

I always listen and try to keep a poker face. Most of the LFS guys around here know me by sight and leave me be ... except the one guy who asks my advice when I visit his place ....
I never argue, never agree, just listen then purchase what I need and move on ....

 

[doodle1800]

Anyone ever argue with a LFS?

 

[fshhub]

I was under the impression that coral vital was more like afood that feeds corals and coraline algae, so it can grow better(basicallY)
from what I understand, it merely feeds and enhances the growth of, not that it is corline and atttaches itself to the rock and grows.

 

[joerdie]

one lfs near me is nick named the crack house ( you can guess why) anyhoo. i asked him one time why his corals and inverts never grow and he told me that if you keep the trates really high they wont grow and he can keep them longer. Whaaaaaaat? i couldnt keep from laughing and he asked me to leave. DOWN WITH THE LFS!!!!!

 

[fshhub]

Originally posted by joerdie
one lfs near me is nick named the crack house ( you can guess why) anyhoo. i asked him one time why his corals and inverts never grow and he told me that if you keep the trates really high they wont grow and he can keep them longer. Whaaaaaaat? i couldnt keep from laughing and he asked me to leave. DOWN WITH THE LFS!!!!!
why? prettier rock?

 

[koiman6]

I only go to this one lfs because it is close to me. I have never gotten anythign live there. It is run by some asian guy (no ofense) that cant speak english. I asked him why his fish had so many white spots (ich) and he said "theysa hava a special cola" im guessing he thinks ich is just a normal color pattern in fish. ANd then i asked him if he carried any koi. He said he had never heard of koi before, however when i ventured down the fish isle he had at least 10 eight inch koi in a 20 gallon tank labeled as oriental goldfish....I rest my case.

 

[mightyoxjuice]

When I was doing my research before setting up my tank I was visiting the lfs. Asking questions about what I would need for a 150 gallon set-up. They tried to sell me a bunch of garbage for equipment. Then one of the kids that works there told me about a couple of websites to visit, because the equipment was much cheaper than at the store. A couple of months later he accused me of getting all this free information and then not buying anything from the store. The only reason that most seem to work there is because they get an employee discount which is cost or slightly above.

 

[dburr]

I went to a LFS that I havn't been to in a long time a couple weeks ago. The show tank had a yellow tang in it. It was bad, the tang's ribs were showing. I asked the guy if he feed him. He gave me a dumb look and said "yeah". I told told him he looked terrible and it was a shame to let him get like that, and I walked out of the store.

 

[bacardibombillo]

JUST READ ALL U CAN LEARN HERE THEN SHOP FOR WHAT U NEED!
THIS IS A GREAT SITE... U BE AMAZE AT WHAT U LEARN HERE! DO A LOT OF READING AND TAKE ALOT OF ADVICE AND CHOOSE FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR TANK... THEN GO TO THAT LFS...... AND ASK FOR WHAT U NEED WITH A STRAIGHT FACE IF HIS ADVISES ARE NO GOOD DONT TAKE THEM, JUST USE HIM AS A SUPPLIER AND BE STRAIGHT ON WHAT U WANT...
AND AS TO YOUR QUESTION, BEEN TO A FEW YES...
BUT THE ADVISE THAT I SAID ON TOP IS WHAT I DO REGARDING THE LFS FULL OF IT.... BUY MAG, BOOKS, READ THE NET AND THEN DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND BUY WHAT U NEED!!! AS A SUPPLIER...

 

[thomas712]

I've heard bad advice before. The part that burns me is when I overhear it given to obvious newbies at the fish store.
Here is what I have done. I don't speak up in the store anymore. But I do carry a piece of paper with a few sites written on them. When out of the store I will ask person(s) if they are online. If yes then I will hand them the paper and invite them to join, and check it out.
Hasn't anyone else given this site out to people at a fish store?
Thomas

 

[c_bell]

I have a few times. I just can't belive some of the thing these people come up with. But like you i wait untill im out of the store.

 

[demosthenes]

Man, once again, I seem to be pretty lucky. I've got two really good LFS in my area, one I can't seem to find, and a fourth that's been fined and the owner arrested so many times the paper doesn't even publish it anymore. Needless to say, I don't shop there or the place I can't find, but the other two are great. One is strictly fish, and mainly FW because the guy has no clue about SW, so he doesn't carry it, but can order what you want. Also, any SW questions he refuses to answer, he just points to me and says, "Ask Him." The other has about 4-5 SW experts who are really helpful and make sure that your tank is right for what you are buying. They also have an awesome selection, and 4 300G show tanks that are really nice.

 

[jillian ayers]

My worst experience in an lfs was when I went to Neptune's Gardens in Houston. When I told the owner I had interest in buying a tank, she asked what size and I told her a 75+. I also mentioned what I wanted to keep in the tank. She immediately told me I should start with a smaller tank, so I reminded her that I wanted to get a tang. She then proceeded to tell me that a tang would be just fine a 12 gallon, she had seen it done, it was a-ok. I told her about this site, and how many people here do not believe this, and she said that she wouldn't ever advise this site to anyone because it was all lies and bogus information here. She continued to insist that she had seen a yellow tang live for 5 years in a 12 gallon, and that I should buy one. Needless to say, I left that store and will never go back. She had great fish selection, but noone should give out advice THAT BAD to anyone. It's just not fair to the fish.

 

[doodle1800]

I've cringed behind people's backs when an LFS gives information to newbies. I still consider myself a newbie, but after this site I know a hel of a lot more than I did. Funny - this lfs kid was giving this couple advice, and then they'd look at me to see if I approved or not. I'd shake my head yes or no. I gave them the SWF web site afterwards. Its amazing. I'll be at the counter checking out, an employee will come up and ask the "expert" something, he'll give an answer - like Mandorin Gobies are ok in a 10 gal tank, and the kid will go back and tell the people this.
One thing - I will give credit to The Chicago Aquarium in Orland Park. Those guys are top notch. Yes there are some good LFS's, but this thread was mainly to share LFS stories on how to handle ones that you know are full of it... Its real hard not to argue with them, or put them on the spot - I usually don't.

 

[dreeves]

Being the tactless, ruthless individual I am...I can't just let them stand there and talk out the buttocks...I let them finish and then make them feel stupid...and finish it up with a knowledge is power sort of comment...
I recall the time I asked them why they didn't have any invertebres in with their fish...and why they had cleaner wrasses in with some...the young kid says..."we don't like putting anything but fish with the fish." So I told him that is a fine line...I think it is because you are running a strong dose of copper through your system to prevent the open display of ich...and what ich had been shown, those tanks included a cleaner wrasse...
They don't talk to me anymore unless I ask them a question...

 

[richard rendos]

I am lucky to have some really knowledgeable people in the shops I go to. Kermit's Reef in Memphis, TN is really good about giving good info - prices are high, but not ridiculous. Exotic Tropical's in Rogers, AR is great - huge variety of products, both dry goods and live, and all the staff really knows their $h!t. I have been to a few in PA and MD that were horrible. I don't mind when they tell me bull$h!t, but can't stand it when a new hobbiest comes to them with questions and they feed them a line of crap. I always step in politely and tell the hobbiest that there are better ways than what the store is telling them. I never tell the shop personel that they are wrong or start a fight, but I will say to the hobbiest that I feel there are better ways and better sources of info than the LFS.

 

[rontam1979]

Originally posted by doodle1800
One thing - I will give credit to The Chicago Aquarium in Orland Park. Those guys are top notch. Yes there are some good LFS's, but this thread was mainly to share LFS stories on how to handle ones that you know are full of it... Its real hard not to argue with them, or put them on the spot - I usually don't.

Doodle1800, I'm a newbie from Chicago and I've been looking at all the LFS in the area to find the best and most reasonably priced LFS. Can you tell me where this Chicago Aquarium store is? And also where your favorite place to go to get fish is (outside of saltwaterfish.com and other online sites). The best one I've found so far is the Living Sea Aq. in Park Ridge, kinda pricey though. If anyone else is from the Chicago area, feel free to chime in. Thanks
Ron

 

[doodle1800]

Chicago Aquarium is in Orland Park - go to switchboard.com and do a business search. I like Pet Paradise also in Downers Grove. Chicago Aquarium will let you actually pick out a piece of LR in an established tank, with things growing on it and let you buy it.. Reasonable too.