So many stories... probably the funniest one had to have been when I was working at a petsmart. I had a lady come in with some dead fish, a recept, and her hubby in tow.. I knew this was gonna be bad as soon as she came storming in my direction in the fish dept. She was locked on like a lab on a duck.. She proceeded to start yelling loudly about her poor dead fish she just bought from our store the night before. So as per usual I take the bag of fish from her the receipt, and make the mistake to say something to this woman. "Do you have a water sample?" her reply of course is there is water in the bag with the fish, and i'm an idiot for not seeing that. I just sigh,shake my head. And actually take a look at the fish in the bag. which where two fire tetras, and then looked at the receipt. Guppies.... -.-... the date was indeed correct.. the fish obviousely where not. The water sample was.. well.. yeah.. my next mistake was to try and explaine this to her. Which she promptly threw a temper tantrum.. I was perhaps 17 at the time. and this woman must have been in her late 20's early 30's. At this point my manager had been given a heads up by some customer or co-worker feeling pity for me. Who came over, and had as much lucky haveing a civil conversation with this woman. Who after my manager told her she would refund the fish, but would not replace them unless she brought in a proper water sample. Threw the biggest temper tantrum I had ever seen.. and proceeded o storm out.. only like a kid she decided to kick something... and happened to put her foot threw a 55 gallon eclipse kit. I think I hurt myself biteing my tounge as to not laugh. At which point her husband who had been silent the whole time quietly told my manager he would pay for the broken tank, and grabbed his wifes arm and escorted her in seeming shock at what she had done finally... to the front register to cough up 450$..
While the beginning of the whole thing was one of the worst customer issues I've ever had in my life, It was one of the most satisfying in the end. We had a good laugh after the couple left and we cleaned up what mess there was and moved the box to the back.
After that I seriousely doubt they had fish again. But nothing surprizes me in this hobby.
The lady who insisted Discus where African cichlids.
The man who kept Oscars with Koi.
The little kid who's parents wouldn't say no too, and I was evil for not eltting him have whatever fish he wanted in "his" tank.
sheesh....
But there where a few like the family I helped set-up their first tank. a 55 gallon which they later planted and brought pictures in as it developed, and they learned more and more. The older lady who spoiled her fish like most do their children. the Gentleman who taught me more about planted tanks then I ever wanted to know. Another who bred some of the rarer african cichlids and would give me an extra he'd have around for my cichlid tank.
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