Favorite LFS "CUSTOMER" STORIES ...

[Sab_Fan]

Just curious, why do some people seem to have a problem with 'testing' a LFS employee? If I ask what size tank I need for an Oscar and they tell me a 20g will work, that tells me not to trust any other advice from that individual because either:

because some people do it just to prove their superiority to some guy making minimum wage at a big-box pet store . . .

 

[Darth Scohin]

because some people do it just to prove their superiority to some guy making minimum wage at a big-box pet store . . .

Yup or some are actually complete ignorant snobs that think they know what's right because they've had Oscars in a 30gal means they're okay in a 30gal etc....
For example had someone come in (she had goldfish food in her hand) and was like "Can I get those dwarf frogs" I asked her what was in the tank she says goldfish, I begin to say that its not recommended to have them with goldfish she replied with a really rude tone "I've had them before and they're fine" anyway then she says she wants Zebra Danios I tell her that they are schooling fish (same tone as before) "I know I have three in my tank right now"

Also We have a Long Fin Oscar and have had it since it was 4" (its now 6") and I mentioned to the folks looking at him that in good water quality and good diet his HITH and fins would heal. Customer says I've got lots of Oscars and if they get HITH or damaged fins they're scarred for life

 

[Dark Jester]

Yup or some are actually complete ignorant snobs that think they know what's right because they've had Oscars in a 30gal means they're okay in a 30gal etc....

I can see that I guess. I just use a test question to guage experience so I know whether I can ask their advice in the future if needed. It's kindof the same principle as an LFS employee asking the customer what size tank they have and what's in it. If the customer makes the imaginary box, and says 3 oscars, you know you are dealing with someone who isn't informed. Whether they want to be informed or not is another issue.

I've only ever been asked that once actually (Tank size, stock list), and the person that asked (from Petsmart) has been the most knowledgable LFS employee I have met to date. He might even be an MFK'er, who knows. Most others I've met in the big box stores couldn't care less what they sell to who.

 

[irishfan]

People question People in every type of business interaction. Ever work at a liquor store and get questioned about wines or what to use for so and so? half the ppl have their own answer already to go, like all of us mostly do when we go into an lfs. While most often the response is less than what you wanted, sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised.
Doesnt help that many here think they are the no it alls of fish, and that most employees that choose to work w animals, suck

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Then he told me he was getting an Alligator next week in a 125g When it gets too big, his cousin in Florida is gonna release it. A hand raised Alligator loose in Florida, dependant on humans for food, is a scary thought.

Tell him to be sure not to release it any where in northeast florida please and thank you

 

[eatingleg4peanut]

I dont ask my LFS (and by LFS I mean petsmart since its the only one in my area) any questions other than if they are getting in any new fish they didnt have before, most of them have no idea what they are talking about but one girl actually likes fish so she knows a fair amount. I have been keeping fish about 10 years but have only been doing so correctly for about 2 years. And the 8years of doing so incorrectly I do partially blame my LFS's for, yes I realize now I should have been doing my own research but asking questions to people that are in the business of selling fish and believing them is not stupid, the fact that you can't is stupider (tehee "stupider"), which is what I did for eight years. I do not blame the people that work at the store at all, they only know what they are told, so the real ones to blame for false info is whoever in the stores headquarters who is responsible for doing research for fish sizing, aquarium size, temperment and even correctly naming fish. There is no excuse for that, a 5 minute google search on the web will tell you all you need to know about the fish and almost all(if not all) the information they list on the fish profiles are wrong, and in alot of cases grossly wrong. My point is if you know something about fish keeping there should be no reason to talk info with a LFS (unless they innitiate, which sometimes they do), but someone who goes in innocently enough and asks them for info and they get the wrong info and take it as fact should not be blamed nor the employee. As for making fun of them, hell by all means lets, I really doubt any of the ones who don't know what they are talking about are on this site, and if anything maybe it will raise awareness and boss hog at the headquarters will decide they should start giving correct info, but that will never happen as it will hinder sales.

MY newest story: Was browsing fish last week and there was a mom with 2 boys, must have been in the 10-12 year old range, the boys wanted to see the oscars. The employee was a nice enough girl who told them a story about her oscars that loved eachother until they reached about 1ft then hated eachother out of nowhere. Then she said: "I should have already upgraded to a 55 but the 30 they where in had not seemed overcrowded yet". I later saw the woman checking out with a new 20 long (tank only) and a tiger oscar.

 

[Danger_Chicken]

...I almost hit the floor when she started jabbing her finger at the glass and literally yelling, "That's it! It's one of these guys right here! Devil-Fish, I'm telling you. These guys are monsters!" She was pointing at a tank of fan-tail guppies.

I call them mini-piranhas, drop blood worms or black worms in with them and WATCH OUT! They are vicious!

On an unrelated note, I found another site a few years ago about a video game store owner in Canada relating his customer horror stories over a period of like 8 years. I laughed for about 6 hours straight the first time I found it. http://www.actsofgord.com/

Reading this thread made me think of it. If you guys like this thread, you'll love his site. No new content unfortunately though, as he got out of the retail game a couple years ago.

That site is great, no surprise he's out of business. You can't call people names and tell them to get out and expect them not to tell others, sooner or later it'll start to hurt you.

 

[Dark Jester]

That site is great, no surprise he's out of business. You can't call people names and tell them to get out and expect them not to tell others, sooner or later it'll start to hurt you.

He didn't get out of it for a lack of customers though, he had the shop for years. Ended up moving to Japan I think, and sold the shop to someone else that let it go downhill.

This was all back in the late 90's and early 2000's though when console games were raging and there wasn't a lot of competition out there. Some movie rental places carried games but their selections usually sucked and the prices were nuts.

 

[cbr600]

Ok I'm pretty new to the world of fish but currently have 2x 180'Ls and a 110L.

While working as a door supervisor or bouncer to some ( I do this part time as I do have a full time job and a degree) when my normal mate was transfered to another door and was replaced with another one I had never met. We started talking and got on to fish he seamed to know what he was talking about and we started to argue about the filter size in a jewal vision 180 I stated that for the fact I owned 2 I MUST be right. Well he pointed out a rather large very well respected lfs the other side of town and said to pop in there and ask the nice guy who owns the place to settle the arguement. The next day I stormed off round to the shio to prove I was right and who was behind the desk OH yes my little guy from the door who is the Owner of the store BUGGER!!!

And yes he was right!!!

 

[cbr600]

By LFS i do mean local very well regarded and not some p poor chain!!