I NEED ONE OF THOSE CLEANER FISH

[krzr3000]

Seriously...why did you come all the way here to ask me questions if you're not going to believe me? I just don't get it!

That one baffles me. Especially with phone calls, they want to mix such and such...when i tell them no they get irate and ask why and try to criticize my logic. Why ask if you're gonna do it anyways.

 

[krzr3000]

Ah, the fish people. You can always tell the saltwater snobs by looking at them.

It sucks when there is an "expert" present. Like when you are informing some airhead while netting 30 comets (or a certain $ worth...because money is more important then what you are feeding) for some goon with 5 oscars in a 55. He is now the god of the fish and the already impressionable customer is now threaded into his information. And then he shows said customer the oscars...and its over from there.

Like cenecker said though, most customers do have an open mind. The ones that have the stupid setups will always be that way, and the ones who are ignorant will be ignorant. They will continue to think they need that sucker fish, and will always overload the tanks.

Kids are also a worst nightmare, especially with a new tank. They have 90 fish picked out for the 10 gallon ranging from salt tangs to goldfish. Then you get into cycling, and maintenance the kid throws a fit and about half the time the parents are understanding the other half they give into the screaming kid.

 

[mcox3]

"I've had my tank for five years I never had to change water before! I just add some every week...it's crystal clear!"

Sounds like my girlfriends father... and he's kept fish for years... he doesnt understand why I go through the "trouble" of changing so much water everyweek.

he doesnt believe in dechlorinators either... he would just age his water.

 

[big train]

I think what's needed is to include in every aquarium combo package sold anywhere a sump pump and a hose and little pamphlet on how to change the water then maybe some people would do a wc and a few of the fish sold to the general public could live a decent life.

 

[beachman22]

Sounds like my roomate. She saw me cleaning my tanks one day and said "What are you doing? Why don't you just get one of those sucker fish. They'll clean your tanks for you?" I didn't want to take the time to explain it to her cause I knew she wouldn't get it anyways.
And then my other roomate saw me doing water changes one morning and said "what are you doing?" I told him I was changing the water and putting fresh water in. He said "isn't that what the filters are for?" I explained it to him because he is a little brighter than my other roommate and he seemed to get it.
Then someone from downstairs came over and looked at my big tank and said something like "My tank is like 10 times smaller than yours (Showed the dimensions on a 5 gal with his hands) but I have way more wildlife than you" Then he recommended that I get an oscar like him because they are vicious and its fun to watch them eat. I didn't even try to explain anything to him, because he obviously had no clue.
_Why do I always feel like I have to justify my fishkeeping to people who have no idea what they are talking about?

 

[m4ckten]

Hey guys i have a RTC in a 30gallon tank j/k

But yeah I know where you are coming from, but at the same time, people need to learn on their own. LFS was having a 2 for 1 deal , so i was going to pick up some pleco's only 2.

Guy REFUSED to sell them to me. because they get HUGE.. Well if i have the tank space, and want them what does it matter? I happen to like plecos just for their look, not their natural cleaning ability.

Sometimes the LFS employee know it alls can be frustrating too.

 

[cenecker]

Sometimes the LFS employee know it alls can be frustrating too.

OHHHHHH yes and that's exactly why I encourage all us LFS (or chain store) employees to strike that balance between "clueless high school kid" and "self-mportant, know-it-all, self proclaimed fish god/fish snob prick." Being knowledgable is important, communicating with customers in a positive, co-operative, supportative manner is the piece of the puzzle most knowledgable LFS employees seem to lack (at least thats my experience).

 

[m4ckten]

OHHHHHH yes and that's exactly why I encourage all us LFS (or chain store) employees to strike that balance between "clueless high school kid" and "self-mportant, know-it-all, self proclaimed fish god/fish snob prick." Being knowledgable is important, communicating with customers in a positive, co-operative, supportative manner is the piece of the puzzle most knowledgable LFS employees seem to lack (at least thats my experience).

Agreed!. It's good to know that some people are pushing for that. I by no means am a fish expert, but have kept fish for a long time, and will continue to until my wife makes me throw all my tanks out

Needless to say , that store lost my business as i have not shopped there in at least a year now.

 

[Derpeder]

That sounds like the worst job in the world.












Well....okay not the worst..... but pretty bad..............

all you highschoolers that think working at an LFS would be a good job. Go work at a golf course.

 

[krzr3000]

OHHHHHH yes and that's exactly why I encourage all us LFS (or chain store) employees to strike that balance between "clueless high school kid" and "self-mportant, know-it-all, self proclaimed fish god/fish snob prick." Being knowledgable is important, communicating with customers in a positive, co-operative, supportative manner is the piece of the puzzle most knowledgable LFS employees seem to lack (at least thats my experience).

Definitely, thats one thing that most people who have never worked at a fish shop dont realize. To some of the more uptight forums on the net (not mfk) having a goldfish in anything less than 40g is an outright crime. You just cant enforce that on customers. I feel that most people who have spent some time working in fish shops have a good ability to let some things go, haha.