lfs knowledge?

[Somethingfishyinc.net]

Kinda like many have said?
I tell my guys that we need to be all on the same page. Saying one thing & someone else under the same roof saying something different. I get asked the same ? as they may have asked my help to see if they received the same answer. Basically testing my help because they most of the time will believe the owner over the help? Its like politics! Its rare that I will say absolutely will work or not. There is a gray area with this hobby/business. What may work with ones setup may not work with some others? Size, tank, water type, fish type & so on..... Many variables. Relate to what has worked for you & your experience. I would not sell a pacu to most people though because of obvious reasons. Say it may or it could or has, most likely will work etc but it leaves it open that its not always a hundred percent just in case it comes back to bite u in the arse that you said it would be okay. Sometimes its better to ask the questions before they ask if they even bother asking? Once you get an idea what they want or looking for or planning then you have a direction to go with that customer.

me Dave

 

[GolemGolem]

Sounds 50/50 to me, hope you get the gig. Don't beat yerself up if you don't get it though, hard to get jobs in fish shops that are not petcosmart, and there are more shops, and lots of resturants.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Sounds good to me. I might have used a different reference, but the bottom line is if he liked you and you're qualified, you'll likely get the job. I got hired on the spot after a 10 minute interview.
I did find I didn't really like working in the industry personally. It kind of led to me neglecting my tanks at home after working 40 hours a week. It was also depressing seeing how many fish died (I worked for a wholesaler who also had a separate retail store down the street, so I saw both sides of that). Just my 2 cents.

 

[Peanut_Power]

First and foremost congrats on being able to have the chance to work at a LFS. I tried to get on to any for years for no luck, and then just this last year I got offered a job out of the blue. Its been a rollercoaster of an experience let me tell you.

You will need to practice your patience. There are a lot of stubborn people out there who think they know better than you because this or that worked for them or someone else. Be bluntly honest with them, tell them the truth. Don't try to butter things up and make a sale.

Main thing you want is for the FISH to be well taken care of, if the fish are healthy, and stay alive, the chances of the customers returning is so much better.

When you work at a pet store, view it as a team setting. Each employee brings his or her own knowledge to the set up. Utilize that, don't be afraid to ask other employees to help out or questions. IF you don't know the answer, DO NOT make one up or guess. Its better to say 'I don't know, let me find out for you' then to lie to the customer.

There have been several times when I have told people I don't think it would be best for them to get fish yet because their tank may not be fully cycled, or their tank might be too full, or they might have incompatible fish. Most of the time those people listen and are actually more grateful that I am honest with them, letting them know I have their best interest at heart. As a result now those customers come back regularly and don't go to the other LFS that are more interested in making sales.

There have also been times when I have flat out refused to sell fish to people because they have no respect for the fish. I'm not sure how your LFS is, but mine will back me up if I make such a decision. You have a responsibility to those fish, no matter what they are, as their life is in your hands. If you think someone will not take good care of the fish, either try to find them some alternative, or just don't sell it to them.

One things to do also is use YOUR experiences with filters, fish, foods, or anything else fish related. It makes people feel more comfortable if they know you have had experience with it or would recommend such and such.

Be passionate and enthusiastic. It can be monotonous sometimes doing the same thing over and over again, but it doesn't have to be. Each new customer presents new challenges and set ups. Treat them the way you would want to be treated if you were a customer there.

Finally, just be yourself. Enjoy the experience to the max.

 

[skillzizzo]

I've applied at a LFS after years of misery in the restaurant industry. I am fairly confident that I can answer most questions a customer might have, but surely there's a lot i don't know. I'm in the business of being a good employee and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions about certain things I might want to read up on so I can give honest and accurate knowledge about
1.goldfish
2.community fish
3. catfish, particularly the bigger ones
4. salt water (which i have no real experience with)

what would YOU do if you weren't sure about something a customer asked?

agreed. There is so much information on this site. I have spent hours and hours through out the few past years i have been using this site just reading information. And have learned alot that i did not know. Before using this site. Go to the forum section you want to know something about and put what ever you want to know in the search bar and puff like magic tons of information at your figure tips. And google is allways king of information to. Good luck with the job. I am allso a chef a very good one. And it is a love less proffesion i wouldnt care if i took a pay cut i would much rather work in a good fish store. Fish make me happy. Wait staff, and bosses that cant do my job and think they know eveything piss me off. Good luck man

 

[andyjs]

You will have SOOO many uh...let's say "interesting" experiences and stories to tell after working in a fish store for any length of time. Like others have said, some people are really stubborn, others just don't care, and others are really great to work with. Some of my favorite customers have been actual hobbyists who you can actually just talk to a little about their tanks or those who want some advice and actually care to listen to what you have to say. Then there are all kinds of bad customers in their own respective ways. Some just don't want to be told what to do. Some don't think they need to be told what to do. Some are just rude people.

The ones that just KNOW they know more than you are some of the worst. I once had a guy ask me if we had a (insert unintelligible bastardization of a species name here) botia (very obviously trying to show of his nothing-short-of-amazing fish knowledge). I asked him to repeat it a couple times, but still had no clue what he wanted. He finally resorted to looking around for a minute and then pointed them out to me and I realized he was going for one of the recognized Latin names of the yoyo loach. Who knew?! I could tell he still left feeling vastly superior to any lowly fish store employee

 

[darwinvsjesus]

i want to thank you guys for the great responses. and the honesty - he said he was leaning towards calling me so i'm hoping i get the chance - i really. i really believe that i belong there - and he also asked me 'if i did hire you - would you be willing to start next week' so i think it does look good - i love fish, they are my life - and rest assured - i am a vegan, and i do believe in the welfare of the fish first - but the next important issue is certainly education. you have to let them know what you know - help them out.

i'll let you know how it all goes !

thanks again,everyone. this really is a wonderful forum.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Did he call yet?

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

It was also depressing seeing how many fish died (I worked for a wholesaler who also had a separate retail store down the street, so I saw both sides of that). Just my 2 cents.

Thats why I quit my job at the LFS as an assistant

 

[darwinvsjesus]

well, folks, i got the job! i'll be doing lots of reading up this weekend, making sure i know all the things i need to know, and whoever is training me - i go in there so much they know me real well - i'm sure will be very helpful. here's my thought: i'm going to be doing something i'm very passionate about, and interested in. i've got lots of experience already - and i know i'll do alright. i'll be honest when i'm not sure about something. most important, i'll be honest with myself - and i'll use the first couple weeks as a way to figure out the things i need to learn more about.

it's really a great store. it pays less than a cooking job would, for sure - but i'd rather be happy. i'd rather do something i love. i'd rather work with an understanding, approachable manager, and people i have common ground with - rather than work in a sweatshop for 2 dollars more per hour.