This Is Why I Love My LFS

[Westie]

Talking fish down at the shop yesterday when some kids come in and the lead one tells his buddies,"Yep, thats the arowana. We'll get him and a 10 gallon tank!" Quickly I grasped the seat of my pants as I thought something may have fallen out. My LFS guy being the great guy he is didn't miss a beat. "You can't put that in a 10! 55 minimum to start AND, he'll need that tank size doubled in a year and doubled again in another! I can't sell you that aro." So after a little number crunching the kids leave. "How often does that happen?"
"Too often."

 

[BODYDUB]

Unfortunately most LPS won't offer any advice as per greed of the sale..........

 

[Spearo]

Weird, none of the shops around here would ever refuse a sale.

If I was the owner I would not refuse sale either. I don't care if you take the fish home and cook it and eat it. Once you buy it, it is your business what you do with the fish.

"Want to put a silver aro in a 10gal? Right on, have fun!"...would be my response.

 

[Heathd]

There is an lfs that has fish like arrowannas, discus, etc labeled as Hobbyist only. Basically, you must bring him a picture of your setup and a sample of your water, and he normally wants to talk to you for a bit to make sure you know what your getting into.

 

[Industrial]

I am getting a job at the most respectable LFS in my area soon. The manager instructed me to warn about possible conflicts in the tanks between fish and discourage a bad move. If the customer insists that they want to do it against our advice we sell it to them. On the other hand, there are many LFS in my area so if they don't buy it at one shop, they can just go to another.

 

[krichardson]

There is an lfs that has fish like arrowannas, discus, etc labeled as Hobbyist only. Basically, you must bring him a picture of your setup and a sample of your water, and he normally wants to talk to you for a bit to make sure you know what your getting into.

Good that he can afford to do that with customers.

 

[Just Toby]

Good that he can afford to do that with customers.

Funnily enough when business is packaged right like that then sometimes more people buy more! In theory if you are so impressed by him caring more about the fish than your money you may well spend a lot more with him.

I often buy on enthusiasm and morals more than anything else.

 

[Spearo]

Good that he can afford to do that with customers.

My thoughts exactly. With the current economy, passing up sales may mean the death of your business.

Most of the stores around here right now, are on the brink of shutting down.
They have no customers, and when one does come in, they will try to make any sale possible.

 

[Cichla dude]

I am glad the lfs did that. I wouldn't even keep a silver aro in a 10!

 

[Illbuyourcatfish]

Agreed with spearo, their money, their life. Unfortunately fish aren't dogs or cats, they rank way down there with ant farms in the eyes of most people, so what is obviously cruel to most of us, is nothing at all to the majority.