What Really Grinds my Gears.

[KenyanSandBoa]

I hope everyone got the Peter Griffin reference above...

Ok, I don't mean for this thread to blow up in flames, but here it goes:

I went into a lfs this weekend and the "fish guy" was in the middle of heated battle with an irate customer. This woman was absolutely blowing up at him blaming him for the loss of her swordtails and platys.

He had just completed a water test and I was looking at the results as I waited, and there were some colors there that I have never seen before. If you combined the Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH reading...you would have a pretty trippy tie dye shirt.

He was attempting to explain the nitrogen cycle to her and what she needs to do as a responsible fish keeper, but she wasn't interested at all. "You don't know what you're talking about...the tank is crystal clear" she says. I had to really hold myself back after that one. I think some people expect their tanks to change to various exotic colors before they something is wrong.

After all of this...she bought 6 more fish.

I guess my question is, when will people learn? What does it take to convince people that research should be done before an animal is purchased? Should it go as far as the respective department specialist having the authority to deny the sale of an animal?

 

[BIGgourami]

as soon as they stop giving goldfish away at carnivals and showing them kept in bowl, i think the problem will continue

 

[CORVETTE]

Because of people like that Petland survives selling 2" long $20 ordinary plecos, and when they die from starvation in a new tank they can sell them again. Somtimes its the guy who work there and alot of the time its customer who knows nothing. I agree more knowledge is the only answer.
EG: i once bought 30 coo-coo cats for 1.99 each because the kid swore to me they were corys.

 

[xEchOx]

He was attempting to explain the nitrogen cycle to her and what she needs to do as a responsible fish keeper, but she wasn't interested at all. "You don't know what you're talking about...the tank is crystal clear" she says. I had to really hold myself back after that one. I think some people expect their tanks to change to various exotic colors before they something is wrong.

Cheers for being able to hold your tongue... I probably would not have been able to do so... Being in the fish store business is hard enough (I would imagine) and on top of it having "know it all" customers telling you that you are the one who doesn't know what you are talking about... :WTF: If I was that 'fish guy', I would have sent that lady packing... Anyway, I doubt that people will ever start doing research before they buy... like anything else this hobby is a learning process, and some people learn... and others don't. Not much you can do about it.

 

[CTU2fan]

I don't know what's worse...the people who think you can do whatever to fish & they'll live, or the ones who don't bother because "oh well they're fish, they die anyway". I remember telling people how some of my fish were X years old, and getting that shocked expression and "I never heard of fish living more than 3 months".

 

[vfc]

A little off topic but...... Are you married?

The argument you described in the classic husband - wife disconnect:

- Men typically charge forward arguing only the facts, ignoring the pain, and using the facts to put the blame on the women (Problem was caused by high amonia, nitrates, whenever. As a fish keeper you should know that.)

- Women typically lead with the emotional outcome and want the man to acknowledge the pain first then accept the blame (I bought these fish from you and watched them die a horrible death; why didn't you tell me about the water before I brought them home to die)

Best thing to do in this case is what you did; stay out of it.

Emotion vs Fact
Venus vs Mars

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

Emotion vs Fact
Venus vs Mars

I highly doubt it is that way. I have seen so many men use the same emotional rationale as the irate costumer, and so many women that use logic. So cut the gender stereotype crap.

She is just ignorant. People in general don't know what in the water 90% of the time. I bet some of them don't even know what is in their own tap water, thinking it just purified water with no additives.

For example, this one couple came in complaining about a rash from a hot tub we sold them and accused us of selling a faulty product. We said the water was too hard when we did a pH and mineral test, but they ignored us by saying it's clear. Apperently they thought hard water has the colour of iron red.

 

[AquataHolic420]

I hope everyone got the Peter Griffin reference above...

Ok, I don't mean for this thread to blow up in flames, but here it goes:

I went into a lfs this weekend and the "fish guy" was in the middle of heated battle with an irate customer. This woman was absolutely blowing up at him blaming him for the loss of her swordtails and platys.

He had just completed a water test and I was looking at the results as I waited, and there were some colors there that I have never seen before. If you combined the Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH reading...you would have a pretty trippy tie dye shirt.

He was attempting to explain the nitrogen cycle to her and what she needs to do as a responsible fish keeper, but she wasn't interested at all. "You don't know what you're talking about...the tank is crystal clear" she says. I had to really hold myself back after that one. I think some people expect their tanks to change to various exotic colors before they something is wrong.

After all of this...she bought 6 more fish.

I guess my question is, when will people learn? What does it take to convince people that research should be done before an animal is purchased? Should it go as far as the respective department specialist having the authority to deny the sale of an animal?

At jays in NH??

 

[Arachnar]

Some people are just arrogant i guess and i would have scratched their face off if they thought they were such know-it-alls.

 

[rayboy]

It reminds me of the time a family went in after just setting up a 10 gallon nano reef....got a bunch of $60 corals, at least 5 clowns, and a emperor snapper which reaches about 4 foot total grown...i bet they all died....also I hate it when people go and say "oh look at the cute oscar or red tail" so they buy one....I hope they know what their in for.


-Kevin