Who works at an LFS and how do you do it?

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JK47

JK47

Retired MFK Admin
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Aug 4, 2008
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Who works at an LFS and how do you find a balance between work and hobby? I don't think I could do it. The business aspect would ruin the hobby for me and the hobby aspect would ruin my business.

I frequent some great LFS in my area with knowledgeable people and yet I can hear them tell people horrible advice to customers that do not know what they are doing. Yet I would not get this advice from the same employee because they know me. How do you guys "turn it on and off" ??? Lets here it...
 
I was always very honest with my advice when I worked at the LFS, both with the fish and the herps. My boss was pretty adamant that we not sell stuff that wasn't compatible, or sell real monsters if the person clearly didn't have the appropriate setup. It caused some friction obviously, but a big chunk of our business were regulars so it didn't happen as much as it would in say a chain. It was also years ago when a lot of the real monsters (RTC, TSN, pbass, etc) weren't common in the hobby, and we rarely sold stuff like pacus etc.
 
CTU2fan;4040088; said:
I was always very honest with my advice when I worked at the LFS, both with the fish and the herps. My boss was pretty adamant that we not sell stuff that wasn't compatible, or sell real monsters if the person clearly didn't have the appropriate setup. It caused some friction obviously, but a big chunk of our business were regulars so it didn't happen as much as it would in say a chain. It was also years ago when a lot of the real monsters (RTC, TSN, pbass, etc) weren't common in the hobby, and we rarely sold stuff like pacus etc.
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Thanks for the feedback. Chain stores or not it seems like the motive to push fish out the door still wins. I understand business very well and if they didn't sell their product, there would be no LFS. I just have to wonder if some of those employees get burned out having theirs bosses etc pressing the to give bad advice just to sell.

I don't want this thread to become a "bad advice from the LFS" thread, I'm more looking for feedback from how the experience of working at an LFS impacted a persons hobby etc... I have always wondered.
 
I have never worked in a LFS exept for 2 days with no salary (school project). The key is too be honest. If somebody asks you something and you dont know the answer, dont answer what you think or guess, just say "im sorry but i dont know, i will have too ask another employee" or something in that direction.
Also, remember, not all people are there too know more about fish, just get in, buy what they came for and get out.

Hope i helped.
 
Jakob;4040112; said:
I have never worked in a LFS exept for 2 days with no salary (school project). The key is too be honest. If somebody asks you something and you dont know the answer, dont answer what you think or guess, just say "im sorry but i dont know, i will have too ask another employee" or something in that direction.
Also, remember, not all people are there too know more about fish, just get in, buy what they came for and get out.

Hope i helped.
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So advice set aside, based on your few days there do you think if you did that full time it would burn you out on the hobby?
 
I work at a LFS but i don't actually keep fish, there are people that work there who order fish in for there own tanks and sometimes the excess orders dont sell so your left with alot of extras.
After working there i dont think i could set up my own tank after spending all day surrounded by fish i couldnt go home to it too .
 
fishbum;4040186; said:
Ummmm, then why are you a member here?
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Perhaps the same reason that the reptile and amphibian keepers are here. Or perhaps just because he likes fish in general. :chillpill:
 
Madding;4040196; said:
Perhaps the same reason that the reptile and amphibian keepers are here. Or perhaps just because he likes fish in general. :chillpill:
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What's there too chill about? I was asking a question.
 
fishbum;4040204; said:
What's there too chill about? I was asking a question.
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I guess I took your "Ummmm" the wrong way.
 
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