Why I hate chain store.

[Peanut_Power]

Just wanted to chime in and say my piece.

I work at a LFS, and experience all sorts of situations regarding people wanting fish. There are several aspects to this that need to be recognized.

First, it doesn't matter how much advice you give to a customer if they already have their minds made up. If they don't accept the advice you are giving them, its a loosing battle from the start. I don't know how many times I've tried to encourage people not to buy certain fish, to upgrade their tanks, practice proper husbandry, the list goes on, only to be shut down because they either don't care, or don't like what you are telling them.

Then there are the people who when you try to give them advice treat you like you are stupid because they think they know better. In some cases they might actually know what they are talking about, but for the most part they don't.

Finally there are the people who understand what you are saying, and are actually listening. They have good intentions, but just don't follow through with them. An example is 'I'm just growing them out in this tank till I can save up enough to get a larger one'. I don't know how many times I've heard this only to have the fish returned months later to be replaced by another.

Moral of the story is this: Its not always the LFS/Chain stores fault, sometimes its the customers who refuse to accept the knowledge presented to them.

 

[badassissimo]

Very true. Makes you wonder if there should be an introductory class like Driver's Ed. Might not have any effect we can accept as success but then again, could eliminate some problems.

 

[majorhavok]

If I wasn't so sure that chain stores would refuse the idea, I'd suggest placing a realistic picture of the fish next to the tank. For instance, a 16" picture of an adult oscar next to the 1" oscar with like some cute bubble letters that say,"I'm this big full grown!"

I figure its the same as the sign my lfs puts up on the cichlid tanks that say,"I can't live in a fish bowl."

I wonder if they would post an 8 ft picture of a koi by the koi tank/pond....

That would be cool. All of the chains that I have seen are pretty good with cards showing the typical size they grow to in inches as well as their preferred water temp and personality temperament. It would be nice if they had tank suggestions to.. and that would help the staff as well.