Banned My Local P@h

matt_storey · Feb 28, 2011

Went to the supermarket to stock up on wine and decided i'd pop into Pets at Home (Banbury) to grab some tubing for my air pump.

Saw a chap was buying a small tank for his kiddy, ended up getting one of their 'My first tanks'. I used to have one for my Betta, not bad for what he wanted it for.

Now, some of the advice i heard was...

(When looking at goldfish) - "they dont grow much bigger than they are here" *which was about an inch*
(To which he replied) - "what about that big one there?" *it was a goldfish with the big lump on its head, im not sure on type, anyway it was about 6 inches*

(Store helper) - "No, some goldfish are born big some are small, they dont grow much"

Now this was the start, she then went on to say the Betta fish he wanted to buy didnt need a heater and he could happily have a few together... even though they are sold in seperated tanks!!!!!

Well, after that i had to step in... I explained a few things for the chap, he is now coming over tonight to pick up my old "my first tank" with a heater.

Management was informed, i was then asked to leave and not come back...

electropunk06 · Feb 28, 2011

Well done

, there should be some law about giving accurate advise to customers.
Lloyd

Carlovel1 · Feb 28, 2011

Sorry that you got banned from there. But I would have done exactly what you did. And maybe punched him to the floor :angry:

I hate these unexperienced people selling fish, at least give them proper training :shout:

But I can't understand why you were banned, you did nothing wrong. Surely you can't get punished for doing the right thing? :angry:

coldcazzie · Feb 28, 2011

At least you tried. And you've made a different to one fish keeper. I hope you don't have any other pets which you need to buy things for from P@H?!

matt_storey · Feb 28, 2011

think it was more to do with me stopping the chap from buying a tank from them.

he's coming over tonight and taking mine

I think alot of it was to do with me showing up their staff

coldcazzie · Feb 28, 2011

Indeed.

You cost them a sale. And you embarrassed one of their staff by correcting them in front of a customer. Tut tut.

*shakes your hand*

matt_storey · Feb 28, 2011

coldcazzie said:
At least you tried. And you've made a different to one fish keeper. I hope you don't have any other pets which you need to buy things for from P@H?!

No just fish, i have a LFS in town with a lovely couple that always see me good. Try not to go to P@H for obvious reasons so no loss there. only was there as i was in the area

coldcazzie · Feb 28, 2011

matt_storey said:
coldcazzie said:

At least you tried. And you've made a different to one fish keeper. I hope you don't have any other pets which you need to buy things for from P@H?!

Click to expand...

No just fish, i have a LFS in town with a lovely couple that always see me good. Try not to go to P@H for obvious reasons so no loss there. only was there as i was in the area

Good! I'd be screwed if I was banned from P@H as I buy the gerbil food and cat litter from there too! :fun:

SlimboyFat · Feb 28, 2011

Some years ago there was an aquatics section in the local Focus DIY store where the guy really enjoyed telling everyone that he had 15 years experiance keeping fish...

Some guy who was with his family asking about a loach (is it a loach for coldwater tanks, it's been such a long time

) as he had been informed that these will help to clean some of the mess from the pebbles. The shop didn't have any in stock so instead of telling the guy when they are likely to have some he tried to convince the guy that he shouldn't have one stating "They don't clean the pebbles at all as what goes in must come back out".

I stepped in and told him that he was talking crap (no pun intended) but he continued to try and convince the guy. I then stated that "After I have had a huge plate of Sunday Dinner I don't have a turd the same size"...

This got me the same responce as Matt.

Gilli · Feb 28, 2011

I did the same thing in my local. Stood and listened to advise being given to beginners which was totally wrong! They were told to put the water in the tank with the bacteria starter he had sold them then to add the fish - wait a few days and come back and buy more. No advise on water changes, or buying a water testing kit etc! When he had finished I asked why he had given the incorrect advise? After going through cycling a tank with fish in and correcting all the shop assistant had said he replied "well I think you are probably right, but this is what we are told to tell customers"!

ELECTROPUNK06 is right - there should be laws against it. We are talking about living creatures here - not good enough is it? :no:

-FighterFishh · Feb 28, 2011

I've never heard anyone give any silly advice first hand, though I have heard that my friend has been sold tropical fish for her coldwater tank, and they told her 'Oh yeah, those fish are completely fine to go in any tank.' :huh: