Fun with Pet Stores

[Becca]

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but...
its obvious that "fish dweeb" is concerned about the lives of the fish.
id rather have someone concerned with the well being of the fish at least than someone who will sell you a goldfish bowl with an arowana in it.
of course he should have asked about all of the stats of her tank and tried to help her the best he could but im sure he was thinking she is the average petsmart customer that dumps 50 fish in an uncycled tank and brings them back dead the next day.
im not saying what he did was rgiht. i just think he should be given credit for being concerned (although he was very pompous about it)

Well, yes - he should be given credit for taken the fish's welfare into consideration when making a sale. HOWEVER, he's going about it all wrong.

This is the same guy who, when I kept a community tank, argued with me regarding the number of males / females I could keep in my tank. I wanted to keep about 5 females and 1 male and he ARGUED that I had to stick, STRICTLY to 2 females and 1 male. That was the first, and last, time I ever dealt with him. I've seen him arguing and being a complete pompous ass with other customers. I have no problem with him trying to protect teh fish he's selling, but...

1) Perhaps he should make sure his own tanks are safe. I see tons of dead fish in his own tanks.
2) He could do it without being a jerk.

 

[guppymonkey]

A lot of pet store employees are pompous idiots but I have to admit if I worked in a pet store I would probably have an urge to yell at customers for being dumb. While a lot of the employees aren't as knowledgeable about fish as a lot of the people on this board at least most of the employees make an effort.

I love it the reaction pet store employees get when they try to make sure you are getting a fish that isn't too big for your tank. I was at PetsMart looking to get a gold gourami for my 55 gallon tank. I wanted to get a small gold gourami so that I could have it grow to full size in my tank (kinda like raising it myself). When I pointed out the fish that I wanted the fish guy looked at me like I was dumb and said "Don't you know that is the same species as the larger ones". When I told him that I wanted a young one so that it could grow up in my tank he seemed kinda ticked and asked what size tank I had for it because "this fish needs a large tank". Then he tried to tell me that it wasn't a golden gourami but a large tetra that was a schooling fish that grew to about a foot long. I started laughing as soon as I made it out of the store with my fish. I don't know how I lasted that long though.

He is the only really bad employee at my petsmart, the girls that work there may not know a lot about fish but they don't pretend to know a lot. Thats better then making up information. Its really helpful that petsmart has info about their fish on the tanks, that way uninformed customers can find out how big the fish would be when it is full grown instead of asking an incompetent employee.

 

[fishdudein]

I stop in my LFS at least once, more likely twice a week. Just to see what they have got that's new, see what's going on, talk fish with the guys that work there. Oh, yeah, every once in a while I buy something too. Anyway, it's a nice way to end the day before going home, makes me feel like Norm on Cheers!

To the point, though...the more time I spend there and observe what is happening, the more impressed I am. The last two times I have been there, there has been a new guy working. I haven't seen him waiting on any customers yet, but there is always another employee with him. They are usually standing in front of one tank or another, and there is actually serious conversation going on about the various types of fish, plants, corals, whatever happens to be in the tank. Actual on the job training!

 

[Becca]

I stop in my LFS at least once, more likely twice a week. Just to see what they have got that's new, see what's going on, talk fish with the guys that work there. Oh, yeah, every once in a while I buy something too. Anyway, it's a nice way to end the day before going home, makes me feel like Norm on Cheers!

To the point, though...the more time I spend there and observe what is happening, the more impressed I am. The last two times I have been there, there has been a new guy working. I haven't seen him waiting on any customers yet, but there is always another employee with him. They are usually standing in front of one tank or another, and there is actually serious conversation going on about the various types of fish, plants, corals, whatever happens to be in the tank. Actual on the job training!

That's GREAT!!!

As for your addiction to your store...I'm the same way. I have two fish stores that I like, and between the two I can get just about anything I will ever need. I prefer one over the other, but I'll visit both.

Quite often, I'll find myself in the store 1-3 times a week just chatting with the staff, gawking at the fish and dreaming of the day when I will be able to own a setup elite enough for a porcupine puffer! (They're soooo cute!!!)

The worst thing is I can't seem to enter the store without leaving with at least $30 of merchandise. I'm starting to run out of room at home for myself and money in the bank! MY FISH ARE TAKING OVER!!! Ahhhh!

 

[Puffer_freak]

I stop in my LFS at least once, more likely twice a week. Just to see what they have got that's new, see what's going on, talk fish with the guys that work there. Oh, yeah, every once in a while I buy something too. Anyway, it's a nice way to end the day before going home, makes me feel like Norm on Cheers!

To the point, though...the more time I spend there and observe what is happening, the more impressed I am. The last two times I have been there, there has been a new guy working. I haven't seen him waiting on any customers yet, but there is always another employee with him. They are usually standing in front of one tank or another, and there is actually serious conversation going on about the various types of fish, plants, corals, whatever happens to be in the tank. Actual on the job training!

Thats always nice to see!

 

[bluefire]

Yes, but you wouldn't actuallu would you?

no I wouldn't

 

[Puffer_freak]

Oh good! For a moment there? Phew!