Lfs Standards Dropping Lately?

[Dan-CR4]

I've found an amazing shop in central London where the stock AND staff are fab

whats the name and area of london for the shop.

 

[simonas]

they probably suffer same problems most businesses face at the moment through credit crunch

less staff to reduce wages/ overheads longer hours making the place less efficient

I know our place are like that alng with most other businesses and agencies we come into contact with.

Its not good for the conumer and customer service and in LFS's for their abilities to keep the place as well looked after as I;m sure they would like

My LFS discusses takings and expenses with me as he knows I;d like to buy it one day and the margins are slim, ot a businees to make a million from!!

 

[ian]

yeah, i was talking to a freind who owned a small chain of pet stalls and she told me about a set up at my Local Maidenhead costing something in the margin of £300,000 and then there was the franchise price on top of that. That in effect would take ages to make back! She also told me about some Maidenhead stalls going under. She told me the one at Bridgeford in Notts had gone under, i'm sure its true, but haven't heard anything??

 

[crazychris]

Just been in an lfs that I only visit occasionally as I was passing near it. Apparently they'd sold a couple a 3ft tank yesterday and told them to just put water and a filter in and leave it overnight. They wanted coldwater fish. So today he sold them 14 common goldfish. The guy said "can my tank take so many when they're big and is 14 okay today?" He said "yes, they'll be fine"

 

[kiriyama]

I have to agree, and I think it's a general thing everywhere, "Credit Crunch"?
My LFS is till pretty good, tends to stick to the "bread and butter" varieties but at the end of the day they are running a business and these are the fish that will sell more often, only down side is he can't order in for me as he has to buy minimum amounts Visited Dobbies which usually has a very large selection, I have always found it impressive but today bare tanks, dead fish, sick fish, big Malawi tanks gone, shelves looking bare, I spoke to them on the phone last night, was told they still had some Tangs in with there Malawi, couldn't tell me what they were but I couldn't find them today? Shame, as always a nice shop. Surprisingly P@H have gone up somewhat in my estimation, staff freindly, good choice of hardware and meds etc, moving up stock now as have big vivariums and Bearded Dragons, still havn't bought fish from them dtill don't trust the tanks, for a while there they were managing to get some interesting stuff in, I know it's not the staffs fault as they are a chain but I hate all the bright gravel in the tanks
Ah breathe out, and tune in next week for a new soapbox subject

 

[Twinklecaz]

I know this is a long shot but if anyone can recommend a good shop to get my actual fish in the East Sussex area (not sure if anyone else here is even from this area) then I'd be eternally grateful!

 

[ellena]

yeah, i was talking to a freind who owned a small chain of pet stalls and she told me about a set up at my Local Maidenhead costing something in the margin of £300,000 and then there was the franchise price on top of that. That in effect would take ages to make back! She also told me about some Maidenhead stalls going under. She told me the one at Bridgeford in Notts had gone under, i'm sure its true, but haven't heard anything??

I think it has. I was trying to call them the other day and their number isn't listed anymore on yellow pages online or the MH website. I didn't think they were that great a shop, but they did have nice planted display tanks.

 

[markandhisfish]

Try managing 50-100 tanks and serving at the same time...

No excuse - there should be enough staff to cope especailly with the welfare of the fish. The trouble is most fish shops just look at it as a business and dont really bother too much about the welfare of the fish - they are cheap enough from the wholesalers. If shops did care they would give out more information on the care of fish and not just a quick sale!

agreed the lfs i get my shrimp and daphnia from is superb , they have around 100 tanks , it is owned and run by an old couple who are near retirement age and on top of serving people all tanks are spotless stock is healthy and in 2 years of going there i have never seen a single dead fish. surely if 2 people can manage all of this then a shop employing several staff cant have any excuses at all

 

[silverrabbit]

I've found an amazing shop in central London where the stock AND staff are fab

whats the name and area of london for the shop.

Can't remember the name but it's in Great Portland Street. You just walk past The Portland (I think) hospital and it's on the right. Looks small from the outside, but it has a basement full of cichlids and marines, and they also stock puffers (inc a hairy puffer which was adorable)

They are on Tropicalfishfinder.co.uk though

 

[FWFishLover]

just recently i saw a tank with oscars/blood parrots/yellow labs all in the same 7g together
and i saw a albino oscar stuck to the filter and no one cared

 

[kaivalagi]

just recently i saw a tank with oscars/blood parrots/yellow labs all in the same 7g together
and i saw a albino oscar stuck to the filter and no one cared

Ouch! That's got to be an all time low for the trade...how can anyone justify doing that...if no room don't get new stock...