Praising Advice Given From A Lfs

[ZoddyZod]

I know we see quite a lot of threads telling us of terrible/innappropriate advice given by LFS when selling stock to their customers but I overheard some great advice being dished out at Maidenhead Aquatics - Staines yesterday so I'm going to praise them for it.

A customer was basically looking for the "biggest fish that can go in my tank". She didn't seem to know the size of her tank (having to guess by saying "half the size of that one") and seemed pretty determined to get what she wanted regardless of suitability. The member of staff was very patient and went through each of the fish she pointed out telling her the ins and out of behaviour, size and compatibility with her current fish. He spent a good 30mins doing this (I was clock-watching as I was wating to buy something myself) and his knowledge seemed very extensive and he certainly wasn't the type to be putting profit above responsible selling. It was especially pleasing to see as this store has only been open a few months.

Anyone else care to share some praise for their LFS?

 

[james_fish]

My Maidenhead is also very praisable. There is one guy that's in there every time I go and he's a great guy and gives fair knowledge.

James.

 

[Jamepsss]

I think Maidenhead are generally pretty good. There's two within easy reach for me and both have good, knowledgable staff working there. The tanks always look really healthy too so they obviously look after them well.

 

[neo83]

Hey ZZ

I live in staines as well. How close are you to Staines?

There is one guy who is very patient in the Staines store, but not a big fan of the other staff. I do shop more often however in the Maidenhead aquatics in Woking. There is one guy in there who is very helpful and equally knowledgable as well. Overall as others have said, generally Maidenhead aquatics are very good. I currently roam around between MHA in woking, staines, osterley and syon park and just

 

[ZoddyZod]

Hey ZZ

I live in staines as well. How close are you to Staines?

There is one guy who is very patient in the Staines store

I'm in Egham, so just down the road. Have you tried MA Ascot? That's a very good shop as well. Again, some of the staff in there are particularly good. There's also one in Shepperton.....we are very spoilt for choice in this area! WaterWorld in Staines is quite good. The store looks a bit run down but I've never bought a 'bad' fish from them.

In the Staines one is it the tall thin guy that you're talking about?

 

[Proxo]

Maidenhead here too in carlisle, when buying cichlids i always get 20 odd questions - it's annouying but it's good that they care enough to ask.
most of the tanks are labelled in pretty good detail on each of the fish too - size, aggression, what type of water it likes ect.

Although i got him to get me some red terrors in a while back and i noticed he's had to move alot of fish around due to there aggression & the labels are abit 'off' the actual tank... my fault hahaa!!

 

[elisew]

Maidenhead in Wimborne are great and I can`t ever praise them enough

What zoddy describes is par for the course at my local MA, it doesn`t matter how rushed or busy the staff are they`ll always take the time to talk, advise and explain to customers. They`re all really helpful, polite and experienced.....but most important to me is that they`re honest with their advice and opinions even if it means they`ll lose a sale.

They`re a great bunch at Wimborne MA

 

[neo83]

Hey ZZ

I live in staines as well. How close are you to Staines?

There is one guy who is very patient in the Staines store

I'm in Egham, so just down the road. Have you tried MA Ascot? That's a very good shop as well. Again, some of the staff in there are particularly good. There's also one in Shepperton.....we are very spoilt for choice in this area! WaterWorld in Staines is quite good. The store looks a bit run down but I've never bought a 'bad' fish from them.

In the Staines one is it the tall thin guy that you're talking about?

Ah yes, not far at all. Haven't heard of the Ascot store but will surely visit them now . World of water in staines is the first shop i visited and was very impressed by them before i came to know about maidenhead aquatics. I got my pearl gourami from world of water and is very healthy.

Yes, it's the tall guy who is the patient one and helpful as well. I always go when the shop is about to close (rushing from work ) and he was the only one who was patient while i was choosing a plant while the others at different times were not that impressed. Overall, as you say we are really spoilt for choice.

 

[m00ms]

as im local to staines thought id say hello from addlestone!

wheres the maidenhead in staines? is that the new shop in the garden centre on the way out of staines towards laleham?

 

[Carlovel1]

Abacus Aquatics gets a massive thumbs up from me, the owner is a fantastic lad

 

[simonas]

Andys Aquatics in Birkenhead for me

Can;t fault them, they spend time chating to me, give me discount on pretty much everything I buy and make me and my kids feel welcome when I go in, saying that I have been going there for 20 yrs this year and the owner knows I want to buy the store off him one day!!!

They also used to be hard to buy oddballs from due to questions about experience, water in tank size etc. I have no issues now as they know that I know a fair bit

 

[markandhisfish]

probably the best 1 ive been to was rats cats and elephants in ipswich , which is where i got my oscars from. i cant really say id praise his advice , simply because i was the only customer at the time and i didnt need any advice because ive got a decent level of experience. but we did have a long chat about fish keeping in general , and i asked him what else he had suitable for my tank size and pretty much everything he said was spot on .

 

[ZoddyZod]

They also used to be hard to buy oddballs from due to questions about experience, water in tank size etc.

sounds like a very respectable shop

 

[ian]

I will just add MA at East Bridgford Notts, wow, very good for planted tanks. There holding area for plants is great!

The fish stocking isn't brilliant, but if your thinking of starting a planted tank then this is the place for you!

 

[Littlemonkey]

My OH and I were in Birmingham a couple of week's ago and as I had been given MA gift vouchers for Xmas we popped into MA in Shirley. Was not impressed. Dead fish, wrong labels over tanks, I don't think Shirley Aquatics has anything to worry about. There was only one guy working there aswell, but he was the plus point, very helpfull and was obviously stretched with maintenance and helping customers. This weekend however I went to MA Stratford-upon-Avon, what a difference, there were loads of customers which is a good sign. Lots of maintenance going on, and a very helpfull young man who netted my new Male Bol ram with great care and he gave me a credit because the price was less than my Gift Voucher. Will defo be back.