fishlette
Fish Addict
It's an absolute no-brainer... the customer was STUPID and completely at fault. It doesn't matter if a fish costs $65 or $0.65 - if you are going to buy a fish, you research it. As much as we'd like an LFS to educate the customer about the fish they are buying - it's the customer's duty as a responsible pet-owner to step up and ask what to feed the fish, what are the ideal parameters, any special requirements, etc. Sometimes staff will tell people stuff and they just nod >> someone bought a yellow lab and mollies to stick in the same tank - just as big a disaster as a saltwater fish in a fresh-water tank... It escapes me why people aren't held liable for their stupidity... the legal system states that "ignorance of the law is not a valid defence" - should that apply here too...
but what about the people that dont even know water has parameters? what about the people who are so new to keeping fish they dont realise some need different water conditions etc? if people dont realise they arent going to research.
as much as i care abnout the customer i also care about the animals. this is the bottom line in thsi discussion. do we say, ok this person should have done their homework and should know or should we say 'i dont want this fish or whatever animal, to go to a place where it may just die'. thats what it should be about. the animals welfare is most important and checking that they are going to be happy and healthy is important otherwise when they take that animal home and it gets sick or dies, they blame the shop. this may be blind blame but all the people they are going to whinge to dont know that. small business relies on word of mouth and you just cant do anything that would allow that bad word of mouth to start spreading.
p.s. i do believe that when you sell something of any nature it is your responsibility is the sales person to ensure correct use/care when using/keeping anything you sell them