ATTN: LFS employees
- Thread starter littlefish72
- Start date
- Status
Wow, great thread. Us LFS employees get a lot of flack from "seasoned" aquarists but no one admits they all started at a store.
Anyway, I have so many stories I couldn't even think of them all. Some of my favorites are the drunks that show up 5 mins to close, want to buy all sorts of things you advise against and continue to buy them anyway. I'll tell someone 2x its not going to work and if they keep pushing whatever its all yours. Couple weeks ago this guy comes in and buys a blue faced and a purple tang. I ask him what size tank, 30gal he says. I tell him that not even close to what he needs. That blue face will get close to a foot, no no no, its fine he says, it'll grow to its surroundings. I tell him its a myth and the organic pollution will stunt grow and all that jive. He keeps pushing the issue and wants these fish, on a side note, I love purples and the juv. blue face looked incredible, so I tell him, well sir, if you put a baby in a dog cage, will it stop growing? No, just give me the fish. Well, I regrettably did, haven't seen him since and probably wont again.
I post more when I think of them all
Anyway, I have so many stories I couldn't even think of them all. Some of my favorites are the drunks that show up 5 mins to close, want to buy all sorts of things you advise against and continue to buy them anyway. I'll tell someone 2x its not going to work and if they keep pushing whatever its all yours. Couple weeks ago this guy comes in and buys a blue faced and a purple tang. I ask him what size tank, 30gal he says. I tell him that not even close to what he needs. That blue face will get close to a foot, no no no, its fine he says, it'll grow to its surroundings. I tell him its a myth and the organic pollution will stunt grow and all that jive. He keeps pushing the issue and wants these fish, on a side note, I love purples and the juv. blue face looked incredible, so I tell him, well sir, if you put a baby in a dog cage, will it stop growing? No, just give me the fish. Well, I regrettably did, haven't seen him since and probably wont again.
I post more when I think of them all
Reefski's
Active member
NCSUsalt-- great attitude. it must be hard with the pressure to make a sale but the livestock should always come first. no matter what.
i think my LFS is good about that but they do stock some fish that i know will get too big for 99% of the customers out there, or have a specialized diet like filefish and coral polyps.
i haven't been privy to the conversations with folks buying those fish. i am friendly with the manager and i will have to ask him now that i have read this thread.
i think my LFS is good about that but they do stock some fish that i know will get too big for 99% of the customers out there, or have a specialized diet like filefish and coral polyps.
i haven't been privy to the conversations with folks buying those fish. i am friendly with the manager and i will have to ask him now that i have read this thread.
Last edited:
Dragonfire00
New member
LOL "Licks her from another room" ROFL!!!
mcbaes72
-Aidan's Daddy.
My reply will be #667 since the previous # gives me the creeps.
Anyway, I used to work at a LFS part time just to fund my hobby. I wanted to be one of the people to help others w/ advice, bag fish and corals, etc. But they put me at the register and it sucked!
I got into a minor argument w/ a customer who said he only got 9 feeder fish, but the guy helping him put 10 for $1. Yet in his other bag, he got approx 12-13 feeder fish and it was listed as 10 for $1, too. Of course he didn't mind getting free fish in one bag, but complained he should only pay .90 cents for the other. I finally gave him his wish after the mgr. gave the okay to let it slide.
Another time, a co-worker left the RO water valve open all night after closing and the next day, about half the display tanks w/ fish and corals were dead or dying. The guy didn't get fired, surprisingly, but wow...what a mess and a total tragedy to deal w/ that next morning. IIRC, the owner had the workers collect all the dead fish/corals, bag and label them, then submit the $$$$ loss to her insurance. Despite this incident, I believe they opened the store anyway on time.
Anyway, I used to work at a LFS part time just to fund my hobby. I wanted to be one of the people to help others w/ advice, bag fish and corals, etc. But they put me at the register and it sucked!
I got into a minor argument w/ a customer who said he only got 9 feeder fish, but the guy helping him put 10 for $1. Yet in his other bag, he got approx 12-13 feeder fish and it was listed as 10 for $1, too. Of course he didn't mind getting free fish in one bag, but complained he should only pay .90 cents for the other. I finally gave him his wish after the mgr. gave the okay to let it slide.
Another time, a co-worker left the RO water valve open all night after closing and the next day, about half the display tanks w/ fish and corals were dead or dying. The guy didn't get fired, surprisingly, but wow...what a mess and a total tragedy to deal w/ that next morning. IIRC, the owner had the workers collect all the dead fish/corals, bag and label them, then submit the $$$$ loss to her insurance. Despite this incident, I believe they opened the store anyway on time.
Last edited:
lowendmelody
New member
Ok, so don't take this the wrong way, and I am definatly not bashing this thread cuz I work in customer service and I understand the fools you will come across when dealing with the public.... However, I know at my LFS's they would not sell those animals to the customer who couldn't care for them. As should any GOOD lfs. It's very disturbing that you AND the owner of the store which employs you, would allow this to happen. That is disgusting.... and you actually keep fish yourself?....
A.T.T.R
Active member
lol im sure that your fav lfs would sell it as well buddy.
even the "best" lfs around here according to the club .. lies.. and uses bogus science that i like to call tehm on ( they make products as well)
the few fish lost to customers who dont know what they are doing is small compared to the fish lost to the shippers and so forth.
alot of times you cant say no to a customer but can jsut try hard to talk them out of it
if that one person dosnt get what they want word spreads ( usualy full of lies and you can lose alot more customers)
last person we refused to sell to screamed that we hated the jews and that is why we wouldent sell to her... nother guy ended up just stealing what he wanted anyways....
figurre they WILL get it if they want it.. even if not from you.
best you can do is to talkem out of it.
some people take it really well and MOST are willing to listen to you. even some of the tricier customers accept when you just tell them NO but if they keep insisting that they take it home.. more likely then not it goes home with them.
either that or your come up with athe lie that it is already sold and spread the word fast to other employees ( hehe works well where i work) and then just tell the guy that you will be getting more on tuesday and come back then ( and do the same thing or hope he dosnt come back)
most ppl even the dumb ones want to learn
even the "best" lfs around here according to the club .. lies.. and uses bogus science that i like to call tehm on ( they make products as well)
the few fish lost to customers who dont know what they are doing is small compared to the fish lost to the shippers and so forth.
alot of times you cant say no to a customer but can jsut try hard to talk them out of it
if that one person dosnt get what they want word spreads ( usualy full of lies and you can lose alot more customers)
last person we refused to sell to screamed that we hated the jews and that is why we wouldent sell to her... nother guy ended up just stealing what he wanted anyways....
figurre they WILL get it if they want it.. even if not from you.
best you can do is to talkem out of it.
some people take it really well and MOST are willing to listen to you. even some of the tricier customers accept when you just tell them NO but if they keep insisting that they take it home.. more likely then not it goes home with them.
either that or your come up with athe lie that it is already sold and spread the word fast to other employees ( hehe works well where i work) and then just tell the guy that you will be getting more on tuesday and come back then ( and do the same thing or hope he dosnt come back)
most ppl even the dumb ones want to learn
Ok lets bash me, does it make you feel better?:rolleye1: The guy told me he has a 125 that he hasn't set up yet because of his recent move. Believe me, I've told many a customer to hit the road, and unlike your fav LFS there are way more fish I DON'T keep in stock because of husbandry issue than those I do. Does your local carry mandarins, moorish idols, or many others?! I don't!! I DO have my ethics and morals in line, go ahead and ask anyone from WI that has ever stepped foot in our store. But, like I said all of you that want to judge, go ahead, you're also the same folks that go to the LFS ask them ?'s then buy it online, THERE'S morals and ethics for you!!
chrissreef
New member
Yesterday from the same guy:
I have 2 Gorilla 2 pumps - NO KORALIA!
I sold my Bonsai cardinals to another hobbyist - NO, BANGAII!
I have a Magnetic Drive return pump - NO, MAG DRIVE!
I have 12 nitrite snails - NO, NASSARIUS!
OMG! Get out of the hobby!!
I have 2 Gorilla 2 pumps - NO KORALIA!
I sold my Bonsai cardinals to another hobbyist - NO, BANGAII!
I have a Magnetic Drive return pump - NO, MAG DRIVE!
I have 12 nitrite snails - NO, NASSARIUS!
OMG! Get out of the hobby!!
A.T.T.R
Active member
I have a Magnetic Drive return pump - NO, MAG DRIVE!
uhh... if its not direct drive then its magnetic drive.. your wrong on that one
he was right
oh yeah nothing worse then the customers who askk u for help then buy online
even better
are the ones who buy online THEN bring product to your store and ask you to help them with it..
i used to do it.. but the day i stoped was the day some one asked me straihght to my face for marine depots number after i helped them pick out some stuff.....uhhh no?
now i tell people im sorry that wasnt purchased here ask ( insert online faceless company here that at best can talk to you ) for help....
there are of course exceptions ( like if they are extreamly nice.. or come in alot)
uhh... if its not direct drive then its magnetic drive.. your wrong on that one
he was rightoh yeah nothing worse then the customers who askk u for help then buy online
even better
are the ones who buy online THEN bring product to your store and ask you to help them with it..
i used to do it.. but the day i stoped was the day some one asked me straihght to my face for marine depots number after i helped them pick out some stuff.....uhhh no?
now i tell people im sorry that wasnt purchased here ask ( insert online faceless company here that at best can talk to you ) for help....
there are of course exceptions ( like if they are extreamly nice.. or come in alot)
there are some great stories on here
not to bash but to correct - magnetic drive (if im not mistaken) means mag drive
and the snails may have been nerite snails
AquaReeferMan
Got Reef?
Some lady calls in and says the halide on her fixture is broke and hasent worked since she got it. I asked her when she got it and she said 5 days ago. So I told her to bring it in so we could test it to see what was wrong. So she takes a nice 45 minute drive to our store and brings the fixture in. I hook it up and it fires up right away. So she takes a look at the external ballast and said, what is that?, and I told her it was the ballast. Then she goes, well where did that come from, and I said, out of the box, and she goes, Ohhh. It was pretty funny. So I showed her how to connect the cord from the fixture to the ballast and sent her on her way. Needless to say she left kinda embarrassed.
chrissreef
New member
"I have a Magnetic Drive return pump - NO, MAG DRIVE!
uhh... if its not direct drive then its magnetic drive.. your wrong on that one he was right"
True... but he pointed to a Mag Drive when I asked what kind of pump. There were other pumps there too.
"and the snails may have been nerite snails"
true, but he def said nitrite =)
uhh... if its not direct drive then its magnetic drive.. your wrong on that one he was right"
True... but he pointed to a Mag Drive when I asked what kind of pump. There were other pumps there too.
"and the snails may have been nerite snails"
true, but he def said nitrite =)
I enjoy this thread.- Status
Similar threads
