The first store I bought fish from told me everything was all right and my tank was ready. I had just set it up the day after Christmas and bought fish the next day. I put my fish in, with "Tetra Safe Start" and I also over stocked my tank. I had fish die left and right on me! Funny thing is, I didn't have the fish I like die on me. My Clown Loaches somehow made it though the cycle process. I was having a very bad time with my tank and I wanted to quit, but my clowns were still alive so I pressed on. I went back to the store and asked what had happened and they didn't know. I bought a water tester only to find everything off the charts. At this point I went to the internet. I learned about everything and the cycle process. I was upset at the LFS and I have not been back since, they lost my business.
I had two clown loaches, 5 glow fish, and 2 large gouramis left over in a 29 gallon tank. I had originally had 2 clown loaches, 5 glow fish, 2 large gouramis, 4 dwarf gouramis, 1 Rainbow (I took back due to him being bullied), 2 dalmatian molly's, and two sword tails. ALL IN A 29 gallon, all of which my LFS said was ok to START OUT WITH!! Well needless to what was left over was probably the max my tank could have, and the Clown loaches were going to need a Bigger tank. I was never told size requirements from my LFS. I was told keep buying, here you go!! I had enough after my Clowns got ICK and died. So I took all the other fish I had back to another fish store for credit (Not much credit). I didn't want to have another tank.
Had the LFS told me about the cycle process and educated me, I would still be a customer to this day. I went to another pet store (Jacks) because I wanted to do what I originality wanted to do a Saltwater Tank. They told me everything I needed, and told me about the live sand and rock and skimmers. They told me about the cycle and they also helped me with fish selection. Along with this website I have gained so much knowledge. I bought stuff from Jacks (even though they are overpriced in a lot of things) just because of their help and the knowledge they gave me.
My Saltwater tank is set up and cycling right now. No fish, and my stock list has been thought out extensively. It has changed over the course of a few weeks.
But that's because now that my tank is up and running my imagination is going wild. Members on this site has helped me greatly and I have refereed many people that are having problems with their tanks to this site.
Sorry for the LONG post, but the bottom line is this. Had the original LFS told me about the cycle process and helped me stock my tank with the proper fish I would still be a customer of that LFS to this day.