I would certainly get in contact with the owner or manager of the store to let them know of what happened. Not to ask for a refund or exchange but to explain the situation to them and how it effected your view of his/her store for future purchases. ( A good store will offer you the refund or store credit without you asking.) That's actually not 100% true. Not all stores are looking more at the sale than they are making a long term customer. The good stores are looking for customers more than sales because they know, over the long run, a long term customer will spend a lot more money than a quick 1 and done buyer. Here's a great way to weed out the bad stores: ask about buying something expensive that you know is not a good fit for your tank. The ones that say "Yes" are not good stores. The ones that say "No" are the ones you support with your business. They obviously have your long term business in mind.
Here's a great way to weed out the bad stores: ask about buying something expensive that you know is not a good fit for your tank. The ones that say "Yes" are not good stores. The ones that say "No" are the ones you support with your business. They obviously have your long term business in mind.
If more people today would do the research BEFORE going to the store, they would be much better off. When I worked retail, I had customers come back from far away and even other countries because I wouldn't sell them something they didn't need or shouldn't have had. They respected my answer why. Today's salesmen/women are a different breed because they work for a different type of shop so it's up to you now to figure out who to trust or not. This is just 1 way to figure that out. 
Another example of the deterioration of qualified people offering advice about pets.
That's actually not 100% true. Not all stores are looking more at the sale than they are making a long term customer. The good stores are looking for customers more than sales because they know, over the long run, a long term customer will spend a lot more money than a quick 1 and done buyer. Here's a great way to weed out the bad stores: ask about buying something expensive that you know is not a good fit for your tank. The ones that say "Yes" are not good stores. The ones that say "No" are the ones you support with your business. They obviously have your long term business in mind.
I have been called things too and I just took it all in stride and explained why what they wanted to do was wrong or not a good thing for their pet. I also always used an analogy including a dog or cat ( since they are the most common and beloved pets) to drive the point home. If the customer still didn't want to listen, then do you really want them as a customer? Time will prove that they will be more of a pain than an asset to your business so if they walk out POed, let them. ( I had the boss's consent too. That's the plus side of a Mom & Pop shop.
) What really always made my day was when I would be talking to a new or trouble customer, a "regular" customer in the store would chime and tell these people " Listen to him. He knows what he's talking about. He's saved me a ton of money." What better unsolicited compliment can you get? 
