Overheard bad advice

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Sk3lly

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Oct 20, 2013
Messages
2,918
Location
Windsor. England
I was in pets at home picking up some food for my fish, when a self confessed fish keeping newbie came in for some help. She had a 30litre tank, heater, lights and filter. The store worker sold her substrate and decorations, told her to fill the tank with water, add tap safe then wait 3 days. She was then informed she could fill the tank with any fish she liked. No mention of cycling, testing, the chemistry involved, stocking or many other things. I found this frustrating because a) the lady had clearly done no research and b) the pets at home worker offered very limited and poor advice. I guess some fish are destined to die fairly young. What do you guys think?
 
Unfortunately this is all too common. To become a fish specialist at places like pets at home, petco, petsmart, or Walmart all you have to do is be told by the boss you're working fish today. Rarely is there any training involved and if there is its likely based on out dated "rules" such as 1" per gallon. Rarely do you find a big box store employee with any first hand experience.

Sometimes if you can catch the person away from an employee they may be receptive to advice from an experience fish keeper. Others are not even willing to say hello.
 
Luckily myself, my friends, their friends, etc have called in and emailed in enough complaints to our two major chain stores that now their fish "associates" ask if the tank is cycled (if not they explain what needs to be done), what size it is and what they already have in it.

Now we're working on a bigger chain... baby steps
 
Luckily myself, my friends, their friends, etc have called in and emailed in enough complaints to our two major chain stores that now their fish "associates" ask if the tank is cycled (if not they explain what needs to be done), what size it is and what they already have in it. Now we're working on a bigger chain... baby steps
Good on you!! Good to know
 
I have no problems with jumping in when I hear bad advice given. I had one women say well why should I trust you the clerk told me "X". I told her because I am not trying to sell you something. I am telling you to go home and get on your computer and do some research for yourself. It will save you time money and heartache, when your fish die on you because you took bad advice. But the clerk here will be here waiting to keep selling you fish that will keep dying. She walked out of the store and didn't buy anything.
 
I have no problems with jumping in when I hear bad advice given. I had one women say well why should I trust you the clerk told me "X". I told her because I am not trying to sell you something. I am telling you to go home and get on your computer and do some research for yourself. It will save you time money and heartache, when your fish die on you because you took bad advice. But the clerk here will be here waiting to keep selling you fish that will keep dying. She walked out of the store and didn't buy anything.
I was just on my break at work so didnt have time to get involved. Its a shame because some people think oh well its only a fish. But its still a living animal same as a cat or a dog. Bet the stores wouldnt sell a dog to somebody if they knew it would die within the week but they are totally happy doing it with fish
 
My local P&H is much the same, i only really buy fish there (their stock seems good and healthy). I have given some newbies in there a few pointers at times, the staff only seem really interested in selling the products :/
 
My local P&H is much the same, i only really buy fish there (their stock seems good and healthy). I have given some newbies in there a few pointers at times, the staff only seem really interested in selling the products :/
One near me has poor looking tanks, especially the tank in which the live plants are kept. People might consider buying the plants if they could actually see them!!! They are covered in so much thick algae its unreal
 
From what i've read it's very much a matter of hit and miss. I have only ever seen a couple dead fish in the tanks, and when i do i notify them and they are removed immediately. The staff are happy and helpful(?) enough, but that's all part of retail i guess.
 
I have no problems with jumping in when I hear bad advice given. I had one women say well why should I trust you the clerk told me "X". I told her because I am not trying to sell you something. I am telling you to go home and get on your computer and do some research for yourself. It will save you time money and heartache, when your fish die on you because you took bad advice. But the clerk here will be here waiting to keep selling you fish that will keep dying. She walked out of the store and didn't buy anything.

Good for you. (y)
 
I will admit I have been a victim of the "fill it up and wait 24 hours" advice. I have done a lot of research since I started keeping fish and I honestly can't believe my fish lived as long as they did! I wish someone had explained how to cycle a tank and test for ammonia/nitrites etc before I started up my tanks.
 
Thing is this pets at home employee never mentioned buying a test kit or even inform the lady that the water needs testing
 
A friend of mine lives in Lincolnshire UK, he shops almost exclusively at pets at home because it's within walking distance of his house and he doesn't drive. He has told me that the sales people there are very knowledgeable, but nearly all of them are fish keepers themselves so they have first hand experience. It really does vary from one location to the next as to what level of help you will get from the store employee.
 
I was in pets at home picking up some food for my fish, when a self confessed fish keeping newbie came in for some help. She had a 30litre tank, heater, lights and filter. The store worker sold her substrate and decorations, told her to fill the tank with water, add tap safe then wait 3 days. She was then informed she could fill the tank with any fish she liked. No mention of cycling, testing, the chemistry involved, stocking or many other things. I found this frustrating because a) the lady had clearly done no research and b) the pets at home worker offered very limited and poor advice. I guess some fish are destined to die fairly young. What do you guys think?

You didn't step in and give the customer the proper information? I do that all the time. Usually, people are grateful.
 
You didn't step in and give the customer the proper information? I do that all the time. Usually, people are grateful.
Like i said earlier i was on a break at work and only went in to get some food. Didnt have time to be involved. Plus ive only had my tank 6 weeks. Not in a position to offer advice really
 
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