Talvari
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2011
- Messages
- 732
This is a continuation from a thread I wrote awhile ago. I figured I'd post some more frustrating situations that I've dealt with. (http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f23/more-horror-stories-from-a-lfs-185509.html)
I'm beginning to get really frustrated with people. I think I am burning out in retail!
1-Mr. Jersey Shore guy comes in with ditsy girlfriend. They pick out the smallest tank "kit" we have (a 1.25 gallon 'goldfish' tank with a filter) and proceed to pick out the LARGEST black moor we have, who is currently 4 inches long. I told them in no uncertain terms that the black moor was entirely too large for that tank and that they would need a 20+ gallon tank for him, ASAP. After a little hemming and hawing, they decided they wanted the fish - and the tank- anyways.
I was obviously irritated, so the guy tries to pacify me by saying "We'll take really good care of him." I looked at him, the fish, and the tank in his hand and said "Obviously not," and walked away. Its a good thing he didn't complain to my manager. I went to the register and voided his receipt, so at least if it dies, he cant just keep getting new free fish.
2- A woman comes in with her two kids. She keeps complaining that her fish are dying because *our* fish are sick. Concerned, I asked her the basics... Tank size, what kind of fish, what her maintenance schedule is, etc. Her answer? A ten gallon tank with 1 fantail goldfish and FOUR comets. She has yet to do a water change on the tank because its "only" two months old. So far, 7 comets have died, and they replaced the fantail once. I rolled my eyes. Couldn't help it.
3-An "expert" on goldfish came in. He had three large orandas in a 20 gallon tank. One of them died, and he was concerned as to why. I started off by asking what his maintenance schedule was. 50%... Every three or four months. He had the tank for six months so far and only did ONE water change. His Nitrates were over 200. I told him he had had too many fish in too small of a tank and that he should be doing a 50% a week at the very least. In no uncertain terms, he called me a dumb kid.
4- A young college girl came in with her parents. She wanted a ten gallon tank for her dorm room. I walked them through the process of setting up an aquarium, the whole fish in or fishless cycles, and told them some options for stocking - ember tetras, guppies, rasbora, etc. I told them they should get the tank home and set it up before getting fish.
What happened? They decided that they were going to get the fish that day. What fish were they going to get? A blood-red parrot. Obviously I told them that was a bad idea since the fish would get 8"+, and obviously they didn't listen. Another void on another receipt...
I'm beginning to get really frustrated with people. I think I am burning out in retail!
1-Mr. Jersey Shore guy comes in with ditsy girlfriend. They pick out the smallest tank "kit" we have (a 1.25 gallon 'goldfish' tank with a filter) and proceed to pick out the LARGEST black moor we have, who is currently 4 inches long. I told them in no uncertain terms that the black moor was entirely too large for that tank and that they would need a 20+ gallon tank for him, ASAP. After a little hemming and hawing, they decided they wanted the fish - and the tank- anyways.
I was obviously irritated, so the guy tries to pacify me by saying "We'll take really good care of him." I looked at him, the fish, and the tank in his hand and said "Obviously not," and walked away. Its a good thing he didn't complain to my manager. I went to the register and voided his receipt, so at least if it dies, he cant just keep getting new free fish.
2- A woman comes in with her two kids. She keeps complaining that her fish are dying because *our* fish are sick. Concerned, I asked her the basics... Tank size, what kind of fish, what her maintenance schedule is, etc. Her answer? A ten gallon tank with 1 fantail goldfish and FOUR comets. She has yet to do a water change on the tank because its "only" two months old. So far, 7 comets have died, and they replaced the fantail once. I rolled my eyes. Couldn't help it.
3-An "expert" on goldfish came in. He had three large orandas in a 20 gallon tank. One of them died, and he was concerned as to why. I started off by asking what his maintenance schedule was. 50%... Every three or four months. He had the tank for six months so far and only did ONE water change. His Nitrates were over 200. I told him he had had too many fish in too small of a tank and that he should be doing a 50% a week at the very least. In no uncertain terms, he called me a dumb kid.
4- A young college girl came in with her parents. She wanted a ten gallon tank for her dorm room. I walked them through the process of setting up an aquarium, the whole fish in or fishless cycles, and told them some options for stocking - ember tetras, guppies, rasbora, etc. I told them they should get the tank home and set it up before getting fish.
What happened? They decided that they were going to get the fish that day. What fish were they going to get? A blood-red parrot. Obviously I told them that was a bad idea since the fish would get 8"+, and obviously they didn't listen. Another void on another receipt...