Talvari
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2011
- Messages
- 732
I work at a LFS in the pet care department. Yes, I sell people fish. I'm one of the people that gets a bad rap from all the associates out there that are either poorly trained or just don't care about the animals they work with.
I usually REALLY love my job. I've been around and working with animals for as long as I can remember, I've got a tech degree in animal science, and if I find something I don't know about a certain type of animal... I try to research or at least ask someone who knows more.
I usually really enjoy my customers, as well... But let me tell you how frustrating it is to talk to some people. At my store, we technically are allowed to refuse a sale... But our manager discourages that. Heavily discourages that.... As in, possible disciplinary action for "poor customer service".... Anyways... Types of customers that frustrate me:
1- "Its just a fish, who cares if it dies?".... Its a living breathing thing. If you have that sort of attitude over it, then you shouldn't be getting it. This is most often said by people who want to put comets in bowls.
2- "You are just trying to make me spend more money!"... No, the water conditioner I am selling you is really important, especially when you have city water. Yes, you really should have a filter for your tank... No a fancy goldfish needs like a 20 gallon tank... Not a 1 gallon bowl.
3- This is just a general "I know someone who did something and it worked for them" sort. I had a lady tell me she knew someone who kept an oscar with angels 'and it worked fine'. She ignored the question of how big the oscar was. I had gentleman tell me he knew someone who kept a irri shark in a 20 gallon tank. He ignored the 'how big is it, and how long did it live' question.
4- "Fish grow to the size of their tank"... and don't believe anything else you try to tell them. Plecos in 10 gallon tanks? African cichlids in a 5 gallon tank? Comets in a bowl?
5- "well.. Ill just get the tank and fish today. That cycle thing cant be that important, and I dont want the kids to throw a temper tantrum because we cant get fish today." Okay, so your kids can throw a bigger fit when their fish die?
6- "Im getting this tank as a surprise for..." No, please. If someone wants an animal for a pet... they will get it themselves. Please dont push an animal off on someone unless they know about it because too often the animal dies because said person doesnt want the responsibility!
Do any of you have pet peeves like this?
I usually REALLY love my job. I've been around and working with animals for as long as I can remember, I've got a tech degree in animal science, and if I find something I don't know about a certain type of animal... I try to research or at least ask someone who knows more.
I usually really enjoy my customers, as well... But let me tell you how frustrating it is to talk to some people. At my store, we technically are allowed to refuse a sale... But our manager discourages that. Heavily discourages that.... As in, possible disciplinary action for "poor customer service".... Anyways... Types of customers that frustrate me:
1- "Its just a fish, who cares if it dies?".... Its a living breathing thing. If you have that sort of attitude over it, then you shouldn't be getting it. This is most often said by people who want to put comets in bowls.
2- "You are just trying to make me spend more money!"... No, the water conditioner I am selling you is really important, especially when you have city water. Yes, you really should have a filter for your tank... No a fancy goldfish needs like a 20 gallon tank... Not a 1 gallon bowl.
3- This is just a general "I know someone who did something and it worked for them" sort. I had a lady tell me she knew someone who kept an oscar with angels 'and it worked fine'. She ignored the question of how big the oscar was. I had gentleman tell me he knew someone who kept a irri shark in a 20 gallon tank. He ignored the 'how big is it, and how long did it live' question.
4- "Fish grow to the size of their tank"... and don't believe anything else you try to tell them. Plecos in 10 gallon tanks? African cichlids in a 5 gallon tank? Comets in a bowl?
5- "well.. Ill just get the tank and fish today. That cycle thing cant be that important, and I dont want the kids to throw a temper tantrum because we cant get fish today." Okay, so your kids can throw a bigger fit when their fish die?
6- "Im getting this tank as a surprise for..." No, please. If someone wants an animal for a pet... they will get it themselves. Please dont push an animal off on someone unless they know about it because too often the animal dies because said person doesnt want the responsibility!
Do any of you have pet peeves like this?