LFS sickened me today.

[ct-death]

Would "talking back" to a customer include telling them more than once that, no, you should not take home 5 clown loaches to your new 3 gallon Marineland Eclipse all-in-1 tank? Or would the employee comply with the sale to avoid being written up?

If you really need the job, but I guess I'm a bit confused... If the LFS is worth anything at all they should actualy refuse the sale if it will lead to a bad situation. I would also extend this to selling difficult fish to those you know will not properly care for them. If you are someone who really cares about animals would you really work for an outfit that does not care for animals?

I know Andy (my LFS owner) simply tells ppl to leave and go to Petco b/c all they are going to do is kill the fish.

In other words, ALL LFS should be in the business because they "care" for the fish, not the $. I know it's not a perfect world, but we do make the choice to give our business to who we wish. It's the same as bouycotting a store becasue you feel strongly enough against what they do (i.e. Walmart falls into this category, so does Petco for that matter, and others.)

As to the condition that animals are kept or the atitude of a single employee, these issues need to be addressed respectfully and properly, or you run the risk of being ignored at best, or you may aggitate the very people you wish to sway so much that they completely ignore your valid points and only focus on your behavoir, which utlimately harms the fish further by having an unhappy caretaker doing who knows what while they steam over your words...

I wasn't going to reply to this thread, but ...Okay I'm done.

 

[Marinemom]

When I get my LFS up and running all my betas will be kept in small tanks with filters. Any employee that talks back to a customer will be written up or fired.

I wasn't going to say anything further when I read this statement but the more I think about it the more it seems this statement is irresposible at best. You said this statement about your future employees but what about if the customer goes on a rant inside the store complaining unjustly about one of the employees and the store in general? Just such an incident happened only yesterday when I was at work and this customer came in (he is a regular customer) and went on a rampage about one of the employees that he felt was not doing her job and complained that she was rude and a b****. The person he was complaining about is one of the members of the management team at this store and she was in no way rude to him and was really trying to help him out. But he went on a rampage anyways. This is not the first time he did this. He has done this to other people that work there too. After he left, the person that he did this to talked to the owner of the store and he agreed that this customer is no longer welome in his establishment and will be asked to leave if he does return to the store. There is a limit as to what employees need to take from customers and this customer overstepped the line. I am glad that the owner was able to see this as it really is and not just take the side of the customer. The employees do not need to be treated like a doormat and if you do get the store you want you will have to realize that there is a fine line sometimes about what can be tolerated and what will not.

Marinemom

 

[lazyNode]

what's a dunny?

For those who missed it, a dunny is a toilet.
LOL

And as for the pet store.. sounds like any local P*ts 'R' Us
(Feel free to fill in the blanks)

I reakon you approached the guy in a reasonable manner, it was only when he replied

"do you work in a pet store? do you know what your talking about?"

that he was getting a bit cheeky.

A reasonable response would be "thanks for letting me know, we'll change the water as soon as we can" or even "Thanks I'll let the store manager know that the fish need attention"

It's disguisting how Siamese FF are kept at aquarium stores. It's so misleading to people about how they should be kept. Yuk.

Anyway, I would make a written complaint or phone call to the head office or store owner if possible. I've worked in retail and I know that bad news does bounce back to the employee, and if there is enough bad news the employee gets less and less shifts until they only get called in if they are needed. (Didn't happen to me btw... just a few ppl I know)

And as for animal cruelty... I don't think the RSPCA pays much attention, but always worth a go. Otherwise, maybe the Dept of Fisheries? http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/welfare/complaints.htm

 

[Omega]

You said this statement about your future employees but what about if the customer goes on a rant inside the store complaining unjustly about one of the employees and the store in general?

That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about a customer justly complaining about animal abuse. Betta's in plastic cups makes me sick too. Sure she crossed the line by insulting the employee, but the employee doesn't have to talk back.

In my store, the general rule of thumb is the employee would politely ask the customer to refrain from abusive language, and if it continues, they could discontinue service to them until they calmed down. I don't see what's wrong with mandating professionalism from my employees at all times.

Just such an incident happened only yesterday when I was at work and this customer came in (he is a regular customer) and went on a rampage about one of the employees that he felt was not doing her job and complained that she was rude and a b****.

Yeah, employees shouldn't have to put up with that. However, they must still remain professional, even when seeing the customer out the door.

 

[Que]

That's a tall order for a low paid employee but if ya find 'em make sure they have a chance at scoring more cash for a job well done.

Q

 

[Marinemom]

That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about a customer justly complaining about animal abuse. Betta's in plastic cups makes me sick too. Sure she crossed the line by insulting the employee, but the employee doesn't have to talk back.

In my store, the general rule of thumb is the employee would politely ask the customer to refrain from abusive language, and if it continues, they could discontinue service to them until they calmed down. I don't see what's wrong with mandating professionalism from my employees at all times.

Yeah, employees shouldn't have to put up with that. However, they must still remain professional, even when seeing the customer out the door.

I think you sound like you do not know what you are really in for. When this happened in the store where I work, she did remain professional with the customer but he was the one on a rant. He has done this before to other employees in the store and ther comes a time when enough is enough. As far as the bettas are concerned when they are in those cups in the store, you should see the way they come in. It is pathetic! The bettas are kept that way because one they can live that way for a short time and two it is not cost effective to give sixty bettas thier own tank. You cannot always put them in other tanks with other fish because he will get beat up or the betta will be the aggressive one. So then what? For the most part they do not stay in these cups for very long. They sell so fast that most of the time they do not even get a water change in two days because they are already gone.

Marinemom

 

[jessicar613]

I The employees do not need to be treated like a doormat and if you do get the store you want you will have to realize that there is a fine line sometimes about what can be tolerated and what will not.

Marinemom

Thank you Marinemom! As a retail store owner myself I have to say sometimes, you just have to tell the customer to... well.

Sometimes you just to have to tell the customer where to go. We've done it and didn't put it nearly so nicely.

 

[Omega]

I think you sound like you do not know what you are really in for. When this happened in the store where I work, she did remain professional with the customer but he was the one on a rant. He has done this before to other employees in the store and ther comes a time when enough is enough.

I've worked in customer service for many years, not only as a representative, but also in team leader and supervisor roles. The only thing I'm nervous about is the financial aspect of opening a new business, but thanks for your concern.

And as I said, there does indeed come a time when enough is enough and the customer must be asked to leave, even if you have to call security or the police. But still, you must remain professional.

As far as the bettas are concerned when they are in those cups in the store, you should see the way they come in. It is pathetic! The bettas are kept that way because one they can live that way for a short time and two it is not cost effective to give sixty bettas thier own tank. You cannot always put them in other tanks with other fish because he will get beat up or the betta will be the aggressive one. So then what? For the most part they do not stay in these cups for very long. They sell so fast that most of the time they do not even get a water change in two days because they are already gone.

It sounds to me like you're supporting animal abuse. There's no excuse for shipping bettas in little plastic bags or keeping them in little plastic cups. Even large goldfish bowls are better than that.

 

[BucJason]

I think you sound like you do not know what you are really in for. When this happened in the store where I work, she did remain professional with the customer but he was the one on a rant. He has done this before to other employees in the store and ther comes a time when enough is enough. As far as the bettas are concerned when they are in those cups in the store, you should see the way they come in. It is pathetic! The bettas are kept that way because one they can live that way for a short time and two it is not cost effective to give sixty bettas thier own tank. You cannot always put them in other tanks with other fish because he will get beat up or the betta will be the aggressive one. So then what? For the most part they do not stay in these cups for very long. They sell so fast that most of the time they do not even get a water change in two days because they are already gone.

Marinemom

I was happy to see the Petco I went to yesterday had thier bettas in bigger containers than normal. Larger plastic tubs and not those little shot glasses some stores have them in. The fish could at least turn around and move a little bit. There should be a minimum size container you have to keep them in because it is not humane, and if you have to charge one extra dollar to cover the extra cost , big deal. They only cost a few bucks anyhow.

 

[Marinemom]

I've worked in customer service for many years, not only as a representative, but also in team leader and supervisor roles. The only thing I'm nervous about is the financial aspect of opening a new business, but thanks for your concern.

And as I said, there does indeed come a time when enough is enough and the customer must be asked to leave, even if you have to call security or the police. But still, you must remain professional.

It sounds to me like you're supporting animal abuse. There's no excuse for shipping bettas in little plastic bags or keeping them in little plastic cups. Even large goldfish bowls are better than that.

Supporting animal abuse!!?? Are you kidding me!! Please! I am just telling you the facts on the way they are shipped. And who said they are kept in a shot glass at my store. Far from it. However, reality is reality any way you look at it. Do I like the way they are kept in the store? No! Can I do much about it other then inform the management on my views? Probably not. When they come in to the store in the pathetic packing conditions that they do, I work as fast as I can to get them out of that crappy bag and into something better with clean water.

Marinemom