Bala Sharks & a 30g

[jonathan03]

You should definately ask the pet store about how much advice they will let you give. I don't think its worth loosing a job over. Sure its very cruel to put a fish in a tank too small, but ou have to think about your income as well. For me, it has always been difficult finding a job (but I'm very picky too).

As for the customers being upset, a certain amount will always be upset. Hopefully there are more down to earth customers that are easy to deal with though.

Last, you might talk to your lfs about putting minimum tank sizes and the tanks with the fish. That way when your ague with people, you can point to the sticker and make it harder for them to counter argue.

 

[Spikor]

The minimum tank size and summary would be a great idea IMO. Even if they just ripped all the data off the internet and printed up small fact sheets on the fish i think it would be great. even for me, someone who does research fish, sometimes i go to the store and see something i just HAVE TO HAVE and can only go by the LFS' word.

also, it's nice when you have a handful of fishes on your mind and you get one or two a little mixed up...keep your head on straight!

 

[ChileRelleno]

I'd hate to count the times at my LFS's that I've heard the staff giving bad/very bad info or suggestions, or just grinning and netting whatever the customer wants. There are only a few fish sales staff that have what I would call basic knowledge at my private LFS's, but amazingly the staff at the local Petsmart is knowledgeable and ask questions before selling fish an foods. This Petsmart requires either prior knowledge or educates them after hiring :dance .

I have many times butted into sales many times to try to educate or make a counter suggestion, the salesperson is usually either to shocked to open their mouth or they agree with me, but, I've experienced the same negative or know-it-all attitudes from some customers, others take the advice, thankfully.
Some folks get offended at being... Told something, given advice, knowing their wrong, realizing their own ignorance or just because their jerks.
The truth hurts and some folks don't wanna hear the truth, or even worse don't care.

Your doing a good morally responsible job, I hope your employer backs you up and feels the same way.

 

[Candycat21]

Thankfully, I do have my bosses full support as they are rather knowledgable about fish as well and know whats going on. The day I was hired they gave me the guidelines and said "you're unleashed" LoL If I feel a fish's well-being is at stake then I do have the power to refuse a sale or revoke the 14 day guarantee. Which I have never done or felt I needed to do it until this past weekend. I think this weekend just happened to be when all the know-it-alls and jerks decided to come in at once. Right after that incident with the 5-6 balas I went to the DM and told her what happened....she said I did nothing wrong and she fully supports me and my co-workers. I know at most other places an employee would just have to grin and bear it no matter what they thought...I guess I'm lucky in that respect. I do get some wonderful customers though...most who are newbies. I had one customer who described what he wanted...basically a look-alike saltwater tank. So we got him set up with a 46gal bow and he took me with him from aisle to aisle and told me to just put whatever I thought he needed to get a tank setup...decorations included It was fun. He came back a month later and got 6 african cichlids and loves them. So the job is def. rewarding when you have customers like that who appreciate the info you tell them
As for having the info on min. tank size etc, we have that with a pic of the fish, what food requirements, compatability, min. tank size per fish and then I also just got done making a binder that has tons of info on every fish that we sell. It's available to the customers to look at as well, so it's not like we don't have it posted at all.