My Petco is nasty, there is always water on the floor and there are always dead fish. My PetSmart is clean, but just doesn't have much of a selection. The Petland is clean, and has more rare fish.
morons buying fish
- Thread starter RockabillyChick
- Start date
hmm
well on the subject of intoxication laws. Yes, restaurants and bars and such can be held liable for serving alcohol to clearly intoxicated individuals. It is why in order to have a liqour license now, you have to train your staff to recognize intoxicated persons.
A convenience store on the other hand is a completely different entity under the law. You do not have to be trained to recognize intoxication to sell beer, and therefore, I don't believe convenience stores can be sued for such.
---You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress-----
well on the subject of intoxication laws. Yes, restaurants and bars and such can be held liable for serving alcohol to clearly intoxicated individuals. It is why in order to have a liqour license now, you have to train your staff to recognize intoxicated persons.
A convenience store on the other hand is a completely different entity under the law. You do not have to be trained to recognize intoxication to sell beer, and therefore, I don't believe convenience stores can be sued for such.
---You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress-----
reziztor said:
I think that the majority of us broke into the hobby this way, I know I did. When I was a kid my mom bought my brother and I a 10 gallon aquarium and stocked with fish that we both wanted. If I remember right, since it has probably been 15 years, I chose black fin sharks (at least 5) and my brother chose a couple of male bettas. Well guess what, the bettas ended up stressing each other to death and the sharks died shortly after due to either a non-brackish setup or a non-cycled tank.
It was only after trying again and failing that I decided to find out what happened. I went to library (its amazing how life was before the internet) and researched the hobby. I only know what I know now because my mom was "moron" when I was 10 years old.
When i got in to the hobby i got a free 29 gallon eclipse tank. The next day ( yes the next day) i went to pet****. I was recommended to buy not one but two oscars (they need company). Also a pleco.
As the employee walked away to get a call this guy come up to me. I then spent an hour ignoring the employee and talking to this guy.
I left the store with a bottle of ammonia.
I know try to be that same guy as much as possible.
THE one thing that has saved me is i live close to a LFS that has very nice and knowledgable people.
As the employee walked away to get a call this guy come up to me. I then spent an hour ignoring the employee and talking to this guy.
I left the store with a bottle of ammonia.
I know try to be that same guy as much as possible.
THE one thing that has saved me is i live close to a LFS that has very nice and knowledgable people.
the problem i see with all your theories that if there werent a bunch of ignorant people killing fish through lack of knowledge, that fish prices would skyrocket and nobody would buy fish, is as follows.
if pet stores told people the truth, that you cannot keep these two fish together, that you need to cycle your tank before adding fish, that this fish wont fit in the sized tank you have, etc. then people would come to trust that store for not lying to them and making them waste money, and would probably be willing to pay a little more to go to that store they trust.
if they trained the employees to tell people, "i'm sorry, but you really should have a 55 gallon tank for an oscar because they can get up to a foot long. what about this fish instead....." or even "We have a sale on this great 55 gallon tank"
or told people "If you want to set up a new tank, its a good idea to cycle it with ammonia first. its much safer for the fish and you'll be less likely to lose them. then when your done cycling, we'd be happy to help you pick out fish!"
it builds trust in that pet store, a knowledge that they're not just after money, but care about you, the customer, as well as the companion animals they're selling, and people would be more likely to shop there.
if pet stores told people the truth, that you cannot keep these two fish together, that you need to cycle your tank before adding fish, that this fish wont fit in the sized tank you have, etc. then people would come to trust that store for not lying to them and making them waste money, and would probably be willing to pay a little more to go to that store they trust.
if they trained the employees to tell people, "i'm sorry, but you really should have a 55 gallon tank for an oscar because they can get up to a foot long. what about this fish instead....." or even "We have a sale on this great 55 gallon tank"
or told people "If you want to set up a new tank, its a good idea to cycle it with ammonia first. its much safer for the fish and you'll be less likely to lose them. then when your done cycling, we'd be happy to help you pick out fish!"
it builds trust in that pet store, a knowledge that they're not just after money, but care about you, the customer, as well as the companion animals they're selling, and people would be more likely to shop there.
I'm thinking of getting business cards printed up with AC's web address on it. More than once I have told newbies and parents whose kids want Nemo that they should go to aquariacentral.com to keep the fish healthy. A card would speed up the process. Can't let the shopowners see me though. Good advice is contraband at most LFS's.
Having been in the pet trade for a good long time now I would like to add that about half of the people buying fish don't care for advice. People don't see fish as more than a oddity in a tank and if it dies rarely is anyone upset;and if they are, heck, all platy's look alike, we'll replace it before Jr gets home.
Where I work we ask for tank size, set up time, last time they did a water change and what is in the tank. Half can't tell you that. They may wander around and say I think I have one of those....etc but they just want cheap eye candy. You are lucky if you can get them to heat the water let alone use a conditioner. They are embarrassed to bring in a water test and make up excuses for only adding water to top up evaporation.
That said, there is the other half that knows or can be taught.
In my mind it is not the clerk's job to stop someone from spending their money. But I do think the clerk needs to mention certain points....'these aren't all going into the same tank are they?" or the hardiness of fish and their tendencies. Brought up in a helpful manner the suggestions are often met with less hostility. Of course too there is (thankfully with the small lfs where I work) the ....if you intend to put these all in at once(or together) we will not honor our guarantee. I feel for any clerk in Walmart, Petco or one of the chains. I doubt they would have a job for long if they advised some things. Money is money.
Where I work we ask for tank size, set up time, last time they did a water change and what is in the tank. Half can't tell you that. They may wander around and say I think I have one of those....etc but they just want cheap eye candy. You are lucky if you can get them to heat the water let alone use a conditioner. They are embarrassed to bring in a water test and make up excuses for only adding water to top up evaporation.
That said, there is the other half that knows or can be taught.
In my mind it is not the clerk's job to stop someone from spending their money. But I do think the clerk needs to mention certain points....'these aren't all going into the same tank are they?" or the hardiness of fish and their tendencies. Brought up in a helpful manner the suggestions are often met with less hostility. Of course too there is (thankfully with the small lfs where I work) the ....if you intend to put these all in at once(or together) we will not honor our guarantee. I feel for any clerk in Walmart, Petco or one of the chains. I doubt they would have a job for long if they advised some things. Money is money.
echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
Oh that nemo thing! haha You'd think that a movie whose whole premise is that a clownfish should live in the ocean wouldn't spawn a herd of kids wanting to put him in a tank?
It's kind of like the thugs with the Scarface crap. The movie is supposed to be about how NOT to live your life, and of course, they all model their lives after it.
It's kind of like the thugs with the Scarface crap. The movie is supposed to be about how NOT to live your life, and of course, they all model their lives after it.
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Oddfish,
I agree with you on that 100% there are those customers that want to learn about their fish but most do not care. Its pretty to look at is all they care. We get people here on these forums that have that mentality. Its pretty common all over the place. We are taught that fish are not real pets and that if they die, well they are disposable. Most people buy them as a whim and will not be in the hobby for over a year. Most teenagers who post here may not have a fish tank when they are in their 30's. Very few people will stay with the hobby for over 30 plus years.
I think its pretty arogant to call these people Morons. Its just typical human nature to get into a fad and then fade out with out really paying any attention to it.
And if you go to a box store you will get what you pay for and that also goes for service. Most of the people who work there are teenagers and most do not have the knowledge like most of these posters here. They just like animals or they need a job.
I went to a local Pet boxstore and wanted to get my girlfriend this golden gecko she has been eyeing there for the last month. It hadn't sold and we were pretty excited about getting it. We got the girl who was taken care of the small animals/reptiles/fish to come over to help us. Well she didnt like reptiles and was squeemish. (very common at most of these places with most employees.) (heck, it it was me and I had to grab a spider, well later) I knew i should've got him but wandered off anyway and had my Girlfriend handle it. Well when I got back, I saw that the girl had him around the body and grabbed his tail to hold him still. Snap the tail came off. I told her immediatly, I did not him. Problem, some times they get infections and you do not want to deal with that in a lizard. It was the stores problem not mine. I saw the manager and made a complaint and he stated he had told her time and again to get him if she needed help with the reptiles. She came up to him immediatly and told him what happened.
The only thing that made me upset was not the breaking of the tail but refusing to get the manager for help. But then again, being in the work force as long as I have. Who really gets their manager for help that they should be able to do? not many.
I guess what I am saying is that most people are not at fault here. Most people are pretty lazy and do not do research on their pets or the animals they are working with. Like I said it even happens here on this site with posters.
I agree with you on that 100% there are those customers that want to learn about their fish but most do not care. Its pretty to look at is all they care. We get people here on these forums that have that mentality. Its pretty common all over the place. We are taught that fish are not real pets and that if they die, well they are disposable. Most people buy them as a whim and will not be in the hobby for over a year. Most teenagers who post here may not have a fish tank when they are in their 30's. Very few people will stay with the hobby for over 30 plus years.
I think its pretty arogant to call these people Morons. Its just typical human nature to get into a fad and then fade out with out really paying any attention to it.
And if you go to a box store you will get what you pay for and that also goes for service. Most of the people who work there are teenagers and most do not have the knowledge like most of these posters here. They just like animals or they need a job.
I went to a local Pet boxstore and wanted to get my girlfriend this golden gecko she has been eyeing there for the last month. It hadn't sold and we were pretty excited about getting it. We got the girl who was taken care of the small animals/reptiles/fish to come over to help us. Well she didnt like reptiles and was squeemish. (very common at most of these places with most employees.) (heck, it it was me and I had to grab a spider, well later) I knew i should've got him but wandered off anyway and had my Girlfriend handle it. Well when I got back, I saw that the girl had him around the body and grabbed his tail to hold him still. Snap the tail came off. I told her immediatly, I did not him. Problem, some times they get infections and you do not want to deal with that in a lizard. It was the stores problem not mine. I saw the manager and made a complaint and he stated he had told her time and again to get him if she needed help with the reptiles. She came up to him immediatly and told him what happened.
The only thing that made me upset was not the breaking of the tail but refusing to get the manager for help. But then again, being in the work force as long as I have. Who really gets their manager for help that they should be able to do? not many.
I guess what I am saying is that most people are not at fault here. Most people are pretty lazy and do not do research on their pets or the animals they are working with. Like I said it even happens here on this site with posters.
