Petcetera

[aidensmomma2000]

Just going to add in my 2 cents here  :wink:

As a pet owner, I feel it is my responsibility to do the research on a pet before I get it. I hear people say things like "oh I cant keep fish alive" and then have no idea what Im talking about when I ask them how long they cycled for. If you dont know how to take care of it, dont buy it!

This isnt to say getting information and advice from your LFS empolyee is a bad idea as reinforcement, but dont use it as a primary source.

Its not the resposibility of the employee to interview each customer, as much as I wish they would. I appriciate when they do because it can save a lot of heartache (Im sitting here grumbling about my new discus who was raised alone...).

Lets face it- at 7.25$ and hour no staff, regardless of age, should be expected to be a walking fish encyclopedia. Start paying people like they need to make a living, and they might just stay there long enough to be valuable! Im happy when the department manager is in because more often than not, s/he knows much more than the other staff and also gets paid more. You have to pay to keep the good ones.

Now of course, to play devil's advocate, if you pay people what they deserved the prices of the stock would go up...

Hmm..thinking while I type. Whats my point here...

Do your own research, its your responsibility. If you dont want it to be, be prepared to pay for it.

[darkdep]

Sue:  That's a great idea!

[blueturq]

I wonder if stores had a computer in the fishroom set on some fish database if employee's could direct customer's to actually take the time to look up the fish they are asking about. Maybe a touch screen menu with the fish the store has in stock. (something idiot proof).

I was thinking of that same thing the other day as I was thinking of if I ever ran a fish store, what would be in it! lol! :lol:

[Mettle]

I wonder if stores had a computer in the fishroom set on some fish database if employee's could direct customer's to actually take the time to look up the fish they are asking about. Maybe a touch screen menu with the fish the store has in stock. (something idiot proof).

I was thinking of that same thing the other day as I was thinking of if I ever ran a fish store, what would be in it! lol! :lol:

But then what info do you put down for the fish? How technical do you make it? How long? And where are you getting this info from - because what works for one person may not work for another. There's tons of variance.

AND... A computer in a fish room? With all that water? Seems risky to me!  :lol:

[Sting-Ray]

Seems to be some very opionated people here.

Let the pet store employees do their job.  If you are unhappy with the service at a particular store, go somewhere else.  If you are unhappy with the service at all pet stores - don't know what to say???

Pet stores I think are there to make $$ first.   They provide products that consumers want to buy.  No obligation to be the SPCA, it would be nice if they could to elminate the obvious cases (e.g. fitting an oscar into a 10 g tank, or trying to put salt water fish into freshwater tanks).  

Ultimate responsibility is on the owner.  I lost a $300 stingray 2 weeks ago, because of not knowing how to properly change carbon in my filter.  My own stupidity, sure it would be great if someone would have advised me to not simply keep adding carbon thinking that the old pouches might still be effective.  Tough lesson in fish keeping.

If a fish store employee can help you out - consider that a bonus.  If they can't - there is nothing wrong with that.  Or if they are uncertain (usually you can tell if someone isn't positive in their response - may want a second opinion in that case).  If an employee says to you "a maybe it will work".  Be prepared that what you are trying to do, just might not work.  I sincerely doubt that anyone has ever encountered a pet store employee purposefully giving terrible advise.  The employees are not vets, not chemist and not miracle workers - however, there are many excellent people who work here in Ottawa who know alot about fish keeping.  I hope know one ever lays a guilt trip on an employee for any fish loss.

Also, it would be great to have a fish database at the local pet store.  But that is mere fantasy.  To produce a database and upkeep in with all fish that a store may have would be quite costly.  It is really unnecessary, since there are thousands of web pages where you can read up on fish profiles and compatibility.  Also, just by having anything idiot proof doesn't mean it will eliminate idiots.  I don't think you can stop someone from putting a pirhana in their fish tank.

There are way worse things to complain in life than the service at a fish store - like the stupid price of gas.

p.s.  I go to Big Al's on Innes regularly.  All the staff there are excellent.  As long as there are staff near the fish counter, who cares if they are talking to one another - it can probably get boring every now and then constantly being around fish, or waiting for your shift to end.  Service industry is HARD I could never do it, to expect perfect service everyday with a smile - dealing with stupid people, people who know everything about fish, etc ...  might be impossible.

[darkdep]

Seems to be some very opionated people here.

Including yourself, apparantly.  (ducks)

(sorry, just trying to lighten the discussion  :lol: )

[Sting-Ray]

I didn't try to be opinionated.  Seems to be too many people in this world not appreciating the things that they do infact have around them.  Things could always be worse.

[BigDaddy]

Also, just by having anything idiot proof doesn't mean it will eliminate idiots.  I don't think you can stop someone from putting a pirhana in their fish tank.

My favorite quote "Make it idiot-proof and they'll build a better idiot"

[aidensmomma2000]

I didn't try to be opinionated.  Seems to be too many people in this world not appreciating the things that they do infact have around them.  Things could always be worse.

Its alright to have an opinion- it leads to change. Opinions are what spark improvement (or make this worse, lol).

Complaining about one thing doesnt mean you dont appriciate something else.