Angry Pet Store Worker

[rothenb1]

I work in a pet store which sells fish, as the animal caretaker. Unlike most people at pet stores, whenever someone asks me to get them an animal I always ask if they have everything they will need for the pet, and if they do not, I show them what they need. I have NEVER been to a pet store where anyone else does this. Most people do not know what you need for even a hamster, and they get sold.

Anyway, when someone asks for fish, I always ask them about their tank and what they have in it. You'd be horrified at what some people tell me. For example, someone wanted to put 2 5 inch tiger oscars in a 15 gallon tank. Someone wanted to keep a blue, gold, and opaline gourami in a 20 gallon tank. I always try to kindly give them advice and steer them in the direction of a better fish choice or a better tank choice.

However, today was a different story.

A teenager and her father came in and wanted a blue gourami. I asked them what kind of tank they were planning on putting this fish in, since they grow rather quickly to 4-6 inches. She told me she had a ten gallon tank with 7 silver dollars. I was shocked. I said to her that she needed to at least get a 55 gallon for 7 silver dollars because they can also grow to be 6 inches. She ignored me, told me she wanted the gourami, a bala shark, and two Chinese algae eaters. I told her I could not in good conscious sell her these fish because they would most likely die and her tank would get dirty no matter what. They waved me off and made me get them the fish.

Now, I do not get commission for selling people expensive items. I simply do it because I genuinely care about their new pet. However, this girl implied I was trying to get them to buy expensive stuff for my own benefit. I was, yet again, shocked.

We have a 7 day replacement policy in case the fish die. When I cashed them out I made sure to write on their receipt that they could not get a replacement for any of these fish because I had advised them against purchasing the fish.

It makes me so upset to know that people do this. And when someone with knowledge of tropical fish tries to give them advice they get waved off as crazy.

What should I do in this situation? I was afraid to refuse to sell them fish (there may or may not have been a racial issue here) because I didn't want to get in trouble with my boss. Next time something similar happens, should I refuse to sell them the fish?


Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Lucky5tar5]

Well what do you do... I'm sure that if you refused them the fish, they would find another means. It sounds like you did your best, and thats all you can do. Its probably not worth losing too much sleep over, and definately not worth losing your job no matter how ridiculous your customers are. *Sigh* Do wish I could just boot them up the backside though!

 

[Hunterprey]

Well you tried your best, I give people advice too, its up to them to listen or not, I guess some people have to learn things the hard way. Good move though on the no replacement note on the receipt.

I agree with luckystar, its not worth losing a sleep over it since you tried ur best. That's just out of control tho 7 silver dollars, gourami, bala shark and 2 algae eaters in a 10 gallon tank? Poor fish, it will be the survival of the fittest.

 

[mr130gallon]

i plan on applying at my lfs this summer, and i dont know what id do if ignorant people like that refuse advice...

 

[Tolak]

Best thing to do is find out how the manager/owner would like a situation such as this handled. If you handle it the way they see as being best you will have their backing with an irate customer. If their best way and your best way differ, you either have to learn to work within what they see as being best, or find an alternative to employment at that location.

Sadly, too many places see living things they sell as product, not pets. Granted, they do have to run a business, and this means turning a profit, but this can be done without tossing compassion out the window. If where you work has this compassion it's a good place. If it doesn't it's one of the all too many shops that do not care about the animals they sell. It isn't too far removed from not caring about the people they employ in my book.

 

[snowflake311]

You did the right thing. You put no refounds on the ticket that's great. You can only do so much. How did you expain to
them why is was a bad idea.

I would keep a ruler handy so I could show people how big these fish get. Maybe then they would get that part of it. What do you expect it was a teenager they know it all. Not all are like that but some are.

A girl at work told me she had a 10 gal with a knife fish, koi, and a few others. I was shocked and scared. But I did not say anything because I did not have time to explain I all. Ps I work at a casino not a pet store.

You did the right thing keep up the good work. When you tell someone they need a larger tank tell them they could save money by getting a used tank. That why they don't think you are trying to upsell.

 

[rothenb1]

Best thing to do is find out how the manager/owner would like a situation such as this handled. If you handle it the way they see as being best you will have their backing with an irate customer. If their best way and your best way differ, you either have to learn to work within what they see as being best, or find an alternative to employment at that location.

Sadly, too many places see living things they sell as product, not pets. Granted, they do have to run a business, and this means turning a profit, but this can be done without tossing compassion out the window. If where you work has this compassion it's a good place. If it doesn't it's one of the all too many shops that do not care about the animals they sell. It isn't too far removed from not caring about the people they employ in my book.

Unfortunately the place where I work doesn't have compassion; it's just me. None of the other people who work there would ask the questions I do. I feel I need to continue working there, or many fish and other pets would go to bad homes.

 

[mr130gallon]

You did the right thing. You put no refounds on the ticket that's great. You can only do so much. How did you expain to
them why is was a bad idea.

I would keep a ruler handy so I could show people how big these fish get. Maybe then they would get that part of it. What do you expect it was a teenager they know it all. Not all are like that but some are.

girl at work told me she had a 10 gal with a knife fish, koi, and a few others. I was shocked and scared. But I did not say anything because I did not have time to explain I all. Ps I work at a casino not a pet store.

You did the right thing keep up the good work. When you tell someone they need a larger tank tell them they could save money by getting a used tank. That why they don't think you are trying to upsell.

now thats INSANE!!!! koi grow up to 36" long! sometimes people are so @@!## ignorant!

 

[rothenb1]

You did the right thing. You put no refounds on the ticket that's great. You can only do so much. How did you expain to
them why is was a bad idea.

I would keep a ruler handy so I could show people how big these fish get. Maybe then they would get that part of it. What do you expect it was a teenager they know it all. Not all are like that but some are.

girl at work told me she had a 10 gal with a knife fish, koi, and a few others. I was shocked and scared. But I did not say anything because I did not have time to explain I all. Ps I work at a casino not a pet store.

You did the right thing keep up the good work. When you tell someone they need a larger tank tell them they could save money by getting a used tank. That why they don't think you are trying to upsell.

now thats INSANE!!!! koi grow up to 36" long! sometimes people are so @@!## ignorant!

Well people see koi when they are young and think they won't grow. Its ridiculous.

 

[Tolak]

Best thing to do is find out how the manager/owner would like a situation such as this handled. If you handle it the way they see as being best you will have their backing with an irate customer. If their best way and your best way differ, you either have to learn to work within what they see as being best, or find an alternative to employment at that location.

Sadly, too many places see living things they sell as product, not pets. Granted, they do have to run a business, and this means turning a profit, but this can be done without tossing compassion out the window. If where you work has this compassion it's a good place. If it doesn't it's one of the all too many shops that do not care about the animals they sell. It isn't too far removed from not caring about the people they employ in my book.

Unfortunately the place where I work doesn't have compassion; it's just me. None of the other people who work there would ask the questions I do. I feel I need to continue working there, or many fish and other pets would go to bad homes.

You won't be able to save all the fish, or other pets, but you may help coworkers to see things a bit differently. You may end up getting them upset, ultimately loosing your job, but not your principles.

Your principles are more valuable than the job.

 

[Gurglar]

I've just started working at a pet store for the past 2 weeks and I work with some fairly good people 3 of which no a fair bit about fish which 1 is manager and the other 2 are just below them.

They have however hired me and 2 others with one of the other in the fish section aswell and he does not no much at all even though he owns multiple tanks, eg. he didn't know what cichlid food was when he was standing right next to it and another on the same day someone asked if a betta could be kept with neons and he said the betta shouldn't attack them which he was right but he didn't know neons would nip the betta.

But yes back to the point whenever someone comes in and asks for a comet or fantail I make sure I let them know how big they are going to get and then its there decision on whether they buy it or not. Same goes for tetras or cories when someone asks for 2 or 1 of them I make sure I tell them they do best in at least groups of 4 or more for tetras and 3 for cories. I know 6 or more is better but they are more likely to buy them when you suggest 4 then 6 so they are atleast going to be semi happy and your still selling the fish for the store which is a good inbetween.

Also another thing is when people ask for lots of fish in one bunch I ask if they are going in the same tank and suggest they only get a certain amount then come back in a week or 2 for more fish. Same with livebearers I let them no the 1:2 ratio.

This works for me and most people do take your advice on most things but if they don't I have warned them so they are less likely to come back and get angry, there are times though when I get lazy and don't ask to many questions unless they ask me.

I do remember one fella who took the time to listen to all my advice on cycling his tank as he was going to get alot of fish to start off with but I ended up selling him 4 serpae tetras, some plants and a test kit and told him to wait until all his readings were fine before coming back for more and even told him he may lose his fish in the process, I was proud of that because he actually wanted to do the right thing and listened to everything I told him

 

[GAB99]

wow....

since im a TENNAGER and since most TEENAGERS are "know it alls" i would like to offer what i would have done, a kinda similar story, and my opinion on what you did

i would told her first nicely then a little agitated, then i probably would have directed her to some other dude at the petstore or would have done what you did.

my 3 petstores are OK,one is a petco, another petsmart, and a lfs.

the petco is full of moronic turds, but there is like 1 or 2 people there that know what they are talking about and the manager (she doesnt count cuz shes a meeny, she sold me a goldfish for a science project where the teacher (she too keeps fish and shes probably an 8 on the caretaking scale and knowledge, cuz she only had 2 neons in one tank and one very messed up danio and she said it was ok for me to put 20 neons in a twenty plus other fish) said to get a betta because the enviroment was they would be in an enclosed area with 1 plant and with the bottom 4-5 inches of a coke bottle as home for 2 weeks. she said oh noes! its gonna die, you have to get a goldfish. the goal was for the fish to LIVE, not die in its own @#$%! i got an f and a b for the year bcuz of HER!!!!) any way tey ask me what tank size and what fish and all that good stuff, and i usually get what i want (today one guy pestered me about how my tank should be during a whitespot treatment, i passed and i got my meds, he even said and i quote "this is surprising, most of the people that come in here are clueless about their animals, you should get a job here when you can work."

petsmart i dont like, their tanks always have a slugfest in them at all times, and noone there knows poop from worms. i went there to get 6 bosemani rainbows(whiah i should congratulate you guys from keeping me away from them, i saw one at the lfs and realized, if i got that, they would have died, but it was so PRETTY. i like shiny.) and instead i got 6 turqoise rainbows, i returned them wihile they were showing there color of being less crowded than in their 15 gallon showtank with like 20 more of them and he asked why i returning them i said theree not what i wanted and that she should change the labels, up till now(since summer) the labels havent been changed, also this one time this guy bought a leafish which i think are poisonous and the employee was TOUCHING it, and the guy getting it was like omg u r dumb.

lastly the lfs, they do have tiny tanks which are on delivery days full of fishies, they do have a 100g tank wich houe th bigger discus, angels, and rainbows, but you have to reserve the fish because they go quick! and the people know how things work with fish which is always good. but on reviews they dont really have outstanding customer service, especially if you start to argue with them, like this one lady that persisted on getting a goldfish bowl for a koi, the guy got so mad he threatedned to call the cops.


lasty i think you handled that pretty well, she wouldnt listen and she got what she wanted, lets see how this plays out... ...

i belaeve that when innocent fish die to uncaring people. let alone any pet, they go to the afterlife and grow big pointy teeth so when their "owner" shows up they can bite him/her in the fanny. however if they get sick or die of old age or to the fact you tried your hardest to be a good parent, they will understand and you will be happy.

dont neglect anything!!.. un less you really really have to

 

[rothenb1]

wow....

since im a TENNAGER and since most TEENAGERS are "know it alls" i would like to offer what i would have done, a kinda similar story, and my opinion on what you did

i would told her first nicely then a little agitated, then i probably would have directed her to some other dude at the petstore or would have done what you did.

my 3 petstores are OK,one is a petco, another petsmart, and a lfs.

the petco is full of moronic turds, but there is like 1 or 2 people there that know what they are talking about and the manager (she doesnt count cuz shes a meeny, she sold me a goldfish for a science project where the teacher (she too keeps fish and shes probably an 8 on the caretaking scale and knowledge, cuz she only had 2 neons in one tank and one very messed up danio and she said it was ok for me to put 20 neons in a twenty plus other fish) said to get a betta because the enviroment was they would be in an enclosed area with 1 plant and with the bottom 4-5 inches of a coke bottle as home for 2 weeks. she said oh noes! its gonna die, you have to get a goldfish. the goal was for the fish to LIVE, not die in its own @#$%! i got an f and a b for the year bcuz of HER!!!!) any way tey ask me what tank size and what fish and all that good stuff, and i usually get what i want (today one guy pestered me about how my tank should be during a whitespot treatment, i passed and i got my meds, he even said and i quote "this is surprising, most of the people that come in here are clueless about their animals, you should get a job here when you can work."

petsmart i dont like, their tanks always have a slugfest in them at all times, and noone there knows poop from worms. i went there to get 6 bosemani rainbows(whiah i should congratulate you guys from keeping me away from them, i saw one at the lfs and realized, if i got that, they would have died, but it was so PRETTY. i like shiny.) and instead i got 6 turqoise rainbows, i returned them wihile they were showing there color of being less crowded than in their 15 gallon showtank with like 20 more of them and he asked why i returning them i said theree not what i wanted and that she should change the labels, up till now(since summer) the labels havent been changed, also this one time this guy bought a leafish which i think are poisonous and the employee was TOUCHING it, and the guy getting it was like omg u r dumb.

lastly the lfs, they do have tiny tanks which are on delivery days full of fishies, they do have a 100g tank wich houe th bigger discus, angels, and rainbows, but you have to reserve the fish because they go quick! and the people know how things work with fish which is always good. but on reviews they dont really have outstanding customer service, especially if you start to argue with them, like this one lady that persisted on getting a goldfish bowl for a koi, the guy got so mad he threatedned to call the cops.


lasty i think you handled that pretty well, she wouldnt listen and she got what she wanted, lets see how this plays out... ...

i belaeve that when innocent fish die to uncaring people. let alone any pet, they go to the afterlife and grow big pointy teeth so when their "owner" shows up they can bite him/her in the fanny. however if they get sick or die of old age or to the fact you tried your hardest to be a good parent, they will understand and you will be happy.

dont neglect anything!!.. un less you really really have to

I work at a chain called Pet Supplies Plus. It's not everywhere, mostly in states east of the Mississippi. I have a BIG problem with Petsmart. There's one up the street from our store, and whenever we don't have something that a customer is looking for, I always directed them to the Petsmart. Then a customer told me that when she went to the Petsmart when we were out of crickets, the workers at the Petsmart talked sh!t about my store to her, saying we didn't know anything about animals and blahblahblah. This is the same Petsmart where a few years ago I bought a parakeet for my friend because hers had died, and they literally gave me the keet and didn't ask any questions. They also must not know that the animal caretaker at PSP has a degree in animal behavior and has been accepted into a PhD program.... *stuffs foot in mouth for them*

 

[Knox213]

When ever i buy a Fish from my LFS I Always tell them what fish i have etc.

And i thikn therem ore shocked at me knowing more then them!

One Time down at A & D I Asked ofr a etta and the first question the women asked was
"Do you have any bar-b"
I Replyed
"Nope"
she goes
"Your ont a beginner are you"
Then i replyed
"7 Years fish keeping And i know alot more then most people here"
then she was like
"What do you want to do when your older"
i was like
"Army then after i might run a fish store"

And At Earls ( Down my area )

They have the type of staff you can talk to for ages!
I Asked the one
"Do you have any tanks at home"
He said
"I have plenty of fish here... but i have a marine tank at home... So you want 4 mollies 3 female One male right? I Take it your going to breed them if you get successful fry etc bring them back here! we'll give you some money for them"
when ever i go there now they always ask me questions on how im doing with my tank etc.

I Wanted to do work experiance there... but they could'nt because tjhey dont gain anything out of it

 

[rewlyn]

I work in a pet store which sells fish, as the animal caretaker. Unlike most people at pet stores, whenever someone asks me to get them an animal I always ask if they have everything they will need for the pet, and if they do not, I show them what they need. I have NEVER been to a pet store where anyone else does this. Most people do not know what you need for even a hamster, and they get sold.

Anyway, when someone asks for fish, I always ask them about their tank and what they have in it. You'd be horrified at what some people tell me. For example, someone wanted to put 2 5 inch tiger oscars in a 15 gallon tank. Someone wanted to keep a blue, gold, and opaline gourami in a 20 gallon tank. I always try to kindly give them advice and steer them in the direction of a better fish choice or a better tank choice.

However, today was a different story.

A teenager and her father came in and wanted a blue gourami. I asked them what kind of tank they were planning on putting this fish in, since they grow rather quickly to 4-6 inches. She told me she had a ten gallon tank with 7 silver dollars. I was shocked. I said to her that she needed to at least get a 55 gallon for 7 silver dollars because they can also grow to be 6 inches. She ignored me, told me she wanted the gourami, a bala shark, and two Chinese algae eaters. I told her I could not in good conscious sell her these fish because they would most likely die and her tank would get dirty no matter what. They waved me off and made me get them the fish.

Now, I do not get commission for selling people expensive items. I simply do it because I genuinely care about their new pet. However, this girl implied I was trying to get them to buy expensive stuff for my own benefit. I was, yet again, shocked.

We have a 7 day replacement policy in case the fish die. When I cashed them out I made sure to write on their receipt that they could not get a replacement for any of these fish because I had advised them against purchasing the fish.

It makes me so upset to know that people do this. And when someone with knowledge of tropical fish tries to give them advice they get waved off as crazy.

What should I do in this situation? I was afraid to refuse to sell them fish (there may or may not have been a racial issue here) because I didn't want to get in trouble with my boss. Next time something similar happens, should I refuse to sell them the fish?


Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

as my experience as an employee and employer i found that with issues like this go get the manager and let him know the situation before he speaks to the customer this way if he sells the odd combination of fish etc it will only make him look bad and if he does he should not be in the industry