I Cried

[Nik00117]

No its not only the LFS fault, he should know better. When I got my first fish tank I didnt fill it with water and go straight to the LFS to buy fish. First thing I did I went online joined a couple of fish forums (this one) and asked about and did some research. Which Im glad I did as I knew something of the nitrogen cycle but didnt know how to get it ready for fish.

I did this...I went to the store bought a 5 gallon tank and like a put a ton of fish (can't even remember what kind but it was a lot) went home put water in the tank threw the fish in. Next day they all DIED. I cried like a little baby I was 7 (circa 1997~) years old. 
 
When I started keeping fish (back in 1999) again the internet wasn't as prevalent as it was today. I was also 10 years old. 

 

[Supraman]

That still doesn't make it the fish stores fault though, I'm not a fan of the LFS sales men as I feel more then half of them don't know what they are talking about. But they are doing their job and someone is foolish enough to just buy without research then it becomes his fault. It's like buying a from a used car dealer ya never know what your going to get cause all the sales man is woried about is making that sale. He doesn't care wether or not it fits your needs as long as you have the cash and are foolish enough to go through with the purchase. In any case you need to research before you buy.

Yes back in 1999 it's a little more forgiving as like you said it wasn't as established as it is now, but there were other resources you could have used. I'm not blaming you in any way as when I was 7 I held a beta fish in a little plastic container and did water changes once a week.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Yeah that is true though as a beginner you do expect the LFS to know their stuff.

I just realized I'm making excuses for this guy I'm going to stop responding now lol.

 

[NeonBlueLeon]

Objectively, there's fault in both the LFS and the owner.  LFS tend to give "bad" advice, and the owner should have done research.  It's definitely not so clean cut.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

^ That I think is a good conclusion that we can all agree on

 

[TallTree01]

The fault is all on the owner. Sales men sell stuff. Their strategies are irrelevant, LFS don't make much money. This is forcing salespeople to resort to lying about fish to make a sale.


( the following is a true story and may be distressing to some viewers )

A couple of years back I was at the LFS looking for some fish. I noticed some guy ranting at a sales person. I can't remember exactly but the conversation went a little like this:
Buyer: the fish you sold me yesterday died.
Seller: Why?
Buyer: it was just a poor fish.
Seller: what type of fish?
Buyer: oscar fish
Seller: how were you keeping it?
Buyer: in with my other oscars.
Seller: in what?
Buyer: my 20 liter. I want a refund.
Seller: your tank was inappropriate for oscars like i said yesterday, I'm not gonna replace your fish.
Buyer: ( starts yelling that his tank is fine for Oscars. )
Seller: ;0( replaces oscar to make customer leave. (The store had emptied ) )

It is not the sellers fault. He's there to do a job.

 

[Nik00117]

Multiple Oscars in a 20L tank...Yup that's going work...

 

[DreamertK]

I wouldn't have replaced it if I was the seller. Though some LFS's have replacement policies if it's been 24 hours.

 

[Nik00117]

That's just a little off really. My company I work for will work with you if your compliant is valid. I once had a customer try to get us to give her a new vehicle because she totaled it. She said that her brakes where faulty, police report said she was doing in excess of 75 MPH in a 35 MPH. We didn't replace her car.

 

[NeonBlueLeon]

We could have a long conversation about ethics in terms of the LFS.  Sure, they need to lie to make money, but that doesn't take the blame off of them for creating horrible environments for fish.  It boils down to the age old ethical question, "would you steal bread to feed your family?"
 
I've had an employee at my LFS tell me I could buy a dwarf puffer for my 20 gallon community tank.  She told me she had puffers with tetras in her 5 gallon tank.  I knew she was just trying to get rid of the dwarf puffers cause they've been there for weeks.  She was also a new employee so she didn't recognize me.  Luckily, I've done research on puffers beforehand so I knew that she was full of crap.  An employee that recognized me stepped in and corrected her before I could say anything.
 
Point is, LFS lie to sell, but that doesn't take the blame off them.  At the same time, proper research prevents believe any garbage the LFS may spew at you.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

To be honest, if I find a LFS behaving in a manner I don't like I just don't go back there. That generally stops me from hearing poor advice.

 

[NeonBlueLeon]

To be honest, if I find a LFS behaving in a manner I don't like I just don't go back there. That generally stops me from hearing poor advice.

I'd do that, but I love looking at fish and tank accessories far too much.  I just tune out anyone saying stupid stuff.  By now I know which employees are trustworthy and which one are not. 
 
Still, it hurts to see people getting bad advice.  Sometimes it's all I can do to resist blurting out in disagreement!
 
One time, I saw three middle school girls browsing around at my LFS.  They were debating whether to buy "a Dory" or "a neon tetra."  They clearly did not know how to take care of them.  I mean, "Dories" are marine fish, and neons are schooling fish.  They also talked about taking turns taking care of Dory by moving her once a week to each girl's house.  GAHHHH.
 
I've also seen countless bowls and betta containers bought at the same time with a betta fish.  Usually these are parents getting pestered by young children into buying them.  I've seen the same with comets. It's saddening.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

It truly is saddening. At one of my LFS's (used to, not sure if they still do) sells a 21 Litre tank. With the tank, if you are a member of their club then you get three (yes THREE) comet goldfish for $5.

 

[Noahsfish]

I agree, for the most part lfs and their staff are just trying to sell you the fish and get you out..however, there's some genuinely intelligent and honest people at my favorite lfs. Basically everything he told me when I was first starting turned out to be true (still did my own research). This store also has general rules about fish returns like "Cycling tanks makes any returns void, ask staff for additional information" Or something like that...like for example, I almost impulse bought tiger barbs when my 20 gallon was just done cycling. I was all ready to go and get help to buy 2-3 of them when one of the staff asked me what my stocking was. When I told him I had a betta and harlequin rasboras he immediately told me it was a bad idea for the betta and suggested for me to instead complete my school of harlequins from 3 to 6. Sadly he doesn't work there any more, but for the most part the staff seem like they know their stuff fairly well. Even some of the fish stores that Im not a huge fan of would most likely not let someone walk out with a goldfish and 25 tiger barbs without asking their setup and if they had separate tanks though.....I'm not sure if this guy lives in the u.s as his English is terrible?

 

[the_lock_man]

Also beside the poor stocking, the plastic plants and other tank decor this person chose offends me...

 
 
World Exclusive HAMBONE in shock post outside General Chat.