Stupid Lfs....

[ALEXF]

So i was out today browsing around different pet stores looking for inspiration for tanks and looking for fish i hadnt seen in stores before and i went to this one that i used to trust and came across a dojo loach or weather loach. I asked the guy (Brian) about the fish. They were really interesting and i began to ask him questions. size? 6inches Tank Location? Bottom Prefers groups? No etc.... Well after talking for a while hes like so should i bag one up for ya and i was like no i think i wanna do a bit more checking before i get one. So i get to the computer and sure enough it was a weather loach. Yes it is a bottom dweller but no it gets 12" and possibly longer they also seem to like to be with others like them... So im kinda disappointed and angry at the same time. O well just goes to show DONT TRUST LFS. oK im done rambling.

 

[martyn413]

Try telling them about fishless cycle lol. they will laugh in your face.

I don't listen to lfs cos they are just trying to run their business.

This website is a wonderful source of information from experts who have maintained fish tanks for years.

miss wiggle and Rdd*** are really experienced.

The best thing to do would be to go fish shops and take a pic and upload it on here. Someone should know what species it is and may have experience keeping it.

Martyn

 

[tim1]

Maybe he just got confused? Or he just really thought that that information was true. There are many possibility's, don't assume he is lying right off the bat.

 

[ALEXF]

yes i definately know. I have been here long enough to know everything the lfs says is crap, i mean every now and then they get it right but i always double check now. miss wiggle, rdd, water drop, emmsy, collin and im sure some others (sorry if i didnt mention you) are always very helpful to me.

 

[sketchy]

Try telling them about fishless cycle lol. they will laugh in your face.

Last time I did that, they went from being all 'knowledgeable' to very quiet in about 1.5 seconds

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Sometimes helps to ask what (if any) sort of tank they have at home. If they keep saltwater then they might be more knowledgeable about marine tanks, vs freshwater. If they have a huge smattering of different species in a small tank...obviously they aren't worth talking to. Of course, even then its a bit of a crap shoot...and hence why it's always best to do your own research when possible.

 

[Zawiha]

I don't listen to lfs cos they are just trying to run their business.

This applys to most chain LFS's though smaller single shops usually try to keep
information and customer care in mind. As they have to compete with chains.

Generalizing something, even LFS's is never a smart idea.

 

[aquanovice]

If I ran and LFS I would just tell the truth about fishless cycling and stuff like that. Personaly I would think that you would get MORE money for flogging someone a Master testing kit and ish!
Then customers would come pouring in when you get reccomendations

 

[RadaR]

Yes it is a bottom dweller but no it gets 12" and possibly longer they also seem to like to be with others like them... So im kinda disappointed and angry at the same time.

They CAN get to 12" however, when was the last time you ever saw a 12" Weather Loach? I agree that it would have been better if he said "they rarely exceed 6-7inches".

O well just goes to show DONT TRUST LFS. oK im done rambling.

Bit unfair. It shows that you should do your research aswell as going to the LFS.
There are LFS like the one I work at, which gives the same advice as you would see on here. They're not all bad.

By no means am I trying to have a dig at you, I'm just offering a balanced discussion.

 

[andywg]

Yay, you managed to (with the help of the internet) find a slight error in advice given by an lfs employee. Bet that makes you feel really big.

Why is it that so many people on here bemoan lfs staff and come out with utter rubbish such as "DONT TRUST LFS"?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Bloody customers, always moaning!

 

[Zawiha]

come on guys, lets not get hasty.
He has the right to be sour.
But you also need to learn that the internet isnt
always correct. Like an LFS the info is from experience.
After all i read on the internet that goldfish have a memory of 3 sec's
Which is not true.

 

[Gilli]

I hate it when fish shops just wont admit they dont know and give you a load of garbage!! The worst time to go is at the weekends cos the 'saturday staff' just dont have a clue! I find the best thing to do is take a pen and paper with me and write down the names of any fish I like the look of, then I go home and look them up on the net!

 

[Zawiha]

In all fairness i work at the weekends due to college,
and im no where near oblivious where it comes to fish and
reptiles.
Again your generalizing LFs's again,
as this is most common with big chain stores.

 

[Paul_MTS]

So if you lot the customers are so clever why do you need to ask questions any ways!

Everyone in the hobby is always learning, I'd say I have a fairly broad knowledge now after 4 years in the trade but there's still areas I'm not great in, but then there's areas I specialize in.

No staff shouldn't blag there way through a sale but if you go on a busy day then this is likely to happen because there isn't time to stand around giving lots on info to customers when you should do your own research anyways. Sometimes the man in the know in the shop might not be availible to pass you over to.

I get fed up of these threads generalizing LFS staff.

No shop is perfect, there's staff at my work that i wouldn't pass fishy customers over to.