I've noticed a lot that in the hobby, LFS and petstore employees are often kicked in the teeth for the advice they give and the like. I've been working at petsmart for about 3 months now, and I have to say that usually the customers aren't exactly saints either, as most of you who have worked a dead end retail job have probably guessed.
When I first started out here, I held strong to the knowledge I gained from this website, from things like fish in and fishless cycling to really simple things like the minimum schooling sizes being six and such. Ultimately, in 98% of cases I either ended up with disappointed customers walking out of the store or people yelling at me "I DON'T CARE. GIVE IT TO ME ANYWAY." or "I'VE BEEN DOING THIS BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, DON'T TELL ME IT WON'T WORK"
Ultimately, my boss pulled me aside and told me the sad truth of retail: If they don't like what you say and you don't want to sell them it, they'll go find someone else to tell them what they want to hear who will sell it with a smile on their face. While I'm happy, ready, and willing to talk to and teach people who are willing to learn, most people just want to buy the smallest tank possible and jam pack it with as many different species as possible without the fish dying, regardless of whether or not the fish are happy.
Over the past few months, I've only had 4 people actually listen and take to heart things like fishless cycling, compatibility, the 6 fish minimum school sizes, even these really simple things. These people became regulars, only wanting to take my advice, getting my number and talking to me personally, you know. Good people. The lot of the customers, though, usually don't want to even fish for a school. Countless people only want 1 tetra or 1 barb, 1 of this, 1 of that. Because of this, I've had to dim down in most cases to "schooling fish need groups of at least 3." in which, most people don't even want to buy 3 fish. they only want 1. None the less 6 or more. And if the fish don't get sold, they just die in the aquariums at the store due to cramped conditions. They're, in most cases, better off in a small school in a slightly larger tank with less fish.
This brings me to another sad truth, most people don't do their research. They don't want to buy the same fish in groups. And fish don't have an infinite shelf life. The way I see it, they're better off in an aquarium than in a crowded store with kids banging on the tanks and giggling while the fish cower for their lives. While a school of 3 may seem blasphemous, it's something my aunt's done since she started the hobby ages ago, and most of her schoolers last several years. It's not ideal, but it works.
Here is something I've realized. People who are willing to learn for themselves and know what they're doing don't need advice from the employees anyway. Employees give out sketchy and bad information because they get typically get abused by the customers for doing otherwise. A lot of you guys on this forum are a rather rare breed, most of you are willing to learn and don't get butthurt if you don't like what you hear. Not everyone is like that. And employees, unfortunately, are not handed a radar to pick out good dedicated people from the ones who we wish didn't have a fish tank in the first place.
This doesn't necessarily mean employees are always knowledgeable, but most of us aren't idiots either. I've had more than a good share of other employees at fish stores and other large chain stores alike who know their stuff, but dim down a lot for those who don't want to hear it.
just felt like throwing this out here.
When I first started out here, I held strong to the knowledge I gained from this website, from things like fish in and fishless cycling to really simple things like the minimum schooling sizes being six and such. Ultimately, in 98% of cases I either ended up with disappointed customers walking out of the store or people yelling at me "I DON'T CARE. GIVE IT TO ME ANYWAY." or "I'VE BEEN DOING THIS BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, DON'T TELL ME IT WON'T WORK"
Ultimately, my boss pulled me aside and told me the sad truth of retail: If they don't like what you say and you don't want to sell them it, they'll go find someone else to tell them what they want to hear who will sell it with a smile on their face. While I'm happy, ready, and willing to talk to and teach people who are willing to learn, most people just want to buy the smallest tank possible and jam pack it with as many different species as possible without the fish dying, regardless of whether or not the fish are happy.
Over the past few months, I've only had 4 people actually listen and take to heart things like fishless cycling, compatibility, the 6 fish minimum school sizes, even these really simple things. These people became regulars, only wanting to take my advice, getting my number and talking to me personally, you know. Good people. The lot of the customers, though, usually don't want to even fish for a school. Countless people only want 1 tetra or 1 barb, 1 of this, 1 of that. Because of this, I've had to dim down in most cases to "schooling fish need groups of at least 3." in which, most people don't even want to buy 3 fish. they only want 1. None the less 6 or more. And if the fish don't get sold, they just die in the aquariums at the store due to cramped conditions. They're, in most cases, better off in a small school in a slightly larger tank with less fish.
This brings me to another sad truth, most people don't do their research. They don't want to buy the same fish in groups. And fish don't have an infinite shelf life. The way I see it, they're better off in an aquarium than in a crowded store with kids banging on the tanks and giggling while the fish cower for their lives. While a school of 3 may seem blasphemous, it's something my aunt's done since she started the hobby ages ago, and most of her schoolers last several years. It's not ideal, but it works.
Here is something I've realized. People who are willing to learn for themselves and know what they're doing don't need advice from the employees anyway. Employees give out sketchy and bad information because they get typically get abused by the customers for doing otherwise. A lot of you guys on this forum are a rather rare breed, most of you are willing to learn and don't get butthurt if you don't like what you hear. Not everyone is like that. And employees, unfortunately, are not handed a radar to pick out good dedicated people from the ones who we wish didn't have a fish tank in the first place.
This doesn't necessarily mean employees are always knowledgeable, but most of us aren't idiots either. I've had more than a good share of other employees at fish stores and other large chain stores alike who know their stuff, but dim down a lot for those who don't want to hear it.
just felt like throwing this out here.
a vicious cycle where no one employer is willing to spend the money to train their staff. Its a shame because that would make a fantastic selling point for any company!
