This really steams me.

mark · #1 09-20-2011, 01:05 PM

so manager hears the employee telling the customer 'since you just setup your tank, come back in a month and I might sell you something then', wondering if employee still has a job?

shrimpchips · #2 09-20-2011, 02:21 PM

A lot of the smaller stores will sell crap to stupid people. Not everybody who buys at the small stores is getting super healthy fish and a great deal - and the opposite can be said for the big box stores. Not all the stuff they have is crap and over priced.

If you don't know what you're looking for, no matter where you go, you won't be getting what you want - it's not the LFS employee's job to fully educate each and every joe schmuck that comes through the door on every product they want to purchase; they just work there.

amoreira · #3 09-20-2011, 02:43 PM

There's always pressure on the LFS employee to be the "expert" - all in the interest of customer service. Good employers should tell their employees that honesty is the best policy. I'd appreciate it as a customer. I'd appreciate employers that encourage their employees to learn something about the hobby too. I suspect in a big box store, during off hours there's lots of opportunities for staff to read a book on it (say one of the Two Little Fishies books) or surf the web for information. They want to retain staff? Make the job interesting and pay better.

Maybe the type of customer that these stores get doesn't warrant knowledgable staff. I think the type that go there wouldn't be inclined to invest the $ or time to do it right. They stock up the tank, it crashes and they sell it in a garage sale or kjijji. Ultimately, perhaps we need regulation of the industry. You need a CITES permit to export livestock. This is in interest of protecting the species... Why don't we license hobbyists and LFS's? Take a certification course, pay a fee and get your license. Just some random thoughts on the subject. Might save a few clownfish from doom.

reefwars · #4 09-20-2011, 02:53 PM

[quote= Ultimately, perhaps we need regulation of the industry. You need a CITES permit to export livestock. This is in interest of protecting the species... Why don't we license hobbyists and LFS's? Take a certification course, pay a fee and get your license. Just some random thoughts on the subject. Might save a few clownfish from doom.[/quote]

id like to know whos going to pay for this course?? this happens you can say goodbye to the little lfs and all you will get is big box stores that now hire teenagers still who have done a course but are still told to sell sell sell

its not that difficult people.....research what you buy.....how many business's are gonna go educate people and read books in their off times? not many....you buy smokes you think the clerk is gonna tell you the bad stuff? you buy deep fryer fat you think the grocery store cares? walmart and buying bullets or a gun and how its wrong to hunt?? sometimes people just dont want to be told what to do its up to us this for just about every type of business

grow up were not 4 yrs old then its mom responsibilitie, buy what you like when you like take responsibilitie for your own purchases

kien · #5 09-20-2011, 03:16 PM

I have been to LFS' where the owner did not know the answer to some of my questions. I know, ZOMG right?!?!?

bignose · #6 09-20-2011, 05:07 PM

It should be a priority for store owners/mangers to have a quality control program which should include training. The store should have someone with adequate training for the group of employees to learn from from. A customer will most likely come back to a store that is honest to them.

I'm not saying the stores are responsible for uneducated customer purchases but someone should lead them in the proper path to what they want in their tank.

From my personal experience with "big box" stores is they DO have educated staff but not all of them.

globaldesigns · #7 09-20-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

I have been to LFS' where the owner did not know the answer to some of my questions. I know, ZOMG right?!?!?

Nothing wrong with that, as long as they are honest and state they don't but will help you find the answer. I have much more respect for any store that operates this way. Noboday can know everything, just not possible!

Myka · #8 09-20-2011, 06:31 PM

Most people into reef keeping seriously aren't the type to work a $10-15/hr job at an LFS. Albeit many/most(?) of the box stores do have some really good benefit plans and RRSP contributions. If LFS were able to pay $20-25/hr there would be many more "experts" working there. The market won't support that wage though. I'm not working anymore, but I would go work part-time at an LFS for $20/hr plus benefits and RRSPs and I would actually enjoy the job!

StirCrazy · #9 09-20-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Most people into reef keeping seriously aren't the type to work a $10-15/hr job at an LFS.

thats being generious.. most LFS are min wage just like the box store and the employs generly know how to clean glass and stock shelves. granted there are some knowlagable people working in both.

I shop at big box stores if I can get the same thing for a cheeper price over the LFS, other wise its mail order as I believe the onus is on us to know what we want and how to select quality.

and for the record there are many LFS that will sell the same way as mentiond originaly. I have been to some very good LFS and watched people walk out the door with a new tank and rock and fish. there bottom line is the same.. there in it to make money other wise they won't be there.

Steve

Coralgurl · #10 09-20-2011, 11:02 PM

I'm a total newb to this hobby and I've relied on all the stores for information (big and small). Yes, I have taken some bad advise, but most i have talked to have been helpful and knowledgable and if they didn't know, one guy actually gave me the manager's business card to call later. I didn't start looking for forums or websites until I started having a problem with my corals. With the assistance of people on the forums, I was able to go into any of these stores, knowing what i needed and walk away from what I didn't. I've been able to figure out what stores have what, the prices and convenience - I make the choice where I want to go. That said, regardless of knowledge, customer service goes a long way - one NE store I've been in twice looking at new pumps. They have theirs locked up. I browsed the area for some time, looking at a number of things. Went to check out the fish, the corals, everything. In there for an hour, not one person approached me to see if I needed a hand, had questions, nothing. Thought, maybe just an off day, went back a week later, exact same thing and there was no one else in the store, so it wasn't like they were busy, other than gossiping at the front till. That alone is the reason I won't go back. I went somewhere else, dropped a few hundred dollars on the pump and then when I had problems, went back in and the guy spent another 1/2 hour with me to get it straightened out.

I wish we had researched before we started, but it seems like this is the way a lot of people start out. Point is now I'm learning and using a number of resources, websites, forums, books and sometimes even the employee in the lfs.