Store Frustrations

[Coasting]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Thank you. And yes, with only one store that carries saltwater in town there's not a lot of "serious" aquarists around period. In all my time on Canreef I have seen/heard less than a handful of people that have kept them past 5 years.

What's the store in Nanaimo that carries salt water supplies?
Been here almost a year and haven't figured out where anything is.

I find getting customer service at most of these places is like pulling teeth. Maybe because you guys all know everyone its all fine. But it seems if you're not a common face at the regular stores like J&L or King ed, you're nothing to them, and chasing down an employee to get a fish caught or grab a piece of coral can take forever. Ive been purposely passed by 6 times by the employees at J&L one day so they could go chat up somebody they knew that came into the fish room. It's been better more recently... Actually getting greeted when I walk into the fish room to ask if I need anything... but I don't know if theres anything I want right away... I have to look! But after that, again I'm back to trying to hunt somebody down as they help everyone else but never come back and see if I'm ready to grab some fish. It's gotta be just me... everyone else seems to get service LOL

[ponokareefer]

As someone who has to make a minimum 200km round trip to even get to an LFS, it's extremely frustrating when you rarely ever see anything different. I've been searching for a specific item for 9 months. Every time an LFS brings one in, I try to make it to the city on the first weekend available only to see it already sold. I keep getting told by various LFS's will order one in for me, but then expect me to be there the day it arrives to get it. I see there side of this issue as well, but if the item keeps selling that fast, maybe they should bring a few more in.

[jorjef]

And the final kick to the berries is when the people in place to make changes at the shops being discussed read these posts and nothing improves.

My LFS continues to bring in run of the mill leathers, red or green brains, and brown euphyllia and wonder why it never sells.....

[Aquattro]

I hate when I ask for room for cream and the barrista gives me about 1cm of room. Seriously? Hate that!!

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I hate when I ask for room for cream and the barrista gives me about 1cm of room. Seriously? Hate that!!

Or they serve coffee that's been sitting in one of those canister thingys that aren't heated and you get luke warm coffee that won't even disolve the sugar.

[SteveCGY]

My pet peeve is when yhe tanks are covered in algea and bubble aglea. Like really? Does that come free with purchase? I don't need that thank you. Clean your tanks please.

[Reef Pilot]

Easy to say what we would like from our LFS (or any retail store) and customer service. But a little friendly respect and patience on our part can help as well. If we try to be nice to them, chances are much better that we will be treated in kind. And I am sure they would appreciate any gratitude or compliments we can give them as well.

Just ask yourself, how would you like to be treated if you were in their shoes. And what would they like to see in a customer (or not)? If you can keep that in mind, you will have a much happier and productive store experience, I'm sure.

[Scuba Diver Gal]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Easy to say what we would like from our LFS (or any retail store) and customer service. But a little friendly respect and patience on our part can help as well. If we try to be nice to them, chances are much better that we will be treated in kind. And I am sure they would appreciate any gratitude or compliments we can give them as well.

Just ask yourself, how would you like to be treated if you were in their shoes. And what would they like to see in a customer (or not)? If you can keep that in mind, you will have a much happier and productive store experience, I'm sure.

Haha…your subtle suggestions were overlooked

I am happy with my FAVOURITE local fish store, I bet they wish we lived closer, so we could be there more...right Denny, Matt, and Dave

[iceman86]

When there are no prices listed and you always gotta ask how much it costs and they just randomly spit out a number.

When you go in for something and they dont have it and tell you its gonna be in next week and so you wait and go in a week later and they tell you the same thing. On and on and on

When you have an issue with your tank and you go in to buy something and they try selling you some bs that you know damn well isnt going to do nothing just so they can make a buck.

Browned out sps (seems to be norm nowadays) and when you ask what kind it is they dont know.

I can go on lol I try to support lfs but its hard to when they try to sell you dry goods and livestock thats are rediculously overpriced and get crappy service while your at it.

[Aquattro]

What I'd really enjoy reading is a "Customer Frustrations" thread by all the stores