This really steams me.

[shrimpchips]

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing..

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by Parker

I often wonder if the management at said establishments are directing the employees to sell, sell, sell or if it’s just a general lack of knowledgeable employees, or the lack of proper training and education. If they don't know what they are doing is incorrect, is it the employee's fault? I don't believe so.

I worked for a big box store in my FW days years ago. Thats all it was.... Sell, sell, sell. I would send people to other stores to be sure they were getting what they need not what we had on the shelf. I figured that if your going to buy something and have half a head on your shoulders buy what is proper. If you help a customer out properly the first time they will remember that and come back to you when then need something, at least I remember customer service like that. I quit shortly after management gave me a talking to about not sending people away and just making a sale.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by JMes

Those 2 stores cater to this type of clientele. Anyone with any type of common sense and knowledge doesn't buy their live
stock or dry goods from these type of stores.

I sold a HOB skimmer awhile back to a person that only shops at those 2 stores,and to be honest this had to the be dumbest guy I ever met in this hobby. Calls me up 3 times that evening complaining that the skimmer is making all sorts of noise and that its my fault that it's not working. Turns out this genius didn't add water inside the skimmer.

Funny, said store in question sold me this yellow colony for a WHOPPING $20.00 out of there brown bin. Threw common sense out the window on that one!

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Black Phantom

So I decide to go into one of the "big box" LFS in the northeast (which I don't usually do). And as I'm walking around the salesperson is adding up a list of all the new marine fish (8 to be exact)that this gentleman is picking out. When I mention he must have a large tank he says that he is just starting a 28 and is picking it out today.
When the salesperson mentions he will need live rock he asks "what's that".
The salesperson says he will need it to balance the system and with the right additives he should be able to put his fish in the tank in about 3 days. Now I'm mad. This is just wrong.
So while the salesperson is off getting "stuff" I quickly jot down the URL for Canreef and convince the guy to hold off on the fish at least for a couple of weeks. Hopefully by then he will come online here and start to gather some knowledge of what it really takes to have happy critters and not kill a ton of stuff getting there.
I realize the bottom line for these stores is sales but a little more information to the customer would sure go a long way.

It is great to hear that you involved yourself in this situation.
We as reefers owe it to the critters that remove from their home to do everything we can to protect them from this kind of abuse.
Good job!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Titus99

I was at the big biz here in Edmonton when I overheard a guy buying a ro unit cause he had high nitrates in his tank....

Nice! Good job!

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Funny, said store in question sold me this yellow colony for a WHOPPING $20.00 out of there brown bin. Threw common sense out the window on that one!

Um if thats common practice at that LFS then I need to know where they are located!

[intarsiabox]

I have been to the box store in Edmonton a number of times over the years and have been asked about my tank size and how long it's been set up by quite a few of the staff before selling me any live stock. Dry goods are over priced but livestock is usually good and always in great shape anytime I have been there. You can go to any fish store and be miss-informed about things, just because someone works in a small store does not mean they know any more than the guy working at a box store. I've seen the same things going on at smaller LFS that people are complaining about happening at big box stores too. Research what you want before you buy and if you don't see it wait. Plenty of times smaller LFS won't have what I want in stock and will try convincing me to buy something that is in stock but I know nothing about.

[Black Phantom]

LOL
I've got to tell you that it was really hard not to push the salesperson aside and take over.
But then I would have to hang around the store every day

[JMes]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Funny, said store in question sold me this yellow colony for a WHOPPING $20.00 out of there brown bin. Threw common sense out the window on that one!

I would like to buy a fish. Anything that is blue. It has to be blue because I just decorated,and I want the fish to match my nice blue wallpaper. All your fish have velvet or Ick. Whats that? Oh,its normal in healthy fish. COOL,
thanks for clearing that up with me. Ok,I want a blue fish,Preferably velvet as the word velvet sounds sexy.OMG!! I will name it velvet Revolver!! Size? DAmn right size matters. Always say Bigger the better. My tank? It's one of those cube things. Biocube 14? Doesn't matter as velvet Revolver will fit right at home with the other 10 fish in there.
Oh,I will also take one of those dying or dead stick corals. Do those 1000 little flat things covering it cost extra?

Big deal,obviously someone you know sold you the coral at discount price. Fact of the matter these guys sell alot of unhealthy fish,dead or dying corals to inexperienced hobbyist at premium prices. I have seen this first hand. I wouldn`t put any of their corals or fish 10 feet from my tank. Go BS someone else

[daniella3d]

yep...that's probably it!

good one

Originally Posted by kien

That customer has probably been watching 'Tanked' ...