Need to vent!!!

malinois · 08/24/2016, 10:06 PM

So I just need to vent. I went into a LFS, that I don't frequent, to check out some livestock. While in there I was reminded why I don't really shop there.

As I looked at the livestock a young couple was in the store and were looking at setting up and getting into their very first reef or saltwater tank. The "salesmen" was trying to sell them everything under the sun. Everything from UV sterilizes to media reactors and even went into vodka dosing vs red seas no pox. My favorite line from him in the conversation was "You dose vodka to kill things in the tank. If you dose a lot, you kill a lot of things. If you dose a little you only kill some things, like algae. I prefer the Red Sea system because it only kills algae." At this point I thought I would chime in and mention that they should take their time and KEEP IT SIMPLE. They could work their way into those things as they gained more knowledge in the hobby. The "salesmen" quickly cut me off and told them that everyone has an opinion and not all of them are right. So I simply shut up and listened in to the conversation as I looked at their brown corals. He then brought them to their live rock tank and told them the only way to do a saltwater tank is with live rock. Without it the tank could never survive. He tells them, "Look at all the life on these rocks." The only thing you could see on the rock was hundreds of aptasia! What a way to start a tank, load it with pain in the a$$ aptasia.

Thank god the couple didn't buy today and said they would come back tomorrow with the money to buy. I met them outside the store and let them know my intention is not to step on anyone's toes but I would not shop there. I sent them to two different stores that would take better care of them. I really hope they take my advise and look elsewhere.

It is frustrating that there are places like this out there. I think it is important for the LFS to help people into the hobby. Start someone out with frustration and they will quickly give up and you have lost a customer. Start someone out right and they will grow their tank and passion for the hobby through you. Sorry for the rant but this really pi$$ed me off today.

spsfreak25 · 08/24/2016, 10:20 PM

When I worked at a Lfs I heard a ton of crazy things from the owners and the employees. The owners would get mad at me when I wouldn't sell stuff like the way they wanted me too. One time they got mad at me cause they wanted me to sell them clowns at the same time as they was buying the tank and equipment I refused to sell the way they wanted me too. I have also heard employees tell customers that they can add sea horses with lion fish and eels. I was the top seller in the store the customers always came to me and always called and asked for me. It was for a reason people always came to me until I quit and they still came to me for advice.

Cancun · 08/24/2016, 10:36 PM

Wow.....yea I totally agree! I would be mad too. Good thing you caught them outside.....hopefully they took your advise. I know several yrs ago when I set up my first tank...I got some bad advise...and learned the hard way....I love my my 3 or so LFS I frequent....but I never trust them a 100%.....maybe 90%...because in the end they are there to make a profit....and to do that they have to sell stuff....I am like you..it is hard to just sit there and not say anything though....

malinois · 08/24/2016, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancun

Wow.....yea I totally agree! I would be mad too. Good thing you caught them outside.....hopefully they took your advise. I know several yrs ago when I set up my first tank...I got some bad advise...and learned the hard way....I love my my 3 or so LFS I frequent....but I never trust them a 100%.....maybe 90%...because in the end they are there to make a profit....and to do that they have to sell stuff....I am like you..it is hard to just sit there and not say anything though....

It was hard to be quiet as long as I was. I figured the couple would better follow my advise if delivered in a better way than telling the salesmen he was an a$$ and leading them down the wrong path. I am glad they didn't buy everything right then and there. Simple mistakes in this hobby can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on your setup. Not to mention all the heart ache and frustration when things don't go right.

darmar7812 · 08/24/2016, 11:37 PM

Oh man I feel your pain! I'm a little frustrated at reading that simply because I see this quite often at one of the lfs I use to go to that I no longer visit

08/24/2016, 10:06 PM	#1
malinois Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Denver Posts: 13	Need to vent!!! So I just need to vent. I went into a LFS, that I don't frequent, to check out some livestock. While in there I was reminded why I don't really shop there. As I looked at the livestock a young couple was in the store and were looking at setting up and getting into their very first reef or saltwater tank. The "salesmen" was trying to sell them everything under the sun. Everything from UV sterilizes to media reactors and even went into vodka dosing vs red seas no pox. My favorite line from him in the conversation was "You dose vodka to kill things in the tank. If you dose a lot, you kill a lot of things. If you dose a little you only kill some things, like algae. I prefer the Red Sea system because it only kills algae." At this point I thought I would chime in and mention that they should take their time and KEEP IT SIMPLE. They could work their way into those things as they gained more knowledge in the hobby. The "salesmen" quickly cut me off and told them that everyone has an opinion and not all of them are right. So I simply shut up and listened in to the conversation as I looked at their brown corals. He then brought them to their live rock tank and told them the only way to do a saltwater tank is with live rock. Without it the tank could never survive. He tells them, "Look at all the life on these rocks." The only thing you could see on the rock was hundreds of aptasia! What a way to start a tank, load it with pain in the a$$ aptasia. Thank god the couple didn't buy today and said they would come back tomorrow with the money to buy. I met them outside the store and let them know my intention is not to step on anyone's toes but I would not shop there. I sent them to two different stores that would take better care of them. I really hope they take my advise and look elsewhere. It is frustrating that there are places like this out there. I think it is important for the LFS to help people into the hobby. Start someone out with frustration and they will quickly give up and you have lost a customer. Start someone out right and they will grow their tank and passion for the hobby through you. Sorry for the rant but this really pi$$ed me off today.

08/24/2016, 10:36 PM	#3
Cancun Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saint Louis Missouri Posts: 527	Wow.....yea I totally agree! I would be mad too. Good thing you caught them outside.....hopefully they took your advise. I know several yrs ago when I set up my first tank...I got some bad advise...and learned the hard way....I love my my 3 or so LFS I frequent....but I never trust them a 100%.....maybe 90%...because in the end they are there to make a profit....and to do that they have to sell stuff....I am like you..it is hard to just sit there and not say anything though.... __________________ Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL...I love wrasses....have leopards....several Coris....China Wrasse, Dejardini and purple tang... Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL

08/24/2016, 10:20 PM	#2
spsfreak25 I'm the real joker Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: worcester ma Posts: 187	When I worked at a Lfs I heard a ton of crazy things from the owners and the employees. The owners would get mad at me when I wouldn't sell stuff like the way they wanted me too. One time they got mad at me cause they wanted me to sell them clowns at the same time as they was buying the tank and equipment I refused to sell the way they wanted me too. I have also heard employees tell customers that they can add sea horses with lion fish and eels. I was the top seller in the store the customers always came to me and always called and asked for me. It was for a reason people always came to me until I quit and they still came to me for advice.

08/24/2016, 11:37 PM	#5
darmar7812 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: San Antonio Posts: 69	Oh man I feel your pain! I'm a little frustrated at reading that simply because I see this quite often at one of the lfs I use to go to that I no longer visit