Are you a victim of this?

First topic message reminder :

Do you pay $13.99 for "Mixed Africans"?

I used to be the cashier at a chain pet store. One day a customer carried two bags up to my register. In one bag was a gourami and in the other was an oscar. Hmmm! I asked the customer casually where they going to put them together. Why yes, we are! Size of the tank....20 gallon!! I politely informed them that they could have the gourami if they wanted it but no way should they be buying an oscar. Not only for the size of their tank but that it would grow up and eat their gourami too! They gladly handed back the oscar and went about their day with their purchase.

After working there a while usual customers would come up to my register and ask if I could go back to the aquatics section and help them because they didn't trust the people back there. If not busy I always went with them. I got dirty looks a few times for recommending things that meant I wasn't 'upselling' the products. I just have a more natural approach to fishkeeping and don't like all the chemicals that some would recommend.

I like you already!

wildbeanerz ur kool!!!!!!

wildbeanerz,

Way to Go!

Awww you guys...make me blush!

Good job!
I just had to inform someone today that they could not put a 4" tiger Oscar in their 30g community tank with neon tetras and such. They said 'yes we can, my' reply was 'hes no longer for sale.'

Good job!!

Years ago I got fired because I refused to sell a 2" albino oscar to a kid with a 10 gallon community tank. I was told it was not my job to tell people what they could and couldn't keep. It was my job to sell fish. I only lasted 2 days at that job.

These are the biggest reasons that I don't shop for fish at chain stores. They are more about their bottom line than the hobby.

I will look at their fish if in the store and then go back to my LFS and ask them what they think of it and if they can get me one. :)

I started as a customer at my lfs, its a little private owned store and we are allowed to refuse a sale

That is awesome Fern!!

That's why I love my fish guys. They set me straight when I think too big! :)

wildbeanerz wrote:

I used to be the cashier at a chain pet store. One day a customer carried two bags up to my register. In one bag was a gourami and in the other was an oscar. Hmmm! I asked the customer casually where they going to put them together. Why yes, we are! Size of the tank....20 gallon!! I politely informed them that they could have the gourami if they wanted it but no way should they be buying an oscar. Not only for the size of their tank but that it would grow up and eat their gourami too! They gladly handed back the oscar and went about their day with their purchase.

After working there a while usual customers would come up to my register and ask if I could go back to the aquatics section and help them because they didn't trust the people back there. If not busy I always went with them. I got dirty looks a few times for recommending things that meant I wasn't 'upselling' the products. I just have a more natural approach to fishkeeping and don't like all the chemicals that some would recommend.

Upselling is all that Those chain stores want you to do!