Any recommendations for Charlotte, NC LFS or hobby groups?

[Dave Peck]

I've been to almost all of the stores in the Charlotte metro region and can
never get the same advice. Where do friendly folks with freshwater
aquariums hang out, besides this newsgroup?

Thanks,

--
Dave Peck

[Graham Broadbridge]

" Dave Peck" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> I've been to almost all of the stores in the Charlotte metro region and
can
> never get the same advice. Where do friendly folks with freshwater
> aquariums hang out, besides this newsgroup?

Your best bet is to rely on the concensus in this NG. Most LFS's are
useless. Just last weekend my LFS amazed me by giving some really clueless
advice to a newbie. Two gold gouramies and two golfish in a bowl would be
fine according to a new employee. This from an LFS that I normally trust.


Graham.

[Dave Peck]

"Graham Broadbridge" > wrote in message
...
> " Dave Peck" > wrote in message
> ink.net...
> > I've been to almost all of the stores in the Charlotte metro region and
> can
> > never get the same advice. Where do friendly folks with freshwater
> > aquariums hang out, besides this newsgroup?
>
> Your best bet is to rely on the concensus in this NG. Most LFS's are
> useless. Just last weekend my LFS amazed me by giving some really
clueless
> advice to a newbie. Two gold gouramies and two golfish in a bowl would be
> fine according to a new employee. This from an LFS that I normally
trust.
>
>
> Graham.
>
>
Thanks. Though sometimes there is no consensus on the NG and then I guess I
will have to try what I think is best or hope that NetMax responds ;-).

I also got thekrib.com, and that usually leads me in the right direction.

I guess if this was easy, it would be boring...

[Graham Broadbridge]

" Dave Peck" > wrote in message
nk.net...

> Thanks. Though sometimes there is no consensus on the NG and then I guess
I
> will have to try what I think is best or hope that NetMax responds ;-).

Netmax is pretty good

>
> I also got thekrib.com, and that usually leads me in the right direction.
>
> I guess if this was easy, it would be boring...
>
>

[Chris Palma]

Just to add my $0.02, I have found an LFS that I really trust, and I feel
like he gives me good advice. HOWEVER, at the same time, the impression
that I get is that he doesn't want to sound too overbearing. So if
someone comes in with a typical newbie misconception, he gently corrects
them, but doesn't push too hard. If someone is dead set on adding an
Oscar to a 10 gallon, he will give them advice, but if they aren't
convinced he doesn't throw them out on their ear for ignoring his advice.

I think that as much as LFS want to see fish handled well, at the same
time they can't completely shoot themselves in the foot by talking
everyone out of all of their purchase choices.


On Wed, 14 Apr 2004, Graham Broadbridge wrote:

> " Dave Peck" > wrote in message
> ink.net...
> > I've been to almost all of the stores in the Charlotte metro region and
> can
> > never get the same advice. Where do friendly folks with freshwater
> > aquariums hang out, besides this newsgroup?
>
> Your best bet is to rely on the concensus in this NG. Most LFS's are
> useless. Just last weekend my LFS amazed me by giving some really clueless
> advice to a newbie. Two gold gouramies and two golfish in a bowl would be
> fine according to a new employee. This from an LFS that I normally trust.
>
>
> Graham.
>
>
>


NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me directly,
please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu

[NetMax]

Occasionally I get someone who wants to do something odd, like an Oscar
in a 10g. After I do my explaining, if they insist, I have 3 options. I
can sell them the fish without any guarantee (if I want to impress them
on the seriousness of my advice, like overstocking a fishbowl), or I can
sell it as is (hoping they take my advice to heart as the fish grows), or
I can refuse the sale (which is what I do to teenagers who want to buy
two male Bettas and one goldfish bowl).

If they have internet access, I will often write www.faq.thekrib.com on
their fish bag. Lots of people know that they get bad advice in an LFS,
so how are the supposed to know that my advice is any better than what
they are used to? Pointing them to other sources of information helps my
cause.

NetMax


"Chris Palma" > wrote in message
...
>
> Just to add my $0.02, I have found an LFS that I really trust, and I
feel
> like he gives me good advice. HOWEVER, at the same time, the
impression
> that I get is that he doesn't want to sound too overbearing. So if
> someone comes in with a typical newbie misconception, he gently
corrects
> them, but doesn't push too hard. If someone is dead set on adding an
> Oscar to a 10 gallon, he will give them advice, but if they aren't
> convinced he doesn't throw them out on their ear for ignoring his
advice.
>
> I think that as much as LFS want to see fish handled well, at the same
> time they can't completely shoot themselves in the foot by talking
> everyone out of all of their purchase choices.
>
>
> On Wed, 14 Apr 2004, Graham Broadbridge wrote:
>
> > " Dave Peck" > wrote in message
> > ink.net...
> > > I've been to almost all of the stores in the Charlotte metro region
and
> > can
> > > never get the same advice. Where do friendly folks with freshwater
> > > aquariums hang out, besides this newsgroup?
> >
> > Your best bet is to rely on the concensus in this NG. Most LFS's
are
> > useless. Just last weekend my LFS amazed me by giving some really
clueless
> > advice to a newbie. Two gold gouramies and two golfish in a bowl
would be
> > fine according to a new employee. This from an LFS that I normally
trust.
> >
> >
> > Graham.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me
directly,
> please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu
>

[NetMax]

"Graham Broadbridge" > wrote in message
. ..
> " Dave Peck" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
>
> > Thanks. Though sometimes there is no consensus on the NG and then I
guess
> I
> > will have to try what I think is best or hope that NetMax responds
;-).
>
> Netmax is pretty good

Thanks! This newsgroup has many knowlegable people who I learn from. I
just happen to be prolific ;~)

NetMax

> > I also got thekrib.com, and that usually leads me in the right
direction.
> >
> > I guess if this was easy, it would be boring...
> >
> >
>
>

[Bob Stone]

In my experience the folks at both Fintastic and Frank and Pegs (both
on South Blvd in Charlotte) give reasonably good advice.

If you run short of stores in Charlotte...take a drive up to
Greensboro and check out Aquamains ( W. Market St. ) Very knowledgable
store, nice selection, with longevity.