Fish shop help

[Bill & Kel Turnbull]

Is it the same all over the world? I go into our local aquarium shops and
the staff will stop and chat, answer stacks of silly questions, etc for
ages, even when I walk out with nothing... and they even know I cant spend
heaps in a few weeks either...

Maybe it's something about the people who are into this
hobby/interest/passion?

Bill

[Brad]

I do all my shopping at Seaview aquarium centre here in Adelaide , South
Australia....
Great group of people , really helpful......

Brad...



"Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in message
...
> Is it the same all over the world? I go into our local aquarium shops and
> the staff will stop and chat, answer stacks of silly questions, etc for
> ages, even when I walk out with nothing... and they even know I cant spend
> heaps in a few weeks either...
>
> Maybe it's something about the people who are into this
> hobby/interest/passion?
>
> Bill
>
>

[NetMax]

"Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in
message ...
> Is it the same all over the world? I go into our local aquarium shops
and
> the staff will stop and chat, answer stacks of silly questions, etc for
> ages, even when I walk out with nothing... and they even know I cant
spend
> heaps in a few weeks either...
>
> Maybe it's something about the people who are into this
> hobby/interest/passion?
>
> Bill

If you are lucky to have found a good pet shop or fish store, then:

It's one part customer service, as the hours they spend answering
questions usually results in your confidence, which makes you remember
them later when you are making purchases. To a varying degree, this is
true for all the pet trades (birds, reptiles etc), but especially in
aquaria, which is considered to be the most complex and diversified.

It's one part pet care, the type of associates who look after live
creatures are quite different from the usual retail positions where the
product being handled is materials. This animal welfare rapport is
often reflected back by the interested customer, so it feeds on itself.
There is an obligation on the associate to ensure the customer has, as a
minimum, the information needed to prevent harming the creatures in their
care (this part of the dialogue can be annoying to customers), and from
there they expand on improving their pet's welfare.

It's one part enthusiasm. I've met enthusiastic plumbers who have sold
me drain elbows, but there are only so many ways to pipe a sink. In
aquaria, there are so many different fish, different ways to do anything,
different results from doing the same thing, that you can spend hours
learning and sharing information. I've had instances where I was
involved in long discussions and as more people collected, I'd slip away
to do some work, and leave my customers to continue the conversations
amongst themselves ;~) Occasionally they might shout some questions over
to me, and I'd throw my opinion in as just another hobbyist :o).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[claire]

"Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in message
...
> Is it the same all over the world? I go into our local aquarium shops and
> the staff will stop and chat, answer stacks of silly questions, etc for
> ages, even when I walk out with nothing... and they even know I cant spend
> heaps in a few weeks either...
>
> Maybe it's something about the people who are into this
> hobby/interest/passion?
>
> Bill

I had the opposite experience last weekend buying my new tank. After
standing around trying to make eye contact and looking confused for twenty
minutes or so, I was finally able to get someone's attention.

I explained what I thought I wanted and that this was my first proper tank
with a filter (my betta is moving up in the world) and tried to seek their
advise to confirm if this was an appropriate setup.
I didn't get much of a straight answer when I asked which would be better
for his nestbuilding, an under-gravel or a top filter (is that the correct
term?) - he convinced me the filter on top would be easier to maintain (I'm
still not sure which is best for fishie and I'm now afraid to check to see
which one I should have purchased in case I got the wrong one) He then
proceeded to give me instructions on how to assemble the filter completely
the wrong way and tried to convince me that a 50 watt heater would work just
as well and be just as good/safe as a 25 watt heater in a 22L tank. Yes, you
guessed it, the smallest heater they sold was 50 watt. I had planned to
purchase the whole setup, gravel, plants, heater, hideyholes etc but I was
being rushed and was happy to just get out with the tank.

Luckily, this was at a shopping centre that I only go to every six weeks or
so.

Meanwhile, I have found a good aquarium shop in my home suburb. There I can
wander around unhindered (its big!) but can find someone easily enough when
it comes time to ask all the newbie questions. I felt a little guilty having
not purchased the tank there (Aqua-One AR126) but I knew I was getting a
good price at the other shop (~20% less) and my guilt was somewhat alieved
when I spent nearly as much as the tank again on extras.

I guess it all comes down to attitude, the other shop is in a prominent
position in a very large shopping centre, they get a lot of passing trade
and I'm guessing they figured I wasn't really worth nuturing as a regular
due to the small scope of my setup.

Their loss because this is a hobby I can really see myself getting into :c)

[Vicki S]

I guess it all boils down to doing a little homework. I have been in
large chain stores were the help was on the money and small stores that
I don't know how they stay in biz because they don't have a clue. But
when a good store is found it pays to stick with them.

Vicki

"it is well that war is so terrible, or else we would grow fond of it."
~Robert E. Lee

"May all your babies be born naked and may you be in heaven ten minutes
before the devil knows your dead!!!
~ Irish Proverb

http://shamrock4u.250free.com