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Oh no, I didn't recommend PetCo or Petsmart as a whole, but there are jems out there. To treat them and their employees like trash because of a generalization is horrible. I started out the hobby working at a fish store and going to school. I was treated like crap repetitively because I was "just a retail employee" not to mention a girl in a fish store. Sure, if you dont like the company, fine don't shop there. But generalizing all store employees as lesser in knowledge is harsh and unfair.
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I've gotten the odd decent employee in chain stores; they've universally been frustrated by being forced to keep fish using outdated or nasty conditions. It's also a very rare occurrence.
I don't believe in treating retail employees poorly unless they're treating their customers poorly. "yes you can keep that balla shark in your 10 gal with your guppies" is a line I've heard enough times to give me a nervous tick.
Basically I expect the average employee to know their product and the methods for keeping it functioning. Being new to something when you're hired happens, and there should definitely be some leeway, but it should be the exception rather than the average customer experience IMO.
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Originally Posted by Six  Also, I agree that some people on aquabid do not sell fish that are WYSIWYG... but the good ones do. And sure, you don't know if the fish is healthy or not, but that's what feedback is for. I've never had anyone send me sick fish. Deformed fish, yes, and search "six" and "rainbowfish" too see where that gets sellers like that. |
Some of the best shrimp and apisto sellers on that site only leave pictures of some of their general stock. I think it'd be nice of them and better customer service to take individual pictures, but it doesn't mean you aren't getting a high quality product.
I know the seller you're speaking of. Stock images like that and their feedback has always kept me away from them. That and the price; I can pick those up locally for around half what they're charging.
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Originally Posted by Six My city is HUGE and we have 1 LFS. 1 locally owned fish store that has more than a basement full of fish. That's it. I would love to point people there all day, but they're expensive for what they offer and have more issues with disease than the Petsmart across the street from me. Go where you can and be a good buyer. I've bought fish from chain stores with no poblems although the quality of my local club is 100 fold. |
Those situations are definitely hard. I'm left with no club, tons of chains with tons of sick and dead fish, and one very good quality LFS that's improving its plants and planted tank related stock quite well.
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You have to start somewhere, whether your an employee learning or a buyer trying to find fish. I don't like chain fish stores either, but for the hobby to keep membership we have to have a starting place for newbs.
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I agree completely, I've just been disappointed by that starting point since the day I started in the hobby. Both in Canada and the US it's an issue that could easily be resolved, and I blame it on the higher ups in these companies who are interested in profit margins rather than quality. I wish some of these stores would eliminate their stock and stick with hardware. Perhaps it would give local businesses, who are willing to provide quality, a far better chance. A good fish for 50% more is better than two from a bad supplier IMO.
-Philosophos
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