Bad experience @ LFS....again - Page 3 - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

footprint · 07-08-2008, 05:32 AM

There is another way of looking at this kind of situation if anyone feels so strongly about the quality of service in a particular lfs why not ask for a job. At least this way you can show them how its done I would say most shops would love to take on someone who knows about aquatic plants, and fish. That's what I did the result there is at least one shop in this area with a good range of aquarium and pond plants and good advice which you rarely get from mail order, like I said pass on your knowledge and experience. Of coarse there are are difficult customers who for whatever reason seem to think its right to be unpleasant and will constantly moan and complain about whatever their latest gripe is. The trick is to turn a negative situation to a positive one, but sometimes there is no pleasing some people no matter what you do or say. And believe you me there are people out there who think its right to cram fish in like sardines and don't bother with water changes or cleaning the filter, but still don't like the advice they are given, strange lot we humans at times.

Afyounie · 07-08-2008, 01:20 PM

I am truly thankful that I have a nice lfs near me after hearing peoples issues with their lfs. I havn't had any issues, except that they don't carry plants anymore, but they do have a nice selection of fish.

inareverie85 · 07-08-2008, 04:50 PM

Yeah, I would love an LFS with more variety, but the one I just discovered (while limited in plants to only a few Anubias and Sword species) has VERY large and healthy plants. I got a two HUGE Anubias Nana groups (probably about 30 leaves each) for 10 bucks apiece. I don't think the guy knew how much people will pay for those online. :P

Deni · 07-08-2008, 06:05 PM

My most local FS used to be wonderful, but has gone down hill over the past couple of years. I understand that it was taken over by new management. I wouldn't be surprised if it closes soon. I can't imagine anyone going there twice.

The second closest FS is dark and cramped and has very little selection. Plant-wise you can get java moss. That's it. They seem to focus on pond stuff and may be quite good with that, but they're a bit lacking in the aquarium department.

I found where the third closest one is and went there a few weeks ago, just to check it out. It was packed with customers. Not a huge place, but lots of variety. I was delighted to see a bunch of clown killifish fry hanging around the top of one of the tanks. There were a number of fish there that I had seen pictures of online but had never seen "in person." They had bettas of a number of different types instead of the usual veiltails. My guess is that they get a lot of fish from local fishkeepers.

And they had a lot of plants. One large-ish tank was filled with stem plants of all different types and another two had dozens of different rooted plants. I didn't see any huge specimens, but I don't want those anyway. They even had some marimo balls.

No one was standing behind the counter. Every employee -- including a man and woman who seemed to be the owners -- was either helping someone or looking for someone to help. I was asked by several folks if they could help me find something. I felt kind of bad that I wasn't actually going to buy anything after all the attention I got. But I know where I'm going to go when I am ready to buy.