How can the LFS improve on service?

Was wondering, we always rip of our LFS's, and usually with reason to do so.


Was wondering what would make buying fish easier, as well as more informed?

No one will reference a book, but maybe flash cards would help, attached to the tank the critter is in, with the price scrawled on it?
Newbies too scared to ask can see for themselves, and that little bala shark, wont end up being a terror later

What do you think?

Its an effort, but I think any self respecting LFS should try.

Here is a quick example I just slapped together. You could even add a care rating, IE Easy Average difficult.

 

Gilbert this is a very good idea, but how do you get the LFS to show these flash cards? They can be pretty stubborn sometimes

 

I know, or get wholesalers/ distributers to distribute charts to put against a wall.

I see a lot of LFS's with posters of fish, but no info.
So stuff is being printed, just not the right stuff.

 

I would say mass print and distribute these cards to moms and nannys around the world.

Teach them while they young.
Lol

 

I agree, we pay them at the end, some service would be nice.

Having said that I regularly visit a LFS, who know what I like and look for, to the point that they contact me if something comes in that I may like.

 

I know of a few LFS's that do have this info on their tanks and when I approached those who don't their response kind of made some sense......basically their stock moves so quickly with fish changes happening sometimes a few times a week per tank, that logistically speaking they are unable to handle the 'admin' of putting this sort of info up. So yes I agree, when these display cards are available they are brilliant but the onus should also be on the customer to do some homework as well, which granted can be extremely difficult if you do not know what fish you are looking at and the 'assistants' don't know themselves. Perhaps there is a business opportunity for someone - it won't make you a rich man though but it may give you a sense of achievement for helping out your fellow fishkeeper

 

Do those Pleco's really grow to 50cm!!?? That's massive!! Mine is about 15cm and I thought he was a maneer!!

It would be nice to have this at fish shops, but as Veegal says stock moves so quickly that it would be hard to maintain this. But perhaps a chart could be placed somewhere near the aquiriam section that has all the relevent info on. I know when I went to buy my fish the assistant sold me all types of fish that should never be mixed together, I had two baby pangasians die one angel die and I quickly gave the last angel back to another LFS. I have stopped using that overly commercialized pet shop.

 

PeeKay, I have two of them. One is 20cm and the other is 22cm. So technically they are now only about halfway LOL

 

LFS can improve service by doing 2 simple things have staff that want to work there and secondly staff that know what they are selling.

 

Baensch say 28cm only... Planet Catfish says 30cm....


http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=580

 

A pleco is a big fish it just depends on what size tank you have it in. Whether it is going to be stunted or given room to grow.

 

perhaps the card should be seen to be for illustrative purposes only and not an actual outline of the care needs of any particular species :wondering:

 

i had a plec that grew to 40something cm, in the pond outside, after it outgrew my little 2ft...50 doesn't sound far off

this is why plecs freak me out, they look like little monster fish when all grown up