livingart Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I went to one of the shop assistants, She said that they weren't dropsy, they were goldfish. She then said that she would know if they were sick, because she worked in a petshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I'm still wondering how you tell the difference between a bloated goldfish and a bloated goldfish when a bloated goldfish is a healthy goldfish and a the bloated goldfish is the sick goldfish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I'm still wondering how you tell the difference between a bloated goldfish and a bloated goldfish when a bloated goldfish is a healthy goldfish and a the bloated goldfish is the sick goldfish? the healthy one is the one that is still moving its gills the others are just respiratorilly challenged and they are not bloated they just have problems with metabolising their food efficiently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I'm still wondering how you tell the difference between a bloated goldfish and a bloated goldfish when a bloated goldfish is a healthy goldfish and a the bloated goldfish is the sick goldfish? When it looks like a pinecone and its gills are bleeding, it's sick. When it's doing normal goldfish things, it's ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenriswolf Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I'm certainly not putting the onus on the front staff if the employer isn't willing to put the time and money into decent staff. It's worth your while to have incentives in the form of pay reviews and real training, you can't expect an 18yo with no life experience to learn with no support. I disagree strongly with tipping as customers are not reliable. I am extremely helpful to everyone but I refuse to grovel of anyone who is being downright difficult. Coarse language removed Admin - I do not want to feel my income is reliant upon this - or, you know, being pretty. There are qualifications for pet store employees and I actually found some of the notes more complete and concise than my vet nursing notes! (I did the dog one, unfortunately it was pretty basic given my obsession with dogs but my boss wanted me to do something so OK.) There are also courses in customer service. But the most important thing is a supportive environment, that your experienced employees are happy and knowledgeable (their support is invaluable as a new staff member), and you actually have the information there! I know a lot about fish from my own research but my knowledge is dwarfed by what I don't know. My co-worker has a decade of experience so I try and learn from her and ask lots of questions but there are no books here, and it's hard hitting the first animal I've had no experience caring for which is marine fish. Frankly I'm opposed to pet stores as a concept anyway. It's completely immoral selling animals for profit. I support pet stores selling food and supplies, and fish stores/areas in pet stores with knowledgeable, well trained employees. Employees who are supported in their right to say no to people who are trying to something incredibly stupid with their fish! The only reason I can handle selling kittens is because we don't buy them, we don't make any money off them (a little, but that profit ends up going to any kittens that get sick anyway), they're desexed and vaccinated and actually old enough to go to a new home. *sigh* Aaaaanyway... that's enough rambling from me! :oops: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Frankly I'm opposed to pet stores as a concept anyway. It's completely immoral selling animals for profit so where do you work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally07 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Personally, I prefer buying fish from a LFS, rather than a pet shop. Based on experience and visual judgment, shops which specialise in fish usually tend to be more knowledgeable and sell better product than pet shops which sell a variety of pets. I think maybe it's because they make a higher profit off dogs and cats compared to fish, thus they focus more on the former than the latter. Perhaps it also reflects how people view fish as (relatively!) inexpensive and short-lived pets compared to dogs or cats. So it's really up to the staff of LFS and pet shops to inform the public and further the fish-keeping hobby in NZ. Just over the weekend I was browsing through the fish tanks at a pet shop (not Animates) when I overheard a couple asking the staff, "How many neon tetras are needed for group behaviour?" Curiously I glanced at the staff, who simply had a blank face. Rather than let him make something up and up-sell the couple, I stepped in and answered, "5". Sometimes I really wonder if pet shops include an aquarium section just to appear more 'well-rounded', even though the staff have no passion or information about aquariums. Logic would lead one to the realisation that passionate and informed staff = less dead fish = more sales, wouldn't it? :-? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I think maybe it's because they make a higher profit off dogs and cats compared to fish, thus they focus more on the former than the latter. very few stores i know off actually make a profit (net) of dogs and cats. they are normally crowd attractors and have the OooOOhhh and Awwww factor. fish have a far higher profit ratio, but that is usually offset to a certain extent by electricity, mortalities, treatments etc etc. But yes.. I do wish more stores in NZ could specialise in the aquatic section... but in most places it involves the highest capital outlays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 maybe the animals, fish etc are just there so everyone buys the accessories that go with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I've done 4 years of research (first hand) into this matter, cause I want to open a chain of stores after I work for a few years ... all my findings lead to : the animals, fish etc are just there so everyone buys the accessories that go with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-town... Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 thats why quite a few pet shops in other countries only stock the accessories and no actual livestock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 very few stores i know off actually make a profit (net) of dogs and cats. they are normally crowd attractors and have the OooOOhhh and Awwww factor. I got told by a former vet who worked with Animates (Lower Hutt) that they get the puppies and kittens in for virtually nothing that's why I was extremely peeved of when I paid $1500 for my pup who had all these defects that they never told me about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 They buy them cheaper than a breeder would sell them for and then sell them for several times as much as a breeder would. That's for the occasional one they have that's not a mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 have heard of a rottie breeder who sells to a petshop at $300 and shop sells at $900 and even mix breeds (mutt if you like) fetch good coin in shops sometimes :-?, id never buy another dog from a shop i dont like how theyre caged up sometimes for weeks on end its just sad cant be good for the dogs mindset Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 have heard of a rottie breeder who sells to a petshop at $300 and shop sells at $900 and even mix breeds (mutt if you like) fetch good coin in shops sometimes :-?, id never buy another dog from a shop i dont like how theyre caged up sometimes for weeks on end its just sad cant be good for the dogs mindset I agree, if I'm going to get a dog with a questionable background, I'd go for SPCA ones. Otherwise, I'd go directly to a breeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I dunno. After seeing the Sunday (or was it 20/20?) report on dog breeds today and how inbred they are with major health problems I wouldn't buy a pure bred anything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I dunno. After seeing the Sunday (or was it 20/20?) report on dog breeds today and how inbred they are with major health problems I wouldn't buy a pure bred anything! that was a serious programme makes me happy to be called a mongrel amazing how few genes the different breeds shared today even though they had a common ancestor all in the pursuit of money, prestige and maintaining a human set standard :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulloc Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I dunno. After seeing the Sunday (or was it 20/20?) report on dog breeds today and how inbred they are with major health problems I wouldn't buy a pure bred anything! totally true, ive had a totally mental dalmation and an epileptic boxer-i have 2 other mates with severe arthritis in 3 of theirs at only around 8 years and now i have a staffy bull terrier 2nd gen X and a terrier cross and they are awesome!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I'm posting here since it's titled "petshop rant", hope that's ok :oops: I bought my first 2 fish from the new pet store today. The person who waited on me was also the manager. I was standing there when all of a sudden he comes with the bag AND PROCEEDS to put it in the tank. I asked him what he was doing, well of course his answer was putting water in the bag. I proceeded to tell him that the bag now has their tank water on it and that I don't put water in my tank from any pet shop. He then said and I quote, "Well, how am I going to get the water in there!". Hit me over the head with a wet noodle , I said "Ah, a container"! He said he never heard of that before or it being done in "their" shops. I told him I have seen it done before and I have when I've been away and in other shops, heck even the department store uses containers! He was nice enough to empty the bag and get a new one and came over with a scoop (still had sticker on it, so I'm quesssing he just took it off a shelf!). I don't think he was too impressed but then neither was I!!! Caper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I dont get it. it is relatively common practise here for some people to dip the bag in the water to get some for the fish to be in. makes life a bit easier but also is a more "wet" method :lol: when you get your fish home the best thing to do is take a bucket - put your fish with the store water in it, and then add some water from your tank into the bucket.. keep adding more over a period of 10 - 15 minutes.. then scoop the fish out after a while and put him in your tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I dont get it. it is relatively common practise here for some people to dip the bag in the water to get some for the fish to be in. makes life a bit easier but also is a more "wet" method :lol: when you get your fish home the best thing to do is take a bucket - put your fish with the store water in it, and then add some water from your tank into the bucket.. keep adding more over a period of 10 - 15 minutes.. then scoop the fish out after a while and put him in your tank. I can't do it that way, the few times I've tried, I made a massive mess. I don't really have a problem with it, and I don't really see the difference between a few drops of water on the outside of the bag and the water on the net or on the fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 it gets messy if you scoop water out of your tank, but i just use a siphon to get water in the bucket.i occasionally dip the bag in the water too, if all the other mugs/jugs are being used. makes no difference as the fish bag goes in a carry bag. don't really have a problem with it, and I don't really see the difference between a few drops of water on the outside of the bag and the water on the net or on the fish. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 well.......to look at this objectively, the reason the staff try to answer the question off the top of their head is because they're scared they'll look stupid by not knowing or by going and checking; and they feel they should know. i'm sure we can appreciate this as some customers would likely roll their eyes. tho of course we know it is much better to have the correct information and have them check. and then there's the people who don't know but "believe" they do; they are the most humorous. the classic "know alls". bless them and yea i wouldn't worry about a bit of LFS water?? some water will transfer with the fish anyway..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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