Venting about fish store

Well....went to petco to check out the 5.5 and 10 gal tank for a betta (which I am still waiting to buy). My bf wanted to add ghost shrimp or RCS to the tank. We read a lot on forums about how the betta may (probably) eat the shrimp but we thought its something we would want to try.

Anyway, I wanted to see what these shrimp look like to have an idea if I even want them. (my bf was starting to convince me LOL). We started looking around the tanks and couldnt find any. So an employee comes up to us and asks if we need help. He then shows us where the shrimp are.

My bf and I begin talking about whether or not we even like them and if we what size tank we should get. The employee begins asking questions about if we are going to keep fish in it or if we are just looking to get them for feeding purposes so that he can "understand our purpose for them". I tell him we may either do a simple shrimp tank or possibly one with a betta. He says "so shrimp and no fish?" we say "maybe a betta, we are still thinking about the shrimp" and he begins about how betta are loners and they like to be alone and I say well worst case scenario the shrimp get eaten....so then he GOES OFF about "did you even do any research? Betta are perfectly fine in a cup like we have them, why are you even getting a tank?"

I tell him how they need filtration and space and that there is nothing fine about a cup to which he starts yelling at me "lady, I have a PHD in ocean studies, how are you going to tell me what they need, they are perfectly fine in a cup! they don't need anything they breather like we do!"

At that point I lost it , pretty sure the whole store heard me. What irks is that the "aquatics specialist" with a "phd" is saying a fish is fine in a cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>>>>

Oh and they had at least a dozen dead fish through out the tanks, which I mentioned to him before this whole arguement, he told me "well fish fight so they die. I try to take them out when I see them"....the fish were never taken out by the time we left.


***rant over***

 

It's doubtful to me that he actually had a PhD. If so, why is he working at Petco? Way overqualified for that job.

 

Exactly!!!
Honestly, I never complain on employees because I know what its like working a min.wage job just to pay bills and I have worked in retail before so I know its frustrating. But that is no way how you speak to some else esp. a customer!!!!! He walked away and then came back and get in my face yelling!!! Who does that!!!!

 

I take my hat, well, cap off to you. Thank you

 

Lol, I knew the people here would understand. Pretty sure everyone else thought I was a crazy fish lady!

 

That's crazy. Maybe he does have a PhD, miserable that he IS working at PetCo and unfortunately taking it out on you.

 

Pretty sure "ocean studies" is too general for a phd. Marine biology I would understand but ocean studies just doesn't sound right.

Either way, I was heated and my bf was at a loss of words LOL.

 

Oh my gosh. Lol. It's really bad but it's kinda funny at the same time.... Bad that he's shoving misinformation down everyone's throats and unwilling to listen to anyone else, but funny that he says he's so educational yet a quick search for "betta care" would show that they actually DO need heated, filtered, and at least 2.5g tanks.

Oh, and don't worry too much about what your bf thinks of you, I think guys like it when we're mad like that (as long as it's not too directed at them). Shows a fiery passion!

 

hahaha he didnt say anything, except that he's glad he wasn't on the recieving end


Its upsetting to know that people that don't know much about fish and are getting a betta are getting this kind of advice!

There is nothing wrong with me saying I want to give to filtration, heater and all this stuff. I'm not harming the fish so to yell at me at tell me that a cup is fine is so irrational!

 

Yeah, really. You would think he'd be glad to hear it so he could sell you those products instead of just a bowl.

 

I have actually encountered a PhD working in a LPS. Nice guy and undoubtedly knows his stuff, unfortunately, having a huge amount of knowledge about a single genus of marine fish is not much help with freshwater plants and fish. I feel bad for him, but that's still terrible customer service!

 

Yes it is. Esp considering that there are 3 other peet stores (2 of which specialize in aquariums) less than a mile away....Only reason I even stopped by petco was because of their current promo on tanks.

Yeah, really. You would think he'd be glad to hear it so he could sell you those products instead of just a bowl.

Exactly!! Esp, since a previous employee talked to me about what kind of filter I decided on and mentioned how he's glad to see that I did research. Then you have this "aquatics speialist" with a "PhD" pretty much telling me I am wrong for wanting to provide an enivronment for a Betta that exceeds its current living situation.

 

hahaha he didnt say anything, except that he's glad he wasn't on the recieving end


Its upsetting to know that people that don't know much about fish and are getting a betta are getting this kind of advice!

There is nothing wrong with me saying I want to give to filtration, heater and all this stuff. I'm not harming the fish so to yell at me at tell me that a cup is fine is so irrational!

Yeah, that's true. He should've been happy, actually. Because if he can sell you a tank and a filter and heater then he'll be making MUCH more money than if you just bought the betta. And doesn't the Petco care sheet say at least 1 gallon for bettas? I know that's wrong, but still.

 

He would have gotten a big earful from me LOL

For going off on a customer like that he should consider himself lucky he didn't get the snot beat out of him.

 

Years ago I debated a sales person into the ground at a big box pet store. She was so out of control and embarrassed that she picked up the phone and proceeded to call the cops. Years passed and I found myself back in that store. I had forgotten the incident. Within moments of my entering the fish department the store manager walked quickly up to me and asked if I was the guy that had gotten into it with that sales person. I then remembered the incident and said yes fully expecting to be told to leave. He began to apologize profusely. He said that he witnessed the exchange but was on the phone and by the time he made it to the floor I was gone. He said that not only was I correct in everything I said to the sales person but he was very impressed that I never raised my voice or got mad. He invited her not to return to the job...Ever. According to him I was missed and that if I ever had that happen again to let him know.

Gotta say I was surprised

Mother raised me to be able to take apart someone with out being rude or raising my voice. Many people have a paragraph of knowledge when they should have read the book and fall apart quickly. Surrounding themselves in aggression and anger.

*sigh* Mother always taught:

1. Know what you are talking about BEFORE you open your mouth.

2. Engage mind before starting mouth.

3. No matter how sure you are of your knowledge, experience or yourself there is a very good chance that you will be completely wrong at any given time. Take that opportunity to learn.

 

Mother raised me to be able to take apart someone with out being rude or raising my voice. Many people have a paragraph of knowledge when they should have read the book and fall apart quickly. Surrounding themselves in aggression and anger.
.

I completely agree, but I just lost it. Def wasn't yelling like he was but I can't say I was calm either.

 

I completely agree, but I just lost it. Def wasn't yelling like he was but I can't say I was calm either.

There are times that some people could test the patients of a saint. I gotta admit that my fuse was lit and it is a short one. I was probably 30 seconds from going ballistic. But her calling the cops motivated me to vacate the shop before that happened. Being a mix blood, biker and trucker I have learned the hard way to keep run-ins with the fine officers of the law (no sarcasm here. I have great respect for cops) to a minimum.