Good for you!

 

some guy with a fish bowl and flashlight trying to keep some SPS, some people ya know?

people have that "customer is always right" burned in their minds, guess what, NEWS FLASH some customers are just just wrong, they don't even have a clue..

good job!

 

I've always thought that if a LFS will try and talk you out of buying something in their own store, they know what they're talking about.

You did the right thing.

 

I've always thought that if a LFS will try and talk you out of buying something in their own store, they know what they're talking about.

You did the right thing.

This is the exact reason I use the LFS I use. When I first went in there as a newby I wanted to get a whole bunch of coral and some crazy different fish with no real knowledge of how they interacted or the quality of my tank. I was told immediately not to buy any of it and start doing research. I went home with 10 gal of saltwater that day. That was over 2 years ago and all I had was a 34g that I bought fully established. Now I've grown to a 125 and have had plenty of questions. I feel like I can trust my LFS to help me out with my issue all because they told me no when I came in so dumb. I absolutely believe you did the right thing and when he figures out why you said no you'll have a life long customer!

 

thats how i feel but i felt bad like i lost a client. my thought is hes thinkin this guy just wants me to buy a huge light hood and spend a lot of money. when he learns the hard way that i was right hell come back.

 

Yep, he will learn a lesson...and that lesson will be that he should listen to you more.

No worries, you'll be laughing about it with this guy within a month after his corals start losing flesh.

 

Well two things... if the corals died, he would blame you (and tell his friends about your "crummy livestock"). So you were ****ed either way. The second thing was that let not hope he knows about the internet and liveaquaria's guarantee because that is what most folks do when the LFS says no.

You might want to learn about saying no in a way that makes it sound like their idea. My old LFS person would do this very well. Sometimes, you need to make the "sale" as well. I have always figure that you should convince the guy about buying maricultured/aquacultured items if it is suspect... and then double the price with no guarantee (I have seen some LFS do this as well)... call it the "I don't like you because you are a idiot" tax. You can refuse the sale of rare/desirable items, but give him all the brown buttom polyps he desires... he will come back and ask why things are not going so well and then he will buy proper lights. Some people just do not get the idea that you have to do things right (Kinda like when people complain about gas taxes and then complain about potholes and traffic... gas taxes pay for the transportation network, shesh).

My father always had one of the best quotes, "Genius is the ability to do things right the first time around"

 

im good at saying no. in person i can explain stuff better, show things, explain how stuff works. on the phone its a little more difficult. im not to worried about the customer cause he seemed new and just needs help in the right direction but didnt want it from me. its not a big deal. i was just bummed cause he seemed mad i wouldnt sell him anything. i'll be glad to sell him stuff. i just want to maintain a good rep

 

I am very new at this and I would be enternally grateful for your honesty, I always try to explain my set up so that if I look at something not appropriate they will tell me. You did the right thing he will be back.

 

tlynn, you are one of a very small minority. Most people go ballistic more often than not... especially over the phone and non-face-to-face communications. I have seen it go down in a store.

 

I was in my LFS looking around and you know, doing what we do. While the owner was testing anoher guys water. This guy thought he wa so cool with his blackberry (aka crapberry) and shiny shoes. Ne way When my guy got done testing his water he told the guy that his nitrites were through the roof and amonia was also rediculous. So the guy said that he had cought a sea bass and put some pin fish in there and all kinds of stuff. The tank had only been running for 2 weeks. He was then surprised that his levels were terrible and got pissed off about it. hw was being really rude to the owner and was like "ok well what do I do now" and the owner told him it would prolly help if he supplimented with bacteria simce he already have fish over load or get rid of some fish untill his biological got stronger. This guy was an arrogant you know what and made me realize that Saltwater fish stores probably come in contact with alot of rich a**holes that know it all, but really dontk now ne thing.

I started to get really made because the guy kept saying well why cant I just add fish. Whats the big issue. I wanted to yell at him and tell him to go home and sellhis tank becaue he did get it never would, because he wasnt going to listen to the people who are trying to help him with him!

ugh just a little vent...im better

But really the nerve!

O and you totaly did the right thing! Good for you

 

ha, ya I made a thread about an event I saw a little while back... some people think they have it all

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/another-unexpireanced-person-at-the-lfs-158910.html

 

It's amazing how many people don't want to hear things...I get people all the time that ask about a specific coral or invert...all to often when I start to suggest that maybe their level of experience or their system may not be up to par, they interrupt me and start to ask another question...if you didn't really want my opinion why did you even bother to ask. LOL! I've come to the conclusion there are those I can help and those I can only "try" to help.

 

I wish more people were like you, my lfs would sell me shamu if I had the money, no questions asked...

 

+1, Id rather loose a customer if it meant keeping coral/fish alive. Next time you can direct him to the forums here for some reading. Even couldve told him "Hey Im not trying to sell you this light, Im sure you can find one cheaper used, just might have to buy a new bulb". He might have thought you were trying to make a huge sale on him.

 

I told him he could find a good used one and that I don't stock those big lamps. I said if he wants my opinion or want me to order one I'd be more than happy to help.

 

Thanks for the support. It ticks me off when mr. Genius shows up who wants to buy my Ora turquoise staghorn and my 6" hippo and put it in a 55 gallon kit he bought at walmart with standard lighting.

 

ahhhhh... yet another Einstein...

 

Being somewhat new to this, I can understand the customer's point of view. I can't tell you how many times my LFS has told me I need something, just to find out it is incredibly expensive. The initial reaction is OMG, there goes another thousand dollars! But I know he is right, and often I can get him to sell me used equipment at a reasonable price. You absolutely did the right thing. Customers starting this hobby with their eyes and minds closed will never be happy. Hopefully, for the sake of the livestock, this customer will quickly get bored - or educated.

 

I hate to post things from "that other forum site" but they have one of the most classic threads ever. ATTN: LFS Employees

Epic on so many levels... and keep an eye out for Jimi Hendrix

 

You did the right thing. :thumbup: It's not easy being in a position to give people advice and have the integrity to tell them the straight of it instead of what they want to hear. Even though he wasn't happy, he would have been even more unhappy when the corals shriveled up and died and then would have come back in angry and blaming you. Some people you just can't please.
Hopefully, he will come to realize you were trying to steer him straight but even if he doesn't, you saved some corals for someone who will care for them properly.

Dick

 

One of the hardest things about being a salesman is telling the customer things he doesnt want to hear. but you did the right thing.