Fish Store Experiences from a Customer's View

[clone]

LIKE to only make one trip to a store. You know where they have everything that you set out to look for.
I hate having to go to more than one store, takes away from my day.

[Richard]

I like going into an LFS and seeing the problems they have (and they all have some) and knowing that they are not my problems. In short, I like being the customer.

[Europhyllia]

HAHA!!! Im guessing you stoped by one time while I was doing that?

No my 125 gallon tank burst a week ago and spilled into the house. Shop vacing it is no fun but having it come out from under the walls onto the front porch and pushing it with a mop out into the garage is even worse.
I didn't know you guys had that many spills there! lol

[allan]

I like going to a place where everyone knows my name. So far there's only two places here in town that greet me by name (and one fast-approaching-sudden-demise kid that keeps calling me "secretary"), and that's Gabe's and AD... oh, and Texas Tropical if it's that place on 410 and Vance. Last time I went there I got a "Hello Allan" from the young tall dude there. Pretty cool.

But I certainly don't expect it. These LFS see so many folks come in and out that it doesn't surprise me when they don't remember you. It's a small wonder when they do. Of course I think I've just about paid Jason's kid's first year at the local college.

To tell the truth, and I was just telling this to someone last night, I've never traveled in any of my other hobbies like I've traveled in this one. It's either to someone's house all the way down in Atacosca county for a frag of GSP or out to sea world for a carpet anenome all the way out to Garden Ridge for a tank and coral. I said all that to say this, I tend to stay in my neck of the wood to keep traveling to a minimum. The two places nearby are AD and R2U, both stores I like.

When I get the chance I head out to Gabe's, Texas Tropical, AA (have not been there in a while) and I think that takes me to the limit of where I've been.

Caveat, I did go out to Polly's the other day. Really like the layout of the store. Different and it really looks franchisey... now if only they can get one of those large tanks to go salt....

[copperband]

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT POLLY'S: I have been shopping at Polly's since I was 5 and I am now 15 so a total of 10 years. Everyone there is very nice and welcoming and not afraid to say I honestly don't know something and they will look it up or ask someone else. I enjoy that they don't treat customers like walking money bags or credit cards with legs. They now know me by name and I know almost everyone there. The store is very clean and they have quarantine tanks in the back which is nice to know that they will quarantine a fish if it is sick instead of allowing it to spread the illness to other fish.

I LOVE YOU ALL AT POLLY'S! MY #1 LFS

[Mr Cob]

I like:

-coral racks with prices, ie: Top rack $50, Mid rack $30, bottom rack $20. For premium corals, it's nice to have a label of what it is and how much it costs. I really hate asking what everything is and how much it costs. All fish should clearly be priced. It does not help me to have a list of the fish and coral you sell and what they cost. I want to know what I'm looking at and what it costs.

-clean store, seriosuly...net out the dead fish and if a tank is overpopulated with the "bad stuff", then slap a sticker on it and titled it "Reef bad stuff". Turn it into something educational if you can't maintain it.

-crew uniform shirts (just shirts...nothing formal just something that tells me you work there and you are the person to go to if I have a question or need some info, I really hate asking a "customer" what something is or if they can help me. LOL!

I hate when....

-When I'm not acknowledged when I come in. Just put a little bell on your door and yell out "Welcome, let us know if you need anything, we are a bit busy right now but we are here if you have any questions". Then check on me a couple of times but don't follow me around. If I'm going to steal something you'll know because I'm not good at hiding things. Gabe is great with customer acknowledgement and service.

-When a store makes me feel bad for not buying anything or more specifically the owner actually makes a rude comment for only buying a coke after looking around the shop with my son for an hour. It's first, a compliment that I took my son to your shop for some father son time and second it should be about getting me back in the store that you should be more concerned with. Not likely that I will be back now since I was treated rudely for only buying a coke, that YOU SELL! not naming any names here...just providing "general" feedback.

[clone]

I like:

-coral racks with prices, ie: Top rack $50, Mid rack $30, bottom rack $20. For premium corals, it's nice to have a label of what it is and how much it costs. I really hate asking what everything is and how much it costs. All fish should clearly be priced. It does not help me to have a list of the fish and coral you sell and what they cost. I want to know what I'm looking at and what it costs.

-clean store, seriosuly...net out the dead fish and if a tank is overpopulated with the "bad stuff", then slap a sticker on it and titled it "Reef bad stuff". Turn it into something educational if you can't maintain it.

-crew uniform shirts (just shirts...nothing formal just something that tells me you work there and you are the person to go to if I have a question or need some info, I really hate asking a "customer" what something is or if they can help me. LOL!

I hate when....

-When I'm not acknowledged when I come in. Just put a little bell on your door and yell out "Welcome, let us know if you need anything, we are a bit busy right now but we are here if you have any questions". Then check on me a couple of times but don't follow me around. If I'm going to steal something you'll know because I'm not good at hiding things. Gabe is great with customer acknowledgement and service.

-When a store makes me feel bad for not buying anything or more specifically the owner actually makes a rude comment for only buying a coke after looking around the shop with my son for an hour. It's first, a compliment that I took my son to your shop for some father son time and second it should be about getting me back in the store that you should be more concerned with. Not likely that I will be back now since I was treated rudely for only buying a coke, that YOU SELL! not naming any names here...just providing "general" feedback.

^^^^^ SAME STORE, its happend to me aswell.

[Europhyllia]

I didn't even know some fish stores are offering refreshments (for sale)!

[Big_Pun]

I didn't even know some fish stores are offering refreshments (for sale)!

the one i go to has a seperate fridge with FREE refreshments an i from time to time help keep it stocked

[kkiel02]

I look for-
1. healthy livestock(I know after a new shipment though there will be some loss)
2. clean shop
3. this time around I will be using stores that qt livestock as I know that I wont be able to have a qt setup

I cant wait to be abe to purchase livestock again!