A grumble about uninformed people

[AmazonTankz]

To answer the question above, I was paid $5.16 an hour, and thats also with a 30min drive. It wasen't really a problem for me, since I am still a teenager and didn't have anybills. But there were plenty of people there with family that were makeing the exact same amount I was making.

I have to say, that the managment was pretty good in the ways of "give the people what they want" I never was told that and I said whatever I wanted to (most of the time) to the costomer. If they wanted a certain fish and because of there situation or tank size couldn't possibly take care of it, I told them so! Only of they were that persistant would I give them the whole "well, I'm just trying to save you money " bit (even though I really cared about the fish, not the money). People seem to respond more to the idea of saving money then they do to saving a fish torture. Sick, but true and predictable is it not?

I can't tell you how many times a day I told people that "betta" is pronounced "beh-ta" not "bay-tah" . Even to the very people I worked with. They would of course not believe me so I would have to go into my big shpeel..."it is not pronounced bay-ta because you are thinking of the greek letter - beta. Betta is a different word with a different pronounceation! Look it up in the dictionary if you don't believe me"

There was even this guy I worked with. He would go around and tell people the most absurd things! And present them like they pure fact! There I would be humbly scrubing out tanks (a thing no one else would do) while I listened to him lead people in such the wrong way....later when he or they would walk off I'd find the costomers and give them the real truth, that is if he hadn't already sold them a fish/supplies!

Anyway, I'll do you guys a favor and stop my ranting....

 

[Avalon]

There is no dumb question...only dumb answers.

I celebrate the repetitive questions and the people asking them. They are making the effort to learn rather than grabbing a bowl and plopping a goldfish in it hap-hazardly.

Simply put, I know my basics like the back of my hand, and I can grow plants that rival Amano (well, I may be pushing it ), but when it comes to African cichlids, I don't know crap. I don't know what the heck I would do with live rock if someone gave some to me for a saltwater tank. I specialize in certain areas. I'm always in the plant forum. I spend countless hours reading scientific articles and scanning forums for additional ideas and trends. I don't have time to read about saltwater and the various species of African cichlids. I also don't have the time or desire to answer what substrate is best--I've already written an article on that!

Furthermore, I've written page upon page upon page about many different topics. I've got an archive of information on my harddrive that could fill a book!

Therefore I recommend the following:

More effort be put into the articles section with a 500-watt Metal Halide light showing newbies the way. The articles are there are old and don't exactly lend themselves to the diversity of current tank trends. I'm more than willing to donate articles and even edit others for grammar, spelling, and usability. A big sticky in the forums letting the newcomers know that there is tons of info in the articles section would be great. The forums are here to help and share personal issues, but info on what cycling is dillutes the forums in my opinion.

MyFishTank.net...it's your tank also!

 

[dana307]

"I'm so sick of typing the same answer to the same questions over and over and over and over...

So I'm gonna start having some fun! I Hearby warn all newbies... use the search function or face my wrath"

As Andy said I just wish some people would do a search fist. I don't mind answering questions generally but if I see one more pregant livebearer question of the same ilk, I will ---- whatever. Getting a bit bored of the same questions. Yes, I know we don't have to open them, don't have to read them, don't have to answer them but just SEARCH first then ask please.

 

[catfishmike]

yea sure i get tired of replying to newbie qestions but thats why we have all these members if one person doesn't want to respond another will.and i try to make sure that no question goes unanwserd but i can't respont to them all nor can i give an appropirate anwser to all the questions asked here.i have been working on some faqs and articles but i need to refine them quite a bit before they are ready for the public.in the meantime everyone share and share alike.when you help a newbie you help the whole hobby.more people are turned away each year from lack of good knowledge and advice.even good books can be confusing at times.

 

[Jawz]

ok i quickly skimmed through this and dont know how many directions its branched off to but here is my experience both before and now that i am an employee at a good petsmart.

ok before when i was a customer, if i want something i am gonna get it. Hell i wanted an oscar for my 10 gallon tank and they said no. Came back 3 hours later said i had a 50 gallon tank and they gave it to me. So yeh that was one time and ive done it before when i wasnt educated or nothin but i was simply wow look at that evil fish i want him.

ok flash 6 years later and here i am today working for petsmart, makin $7.46 an hour, Canadain funds if it makes a difference. So thats pretty good pay. At our store we educate as much as we can afford to within our limits. Like i have to clean 15 tanks, scrubs and gravel vacuum, help customers at the same time and start 2 hours before closing to get everything done. Specialty Associates such as myself are in charge of fish, birds, reptiles, and small animals. So its very hectic. When it comes to fish sales, we sell the fish for its tank it would be suited for. Like we'd sell a goldfish for a 10 gallon tank if its a couple inches long. We wont mix goldfish with other fish, cichlids and that and the basics. Then theres people we want, the pickers and choosers where they come in tell u what they want and leave. Sorry but those are the best ones to have. Well ive run outta steam on that topic

Over to the newbie questions thing, yeh i also found that to be extremely agitating, but i got over it so ppl dont cry over it. If u want to help them help others cuz ur jsut helping yourself in reality. More newbies get it right, more the fish popularity grows and more selection for us. I dont reply to every post but times ill wip through this board giving my best ideas and doing all the searching for others, at the end maybe ill put a little note to encourage a search as well but im not gonna complain for an extra 2 min of my time to help those in need.

 

[Flex26]

I certainly see why it is aggravating to answer the same questions over and over again. Fortunately, it's not the same people asking the same questions (or at least I haven't noticed that). I think a lot of newbie's (like myself) come here to get advice in layman's terms. I did research on the cycle and whatnot. But I still had questions. And they probably sounded like the same silly question as someone answered the week before. But the veterans here answered without any griping. (Which I greatly appreciated!! )

I think the problem is that some people aren't sure what questions to ask or what it is that they are looking for. Especially when the questions are a little more specific. So doing a search on exploding cories isn't exactly an easy task.

The way I see it, everyone here is more than willing to answer questions....Even the most repetitive questions. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here.

Just remember that the newbies asking the questions really do appreciate your help and patience. So, please be kind....

 

[prhelp]

Hear hear, Anike! Terrific post and extremely well-said. Perhaps Scrumpy would like to devote some time to helping with the FAQ (one of my threads once led to a discussion of the same sort of thing).

Colesea, make a decision, okay? There have either been "so many times that (you) simply 'bagged the fish' just to get a hostile customer out of the store and off "your" back -- OR, "nothing beats working with the set-ups these places have, tinkering with the toys, and ordering exotic species all on someone else's budget."

It's one or the other, Colesea, and as far as your post goes, you'd rather work in the LFS but still deal with the ignorants, and still sell them fish you know they will kill.

If that is your choice, then don't bitch about the ignorants -- after all, you chose to work there. And while you're at it, don't bother feeling sorry for the fish, either -- you're the one selling them

Customer service is admittedly tough. I deliberately minimized my customer service jobs when I was younger, because customers ARE generally rude and uninformed. I delivered newspapers, made bread in the early morning hours, and that's about it. So there are other options for feeding oneself.

Just don't whine and pine about customers while you draw your paycheck from them (because, truly, you get paid by your customers). You're either on one side of the fence or the other -- there are choices to be made.

So pick one.

 

[sugarbear001]

I just want to thank the others who have read my posts and have answered.... some questions can be asked in many diffrent ways and im sure that one or two of my posts were very similar in drift but I only posted after I looked throught the other posts and still didnt quite understand. many KUDOS to all of you who are kind and understanding to all of us "NEWBIES"

 

[Scrumpy]

Originally posted by prhelp
Perhaps Scrumpy would like to devote some time to helping with the FAQ

I'd be happy to help in any way I could...though I don't pretend to be any kind of expert. I'm still learning too.
I know a lot about some areas...but virtually nothing about others.
I know I'm also more patient and fish friendly than some users...for example I believe strongly in fishless cycling and think it's cruel to chuck a load of fish in the tank and let them ride the rollercoaster of ammonia and nitrite spikes. Other people disagree. There's room for both opinions....but for me, no room for bad advice.
This thread has gone off at a bit of a tangent (as they do) and I think people have got the idea I don't like people asking questions. On the contrary....I answer wherever I think I have something helpful to say and would encourage everyone to post their questions.
My grumble was about people giving out factually incorrect information...and there are a few on these boards who write utter rubbish. I don't like seeing newbies being given duff advice.....but at the same time I recognise there are subjects in fishkeeping where there's no clear cut right or wrong.
I think a decent FAQ would be helpful especially on subjects like cycling and algae/eaters that come up a lot.
It would help if errors were put right too...like the picture of the CAE in the freshwater profile for a SAE. So many people thing they're poor algae eaters because they have the wrong fish altogether!
I too would like people to use the search function..but on the whole I realise that people using these boards need a quick friendly answer. Also I realise that not everyone is au fait with vB and it's a huge achievement for the computer illiterate to find the board at all...let alone fathom out how to use it.
Although I read and read before starting my fishtank...I still had questions to ask. Sometimes all the swotting in the world won't help especially if you're not confident...and that's where boards like this come into their own.
As for lfs staff. I've come across great ones, and useless ones. At the end of the day they can only advise people...and a customer determind to do something stupid will always do it. I don't think lfs staff can do any more than tell the customer the facts and let them make up their own mind.
I wouldn't condemn them for selling some idiot half a dozen goldfish for a small bowl, but I'd like to see them try to explain why it's a bad idea and that the fish will probably die before taking the money.

 

[uncutbulldog]

If you see someone post something wrong, all you have to do is correct the person in the post and explain why. By doing this you are helping two people at once. Don't keep your frustrations in and commit suicide over it. LMAO.

 

[HanshaSuro]

I've gotta come down on this issue on the side of tolerance. If people are putting out incorrect advice in a thread, I would doubt it was with malicious intent. The only antidote for misinformation is constructive correction.

When it comes to repetitive newbie posting, if what you're upset about takes place in the Beginner Information/Questions board, I can't possibly see how you can complain. If you have no interest in the types of questions beginners ask, don't visit the beginner board. Sure, most beginner questions could be answered by reading one of the articles on the site, or searching through old threads. However, if a someone wants to take the time to type out their question and wait for a personal response to it, who can say that it is a waste? If you don't have the patience to respond, don't. Someone else might.

After all, forums are supposed to be a place for discussion. What type of discussion is worthwhile to you is a personal choice. Let's encourage that kind of freedom.

 

[Leopardess]

Well said, Hansha*celebrate