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When I broke my ankle this winter I had to drop all my classes that were prerequisites for next semester. So since I can't take any classes this fall I decided to try to get a job at the BEST lfs in the world.

A couple weeks ago I talked with the manager and he said that he was looking for someone to stay on and work in the fall. I went back today with an application, talked with him for about half an hour and he scheduled me in for next week!

The best part is that he told me to treat every costomer that walks in like they are my best friend, never to try to upsell a costomer(unless they want all the gadgets), and to try to only sell fish that will do well in the costomer's tank/conditions. I love this place!

So if any of you have any advice/experiences to share about working at an lfs, I'd love to hear about it. I'm really excited(if you cant tell ) and I think I'll learn even more about the hobby.

matt

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

OH Congratulations on the job

I haven't ever worked at the lfs but it would be funor so i think

Key thing, make sure that you are patient, and enjoy yourself...by the way hint of advice get some comfy shoes that are in their dress code...if your feet get tired the rest of you will be dying

heidi


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

If only I was old enough to get a job like that *sigh*

Awesome. I've been working at my LFS for over a year now, and I still enjoy it.

But one thing...

he told me to treat every costomer that walks in like they are my best friend

You'll find that utterly impossible soon enough. Some customers will not listen to your advice, no matter what you say. I always have to deal with people who absolutely insist on keeping goldfish (and sometimes even koi) in a bowl. I simply won't sell them the fish. Most of the time they get angry and say they'll just go to our biggest competitor to buy a goldfish for their bowl (and our biggest competitor just happens to be the kind of place that sells at least ten kinds of dyed fish and would recommend a pacu for a five gallon), but that's how life goes.

Just remember, and I'm sure you probably hear this a lot, don't give in to customers' demands if you know they'll just end up with a disaster in their hands and don't pretend to know anything that you don't (ask for advice from one of the other employees or use a book if need be).

Congrats on the new job.




Last edited by Cory Addict at 06-Jul-2005 23:04

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Unfortunately, Cory is right. Not every customer wants to be your best friend. They want a solution to why their 30 fish just died in a ten gallon tank they just set up about 2 days ago.

Be prepaired for rude customers, and ALWAYS be honest with them. If you don't know an answer, be honest about it. 90% of the time, customers will prefer that you are honest with them instead of making things up. The other 10%, however, will get mad that you can't tell them what kind of fish they have with other their poor description.

Just be patient. I luckily had a manager that would kick people out of the store if need be. If someone is working you over, and being totally rude, go talk to a manager. They should get you out of a pickle.

Good luck with your new job, though. They can be loads of fun.

~Jorge

AWWWWWW matty!!!! damn you lol!!!!

I've been trying to get a job in any of my lfs but they are never hiring!! tis my dream job!! congratulations! i'm sure u'll do very well....

Congrats! I actually applied there but as I was leaving for the summer (and forever, since transferred away from UB) in two months, it seemed pointless for them to train me/me to put in the time.

For those who haven't been:
BEST. STORE. EVER.

Keep me up to date on shellie stock, eh?

Last edited by LittleMousling at 07-Jul-2005 01:10

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

cool. got a link?

Congratulations for your new job, really interesting......


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I personally detest most of my customers.

I guess I should've given more context....

I don't think he actually wants me to be best friends with them, just try to help them out as best as possible. I like that kind of business ethic - while I was there the manager told a guy that he would order him a whole pressurized CO2 setup and put it together for the guy. I don't think a lot of places would be willing to do something like that.

As far as hating costomers goes - I've worked at plenty of other businesses and know that a lot of people can be arses, but I think I'll enjoy the job for the experience with just about every fish in the hobby.

LM - will do

Tryst - Unfortunately they don't have a website, but they don't really need one. They are pretty reputable in the area.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients