Should i quit or would you make a diffrent decision

[kipreefer]

Well i know i will get it in the butt of this one but here it goes. I work at a Petco and i work in the aquatics department. Well I am the only one that knows a thing about salt in my work. What really makes me angry is that the Assi. manager and Aquatics Specialist( this guy only knows about fresh it just he works full time)almost fight over what type of fish to order. they dont even alow me to order them even though i am the one taking care of them. For example i have stressed my concern many times to not order scooter blennys and mandrins. Which i have had the repeated answer "they sell". Another example today i go into work and salt comes on thursday so i was excited to work. I get the order form fedx and i have four boxes worth of fish. Now in the store i only have 120 gallons worth of water to work with. I ended up getting
3 yellow tangs
1 scopas
2 sailfins
1 keyhole angel
1 half black angel
1 Pacasso and undulated trigger
12 clarkii
6 saddle backs
3 scooters
1 mandrin
12 3 striped dfamsels
12 blue damsels
2 cleaner wrasses
1 arc eye
1 spotted hawkfish
1 6 line wrasse
1 scissor tail goby (really cool)
And there was more.

CAn you say overstocked i dont even want to see how they are tommorow. Teh only reason i dont want to leave is becasue all the fish that will be killed if i dont. What do you guys think i should do.


Also a good question? is anyone familiar iwth the fighting conch. I bought 2 today and the LFS guy said they are sand siffters and they grow to about 4 inches. Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

I would stay. Learn all you can and try to make a difference. What you need to do is start keeping a log of all the fish that have died. Once you can translate the dead fish into a dollar amount you'll have some ammunition to go to your boss with. Keep records of how many of a particular species has died versus how many have sold. Show the boss that over the course of the month you bought 10 tangs sold 3 and had 7 die, if he's any kind of a business man he'll pay attention. Talk people out of buying stuff, hide the mandarins and blennys don't let them turn them into cash. The chains only talk and understand numbers so get them....

 

[new reefer in michigan]

I argee with rover. You should stay. You seem to really enjoy your job. Don't let a couple of idiots make you quit. Have you talked to your manager about these concerns? Maybe you should. Good Luck

 

[Anonymous]

Stay.

We need all the help we can get in large pet stores.

When you go talk to the manager, make sure your concerns are voiced it a way the STORE will understand And benefit.
for example:
Tell them that if they continue to overstock the tanks, the fish will get sick, and who wants to buy a sick fish?
Try to get people to work there that have a clue. (People who will understand you cant keep 3 tangs in a 10 gal. )
Tell them that by being honest with the customers, the customers _will_ be return shoppers.

Don't go in there firing your mouth off saying you are right and they are wrong. You will lose.

Just my 2c

B

 

[thinhvu]

Relax! Then do what ever you have to do. They will see that you are knowledgable of salt.

 

[HARRISON]

I would say if you like it stay, but if you have a passion for fish find a store that takes care of the animals. It will cause you less heartache in the long run. I know stores have a tough time finding people that know anything and that care about the livestock. I wouldn't be afraid to go to the manager and let him know whats going on. The others are right, have your case work ready to show the numbers... If it all fails stick to your gut feeling and never let up, you will have a future of being a grumpy ass old fart that doesn't want to wait on anyone

Harrison

 

[reefaquariumsecrets]

I definately agree. Years back I used to run a large salt water specialty store and when I took over turned the numbers around from serious loss in profits from salt water fish deaths which the bosses loved simply by getting my deads way down. Once they saw the profit they not only agreed to upgrade the system but they let me order what ever I liked as long as the numbers where good of course! Not only was it very rewarding to save so many fish but they actually lived when they got in the hobbyist tanks and that was just as rewarding. Good luck

 

[Mouse]

Go with Rover. Show this guy to be the complete jackass he is, and then laugh in his face and brand him a philistaine and a neanderthol, and tell him how Karma will come back ten fold and whup his ass.

 

[Anonymous]

i think Rover hit the nail on the head. but in light of what you say about how the other 2 guys
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

almost fight over what type of fish to order

you may want to keep a low profile of the 'death vs. sales log'. if they know little to nothing about salt, chances are they really want to see the pretty fishes. that coupled with any insecurities that your facts may make their previous choices look bad and you could be setting yourself up for some serious on the job bad politics.

just my 2cents. be discreet then go over their heads

 

[Katspaw]

I have to agree with rover and gator here also, But I would put the dead fish on ice. Then hand the manager all the fish in one shot. Tell him this is from running the saltwater section the wrong way. Most LFS only wants to make money, they don't really care what happens to the livestock, as long as they are making a profit.

Tracey

 

[albee1947]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Most LFS only wants to make money, they don't really care what happens to the livestock, as long as they are making a profit.

.

Lets see No profit, No rent money, No wages, No store.

I still agree, stay and try to make a difference. If this does not work then find a new job, If you can't than deceide what is more important, Paying your bills or standing by your beliefs.

 

[jethro]

If you know you can get a better job than you already have after quitting, go ahead and quit.

Better yet, start your own fish store and put it accross the street from the one you work at.

 

[Gatortailale1]

Sounds like you buy your salt fish stuff at a LFS and not petco where you work. Talk to the LFS and see if he has the cash and work for you to work there. Then you can expand the store and kick petco's butt and put their salt sales out of business.

If you stay, do what rover said and document deaths and if possible, even ones that die when peeps take home and come back and complain that it died, this may help get message out that they should not stock fish that die, either in store or in peeps homes.

 

[kipreefer]

Well i am still there. the manager actually apoligized about ordering so much. The reason i dont want to leave is that i have a few costumers that come in becasue of me. I may just have to tell themi may be moven

. I think i am going ot wait till after christmas(since i need the money now) and may make other employment plans. Thanks for the responses though i think i will start keeping that file on what dies and what doesnt, then i will have hard facts. THANKS ALOT

 

[Anonymous]

No problem. I kind of like the keeping them on ice idea. Reminds me of the end of Miracle on 34 street when they dump the mail on the judge....

 

[Anonymous]

Good answer Rover.

 

[Ben B.]

I just want to say that as a former Petco aquatics associate, I know what you're going through. When I was working in LFSs (in another life, it seems), Petco was my first job in the industry. I went there because when you don't have experience, very few hardcore saltwater stores want you. I did the best I could, read everything I could get my hands on and when I was able to go to a better LFS, left. Along the way I developed a great resentment for the management types, retail lackeys and wanna-be fish people that you meet in a chain store like Petco. I banged my head against the same wall that you did, and I can only tell you to take it for what it is: a decent short-term job, a place to help other aquarists and give back as a hobbyist, and perhaps (if you're lucky), a place to learn. You will never change the profit-first attitude that exists in a chain like Petco because it comes from corporate on down. You will never be able to explain aquarium issues to management in a way that's meaningful to them because Petco isn't a fish store; they're a chain store that happens to sell fish, and they're run by retail people, not fish people. If you really love the animals and the customers, stay in the hobby. God knows, we need more people who feel the way you do in all LFSs, not just Petco. But my advice is: when you are able, find a more serious fish store where the employees AND managers are hobbyists (in my view, THE most important factor in what makes a good LFS). You may find that many of the same moral issues crop up. I hope you don't. But at least you'll be in a position where you can learn from your environment instead of single-handedly trying to change that environment (an impossible task). Anyway, best of luck. Sorry to be so long winded, but I just had to get this out of my system

Ben

 

[reefal]

Hi guys.. hi there... stay with some readiness to leave if things get ugly or better offers come up... so what happened to the order??
do you get in trouble for the deaths?
Thanks
Alex

 

[aquaguy]

Hi kep.

I just want to tell you something that could help. If you love what you do and you want to still doing it try to find a serious job. I mean, if you love fish; how you can work at Petco? they are killing fish every single day.... are not they? In my local Petco I can tell: they kill more fish than they sell! You know better than me. Of course you are overstocked... how many fish did you lose this last week? try to find a job where you can explode all that knowledge. You can find a better job. just keep doing what you want to do and every single step you is going to be a step forward.

Sorry english is not my mother tongue but i'm trying to do my best. good luck.

 

[Ralph1]

[ December 02, 2001: Message edited by: Ralph ]</p>