Freshwater

The importance of great service
When deciding on the two best local dealers, see whether the employees are
friendly and offer good advice. Do the clerks make every attempt to help you
out when you come in, or do they just stand around shooting the breeze?
Do the shop’s workers take a personal interest in your aquarium? Are they
willing to go out of their way to make sure that you find exactly what you
need? Are there adequate personnel to provide good service to you even
during the peak hours of the day? If you have to blitz and tackle a clerk to
make him talk, then you need to find another place to shop. A reputable and
caring owner who takes pride in her business and in providing customer satisfaction
makes sure that her shop is well staffed with knowledgeable and
caring employees.
Employees who stand around and do nothing generally do not have an interest
in their employer’s business, and probably don’t have an interest in
making sure that you get the stuff for your aquarium, either. (Hopefully you
won’t see those clerks the next time you visit.)
The store’s appearance
Chapter 9: Purchasing Your Fish
When you go to an aquarium shop (even if you’re checking out a new one
that just opened up in the neighborhood), carefully inspect all the display
tanks for obvious signs of dealer dedication or apathy. If the place looks like
the owner couldn’t care less about how the tanks look, he probably cares just
as little about the rest of his business, including the fish. A visual inspection
can tell you quite a bit about a shop’s habits. As you look around the shop,
check for clues that distinguish a good dealer from an uncaring one.
The tanks
Quality retailers understand that the overall condition of their shop makes a
big difference as far as customers’ first impressions are concerned.
The physical condition of the tanks is a good indication of how well the fish
are taken care of on a daily basis. Ask yourself these questions:
Are the tanks free of excess algae or do they resemble the Florida
swamps?
Are the proper mixtures of compatible species displayed in the tanks or
does it appear that a bunch of fish have been thrown in together to save
space?
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