Fish shop rules

Andyandsue

Ok. The fishkeeper, and kid in me, says THAT SUCKS! And it does.

BUT, being an adult with children I say "what a great rule!" You and Musho may be well-versed in fish better than most 30 year olds, but you have to understand that most 13 or 14 year olds are not. Even if the store knows you, it can result in unwanted fish in a home and ultimately returns, or grief from parents, at the store. I consider my fish my pets, and I would never expect a shelter to let a minor come in and adopt a dog or a cat without a parent who is legally responsible for the pet.

So that said, I know it's hard and it does suck, but try to see it from that perspective. Can one of your parents (or even a friend's parent or Aunt/Uncle, etc) go with you when you plan on buying your next fish? They probably won't question you one bit with any adult with you.

The Dude

if the store wont take a parental consent note then they are nuts, once a lfs gets to know you, especially the mom and pop run places, the rules should not apply. ive gotten free fish, tons of advice, and i dont need to buy water tests because they tell me i can bring a water sample in any time to be tested! this third one i believe to be a method of bringing me in again and again and when its a knowledgable older husband and wife who are always pleasent and helpful, why wouldnt i keep coming back?

musho3210

well most kids arent i can say but all the better reason to test the knowledge of the shoppers, i know more about fish than the staff at all the big name places (petco, petsmart).

At my good lfs (pricey equipment though....) theyve asked questions since they care about there fish, they kept asking questions to test me and i answered them correctly, they were so surprised they suggested in 2 years i should apply for a job there. That is a way of testing the customers, by asking them questions. I went to petsmart once trying to buy some ghost shrimp, the person looked at me and said, why do people buy ghost shrimp, i told her why and she seemed very surprised, this was more of me testing them. I dont like petsmart at all anyway.....

Andyandsue

While all of that is true... I know you know more than the average kid and they know that you know more than the average kid- They don't know that your parents said it was ok to get another fish, and ultimately it's their house and what goes in it in their responsibility so they get to say yes or no.

I'm sure that is where that store that won't sell to kids is coming from.

A parental form can be easily forged, so I'm sure the note idea isn't going to fly. I was a kid once, albeit a long time ago.

fs49864

As with any store or place if they have a policy you do not like don't buy from the store.

If it's the only good store in your area your going to have to decide how much this issue bothers you.

As for buying a product for pH I don't see why you couldn't buy that.

Andyandsue

I'm sure they think it's just not safe to sell chemicals in general to kids.

Donut

I'm sure that someone, somewhere, at sometime found a way to get high off of it. Same reason you have to show an ID for buying fuel injector cleaner.

Like he said, if you don't like the rule boycott. "Life's tough, Get a helmet."

musho3210

well if your young, and you dont like the rule, you cant do anything about it,

Andyandsue

Whether you're young or not, sometimes you can't do a thing about whatever it is that you don't like. A boycott is being proactive. So whatever the issue, that is doing something.

GalaxyGirl

I have never had this problem, given that my mom is always present at the store with me, but still I gave them my own money and such. I was at my lfs the other day, my mom and the manager were talking, my mom told her she wouldnt let me get fish until I did all the research, and I was complimented that im always right on the ball with the fish when I come in.

But I can see this rule, as people say kids just buy Goldfish and dump it in a bowl. They dont care of it either, and the parents probaly dont want to. It sucks, but build yourself up with a store and bring in a parent and you wont have any problems :)