Business hours

[curlyq]

Since it happened to me tonight I'm guessing I'm not the first, but I accidentally walked in your store when you were apparently closed. I do not shop here in MN frequently enough to know your hours. Your sign of your hours on your door made no differentiation of "summer" or "winter" hours so it was a bit ambiguous. That combined with an unlocked door made me think you were still open. You might want to make your sign a bit more clear (I.e. Only put one "hours" sign up and just change it when the time of year calls for said change). I'll be honest, I was a bit put off by the manner of rejection for an honest and easily repeatable mistake for others from the confusing signage.

[hamdogg08]

:beerchug:

[ReefAdvisor]

Who "tossed" you out of the store? Was it the owner?

[hamdogg08]

I edited my last post in an effort to be tactful...BUT!

Mods can delete this if they feel needed:

In my opinion, starting this thread was more of an attempt to try to throw someone under the buss and embarrass them than it was an effort to solve a problem.

Typically, you can e-mail the owner/manager of a business with problems. They might even give you an explanation like "DHL, FedEx, & UPS are dropping off livestock shipments throughout the day so we leave the door open for them"
Their e-mail is was pretty easy to find on their website: manager@somethingfishy.info

Fish store owners usually aren't cutthroat business men, they're normal dudes who love reefing and want a job where they can do what they love.:fritz: I don't really think accidentally walking in while the store's closed is that big of a deal...

[Chad Vossen]

I was a bit put off by the manner of rejection for an honest and easily repeatable mistake for others from the confusing signage.

having worked in fish stores for 5 years now, If you have a customer in the store, your open. also helps to have an Open/Closed sign right on the door that's very clear.

If I had someone walk in after we had already closed, I'd explain we're closed, and apologize for the mix-up. If the registers were still open, we'd help them find what they need quickly and thank them for the business.

the word rejection, I get the idea they said We're closed, get out.

[wkjames]

I edited my last post in an effort to be tactful...BUT!

Mods can delete this if they feel needed:

In my opinion, starting this thread was more of an attempt to try to throw someone under the buss and embarrass them than it was an effort to solve a problem.

Typically, you can e-mail the owner/manager of a business with problems. They might even give you an explanation like "DHL, FedEx, & UPS are dropping off livestock shipments throughout the day so we leave the door open for them"
Their e-mail is was pretty easy to find on their website: manager@somethingfishy.info

Fish store owners usually aren't cutthroat business men, they're normal dudes who love reefing and want a job where they can do what they love.:fritz: I don't really think accidentally walking in while the store's closed is that big of a deal...

Having read the post, I think you are presuming intent. I read it and took it at face value. As written, I think the post is reasonable.

[curlyq]

Who "tossed" you out of the store? Was it the owner?
I have no idea who told us to leave. They did not identify themselves and as I said, I do not shop the stores enough to know anyone specifically.


I edited my last post in an effort to be tactful...BUT!

Mods can delete this if they feel needed:

In my opinion, starting this thread was more of an attempt to try to throw someone under the buss and embarrass them than it was an effort to solve a problem.

Typically, you can e-mail the owner/manager of a business with problems. They might even give you an explanation like "DHL, FedEx, & UPS are dropping off livestock shipments throughout the day so we leave the door open for them"
Their e-mail is was pretty easy to find on their website: manager@somethingfishy.info

Fish store owners usually aren't cutthroat business men, they're normal dudes who love reefing and want a job where they can do what they love.:fritz: I don't really think accidentally walking in while the store's closed is that big of a deal...
First off, this post was in no way meant to "throw someone under the bus", but merely provide a little feedback on what I saw as an ambiguous sign and lack of customer service. Public accountability and feedback doesn't always have to be positive, and I thought others might like to hear of my experience to hopefully tell me how much of a fluke this hopefully was.

I agree there are many reasons for having the door open but not in business, but at 8:30 PM I doubt it's UPS. If this is the case, it would have been much better customer service to tell me than rudely dismiss us from the store.

Accidentally walking into a store isn't a big deal, the way which it was handled I felt could have been different for all with some minor improvements.


having worked in fish stores for 5 years now, If you have a customer in the store, your open. also helps to have an Open/Closed sign right on the door that's very clear.

If I had someone walk in after we had already closed, I'd explain we're closed, and apologize for the mix-up. If the registers were still open, we'd help them find what they need quickly and thank them for the business.
That's what I would assume and have encountered before.


the word rejection, I get the idea they said We're closed, get out.
Yup.

[dougers31]

In my opinion, starting this thread was more of an attempt to try to throw someone under the buss and embarrass them than it was an effort to solve a problem.

I kinda agree with this post..... But, IF this customer was treated poorly then maybe they deserve to be called out.

[DamselDebbie]

Having owned retail stores in different locations, this has happened to me many times. I have always treated the customer with respect and gave them the attention they deserved to possibly obtain the sale that I, as a business owner, am always looking for. I considered it my fault that I forgot to have the door locked and looked upon it as an opportunity to meet some new people and spread the word. I would never put the "fault" on the customer and potentially tarnish my reputation. You might have just encountered an employee having a bad day. I guess I would give them the benefit of another visit. jmo.

[liono]

From my experience the staff at something fishy were always nice and friendly. Always asked if i needed help. Not sure what transpired because we were not there except Curly.

However In business if you want to succeed the motto is: the customer is always right!!!

Good thing, I'll check the hours before I enter any business as well from now on. Usually if i see the lights on, i grabbed the door, if its open i enter and assume they are open. Honestly, Who checks the store hours anyways, you only check when the door is locked..

I had an experience at pet store (i will not name in case offends some people who work there),
Where i was looking at and grabbing supplements/food for my tank. An employee walks up and rudely grabs the items out of my hand, then she said "it will be waiting for you at the check out counter". This was the last time i visited that store. In this case, i doubt the actual owners were bad, it was their disgruntle employee who was having a bad day (it's not my fault you have personal issues i'm here to shop). Regardless, it was uncalled for and they lost a frequent customer.

If i was curly i would call up the actual owner and explain it to him directly about the experience. Sometimes owners do not know how their employees carry themselves when they are not around.

[reeffamily]

there is a reason some retail stores struggle and don't get a positive repore with customers. i think we all know which ones never get recommended by people which answers why this customers was sent out the door.

[mrbill]

We were in the retail business for 37 years. If the door wasn't locked we were open for business. If the door was locked and someone knocked on the door we would open unless we absolutely had to be somewhere else. We made a lot of good repeat customers because we were willing to help them out that one time.

[eswebster]

IMO if a customer feels put out enough to post negatively on a forum or talk negatively about a business they were probably treated rudely enough for the business to deserve the discussion about them.

Most people wont waste their time talking about their experience at a store unless it was really bad......

[TriggerFreak]

Sorry we had a key problem and tills were all shut down!! we tried to make it obvious we were closed...lights all shut off and open sign off....i think bringing it to the attention of This website is very disrespectful...you should have definitly email the store not put it on a public forum, to give a blemish to the reputation of the store....

[hypertech]

If it's true, then what is the problem? If it reflects negatively on the store, well tough. It's true. FWIW, I never shopped much at SF because I felt like I was treated rudely by employees several times.

When there is room to improve, a good owner will say thank you for the feedback and figure out how to do better. But, that's just my opinion.

[Jace]

Sorry we had a key problem and tills were all shut down!! we tried to make it obvious we were closed...lights all shut off and open sign off....i think bringing it to the attention of This website is very disrespectful...you should have definitly email the store not put it on a public forum, to give a blemish to the reputation of the store....

There's always 2 side's of the story.
I feel like it was okay for him to say this because He has the Right's too. All feedback isn't always Posotive. Negative Feedback is just as great or even yet Greater then posotive. Because if a store is ran right He should take the advice and run with it. No matter what there's always room for improvement. And I don't think he "blemished" SF's reputation. Or Barely even hurt it. It was an afterhour's inscident....

[noeldokken]

There's always 2 side's of the story.
I feel like it was okay for him to say this because He has the Right's too. All feedback isn't always Posotive. Negative Feedback is just as great or even yet Greater then posotive. Because if a store is ran right He should take the advice and run with it. No matter what there's always room for improvement. And I don't think he "blemished" SF's reputation. Or Barely even hurt it. It was an afterhour's inscident....

I agree with you. It was an honest mistake in which we as humans should take those mistakes, learn from them, improve on them, and move on.

It's not rude to publicly announce (it's the Internet). Unfortunately, from a customers perspective and point-of-view, it's that first experience we take seriously. Yes, it was after hours. Could the customer research hours or call first? Perhaps. It was an honest mistake, thinking it was open (most retail businesses close at 9pm) and inadvertently walking in. Door unlocked = open for business.

The courteous thing to have done was "We apologize, it is after hours." and then explain the situation in a courteous manner. NO need to be snarky. It's not like the door was broken down and then demands were made for business.

But regardless, this post is not an attempt to take away business, but to hold a business accountable and perhaps look for an apology in the issue instead of pointing the finger as what was posted. If I was curlyq, I would have done the same thing--and I have done it many times before.

Does this make me not want to shop at something fishy? nope, I will still go there occassionally. I can't take this experience and assume I will experience the same. However, as a customer, we take things personally and as attacks when situations like this occur.

[Brent]

Hopefully it's a one time bad experience and that is all...
I work in sales, and yes, the customer is always right, even when they are wrong.
Ultimately as a busines you want that customer to come back and buy from you, if you have to go out of your way to please the customer do it, or they will take their business elsewhere. I have had good experiences at SF.
I mainly give my business to SWE because they have a friendly outgoing vibe and jump at the chance to educate fellow reefers of all skill levels. SWE has a clean facility, fair prices, knowledge and know how, and lets just face it, Fritz and Li kick *** in this hobby.
Best of luck to all stores, reefing is a love and a passion.
:beerchug:

[Dalailammy]

Now you should give SF a plug on the SWE sponsor area.

[kcooley]

When i show up in the morning to my work i leave the door unlocked and the lights off. but a customer who wants something will try to open the door and i just ask them to wait while i turn on the lights and then i am pretty much open for business. It does take away from my time to prepare the store for the day but it is better than losing a customer.

[mrbeachbum2]

Now you should give SF a plug on the SWE sponsor area.

You learn from experiences...

[curlyq]

Sorry we had a key problem and tills were all shut down!! we tried to make it obvious we were closed...lights all shut off and open sign off....i think bringing it to the attention of This website is very disrespectful...you should have definitly email the store not put it on a public forum, to give a blemish to the reputation of the store....

If this was actually the case, then why was I rudely told to leave citing a change in store hours from Summer to Winter, and not told the actual cause? A little attitude goes a long ways also, and the rough manner was not appreciated. All I was trying to do was show my 13 year old nephew another fish store. If the tills were a problem, tell us to look around, but sorry we can't purchase anything tonight.

Yes, based on your continued degradatory attitude this definitely was the right way to tell others of the customer service. Up until this point, I have attempted to basically just report what happened in an attempt to provide some feedback to the store, and others, as to my experience. I didn't want to, nor feel it is right, to publicly flame another LFS, but do not attack me for merely telling my LFS experience. If you are truely that upset with my feedback, shape up and don't make it happen again. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar - and I won't be back again.

[wkjames]

Thread closed. Mike can re-open it if he wants, but this has stopped being useful, and has become a back-and-forth kind of post.

[smfishy]

OK READ ALL POST AND IM A BIT TAKEN BACK BY ALL THE COMMENTS

I WENT OUT OF TOWN ON AN EMERGENCY FOR A FUNERAL IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

MY MGR FORGOT HIS KEYS BECAUSE HE NORMALLY HAS THURSDAY OFF

MY EMPLOYEE APPERENTLY STAYED BY DOOR AND KEEP WATCH FOR CUSTOMERS TO INFORM THEM OF THE SITUATION
IN MY OPNION THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED OPEN/ REOPENED UNTIL KEYS WERE GOTTEN. UNFORTUNATLY THE PART OF THE BRAIN FOR REASON IS NOT IN ALL EMPLYEES AND MY EMPLOYEE MADE A MISTAKE WHICH I APOLOGISE FOR.

PLEASE MAKE CONTACT WITH ME VIA STORE EMAIL AND I WILL MAKE IT RIGHT FOR YOU NEXT TIME YOUR IN TOWN.

PLEASE BE ADVISED HOWEVER - LIFE IS NEVER FAIR ALWAYS AND IT IS BEST TO HAVE A THICK SKIN IN ALL MATTERS - RELATED ESPECIALLY IN A HOBBY AS IN FISH KEEPING - MOST PEOPLE NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO EVEN DO THIS HOBBY AROUND THE WORLD -
AND BELEIVE ME I HAVE EXPERIENCE IT IN THAT AREA!

PLEASE AGAIN ACCEPT MY APOLOGY FOR THIS EVENT AND KNOW THE EMPLOYEE WILL BE TERMINATED PERIOD.


THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS ALL WHO POSTED.

MIKE - OWNER/ OPERATOR/ CARPET SWEEPER/ GARBAGE HAULER/ LAWNMOWER/ SERVICE GUY/ SALES/ ACCTS RECIEVABLE-PAYABLE/MARKETING SPECIALIST/ COMPALINT DEPT/ LEGAL DEPT/ HR/ ACRYLIC BUILDER/ FABRICATOR/ ARMY SOLDIER/ DEFENDER OF LIBERTY SUCH AS FREE SPEECH!

[smfishy]

I have opened the thread for discussion....

[hypertech]

Mike,

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I am glad that you have addressed the issue. Hopefully, if the OP stops in again, he will have a more positive experience.

Matt

[curlyq]

Mike-
First, my sincerest condolences on your loss. My intentions were not to cause you any more angst. I also know how hard it is to find jobs, and if you must let the employee go, do so not only on account of this current situation. I am glad you stepped up to say something about this issue - as I did not know who I dealt with. Knowing that management also frowns upon turning away potential customers and sees this as an issue wipes the slate clean in my mind. Next time I'm in town I'll try to stop by and check out your store.

Ryan

[smfishy]

Thanks for your understanding.

please stop by and ask for me

mike