The Puffer Forum

Myaj wrote:I was in a local, privately owned store a few years back, while they had a rep from one of the companies in "training" the new hires.

The rep was actually telling them that they send in secret shoppers, and if they don't try to sell the products, their pay will be docked and it will go on their record.. to many times and they lose their job. I can't remember the company that this was, but it was a popular one and I know they were pushing perfectly worthless products that no fishkeeper that knows anything would have any use for.

So its not just the owners of the stores, its the "big companies" pushing for these kinds of sales too, even to the point of threatening employees!

That's disgusting. Everywhere you go some corporate lackey is cracking the "sell more stuff/make more money!" whip at you. And then sending in spies on top of it...sheesh. There are ways to increase your sales a little without having to resort to strongarm techniques - such as by simply asking if they have plenty of food and dechlorinator, or saying something like, "Have you ever tried giving your fish bloodworms or mysis shrimp?". Half the time they remember that they did in fact need some other stuff, and you did them a favor by saving them a trip back. What really keeps people coming back though, imho, is when you tell them they *don't* need this or that product they picked up, or that no, you can't put these fish together no matter how much you want to take them both home - they learn to trust you, and they become repeat customers which is what we want.