Thanks joitoy,
WARNING: NCIAC (and I) am serious about this effort so here is a LONG reply to your simple question
.
Here's a
post from sully (who is spearheading our efforts) at the NCIAC web forum detailing the basic philosophy we are applying to retailers--one step at a time. Feel free to lurk the forum or register and add your 2 cents if you like.
NCIAC.net has one simple goal. Encourage and work with retailers so that a baseline of information is presented to consumers permitting the practice of Responsible Husbandry.
That baseline of information will not be shared if the knowledge is in the head of a guy or gal that is there sometimes and not others. Not going happen when hiring parameters are left to independent franchisees. Not going to do it with employee turn-over. Only way to do it is standardized information supplied by the corporate office to the store locations. It's really a simple concept. Really easy to implement. And, if the retailer thinks through the process surprisingly inexpensive.
After that training of the store employees is an extra. . . it is a sequence of challenges, steps and events. I am not smart enough to try to get them all done at the same time. I don't think the retailers will perceive it as very friendly either if an incredibly long list of concerns and demands were presented.
It is easier to take it one step at a time. Don't target just one retailer. Just target one basic element. That way we can build an amicable, open, and cooperative relationship with the companies. I don't think of NCIAC.net as an effort to damn retailers--or even unfairly criticize them. Rather it is a simple process of promoting an understanding that because the mass merchandisers have changed the face of the retail fish market they have an obligation to educate new and less experienced fishkeepers. And, the only way to consistently and accurately do that is with consistent and accurate information. Information that gets conveyed regardless of how busy a department is, or hiring and employees issues.
They sell living animals. They have an entirely different set of responsibilities selling livestock than they do tanks, lighting, or other dry goods.
Interestingly though the dry goods come with a lot of excellent information. The nature, chacacteristics and other essential details are always there on that type of stuff. You know what you buy with AqauClear or any number of other filters. The type of media is described, the gallons per hour detailed, energy consumption is there. Just all sorts of information. Look at the back of food containers--you know what you are buying. With lights you have the watts and wavelengths.
I just keep wondering why fish--life forms--should be so very, very different? Name and price. Or name, price and sketchy or erroneous detail. Why should a living fish be different?
...there is an agenda at this point. Accurate POP information detailing basic care requirements is the primary element of that agenda. I'll listen to all the reasons why it does not exist. Some of them will even seem to make sense in a convoluted way. I won't accept them as anything more than an excuse. New and less knowledgeable fishkeepers need the information. If it isn't provided I can only think that it is because a retailer does not accept basic responsibilities. Our job is to get them to accept and embrace those responsibilities.
I'll gladly discuss it openly on a board. Don't need e.mails--except to retailers by hobbyists. But, if the discussion is about why mass merchandisers don't need to provide information--i've already commented on why I think they do. That won't change. And, as time goes on it will get to regional retailers as well. Then local chains. And in the interim the lfs's will find that we will provide easy to use signage to them--at a nominal cost. A cost that will permit this effort to be self funding. And, a cost that will enable NCIAC.net to make contributions to recognized Non-Profits to assist in species conservation, species identification and cataloging, and species tracking.
NCIAC.net will go through the list of retailers--top to bottom. It will consistently discuss the need for signage. And those elements to be contained on signage. No mass merchandiser or large retailer will be exempt because of their philosophy. The philosophies may be great--the implementation of them however is what caused this effort to come about. I guess I got tired of trying to help people cure sick fish one person at a time. There is a root to the problem. Time to go to the root.
This isn't to say fishkeepers don't have responsibilities. They do. Accurate information and education will help them understand those responsibilities better. It is a two headed monster. But, if the one side is approached there is a better chance at solving the hobbyist side.
PetSmart has been working with NCIAC in a cooperative and concerned manner. They took our concerns to heart and are making changes.
Here is the last update from sully in his conversations with the PetSmart veterinarian with whom he had been working, Nick Saint Erne DVM. He's the quality assurance veterinarian for PetSmart.
That doesn't mean we are 'done' with them. Follow up and continuing letters regarding discrepancies in there retail practice is a very necessary thing. The link to send emails to PetSmart is:
Send letters and e-mails to:
Mr. Kenneth T. Hall
Sr. Vice President, Merchandising
PetSmart, Inc.
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
corpcommunications@ssg.petsmart.com
Since they have worked with NCIAC over the last several months and are in the process of updating their signs, it would be good to let them know that you appreciate the efforts you know are in the works, but point out that apparently poor advice is still being given in individual stores. then lay out your experience in a concerned (but not angry
) manner. If they are planning sign changes alone, it will not be enough. Store employees need to be educated as well. Do they have any plans in the works to address that issue? I'd be interested to know, too.
Currently the NCIAC focus is on PetCo. If you go to a petco and see bad information, or receive bad advice, the link to send them an email is here:
http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_cont ... -_-contact
Keep it friendly, concerned, and positive as much as possible. They are retailers, and are in the business to make money, but since they have said in one of their
replies to another fishkeeper:
Once again, thank you for writing and for the opportunity to share information with you regarding our commitment to animal care. Let me assure you that our PETCO associates care about animals, people who genuinely love animals and who share a passion about animal care and well-being. It's our goal that our associates be as knowledgeable as possible so that they may be a resource to our customers. By doing this we hope that the level of care we give our animals will go beyond the store and into the homes of responsible pet owners.
we should hold them accountable to implement their philosophy in their fish departments, don't you think?
The process of getting their attention has begun and hobbyists are getting the typical corporate 'reassurances' at this point. As they begin to address specific issues raised in the letters they receive and realize that they are getting a LOT of mail expressing hobbyist concerns over specific errors and negative experiences in their stores, they will (we hope) turn the corner as PetSmart did and make positive changes. It can happen, we just have to keep at them and not allow their 'pat' responses to be acceptable. Questions, we need to keep questioning their answers and giving them feedback with reliable resources for why what they suggest is wrong. We have that information and experience and they need to know it.
If you made it through this tome, thank you! And thanks for any efforts you care to take the time to make. We appreciate it, and the hobby in general will benefit from it, too.
so glad I listened to my instinct and didn't buy that cute little guy.
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
