A Beat Up Stand

So at work we have these three display tanks on the floor.

A 36 gallon filled with Tropical Community fish.

A 60 gallon filled with Semi Aggressive Fish.

And a 56 Gallon filled with Goldfish. 

The main issue with these tanks....

Is that they're old. 

Old enough that the store keeps threatening to take them down every year.....and haven't yet.

Old enough that we no longer carry the 56 gallon for sale within the store.

Old enough that the stand holding the 60 gallon tank is no longer the same stand we sell with the 60 gallon tanks on the shelf.

Which is where the customer comes in.

There was a customer who came into the store today who really liked the stand that our 60 gallon display tank was sitting on.

The main reason?

She liked the handles on them. They made the piece look more antique.

So she asked if we still sold that tank.

Which we didn't.

I don't even know if we sold it when I started here....I think the stand was already different when I started.

In any case I told her that we did not, because the stands we sold w/ the 60 had changed in design.

So she was like "Well, why not sell me this one then?" Gesturing to the old. beat up, stand that held our display tank. 

Admittedly.

Overall the stand is in fine condition. The corners are a little beat up, but the doors still work and nothing's broken on it.

She was even like "Well I can just paint over those!" When I pointed out that the stand wasn't in perfect condition. 

*exhales*

It was a struggle...to give a good reason to not sell it to her.

But mostly the main reason why I refused....(besides the fact she wasn't planning on buying a tank today anyways, wanting to wait to see what went on sale on Black Friday) 

Is the fact that she was ignoring the bigger picture.

She was ignoring the fact that we have a functioning 60 gallon tank, full of water, fish, decorations, etc sitting on top of that stand.

So if I were to sell her the stand.

I would need to move the tank.

And you can't move a 60 gallon tank full of water.

No. You have to empty out most of the water from the tank.

You have to unplug all the heaters, filters, lights.

You have to have a couple of strong guys lift up the tank off the stand, we could then get the stand to you. Before grabbing a different stand so we could put the 60 gallon tank back in its spot, refill it with water, plug everything in and hope and pray that the trauma of that movement wouldn't send the fish into shock. 

And that's hoping that the stand is still in good condition. I mean, who knows what sort of water damage is lurking underneath the tank?

She could see the stand and decide "You know what? Nevermind. I can just take the hardware off a new stand and get the exact same look!" 

-Which would mean that work was all for nothing. >.< 

Ha. Yah. No.

We're willing to do a lot of the customers.

But taking 2-3 hours to take down, move the tank, reset it up etc....

No just no.

It's not worth it. 

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi