Bad experience at Chemical Supply store. Have to vent.

[Cecil]

My usual supplier of liquid fertilizer 10-34-0 does not have what I need in yet and referred me to another one that is actually much closer. It's a chemical supplier that specializes in supplying chemicals to terrestrial farmers. I apply this inorganic fertilizer along with alfalfa meal to my outdoor fish ponds to stimulate phytoplankton production, which in turn stimulates zooplankton production. It's imperative the phytoplankton get going before the macrophytes (rooted plants) get started to prevent them from stealing nutrients from the phytoplankton, which would consequently starve the newly emerging fish fry due to a lack of zooplantkon.

Anyway, the manager said he would "get in trouble" if he sold it to me for fertilizing fish ponds. Huh? He was somewhat condescending and I got the impression he thought I was some kind of nut job. I left very frustrated and upset.

I've fired off a letter to his regional headquarters as a complaint and for clarification as I couldn't get anything out of him other than he would "get in trouble." It's a major chemical company with locations all around the U.S., but I probably shouldn't mention the name. My correspondence has my business letterhead, and I made sure to included I'm past president of my state aquaculture association, have a degree in fisheries science, and I do some consulting, not to mention I have several ponds on the property.

Anyone here run into people that insult you because they don't have a clue to what you do?Or someone that has a very poor attitude that deals with the public in a business? I get the impression this guy does not consider fish farming farming. Unfortunately for him one of my biggest pet peeves is business representatives that treat their customers poorly. I've been treated poorly by two employees of totally different companies and both were fired after I let their upper management know what had transpired. But I've also sent letters of praise when i come across employees that go out of their way to be courteous and professional.

I've found another source for pond fertilizer but what I need has to be shipped to me. I'd rather contribute to the local economy that is in the pits, but hey if you don't want my business...

Thanks for letting me vent! This happened yesterday and my blood pressure is still up!

[GaryD]

Hi Cecil,

It's possible that he may have been told not to sell the substance for other than particular purposes.....and he may not have been provided with an adequate explanation by his managers.

Many fertiliser chemicals that were previously commonly available are now closely restricted in response to "security" concerns arising out of the myth of the War on Terror.

Gary

[Cecil]

Hi Cecil,

It's possible that he may have been told not to sell the substance for other than particular purposes.....and he may not have been provided with an adequate explanation by his managers.

Many fertiliser chemicals that were previously commonly available are now closely restricted in response to "security" concerns arising out of the myth of the War on Terror.

Gary

That makes sense Gary and it most definitely had occurred to me later especially in light of the words "I would get in trouble," but why couldn't he have articulated that better rather than give me a "are you nuts" look when I told him what I use it for. He wasn't a dumb person and could have said, The chemical company has directed us not to sell to those that aren't using it on farm fields due to security concerns or something to that effect. He also could have asked for documentation as in my Fish Hauler's and Supplier's Permit or my Aquaculture Permit but instead he basically treated me alike a moron.

If you are anyone is interested I'll let you know what my response is from his regional office. This man's behavior was nowhere near bad enough to be fired, but I think someone needs a little educating, or least learn to be more articulate with customers. Perhaps even the company needs to realize there are other farmers out their besides beans and corn.

[Ravnis]

I second Gary's guess. Certain fertilizers, such as pottasium nitrate, have been restricted as they can be used to make explosives. This was restricted after the Oklahoma building was bombed years ago by a crazy person. Sales are restricted in some states (maybe all, not sure) for certain listed purposes. Your sales rep, may have not wanted to do the paperwork involved for a different use than he new to be acceptable. Regardless, he cost the company he worked for money by the loss of your sale.

[arachdog]

I second Gary's guess. Certain fertilizers, such as pottasium nitrate, have been restricted as they can be used to make explosives. This was restricted after the Oklahoma building was bombed years ago by a crazy person. Sales are restricted in some states (maybe all, not sure) for certain listed purposes. Your sales rep, may have not wanted to do the paperwork involved for a different use than he new to be acceptable. Regardless, he cost the company he worked for money by the loss of your sale.

That was actually ammonium nitrate and diesel oil (ANFO). The worst you could do with potassium nitrate is make a big pipe bomb. Ammonium nitrate can be made into a high order explosive in a totally different league.

[Cecil]

Well gentlemen what do you think of the following? I went to the company's website and lo and behold what I found. Note the word I have highlighted in red:

****** Company has grown to be one of the nation’s foremost distributors of crop protection and crop production inputs and services for agricultural, turf & ornamental, forestry, aquatics and vegetation management markets.

It's starting to appear either the manager did not want to be bothered with my small order or isn't knowledgeable about the range of clients his company sells to. It will be interesting to see what kind of response I get from his regional headquarters when they get my complaint. I'll keep you posted if anyone is interested. What sad is my state has one of the foremost universities when it comes to all forms of agriculture (Purdue). There is no excuse to be ignorant when many of these farm management people have degrees from this university.

[Cecil]

Finally got the ponds fertilized! Although I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why a shipment from the neighboring state took 2 days longer than normal I have fertilizer! The new source has my business forever and the other one NEVER! As one that runs two businesses that's how it works in business. You treat someone poorly and they are gone forever!

And yes that company that refused to supply to me does supply to fish farmers as a friend in another state, when I mentioned the name of the company, says he gets all his fish chemicals from them. Apparently someone in sales doesn't know or care.

[Cecil]

Well it's been 3 weeks with no response. The wife says I probably won't get one. I'm going to give it a little more time and then probably fire off a letter much higher up the food chain. It will probably start out with something like, "It's one thing to be treated poorly by a representative of you company but to get absolutely no response from your regional headquarters is even less impressive.

[Crusty]

Finally got the ponds fertilized! Although I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why a shipment from the neighboring state took 2 days longer than normal I have fertilizer! The new source has my business forever and the other one NEVER! As one that runs two businesses that's how it works in business. You treat someone poorly and they are gone forever!

And yes that company that refused to supply to me does supply to fish farmers as a friend in another state, when I mentioned the name of the company, says he gets all his fish chemicals from them. Apparently someone in sales doesn't know or care.

Hi Cecil.

Are there any fert/chem licensing required in your State?

[Cecil]

Hi Cecil.

Are there any fert/chem licensing required in your State?

No fertilizer permits or licenses as far as I know. However we do have to have a pesticide applicators license we need to get annually if we want to use pesticides. I considered getting one, but the cost of the test and license of about $200.00 didn't make sense for the infrequent need I have for rotenone. In the case I need some I'll have a friend apply it that has a license.

That said if there was some kind of license I would have needed to purchase the fertilizer the retailer could have said so vs. treating me like an idiot. I do have an Fish Hauler's and Supplier's Permit and an Aquaculture permit to verify I am legitimate. He never asked for anything and pretty much shoed me out the door.