Many stores do offer bad advice, don't take the best care of the animals in store etc... but the City Farmers stores I've been to have been great- as far as pet stores go they're reasonably priced, carry a fair range of products, the staff are friendly and provide good advice to customers- from what I have experienced. I regularly visit my local store... Of course it will vary between stores and individual staff though. I also like the fact they don't sell puppies, kittens, birds etc- and every time I've been in three of their stores (haven't visited the other two in QLD yet) the fish have been well cared for, clean tanks, no dead fish etc...