LFS vs. Online discussion split from FosterSmith Poll

[Liam]

I guess we'd have to ask them.

I personally think it is possible for LFSs to come close but not match exactly.

For the record, I have often seen livestock at some of my favourite LFSs sold for the same or less than online.
I agree. And that is why I dislike the "all LFSs are evil" mantra,

Matt

I agree for the most part fish are priced very competively but the drygoods are normally extremely high.

If you do not like the idea that all LFS are evil mantra(WHICH THEY ARE NOT)
then why start a disscusion pitting LFS v LIVE AQUARIA

 

[Matt L.]

...Sorry, people actually start the hobby by finding Boston Cheapers, which means afforadable reefing. LFS just scare them away or give me bad advice...The real slap on the face is to allow LFS control the BSR....The best customer is the one who walk in the store, do not ask any question, buy the most over priced item and walk away (not returning it later)...Do you think LFS cares about you as much as fellow members?...

Dude, you have a serious negative opinion of all LFSs! What happened to you?!? I think you went to the wrong place...

...May be one or two stores will do that but they can't do it for everybody. May be you got the nice treatment...Also, if the store do that for everyone, they will go out of business quickly. No store can afford that kind of shopping habbit.

The two LFSs (that I know of) in the area that have this practice allow holding of fish for (at least) all BRS members, if not all customers.

I can tell you how to not get them to hold your fish for you, and that is to wage a war against them on the message boards

Honestly, LFS treatment can be subjective, and if you diss them, don't expect any deals from them in return.

Matt

 

[Ultramarine]

^^^^^ I agree with Liam, too. I would prefer to buy my fish locally where I can see them, but I'm gun-shy of LFS. Honestly, I had so many bad experiences with LFS (3 of them) when I started out that I actually left the hobby for several years. I had received bad advice, bought unnecessary and expensive equipment, dealt with obnoxious staff who would suggest something to me and then and then sneer at me when I suffered a death or a crash because of it. Unfortunately I didn't have the internet back then. I was just getting into the hobby and I was turned off by the LFS.

Granted, some LFS must be different than the ones I went to, but I just don't trust them anymore. Except for my live rock and my first fish (since there was nothing else in the tank I thought I could take the risk) everything I currently have has come from other BRS members or drafts I've participated in. With my own quarantine and a 2 week guarantee I'll buy online. No driving, lower prices, and I don't have to deal with rude staff.

 

[marco67]

Fish or nails,
There's is almost nothing that can not be bought online, there will always be some people that value what a brick and mortar store offers and some that do not. I'm personaly in the camp that likes to know, see and be able to talk with the people I spend my money with. They in turn spend a portion of my money with a local merchant and so on...... I guess you could say in a small way I feel that spending my money localy is a form of building job security.

 

[Matt L.]

...If you do not like the idea that all LFS are evil mantra(WHICH THEY ARE NOT) then why start a disscusion pitting LFS v LIVE AQUARIA

Because I was elected message board jerk, and it was my turn to argue with people over local versus online shopping habits.

Seriously, the reason I brought this up was because: a) I noticed that the number of online group buys was accelerating rapidly in recent time, and b) I heard serious grumblings out there that I feel could adversely impact this club.

The initial post I made was regarding B&W clownfish. Clownfish are priced so competitively, I felt one should at least look for a LFS source before immediately turning to an online vendor. Instead, I heard through the grapevine that people were haggling over like a $2 difference in cost betweenh local vendors and Liveaquaria.

I know full well that some people have a real axe to grind with LFSs, and there's nothing this argument can do to change their mind.

But I also know that for others, being the jerk this time around can be a healthy reminder of the need to patronize reputable LFSs whenever possible.

There was a phase when I used to buy all my stuff online, and then I realized the connection between the BRS, this hobby, and the LFSs.

Matt

 

[Matt L.]

^^^^^Granted, some LFS must be different than the ones I went to, but I just don't trust them anymore...No driving, lower prices, and I don't have to deal with rude staff.

I totally hear you on this,

Matt

 

[Liam]

I totally hear you on this,

Matt

glad we got this sorted out then

 

[rjdudek]

This is difficult for me to really understand. I was COO for a business that was established first as a local brick and mortar store. 20 years ago we fought mail order; 10 years ago we fought on-line businesses. Doggedly clinging to what worked 10-15 years ago will lead you out of business. There are a dozen MBA classes on the new paradigm of business competition and literally hundreds of books and mentor programs that could be used to improve a brick and mortar business’s competitive positioning. It is much easier to help someone who demonstrates they are willing to help themselves.

 

[Matt L.]

glad we got this sorted out then

Just on the part about getting treated poorly at some places. That I can totally understand, and when I talk about supporting LFSs, I'm talking about the good ones.

Matt

 

[Behrmon]

I try to buy anything I need locally. It seems to me that people easily become ignorant to the value or easily forget the value of a local brick & mortar. What will happen when lets say hammer.com sells hammers for 1/2 or less than 1/2 of what it would cost at HD and offers free shipping? may take a while but bye bye HD - oh thats okay just run over to your local hardware store - oh wait they went out of business. Is this the new American way?? Well just make sure your smart enough to order two hammers in case you need one later.

 

[dz6t]

Just on the part about getting treated poorly at some places. That I can totally understand, and when I talk about supporting LFSs, I'm talking about the good ones.

Matt

I totally up for supporting the good ones but I don't have time to go through LFS before I buy anything online. I understand where you stands but I don't agree some of your views. The bottom line is: please respect other people's choice and please do not barge in other people's pool order and act like a someone from PETA. Last time someone did what you did and screwed up our pooled order.

 

[merk1_99]

You know what happens if someone saves $2.00 on a fish from an online vendor, vs. a LFS. You have an extra $2.00 in your wallet. While some may be rich enough to spend extra cash on livestock or dry goods that is just great. Personally I give myself a very limited budget to spend on my tank. I'd rather spend the extra $2.00 on something for one of my two kids.

And all of us have different values in what makes a good LFS. Besides good healthy fat livestock, I value speedy service and the less "fish help" talk the better. Maybe that makes me arrogant but my time is worth a lot to me, and I have thoroughly researched all of the fish's needs prior to a purchase. Others may value a one on one conversation, or whatever....To each their own...When will this thread die....Though I am fascinating reading it....

 

[ScottM]

......The real slap on the face is to allow LFS control the BRS.......

Dong,
PLEASE don't make this mistake. i'm sure if you had the back story on the sponorship fiasco of the BRS and how the BOD has handled it, you'd quickly learn that the people who have the final word in this club, are certainly NOT the sponsors.


BTW isn't Money disagreements the leading cause for divorce these days...

 

[dz6t]

I think marriage is the leading cause for divorce...

 

[Matt L.]

I totally up for supporting the good ones but I don't have time to go through LFS before I buy anything online.

Dong, after all this time being in the hobby, you know who the good ones are.

Matt

P.S.: That pooled order killed itself. No one got all PETA on you, whatever that means. If you're going to do a pooled order, everything has to be on the up and up.

 

[Chris L]

what it comes down to is simply that everyone is entitled to there own opinion and where and how to spend there money and time. i do support matt in his loyalty to the local lfs/sponsors but on the other hand you have to give people the same respect to make there own choice and not criticize someone because they would like to save money. everybodys situation is different and if you do not know that situation you should not question the way they do things.
like i said in a earlier post in this thread. i have had both bad and good experiences in lfs and online. but ultimatley it is my choice to make and no one elses. so please step down from the soapboxes on both sides of this argument because you are both right and wrong here

 

[Matt L.]

I try to buy anything I need locally. It seems to me that people easily become ignorant to the value or easily forget the value of a local brick & mortar. What will happen when lets say hammer.com sells hammers for 1/2 or less than 1/2 of what it would cost at HD and offers free shipping? may take a while but bye bye HD - oh thats okay just run over to your local hardware store - oh wait they went out of business. Is this the new American way?? Well just make sure your smart enough to order two hammers in case you need one later.

I think this is a very important point.

Matt

 

[JayM]

Had good luck ordering inverts online, and the frag draft went well, but I still think I'll stay local for fish. I go to my LFS for reasons already mentioned.....it's nice not to have to wait a week when your bulhead is leaking.

The kids love to look at the tanks too, and a web page ain't never gonna win out over that.......

 

[smcnally]

Matt,
One thing you should understand is that the one thing you are argueing is pretty mch a moot point. You guys keep argueing the value of a brick and mortar store. Most people that buy online do so to save money, and usually it is because they need to (not because they are cheap). People that buy online will continue to do so, and complaining about it won't help. People need to understand that e-shopping is here to saty, and businesses need to adapt to that in order to survive.

 

[hans1976]

As much as I would like to buy locally, I have 1 store within 10 miles, 2 more 25-30 miles away and the others are 70+. So we are almost forced into buying on line.

I don't mind paying a few extra $$$ for buying things locally as they do donate regularly to the clubs. So it does come back to us. But when I need to to get a GenX pump locally, it's $160+tax and has to be special ordered. For the same pump I can get online for $121 delivered to my door, its a no-brainer.

When I am able to make it to a meeting, I try to support the sponsor that is there. They usually have some decent pricing and I can see the livestock.