Support Your Local Lfs

[reefer125g]

I just did a local LFS run to abought 6 stores in my area and I noticed one thing funny. People at all stores complaining abought the price and amount of fish instock in the stores . People saying I can get that on line for $10.00 or $15.00 less . Yes this is true but were is the service if it does not work or is broken. Also if we keep getting fish on line we won't see more fish in the local LFS. :. STORES WILL START CLOSING WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT!:fish7

 

[Liam]

I have recieved excellent customer service from many on line vendors as well as LFS.
One thing to remember,on line vendors in a lot of cases are LFS somewhere also.
Difficult times at the moment but a successful business will adapt to survive.
This may mean cutting a few bucks off the price but some profit is better than none if you ask me.
The consumers need to watch the pennies also in these difficult times or are you suggesting we just spend carelessly to prop up local business.

 

[JackTheReefer]

While I do agree we should support our local fish stores the one thing that bothers me is most have become brokers (I can order that for you) more than stores and only stock the bare necessities at best. While I know it is tough to keep a store fully stocked with everything that is out there most do not carry even the simplest things as a full selection of bulbs or additives. In the day and age of the internet I am usually able to order what I need online myself and have it quicker than my LFS without a wasted trip to the store. As far a fish prices go people have complained about them for years and can always seem to get them cheaper somewhere else. My philosophy is, if you don't have it you can't sell it.

 

[paulthomas]

This is a touchy subject. No matter how you slice it, the internet has hurt retail. Like Liam said, many shops selling online are retail stores. They try to offer discounts periodically and/or free shipping if you spend over a certain dollar amount ("some profit is better than none if you ask me"). When you factor in no taxes on top of that, it's tough to resist online deals.

I've been to several LFSs and have been treated well in most of them. I know working retail sucks, there are a lot of tire kickers out there. What I don't like is the attitude that I'm not going to spend good money there based on what I assume is my appearance. I especially hate being eyed and followed around a shop in fear that I'm there to lift something. It's a form of profiling IMO.

 

[afboundguy]

I think LFS's have one huge thing going for them that online vendors don't; you can see the fish first hand.

I've used both online and local and while it is true that you can get a fish cheaper online it's not really cheaper once you factor in the now $50 and over shipping costs.

 

[Pepperbox]

I would say more than 95% of my live stock is bought at LFS' and I do believe you should support them, but there's one thing I can't stand. I realize that the square footage of retail space in "Mayberry" would be alot less than the "Big City". But does anyone else get insulted by the price some stores are putting on live stock w/ the new "Ausie" craze. All the good LFS are getting in just about the same stuff now, so why can "Mayberry" sell a super rare Ausie coral for $300 and the "Big City" store sell HALF that same coral for $1000. I say yes, mark it up some to cover the difference but, the greed some of them show is unbelievable.

 

[JeremyR]

Some aussie stuff has come down in price (duncans) & some hasn't. Also, some people are able to buy a whole bunch of aussie stuff direct, while some are forced to buy 1 or 2 pieces from a wholesaler which effectively doubles the price, and most wholesalers are cutting the coral as well. We have had an acan at $600, but if you were to chop it up it would figure to about $7.00 a head, which is actually less than what people commonly pay for small pieces before shipping. There are a couple of large stores in the region that are still doing well and who's owners might fit into the upper class category, but most of us are making so little that calling LFS's greedy is a pretty big stretch.

 

[paulthomas]

I'm talking equipment and dry goods BTW. Buying fish and corals... I'm not up to that part yet.

 

[RiverReefer]

i say support.

everyone has their own opinions on this stuff....livestock I will practically never buy from an online vendor regardless of price...basically you never know what you're going to get before you see it and things are way to much money to be buying unhealthy fish that one day may be shipped healthy looking but will arrive on your doorstep half dead. I'd rather see it, know who i'm getting it from, trust who you're buying it from, if your LFS doesn't have what you want almost all will order what you want. LFS are part of the LOCAL economy and protecting the local economy is vital... the customer population of LFS are really small-this is a cult hobby and the people involved in it (ourselves) love it but most people know nothing of it, never EVER go into a LFS and will never know more about a reef or a marine fish. Rent is not cheap, staff does not come cheap, electric and water as we all know is not cheap. The fish that come in ordered and no one buys are not making the fish store any money-times are hard on regular businesses nevermind businesses that are pigeon holed into a very small demographic of customers.

there's always an exception (LE corals that LFS can't get their hands on unless bought privately for example) and no one is saying spend needlessly but its important to contribute back to your economy.

 

[fanaglethebagle]

My only problem with online vs. LFS on dry goods is that an LFS will tell you what is right for you where an online vendor will try to sell you snake oil and anything else that may or may not be good for your tank.
With livestock I buy it from an LFS because I can actually see what I am buying. That to me is well worth the extra 10 dollars.

 

[Joel A]

My only problem with online vs. LFS on dry goods is that an LFS will tell you what is right for you where an online vendor will try to sell you snake oil and anything else that may or may not be good for your tank.
With livestock I buy it from an LFS because I can actually see what I am buying. That to me is well worth the extra 10 dollars.

Plenty of LFS's will try to sell you snake oil as well, there are also plenty of LFS employees that don't know what they are talking about as well.

Personally, i mix it up a lot, order most of my drygoods and equipment online, simply because they almost always tend to have better deals, but a good portion of my livestock comes from the LFS. If there was a good LFS closer to me, then i would probably spend more at them, but unfortunatley its a half hour drive to even a decent one.

 

[Liam]

Some aussie stuff has come down in price (duncans) & some hasn't. Also, some people are able to buy a whole bunch of aussie stuff direct, while some are forced to buy 1 or 2 pieces from a wholesaler which effectively doubles the price, and most wholesalers are cutting the coral as well. We have had an acan at $600, but if you were to chop it up it would figure to about $7.00 a head, which is actually less than what people commonly pay for small pieces before shipping. There are a couple of large stores in the region that are still doing well and who's owners might fit into the upper class category, but most of us are making so little that calling LFS's greedy is a pretty big stretch.

so you would say that $300 for a three head frag of a plain red acan is a fair price then?because this is what i saw at one nameless LFS

I'm not saying don't shop at lfs,far from it,i just shop wisely.
There are many fantastic deals at LFS and some outrageous prices at others.
This can be said for online also.

 

[JeremyR]

No, I don't think anyone would say that $100 a head is a fair price for acans, but the broad generalizations that these threads bring out bother me.

 

[Brian92]

Going to a local reef store is awesome!!! You can check out all the awesome stuff they have and pick out some nice stuff,

I get most of my fish and corals from lfs' simply because I like being able to inspect the livestock and choose one I like, not having to worry about shipping or the cost of it, and you can talk to real people about reefing. The mark up on fish seems insignifigant to me because its cheaper than paying $40 to ship the fish to your house.

The only livestock I have found myself buying outside an LFS would be some "rare" zoas and palys, but thats just because they don't have them. Equipment on the other hand is a little difficult to get at the LFS for a one reason. I can't take drive to Boston everytime I need to buy a new piece of equipment, so I usually end up going online and ordering it.

 

[delta]

My take is if you value either your LFS or group sponsor then it is a good idea to spend some money there. Obviously if they are of value to you you trust them and feel their prices & service are worth while to you.

 

[Liam]

No, I don't think anyone would say that $100 a head is a fair price for acans, but the broad generalizations that these threads bring out bother me.

I agree,generalizations from all parties

 

[Behrmon]

I can honestly say I have never bought anything online except one time for some replacement pads for my Magnavore, if the LFS goes then I probably leave the hobby.

Support 'em!

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Having worked for a store at one time (that's how I found the BRS) I can see both sides and to be honest, it sucks! It's hard to stay competetive with on-line services these days. Once you factor in the cost of deliveries, tax, and everything else, LFS have no choice but to mark up prices. I will say that building a good relationship with an LFS is an excellent idea. I've found that once an owner knows you, for me at least, discounts have followed. And having a source close during an emergency can be a blessing. I think that others can say the same.

On the other hand, on-live shopping is so much more effective and cost saving. Having deliveries to your door, the on-line prices, and a wider selection are true bonuses. But, you can't go in to your computer and see what you're buying. You rely on a icture and with the internet these days the way it is, sometimes those pics are doctored. Plus, you can't just return to the store and exchange it if it's broken, dead, etc.

It certainly is harder for a LFS to stay in the game these days. I buy what I can when I've needed it but also spent money on-line. I try to find that happy "balance" between both.

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Plenty of LFS's will try to sell you snake oil as well, there are also plenty of LFS employees that don't know what they are talking about as well.

I have never been offered anything bad at any of our sponsors stores. There will always be bad stores with sky high prices and ruthless employees but not at any of our current sponsors.

 

[BrianMac]

I personally prefer the local fish store. There are only a couple of things that I have bought online. But I personally believe that spending a couple of extra bucks if worth it. I also try to support the BRS sponsors. They support us, so I try to support them.