I'm looking for a Sedra 3500 replacement pump for my skimmer so I thought I'd try to support my lfs.........They begin by telling me the pump is rare and hard to find so they asking $135.......I tell him I can get the pump online for $90............he tells me literally to "get out"..........what a jerk.............won't be shopping there again.........
All About Fish........Pleasant Hill......sucks
- Thread starter rchal
- Start date
yoshiod9
New member
lol. if you really wanted to support your lfs, you wouldn't have complained and would have just bought the pump. 
sadly, most lfs do overprice their drygoods compared to online vendors (because--duh--lfs have high overhead costs!). the guy you talked to reacted poorly to the situation but i think that you went about things the wrong way as well. "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
sadly, most lfs do overprice their drygoods compared to online vendors (because--duh--lfs have high overhead costs!). the guy you talked to reacted poorly to the situation but i think that you went about things the wrong way as well. "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Mr2KiEu
Active member
yea...i hate the owner of All about fish too. did you talk to the chinese or korean old man??
i bought 10 hermits from him and asked if he could pick the big ones for me, cuz i like the big guys....he said, " i could pick smaller ones for you." what an ***!!!
other than that, don't ask him for anything. try to deal with the other nice employees.
i bought 10 hermits from him and asked if he could pick the big ones for me, cuz i like the big guys....he said, " i could pick smaller ones for you." what an ***!!!
other than that, don't ask him for anything. try to deal with the other nice employees.
first off never try to compare online prices at an LFS, that is a sure way to rub someone the wrong way. They blame online vendors for a major loss in revenue (and rightfully so). Sedra's aren't that hard to come by, but they are not "common" by far (unless already attached to a skimmer), that I have seen. 
[EDIT] Decided to keep the rest of my opinions to myself
[EDIT] Decided to keep the rest of my opinions to myself
Last edited:
When I shop locally I expect to pay a little bit more........ but $40-$50 c'mon........that borders on gouging.......When I mentioned the online price it wasn't intended to be an insult but simply an opening for him to soften his price........if he can't do it fine............no need to be rude(older asian guy)............
T-T-Trigger
Premium Member
they have usually treated me well. and all their items are marked up via a specific percentage, why take it so personally?
I have dealt with the owner off and on since the days when he sold dog food just to keep his store open, but still had the best prices in town. I can never imagine him telling someone to "get out". just can't see it. sorry for your bad experience though.
I have dealt with the owner off and on since the days when he sold dog food just to keep his store open, but still had the best prices in town. I can never imagine him telling someone to "get out". just can't see it. sorry for your bad experience though.
He was right though, it is rare for an LFS, they're very hard to come by using the normal wholesale routes> They pay nearly what you would online, as their wholesale price on the pump. There has to be mark up, and his mark up follows what most retailers mark up at. AS they say, hate the game, not the player 
jedininja
New member
Its sad, but online prices really do rival wholesale prices. Factor in shipping and trying to make a profit, that markup really isnt that bad. The only thing bad about what happened is his reaction if it really happened exactly like that. I've been to LFS to buy a powerhead before and thought the prices were too high and mentioned online prices. And instead of getting a bad reaction, all they said was that with they pay a lot more than the online vendors do because they cant afford or dont have the room to order super high quantities like the online guys do and plus they have higher overhead. And when working for a shop, I found it was certainly true.
Vincerama2
Active member
Oh no! Not online vs LFS again! 
I still buy my livestock at LFS (including freshwater) and also food (Unless I happen to be making an online order anyway, then I'll just add food to it). I'll drop by for little things too (filter pads, airline tubing, etc). I also buy tanks from LFS (obviously)
Pumps and other "high ticket" items I'd prefer to shop online. I agree with rchal that paying $45 over online price is not something I want to pay.
I mean, I understand that stores have more overhead than online retailers (OBVIOUSLY, that's why online is cheaper). But I would think that if they sold that $90 pump for $100 and get $10 (heck, they should just buy it FROM the online store and sell it to you!) then having $10 profit (or $5 after overhead, etc) is better than having a pump sit unsold taking up even more overhead (unsold stock, space).
I understand the plight of the small retailer, but I am not sympathetic to RUDE retailers. One LFS guy told me he would not tell me the price of an item unless I agree to buy it first, because otherwise I'll just "run off and buy it online" (I bought the item anyway, because I had taken up 10 minutes of his time asking about stuff and thought it would only be fair).
Now that I know a bit more about the hobby and what I want/need to support it, I check prices online now. But of course, I also don't need the LFS guy's advice anymore, so I'm trading off "advice/help" (which might be BS anyway) for price because I don't value the advice of LFS employees as I did when I was a comlete newbie.
Sorry for the ramble (yet again on this topic)!
In anycase, I won't shop somewhere where the employees are rude. Most of us wouldn't go back to a restaurant with rude waiters either.
V
I still buy my livestock at LFS (including freshwater) and also food (Unless I happen to be making an online order anyway, then I'll just add food to it). I'll drop by for little things too (filter pads, airline tubing, etc). I also buy tanks from LFS (obviously)
Pumps and other "high ticket" items I'd prefer to shop online. I agree with rchal that paying $45 over online price is not something I want to pay.
I mean, I understand that stores have more overhead than online retailers (OBVIOUSLY, that's why online is cheaper). But I would think that if they sold that $90 pump for $100 and get $10 (heck, they should just buy it FROM the online store and sell it to you!) then having $10 profit (or $5 after overhead, etc) is better than having a pump sit unsold taking up even more overhead (unsold stock, space).
I understand the plight of the small retailer, but I am not sympathetic to RUDE retailers. One LFS guy told me he would not tell me the price of an item unless I agree to buy it first, because otherwise I'll just "run off and buy it online" (I bought the item anyway, because I had taken up 10 minutes of his time asking about stuff and thought it would only be fair).
Now that I know a bit more about the hobby and what I want/need to support it, I check prices online now. But of course, I also don't need the LFS guy's advice anymore, so I'm trading off "advice/help" (which might be BS anyway) for price because I don't value the advice of LFS employees as I did when I was a comlete newbie.
Sorry for the ramble (yet again on this topic)!
In anycase, I won't shop somewhere where the employees are rude. Most of us wouldn't go back to a restaurant with rude waiters either.
V
racrumrine
New member
Their prices are high; but, they have a good selection and I have found them willing to haggle with me for discounts.
If it didn't take me about an hour one way to reach them, I'd stop by more often.
When my Sedra burnt out, I called Euroreef for the special customer price. What a joke (at least the LFS has a better excuse for their pricing and carrying an unusual item in stock). Instead, I bought the Sedra from SaltyCritters for a sweet price and it came with a brand new needle wheel.
Best of luck,
Roy
If it didn't take me about an hour one way to reach them, I'd stop by more often.
When my Sedra burnt out, I called Euroreef for the special customer price. What a joke (at least the LFS has a better excuse for their pricing and carrying an unusual item in stock). Instead, I bought the Sedra from SaltyCritters for a sweet price and it came with a brand new needle wheel.
Best of luck,
Roy
sfsuphysics
Active member
Well as a couple others have said comparing online prices to LFS prices is simply not cool, atleast in the sense that you tell them that to their face. Most often their wholesale prices equal that of online e-tailers, so it's really unfair to expect them to offer goods at the same price. Most stores typically well have a certain precentage over wholesale and that's what they charge, now ok on a $3 can of fish food that doesn't equate to much markup, but on a $90 pump that tends to be pretty pricy.
Some stores will match online prices + shipping costs if you build a relationship with the owner, but if you just walk in off the streets and almost demand prices of online stores then be prepared to get kicked out.
Some stores will match online prices + shipping costs if you build a relationship with the owner, but if you just walk in off the streets and almost demand prices of online stores then be prepared to get kicked out.
Vincerama2
Active member
- If someone offers you a $90 pump for $135, you are free to simply not buy it, then go buy the pump online for $90.
- Offering a $90 pump for $135 will likely result in your not selling the pump to someone who is willing to shop online.
- Being rude to customers is not a good way to do business. Most likely you will lose all future business from the offended party
- Being rude to employees is not a good way to do business. Most likely you will not get much help or discounts from the offended party
- Stores might have to increase prices because they lose business when people buy items online
- People buy online because stores inflate their prices
So, be treat people with respect and shop at stores where you are treated with respect. If they sell something you want to buy at a price you want to pay, then buy it there. If you prefer to buy it online then feel free to do so.
V
- Offering a $90 pump for $135 will likely result in your not selling the pump to someone who is willing to shop online.
- Being rude to customers is not a good way to do business. Most likely you will lose all future business from the offended party
- Being rude to employees is not a good way to do business. Most likely you will not get much help or discounts from the offended party
- Stores might have to increase prices because they lose business when people buy items online
- People buy online because stores inflate their prices
So, be treat people with respect and shop at stores where you are treated with respect. If they sell something you want to buy at a price you want to pay, then buy it there. If you prefer to buy it online then feel free to do so.
V
T-T-Trigger
Premium Member
you want what?
for 90? :mad2:
get out!
get the fug out of my store!!! :rollface:
for 90? :mad2:
get out!
get the fug out of my store!!! :rollface:
T-T-Trigger
Premium Member
buying a pump online $90
buying a pump at LFS $135
actually getting kicked out of a fish store.... $Priceless
:strooper:
buying a pump at LFS $135
actually getting kicked out of a fish store.... $Priceless
:strooper:
