I just wrote a rant about dishonest LFS pricing on my blog. It's got me thinking, what stories do you have of dishonest LFS pricing? My intent is not to bash, but to get a solution to dealing with the dishonest retailers out there.
dishonest LFS pricing
- Thread starter jerf
- Start date
sk8rreefgeek
New member
well, if it was an Aussie Acan, that's not really a bad price.
without making some kind of profit, they would go out of business. Prices are ever-changing. just my .02
without making some kind of profit, they would go out of business. Prices are ever-changing. just my .02
Tang Salad
Algae skeptic
I don't know, but it doesn't sound like they were trying to rip you off. It sounded like an honest mistake, where the employee didn't know the price in the beginning.
acrodave
REEF NERD
I can tell you why they do not put prices on the tank. Its because evey one think they can go to the lfs and try to haggle the price. I dont know were this came from but i did not get the memo. Can you go into the suppermarket and haggle them down no. So why is it ok to do it in the fs..So that why some the price of some shops are high to make up the diff of having to lower the price just to sell it ... I dont know just my rant
many LFS's mark up 100% of the price they pay for the item, its the only way to handle overhead and running costs- period. Everything said in this thread suggests mere lack of knowledge invoice price, to know where to set the market price.
Any pricing is not dishonest, only not meeting the market demand. The only time dishonesty is involved is if you are the only person being asked that price.
Any pricing is not dishonest, only not meeting the market demand. The only time dishonesty is involved is if you are the only person being asked that price.
I think you need to go back and read the post. I was not complaining about the price of the acan, but rather that there wasn't a price posted and then the price shifted the next time I went back.
I don't care how much the acan cost. If he had said $500, I would have said "no thank you" and that would have been the end. Instead, he gave a price that was reasonable, then changed the price when I went to buy. It's his prerogative to set pricing, but it's dishonest the way it was handled.
buck50bmg
In Memoriam
Hey I worked several weekends at the same store I was talking about....I saw the invoice, he did way more than 100%. I understand that its about making money, but be consistent.... If you mark up 100% fine why cant the marked up price be displayed... Heck even cars prices are displayed.
As for haggling, its probably the fault of the salesperson being weak on the prices. Say I buy a $100 fish and get a $50 fish....I should pay $150!!!! None of this "let me give you a deal" because people are going to expect it. Make sure your customers pay what is displayed and be consistent in doing so and we will have no reason to expect any more.
aahhhhh this makes more sense, and i mentioned it at the very end of my post, the dishonesty comes in when prices are different for different people, and are inconsistent day to day.
I work part time at a LFS, and we hold labeling paramount, and if a coral is to be haggled on, the structure for haggling is perfectly known to all sales associates including bottom line, and starting price, etc.
I work part time at a LFS, and we hold labeling paramount, and if a coral is to be haggled on, the structure for haggling is perfectly known to all sales associates including bottom line, and starting price, etc.
sk8rreefgeek
New member
would you get upset if you drove by a gas station and the price went up from an hour before?
I just don't agree with complaining about prices. It's America, your not forced to buy fish or corals.
You can just say "Oh, the price is a little higher than I wanted to pay" and leave if they don't provide what you want at the price you want to pay.
Personally, I like the "haggling" aspect of it, as long as it's friendly. There is an understanding that you're not obligated to buy anything, and if you don't, that's fine
I just don't agree with complaining about prices. It's America, your not forced to buy fish or corals.
You can just say "Oh, the price is a little higher than I wanted to pay" and leave if they don't provide what you want at the price you want to pay.
Personally, I like the "haggling" aspect of it, as long as it's friendly. There is an understanding that you're not obligated to buy anything, and if you don't, that's fine
If I were running a store I'd do something like this;
-there are 4 or 5 pricing 'zones' in the vats. Say something like $30, $40, $50 and $60 (insert your own pricing) and then a custom zone, where each piece has its own price. So, as stuff comes in, it's categorized and thus priced. Individual corals can have their own pricing (clearly marked of course). If a coral doesn't sell, it's moved to the next 'zone' until it does sell. It would take some organization, but I don't see why this wouldn't be possible.
The thing that bugs me is the SUPERRAREOMGGOTTAHAVEIT corals that cost the same to ship as all the other corals, but cost 15 times the price. That's a different rant though.
sk8rreefgeek
New member
Also, for some customers getting lower prices than others:
Chances are, the customers getting the lower prices probably spend more money anyways, as they would be regulars to that store.
Maybe I only feel this way cuz I'm on the "good deals" side of the fence haha
Chances are, the customers getting the lower prices probably spend more money anyways, as they would be regulars to that store.
Maybe I only feel this way cuz I'm on the "good deals" side of the fence haha
acrodave
REEF NERD
yeah i see what your are saying but what will happen is that a 200$ coral will sit and sit then get moved down to the 50$ side. then who loses the fs... ill let you know a little secret most shops only have a 3-4x mark up. so you can see how much you would lose... and as far as SUPERRAREOMGGOTTAHAVEIT i dont get into that .when some one asks me what kind of zoas thos are i tell them zoas and the get mad as as me the name some one gave them and i tell them i dont get into that kind of thing
tkeracer619
New member
Sucks the price was changed but it happens all the time. Sounded like a nice coral and would probably have been a score regardless.
I was eying a piece in a store and as i walked around the store one of the employees were moving corals around. They had just gotten a shipment in and it just happened that the coral I wanted moved to a more expensive bin! I purchased the coral regardless because it was a nice piece, worth that much, and I was helping out a local store. I didn't worry about the price increase because I didn't feel it necessary. I wanted the coral and the price was still fine.
All of their coral is marked though.... its very easy. PVC pipe to divide the tanks, sharpie to write the number on the glass.... Without markings I feel the shadiness is what made you angry and rightfully so. You should have snagged it when he told you $45 though, that sounds quite low for a larger stunning acan. He told you the wrong price to begin with for sure and unfortunately you didn't take advantage of it.
I would hope that he didn't remember you from earlier and intentionally jack the price up because you came back for it(which means you wanted it) or that the peices had drawn a lot of attention already so he thought he could get more and when you walked out changed the price.
Its funny actually. As a one time salesperson I can tell you people want to haggle about anything. It is actually pretty fun. A good attitude can go a long way but being a good customer goes further. Someone just coming in and trying to haggle on this one item is just crazy. The only way you let them get a deal is if they grab an add on and it ends up costing more than before. Some person buys a tank, a bunch of fish, and some corals shouldnt need to haggle. The discount should be figured in by the sales person. I once had a guy try to trade me corn (I am not kidding) for a discount on a sterio system :lol: and to make it worse.... I had already marked the prices down as far as I was going too. It ended up with him not being satisfied and he left angry, made a big scene, and stomped his feet on the way out. 3 days later when he came back I wasn't there and my coworkers remembered him. He paid retail..
I was eying a piece in a store and as i walked around the store one of the employees were moving corals around. They had just gotten a shipment in and it just happened that the coral I wanted moved to a more expensive bin! I purchased the coral regardless because it was a nice piece, worth that much, and I was helping out a local store. I didn't worry about the price increase because I didn't feel it necessary. I wanted the coral and the price was still fine.
All of their coral is marked though.... its very easy. PVC pipe to divide the tanks, sharpie to write the number on the glass.... Without markings I feel the shadiness is what made you angry and rightfully so. You should have snagged it when he told you $45 though, that sounds quite low for a larger stunning acan. He told you the wrong price to begin with for sure and unfortunately you didn't take advantage of it.
I would hope that he didn't remember you from earlier and intentionally jack the price up because you came back for it(which means you wanted it) or that the peices had drawn a lot of attention already so he thought he could get more and when you walked out changed the price.
Its funny actually. As a one time salesperson I can tell you people want to haggle about anything. It is actually pretty fun. A good attitude can go a long way but being a good customer goes further. Someone just coming in and trying to haggle on this one item is just crazy. The only way you let them get a deal is if they grab an add on and it ends up costing more than before. Some person buys a tank, a bunch of fish, and some corals shouldnt need to haggle. The discount should be figured in by the sales person. I once had a guy try to trade me corn (I am not kidding) for a discount on a sterio system :lol: and to make it worse.... I had already marked the prices down as far as I was going too. It ended up with him not being satisfied and he left angry, made a big scene, and stomped his feet on the way out. 3 days later when he came back I wasn't there and my coworkers remembered him. He paid retail..
Last edited:
sk8rreefgeek
New member
I agree with tke
Even if the price of everything (which is has) keeps rising and rising, there are still things we just need or want.
Even if the acan was $100, it may be "worth" $300 6 months from now.
but if he did remember you, and raise it cuz he knew you wanted it, that is wrong. I'd be lookin for a new shop to support.
Even if the price of everything (which is has) keeps rising and rising, there are still things we just need or want.
Even if the acan was $100, it may be "worth" $300 6 months from now.
but if he did remember you, and raise it cuz he knew you wanted it, that is wrong. I'd be lookin for a new shop to support.
Similar threads
