dishonest LFS pricing

[phenom5]

Here's the only thing, from what I got from the blog entry. It sounds to me like you (op) were shopping as the shippment arrived. Which it could be a simple case of the owner pulling a piece out of a box, saying...ahh 45 bucks. Then after he looked at what he had, he realized the price should be more in the $65 range. Maybe I misread, and certainly if there's a history with this store, maybe there's more to it...

It's pretty simple though, if you don't like it/ trust them/ whatever...don't shop there. There's a store locally that has a pretty large selection, but they also have very high prices, and a terrible aiptasia infestation. So I don't shop there. And just not shopping there isn't enough IMO...the last time I was in I explained (calmly...very important, no yelling, no name-calling, etc) that I wouldn't be purchasing from them because of the high prices, and more importantly the aiptasia problems. Occasionally I'll go in there to see if they've cleaned up there act, nope, so I leave. Thankfully, there are a couple of really good stores that opened up recently. Eventually, if enough people stop giving them money, and tell them why, the store will either shape up or fall by the wayside.

Just my $0.02.

 

[JPA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12685267#post12685267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acrodave
Can you go into the suppermarket and haggle them down no.

Actually yes you can. Go into any big box store and ask for a discount from a mgr. 9 times out of ten you'll get it if you ask with confidence. Especially if there is a circuit city near that best buy, or a lowes near that home depot. There is nothing wrong with asking for a discount, especially if you spend 30% of your monthly pay in a place.

 

[Atomikk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686050#post12686050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5
Here's the only thing, from what I got from the blog entry. It sounds to me like you (op) were shopping as the shippment arrived. Which it could be a simple case of the owner pulling a piece out of a box, saying...ahh 45 bucks. Then after he looked at what he had, he realized the price should be more in the $65 range. Maybe I misread, and certainly if there's a history with this store, maybe there's more to it...

It's pretty simple though, if you don't like it/ trust them/ whatever...don't shop there. There's a store locally that has a pretty large selection, but they also have very high prices, and a terrible aiptasia infestation. So I don't shop there. And just not shopping there isn't enough IMO...the last time I was in I explained (calmly...very important, no yelling, no name-calling, etc) that I wouldn't be purchasing from them because of the high prices, and more importantly the aiptasia problems. Occasionally I'll go in there to see if they've cleaned up there act, nope, so I leave. Thankfully, there are a couple of really good stores that opened up recently. Eventually, if enough people stop giving them money, and tell them why, the store will either shape up or fall by the wayside.

Just my $0.02.

To put some assumptions aside, this shipment came in two days prior to opening doors to the public. So they had plenty of time to figure out what is less or more expensive. This piece in question was not too big (about 3"x4"), thus the hesitation to purchase it.

I hope that clears things up a bit.

 

[phenom5]

To put some assumptions aside, this shipment came in two days prior to opening doors to the public. So they had plenty of time to figure out what is less or more expensive

Okay. Like I said, that's the way it came across in the blog entry. If that's the case, that definitely seems a little more dishonest.

 

[jerf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686159#post12686159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5
Okay. Like I said, that's the way it came across in the blog entry. If that's the case, that definitely seems a little more dishonest.

I guess I need to work on my blogging skills
A shipment to me is the first day that a shipment is available for sale. I know that some stores open their boxes while the store is open and sell stuff right out of the box. A terrible policy, but it does happen.

 

[jerf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12685905#post12685905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DLANDINO
I get even for these reprehensible bait and switch actions by peeing in a different tank each time I visit my LFS. Keeps them on their toes and makes me happy.

Thread over. This post wins.

 

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686187#post12686187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jerf
I guess I need to work on my blogging skills
A shipment to me is the first day that a shipment is available for sale. I know that some stores open their boxes while the store is open and sell stuff right out of the box. A terrible policy, but it does happen.

Maybe you should just try posting it here, instead of using this site to drive traffic to your blog.

 

[tkeracer619]

I prefer strait out of the box if it's a trans shipment (strait from Indonesia etc etc) and hasn't been through 10 tanks in the last 2 days. Otherwise I want to make sure it didn't pick anything up at wholesalers or is going to live. With trans ship stuff I am willing to take my chances because it hasn't been picked through by hoards of people in California =D

 

[Aquabucket]

I guess you should have bought it the first time you were there. Its all about supply and demand. You snooze you lose.

 

[tush]

part of the reason some LFS dont put prices on is the weights and measures depts in every city.
If they get a complaint that someone is pricing one thing on the shelf, label etc and charging another (even verbally) they can get into some hefty fines. a store owner can always go down from a price, but trying to charge over and above the listed price is a no no - so it could possibly be that by not putting prices on they are looking for the highest bidder - just my .02 cents from a business owners point of view

 

[Atomikk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686261#post12686261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tush
part of the reason some LFS dont put prices on is the weights and measures depts in every city.
If they get a complaint that someone is pricing one thing on the shelf, label etc and charging another (even verbally) they can get into some hefty fines. a store owner can always go down from a price, but trying to charge over and above the listed price is a no no - so it could possibly be that by not putting prices on they are looking for the highest bidder - just my .02 cents from a business owners point of view

Nail.. on.. the.. head.

So is that honest? Should it be practised?

 

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686261#post12686261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tush
part of the reason some LFS dont put prices on is the weights and measures depts in every city.
If they get a complaint that someone is pricing one thing on the shelf, label etc and charging another (even verbally) they can get into some hefty fines. a store owner can always go down from a price, but trying to charge over and above the listed price is a no no - so it could possibly be that by not putting prices on they are looking for the highest bidder - just my .02 cents from a business owners point of view

I think its more simple than that. The fact that you have to price the corals by marking the glass sometimes can be confusing with a well stocked tank and sometimes stores just get lazy.

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

When I bought my GSM, the tank was marked:

"Gold Stripe Maroon - $30"

When I told the dude I wanted it, he said "You know how much right? Thirty FI! That price Old" (haha, different shop than I usually go to)

My eyebrow went up a little bit. but look at him! I would've gladly paid $40, he's pretty badass

 

[Atomikk]

All of this is really a 'shady used car salesman' technique. No offense to those who are used car salesman, and are honest (very few i know).

 

[tush]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686353#post12686353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atomikk
Nail.. on.. the.. head.

So is that honest? Should it be practised?

i dont think so - and i dont do that but ... there are ppl that will - those are the stores i just dont go back to
but that is why the giant dept stores wont bicker if you tell them it was marked a diff price...lol..

 

[ReefTECK]

I agree, prices left unmarked is total BS! Our store always has prices marked, and with that, customers are willing to understand that things do sometimes get moved. Even so, if I move an acro to a spot where a monti was previously placed and they don't match up, it's obvious to most of my customers that I'm not ripping them off, it just got moved!

I cut deals to customers who are my friends, and who I want business from, and I don't for the people who give me headaches and don't understand, have no idea what they're doing, or whom are just obnoxious! We DONT play pass the buck though, the point is to move live stock.

When items come in they are base priced for their cost on the invoice, then rated by their quality, color, and overall appeal, prices are adjusted and posted. Crappy looking livestock gets cheap, great looking livestock gets more expensive, and rightfully so, and everything else stays the same.

Just don't deal with anybody who doesn't mark their prices, that's total garbage, and it's bad business management. With the 244 tanks that we have it would be impossible to keep a master price list!

good luck next time
ltz,
andy