doing trades and sales at LFS

[Pico1]

As many of you know I am selling a lot of sps in another thread. Today I went to the coral reef shop at 3:30 and met several MARS members there so they could buy the coral they has requested ahead of time. After I sold all the corals and made all the trades to everyone the owner decided to confront me. He said in a very unhappy tone, "why are you meeting these people here" and "why did you decide to meet here". I can understand where he's coming from but I don't know why he had to act so irritated, I've done a few deals at other LFS no problem. I know a lot of people on here meet at LFS to do this sorta thing but what's everyone's thoughts on meeting at local fish stores? Mabey we should start meeting at another store or gas station near local fish stores when we do these sorta things. What are all your guys' opinions on this issue?

Then again you have to take into consideration that I work at your reef (and they know that) and that the owner of the coral reef shop came in to your reef about a week ago and just looked around, didn't say who they were, and didn't buy anything. I honestly didn't meet there to be rude or mean, I thought people did this at local fish stores regularly and that it was ok (and it may be).

 

[dots]

I can see that a store owner could get upset because you are potentially cutting in on his "action". And being a newer store without a strong customer base, I can understand it.

Yet, as a business owner one should realize that you are part of the group who will ultimatly support the business and realize, that some of these people will probably go in and spend money while there picking up the frags.......I would think it would be a good thing for all.

You should have offered him the same prices for your stuff so he could have stocked his store. Would he have taken it....

Its going to happen anyway.......he can look on the bright side and try to benifit from it.

And here is my honest opinion, that everyone may or may not agree with.

"In today's day and age, I have the ability to get my supplies from anyone or anywhere, no longer are we in the age of the one horse town where the general store is the only game in town. I come from a smaller town where the difference in one store or the other was customer service, something I think is lacking in this day and age. With the exception of a few stores, and namely one.....the customer service in the aquarium trade around here is pathetic......

I hope we as a group can use our collective strength to change that in a postitive way.......

however............I have no qualms driving two hours to the bay area to a select few, where the selection AND customer service is great. Please do not give me a reason.....I want to give you my business."

Still, I see both sides but I think building relationships with your cliental is paramount..........

My two cents......
Off the soapbox....

 

[H20Sidhe]

This has been discussed before. I think there are two ways to look at it. The first way is that somehow our buying & selling of frags at their place of business could somehow cut into their sales. I think this is misguided. The other way to views this is as an opportunity to host a group of reefers who are happily sharing the hobby, and actually is an opportunity to enhance their business.

Every other time when I have met others for buying/selling frags, I have made a purchase at the LFS where we have met. I have seen other reefers do the same thing. Today, I felt so uncomfortable there, that I decided not to buy the items I needed.

One possibility is to meet at LFS who welcome & support our presence, and therefore our business. It does not take long to figure out where we are welcome. Just my $.02.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

Just about everytime I have done this I went into the LFS and bought something. Money in there pocket. I think a respectable person would have approached you kindly to discuss it.

I could understand a business man getting upset if it happened all the time and you never went into the store to buy something. But a smart businessman IMO would have turned it into a money making situation by having a conversation with you and would have had you in the store picking something out or coming back in a couples days to purchase ...................some peoples attitudes never change...........

 

[brianblack72]

I also think there are a few ways to look at this. Did you first clear this activity with the owner of the store? Are you profiting from selling your frags?

I guess it depends on those two questions. If you are personally profiting, you should probably do those dealings in your own home. If you are giving them away, that is different.

 

[Nu2SW]

Everytime Ive gone to johns except once, Ive bought something.

They should look at it as a chance to make money. They are not loosing anything. The deal was done and sealed on the internet away from his store.

I would of simply said to him, well im sorry that you dont approve of it, but you do relize that most of the time we go into your store and buy something.

And if you wanna meet at a LFS who has a issue, Just meet outside. Right in front of the store. Can't say anything about it then....

 

[brianblack72]

That makes sense. Pico, do you know the owner? Maybe he was uncomfortable because you work at a different store are you doing trades in his store. If you do not know him, it may help to introduce yourself and explain your activities -- seems like his questions were reasonable.

Do you have any frags left? Which thread has them listed?

 

[Unarce]

The last time we made an exchange with Gabe (Jonovan02) at O Street, we were asked to do it somewhere else. It was someone else other than Peggy, though. Personally, I don't think she would mind.

Some will say it's illegal. Others will say it's against store policy. It's probably a good idea to just either clear it with the owner, or do it just outside of the store.

I don't know if you mentioned you were MARS members, Jordan, but if so, you have to remember that a lot of unpleasant things have been said about the Coral Reef Shop's owner. I'm quite sure that would have irritated him.

 

[JahReefster]

Edwin, if by referring to "John," you mean John Dakan of Your Reef, I don't think that's the store they're referring to here. And if the activity took place in sight of the owner of a new business trying to make a go of it and if he knew Jordan worked at Your Reef, I could see that he might have some cause for concern, at least at first blush. Maybe he could have discussed it better, but guess I could see it.

As the man says, just my 2 cents (what's that make now; about 8?).

Fred

 

[kward@msn.com]

Jordan

I understand you are 15 years old and may be a little naive about the ways of the World . . . so please take what I say in a constructive light. You cannot mechandise in someones' store for personal gain without permission. The Coral Reef Shop spends almost $10,000 a month for the opportunity to sell our products at that location. With no investment from you please tell me why you should profit. Do you think baking some homemade bread and selling it in a Safeway store to their customers would be acceptable, prearranged or not?

It would have been appropiate if you had cleared your activities with the owner. I would not have OK'd it under the circumstances . . . after all, you work for my competitor and that throws up a red flag. That said, if you were selling for a non-profit Org or charity with the funds going to them, I would welcome and support the activity.

We realize everyone has the choice of where to purchase their livestock and supplies. We will work hard to earn your respect, offer to you the best livestock and technology available, and support the Aquarist and his hobby. We thank those customers that have given us that opportunity thus far and hope you will return.

Ken Ward
Owner - Coral Reef shop

 

[bkmorris]

there's really no need to make a jab at his age... and as for the people that took the opportunity to come check out your store today... your reaction to this situation may affect their willingness to return. this hobby is a community of sorts, and frag selling is a part of that. if you would rather it not take place in your store, then a simple, upfront statement is all that is needed.

 

[Pico1]

No comment...

 

[tacocat]

Re: doing trades and sales at LFS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7634464#post7634464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pico1
Then again you have to take into consideration that I work at your reef (and they know that) and that the owner of the coral reef shop came in to your reef about a week ago and just looked around, didn't say who they were, and didn't buy anything. I honestly didn't meet there to be rude or mean, I thought people did this at local fish stores regularly and that it was ok (and it may be).

I'm curious, why didn't you do your transactions at Your Reef?

 

[Reefugee]

Originally posted by Nu2SW
And if you wanna meet at a LFS who has a issue, Just meet outside. Right in front of the store. Can't say anything about it then....

That's not true. They pay rent for the store and the parking lot. So if you are selling outside of their store on private property, that can be consider trespassing if they ask you to leave. However, if you do it on the public sidewalk beyond the parking lot, they might not be able to do anything. But then I would be pretty peeved if some little kid opened up a lemonade stand infront of my house on the public sidewalk. Well - unless he give me "all you can drink for free" deal and give me 25% of his gross (not net) income.

Originally posted by brianblack72
Maybe he was uncomfortable because you work at a different store are you doing trades in his store.

I was thinking the same thing. Also - why didn't Pico conduct his transaction infront of YourReef? Maybe he didn't want to appear to taking away business from the store that he worked at. Just a speculation...

Originally posted by kward@msn.com
I understand you are 15 years old and may be a little naive about the ways of the World . . .

I guess all of us who have done transaction in front of the store are "a little naive." You know who you are... *cough* tim *cough* Rich *cough* Karl *cough* me... :lol: It's funny - I didn't realize Pico1 was 15 years old until the last meeting when someone pointed him out to me. Based on his posts, I thought he was much more mature.

Honestly - it's hard to say how the "conversation" between Pico and Ken went. Maybe Ken was just being assertive, and Pico perceived it as he was being "irrated." But Ken has made his request clear, and I think we should honor it. Same thing - if other LFS have made the same request, we should honor it as well.

Maybe we should find out from John (Yourreef) and Peggy (O St Aquarium) to see if these type of transaction is ok in front of their store. If the LFS are ok with such transaction, we should be discreet about such transactions. Don't go in with a cooler full of corals and make a transaction infront of other customers. Do it discreetly outside at your car.

Minh

 

[yoshiod9]

jordan- don't sweat it, bud-- you made a mistake by being inside the store and doing your transactions. personally, i would be irritated that people were coming into my store to sell stuff-- you know? with that being said, meet at whatever place you want to-- just do your transactions outside of the store next time. you're not breaking any laws doing that and you're being respectful of the store owner.

finally, i don't see myself returning to that store to shop-- ever. i'm a very friendly person and when i walked in, i smiled at the man and woman at the counter and didn't get any kind of response from them besides blank stares. as i left, i smiled again and received the same blank response. i'm very, very big on first impressions and since i was treated poorly (read: ignored), i'll not be returning.

after we traded for the seio, i walked around to check out the store (was there looking at prices and such for around 5minutes or so) and wasn't asked if i needed help or anything. not the best way to do business, i'd imagine. to be fair, though, they had a few decent prices on corals for the sacto area stores (besides john's store, of course)-- but mostly, i'd say they were overpriced (even compared to aqualife-- which, i'd say, is fairly hard to do).

anyway, it was nice meeting you today, jordan, and it was good to see you (again) brooke and sherie.

 

[Reefugee]

Wait... The transaction occured inside the store? Now if I was the store owner, I would have been ****ed too. I thought the transaction occured outside the store.

 

[yoshiod9]

taco- i think it was because the coral reef store (which, btw, is an odd moniker-- seeing how they have an even split of fw and sw. ) is very close to where jordan lives (i believe he said he lives only a few minutes away). yourreef is something like 20-30 minutes from the CRS. the next logical question would be 'why didn't we meet at jordan's house?', right? well, to answer that before it is asked, i don't like meeting people at my apt. (unless i know them, of course)-- it's just sort of strange, you know?

finally, i do feel that the owner of the CRS had every right to confront you, jordan-- next time, meet out front of the store and then do your transactions outside.

 

[yoshiod9]

yeah, minh, it happened inside. i've never done a transaction inside of a store before (mostly out of respect for the store owner/employees)-- i just chalked that one up to the fact that jordan didn't really think about the possible implications. oh well, though-- you live and learn, right?
-danny

 

[shilo_1]

I can personally see where issues may arrise from the side of the store owner.
If it were me, I wouldn't be happy about someone selling/trading goods I was trying to sell a few feet away. It doesn't matter if its done discreetly (IMO), it still might be a possible loss of some business for the store.

Why not just rather do these sales or trades in front of a different store or somewhere neutral ? Something that will not really matter....like a book store, or laundromat, etc.
That way no business is lost/taken and therefore no toes are stepped on.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[tacocat]

Good points Minh.

I saw your original post. You did sell a TON of acros. Kudos to your reason for doing so. I bet one or two transactions may have been overlooked, but if you sold all those acros in that store, that may have gotten a bot racous. In fact, you could have opened a store within a store.