How many of you support your lfs

JTL

JTL

New member
Personally, I have tried but it is too much effort. They are not responsive to my questions even when I email and ask what fish they have in stock. I was hoping to purchase most of my equipment and live stock from them put I am giving up. I really wonder how they stay in business. Going to set up a cheap qt and buy everything on line. I only need about 4 more fish, so I was hoping to just have them quarantine them for me and not have the hassle of another tank.
 
JTL said:
Personally, I have tried but it is too much effort. They are not responsive to my questions even when I email and ask what fish they have in stock. I was hoping to purchase most of my equipment and live stock from them put I am giving up. I really wonder how they stay in business. Going to set up a cheap qt and buy everything on line. I only need about 4 more fish, so I was hoping to just have them quarantine them for me and not have the hassle of another tank.
Click to expand...

I buy all equipment and dry goods online, just better selection and prices. I only have two good lfs, one of them I have been to for the past 11 years but now I mostly browse as the coral prices are high and selection low, mostly look for random nice things that come in. The other lfs is newer ~3-4 years and is an online vendor with a nice selection of corals so I stop by every now and then to take a look. I would say livestock, I'm about 50/50 lfs vs online, likely increasing in favor of the lfs because I like seeing livestock in person but I would not hesitate to order online if I found something I wanted.

It all depends on your local area.
 
I have 3 LFS.. one is a clownfish only store, they breed them. However, I support my LFS when I need something I know they have or want to browse and possibly buy coral/fish. I do like ordering online for both fish and dry goods though. Marinedepot.com and saltwaterfish.com are my go to online.
 
lucky enough to have a handful of local fish stores. The competition between them is great so you always get great prices and they're awesome at answering any questions you may have.
 
Generally speaking, LFS are not very good with answering email and phone questions. However, you get better support in person. You must do your own homework because you will find that most workers know less than the members here. Usually, the owner is most knowledgeable. I bought all my livestock from LFS.

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I'm lucky to have a couple great LFS close by. Every time I go, I'll see a coral or fish I'm interested in. I still buy online as well, just because the prices sometimes are hard to beat.
 
I have always tried to, but sometimes they just cannot beat the price, especially on things like salt, that F&S and FedEx brings right to my door.

I buy all my livestock there or at the local swaps. I like to see what I'm getting with my own eyes.
 
wish all my LFS didn't close.... ive lost 3 around me in about 2 years. one of which was awesome. had great prices on livestock and dry goods. he would actually even match L/A and their prices. The staff was also very knowledgeable too
 
I got the LFS owner's cell on speed dial. His prices are a little more than mail order but not so much that I feel ripped off. He will go way out of his way to get me anything I am looking for. We have a frag consignment deal when I have to many to move on my own. Our relationship is so good he asked me to help him out at MACNA this year. He is very knowledgeable and helps out our local reef club when ha can.

One the other hand, there is another fish store in town I will not set foot in ever again. The owner does not have a good grip on saltwater and his prices are sky high.
 
Every freakin' weekend :spin1:
I have bought only one living thing online. I prefer to see them first.
I pay a bit more for dry goods and other stuff for the privilege of WISIWIG on fish and corals. Worth every penny.
I feel lucky to have lots of truly 'LOCAL' fish stores. I want to keep it that way.
 
My closet LFS is a 20 minute drive but they are knowledgeable and for a small shop they seem to move a lot of rare and interesting things. They've also bought frags off me before and promote hobby level aqua culturing in that regard.
 
Every weekend if I can! Mostly live stock and food. Unfortunately rarely equipment as they don't stock much and I'm a cheap ### Craigslist/forum shopper for equipment.


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The old LFS I went too had a fire issue and they shut down, but due to that I found a new one near me and it is freakin awesome! Everything is priced accordingly unlike the last LFS I went to, I have never ordered anything online, like someone else mentioned here I prefer to see things in person before buying
 
I normally buy my livestock from one particular LFS. His fish and inverts always look and act healthy. His corals on the other hand....not so much. For corals, luckily I have 2 places fairly close by that I can go to. Equipment wise, I normally buy online. Mostly because my LFS doesn't carry it, or it's just too cheap not to.

Unfortunately I have not found a place that has both great fish and corals. There is one, but I'm not willing to drive 1.5 hours plus a bridge toll to get there. Most others are just total crap and I can't believe they're still in business.
 
I have 4 within 10 miles of my house and 4 more within 20 miles. One of them is owned by a personal friend.

They all have issues. Only one keeps great stock of fish and coral, but he charges 50% more than the others. My friend's store is smaller and I vist him regularly, but I rarely buy anything (it's a business and I don't ask for special prices).

It's all available online so I can shop several sites from the comfort of home and delivered to my door!
 
Lucky to have 5 family owned saltwater fish stores and pet stores in addition to two Petco's within a 15 mile radius.
Hitting "the circuit" is one of my sources of entertainment.

Closest thing to having an issue is one of the better ones would rather grow stuff out on full display (for years) rather than sell it.

"You know, I've done more begging with you than my ex wife.
That's not meant as a compliment."

"Oh that's ok. I couldn't spend my money here so I gave $500 to Live Aquaria."

"One of your customers who's spent over $2000 in you shop over the last 5 years would like to give you some money. Will you take it?"

Finally was able to buy a piece after someone broke down a tank, leaving the area, and he doubled his inventory of it.

Fun, nice, knowledgeable people. He is definitely a hobbyist at heart.


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cFloor said:
I'm lucky to have a couple great LFS close by. Every time I go, I'll see a coral or fish I'm interested in. I still buy online as well, just because the prices sometimes are hard to beat.
Click to expand...

I've seen online prices be a fraction cheaper than my LFS, but after you factor in shipping you'd have to be buying a TON of fish to ever make it worth it.

Which ones do you go to in the Bay Area?

billdogg said:
I have always tried to, but sometimes they just cannot beat the price, especially on things like salt, that F&S and FedEx brings right to my door.
Click to expand...

Salt and things like equipment I tend to buy online as those you can get free shipping on and sent directly to my doorstep

Jon0807 said:
Unfortunately I have not found a place that has both great fish and corals. There is one, but I'm not willing to drive 1.5 hours plus a bridge toll to get there. Most others are just total crap and I can't believe they're still in business.
Click to expand...

Where's that one:fun5:
 
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