How many of you support your lfs

Strangely, with such a large market like the SF Bay Area we have a very limited number of high quality lfs.

I buy all my dry goods/equipment online because lfs can't match the selection or prices.

I have a go-to lfs for livestock (fish, shrimp, snails, etc.). They have great prices and selection so I buy it all from them.

For corals, none of the lfs seem to have the harder to find sps corals. Most customers are looking for cheap coral so that's what they stock. For sps corals I buy from a few trusted local hobbyists or from online dealers.

Bottom line, I do my best to support lfs because I want them to stay in business. But money's money and I'm not made of it!
 
I try to support the LFS. I've never had a problem with their livestock in fact, I was talking to the owner about losing 3 acros in my frag tank (when the tank was far too new). We talked about the changes I made and steps I took to stabilize the tank. I told him I was worried about losing another $60 acro. So he gave me one. Told me if it made it a month I could come back and pay for it. Now that's a drug dealer at heart. "Here just try it. If you like it come see me again".

Truly though I feel he just wants to see me be successful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I can't find most of the dry goods I'm looking for at LFSs anymore. They all carry a very limited selection dry goods because most people buy online. I blame this largely on wholesale distributors starting to sell retail. LFSs just can't make any money on the stuff anymore.
 
Never because they are horrible. They are not a aquarium only store. They carry stuff for dogs/cats/parrots/etc. Their aquarium section doesn't carry much and most of what they do carry is cheap mediocre brands. Their tanks are not well-cared for either and they have no guarantee on fish like liveaquaria. And the number of fish I have seen there that have had infections, etc, I wouldn't buy squat without a very good guarantee. The woman who manages the aquatic section is nasty too. Looks like she never washes or brushes her hair, dirty-ish clothes, etc. She also thinks she is super knowledgeable about marine fish but trust me she's not. She gives out so much misinformation to customers that it is mind-boggling.
 
typical lfs guarantee, you buy it you own it. lfs charge LA price without the LA guarantee.
so answer is no.

lfs exists to make as much money as they can out of you (true for any business), like sell pickling lime 10x the price of walmart. They are not there to do you any favor. lfs is a very tough business to be in. The lfs with thriving business seem to become more and more arrogant, their head probably won't fit through the door soon. This is a cyclical business and sooner or later, they will be begging for customers.
 
There are a couple LFS in my area that I go to often. There are many more that I do not support with my dollars, times or recommendations. I prefer to buy my dry goods from my favorite LFS but many times they don't have what I need or the markup is just a bit much. It doesn't help that they are also 1.5 hours away in Milwaukee. The Chicago area LFS I go to doesn't sell dry goods.

The majority of my dry goods are ordered in from BRS. Shipping is fast, the selection is great and if there are any issues, they are quite responsive. I really wish there was a shop worth going to in my area that carried more dry goods and had great service. I have no problems paying a little bit more to show my support.
 
I used to go to our LFS but recently they seem like they don't care. It amazes me that 20 minutes after they open there are dead fish floating/sunken in the displays. In my mind it's laziness. Also, there have been times where they were getting fish in and said they would hold them for me when they arrived. I said perfect, just email me the price and when they come in. Not once have they reached out. This has happened multiple times and not just to me. I'll start buying from LA as my tank is very lightly stocked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
d0ughb0y said:
lfs exists to make as much money as they can out of you (true for any business), like sell pickling lime 10x the price of walmart.
Click to expand...

This is incredibly cynical... I hope you understand that an LFS is an incredibly difficult business to sustain let alone make any sort of signficant profit from. It always has been, but it's even moreso today with so many online competitors just soaking up the market.

I'm not a fan of LFSes generally speaking, but I would never accuse them of trying to milk me for money, because I know that 9/10 LFSes probably struggle to break even. And on top of all of that, there is an incredible amount of infrastructure and livestock to maintain which also costs a significant amount of time.

You can rail on LFSes for a whole host of other reasons like how they often don't give good advice...
 
I try but it is difficult to justify the price when I can have my dry good shipped for free at a much lower cost.

I am all for supporting the local LFS but when prices are 200% over online its an easy choice.

Also when it comes to livestock I loving picking up fish/coral/inverts from local hobbyists.

The quality is uasally much better/healthier/and priced to move.
 
The LFS I support actually makes most of his money on setup and maintenance services. The store itself does not make much money. With the fact he is priced to be competitive with on-line prices it really surprises me the store does not have more volume of customers.
 
I'll usually go to my LFS if I'm looking for replenishable goods, like frozen food and even CUC members. There are a few reliable LFS in the NYC/Brooklyn area thankfully.

For equipment, you can't really beat online retailers, esp. since many of them give credit back for future purchases, and often have lower prices.

Otherwise, for new tankmates, I am very selective and either try to purchase from local reefers who have a great selection of hard to find frags, or, purchase online from retailers who stand behind their livestock (i.e. for fish).

On a rare occasion, I may purchase from a LFS if they serendipitously have what I'm looking for at a good price and health. It's unfortunate, but many LFS here just don't have a selective eye on quality / unique stock (e.g. SPS / LPS), or, try to cultivate such stock for future propagation.

Since I travel for work, and to some cities that have great LFS (like Orlando), I may take the opportunity to buy pieces I would never be able to find in my area.
 
I like my local fish store. Sure I can buy items on line cheaper and I do sometimes. However,the fish store I deal with is clean. The staff and I know one another by name. It's nice to window shop, and hang out with other fish people. Which is something you can't do on line. Fishy business in Columbia sc rocks.
 
I trade coral for fish sometime. For dry good I mostly get them online. Live stock mostly local, but this is few and far in between.
 
I only buy things I can't get from my LF Stores online and that's mostly plumbing, fittings, valves, and my RO/DI refills. I will drive over an hour sometimes just to look. I never buy anything live online. Too many bad experiences but I do have a few great stores in the area with really good selections.
 
I once told a LFS owner that I was willing to pay 25%, or even 50% more than online - and she basically told me that it's not enough to keep the lights on...

So, I see no point in maintaining a storefront if the overhead requires you to be so noncompetitive that it would require charity to survive.
 
Local shops/businesses never catered to the customer, they are usually all about the owners hobbies and supporting him first which is why online retail exploded.

My LFS guy is pretty rude, he walks with his nose in the air like it's a privalege to pay his high prices. Don't get me won't I'm all for businesses making a profit but a reasonable profit and not being greedy and snooty.

I remember walking into a local gun store 15 or so years ago and was buying a can of black powder to make some firecrackers, the owner looked at me and Alex me what I need that for. I looked at him, told him to mind his f'in business and walked out. I only shop at online gun stores now because of the small business owner attitude.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brian60077
🐠 store is irritating
Replies
5
Views
427
griss
griss
Paul B
Think like a fish
Replies
1
Views
363
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
OrionN
Baby CB Regal Angel from Biota
Replies
8
Views
940
OrionN
OrionN
H
25 year old yellow tang dying :(
Replies
10
Views
700
sallypur
S
revclyburn
I think it's time
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
Patrick Seastar
Patrick Seastar
Back
Top