I think I'm done dealing with the LFS

[BrokenSpoke]

I think I drove close to 150 miles yesterday checking out the several LFS in my area and didn't see a single thing I wanted to buy. I have always balked at ordering livestock and corals online due to the shipping cost but yesterday got me thinking.

Guarantee - No LFS offers any guarantee while Live Aquaria, for example, offers a 14 day guarantee on fish

Selection - hands down Live Aquaria has everyone beat

Cost - Online prices for the fish are cheaper but when you figure in shipping, they are comprable to the LFS

However, when you figure in mileage, gas, and the time I spent yesterday (time I could have spent with my family or working around the house), the shipping fee, plus the guarantee, has made ordering online extremely attractive. Time to give online a shot and see how it goes.

 

[RJT]

I agree with your argument however you probably should have called the stores to see if they had anything that you liked. Also, most stores can order your choices if they aren't in stock and you can see before you buy it.

Live aquaria is great but they don't always have what I want in stock and I cannot not order it. They only notify you when it's in stock.

I shop both online and lfs. Both of which I'm happy with.

 

[humaguy]

between dd, nya, pia, bz, and private divers/collectors I really don't use my lfs anymore, except for nya...

 

[Allmost]

we dont have such online shops up here, and getting permit to get stuff from US isnt easy, so LFS is all we got up here.

 

[jaa1456]

The shops in my area get everything that DD and PIA get, so I'm lucky. NYA is close enough to be considered a LFS and there are two others in NJ that carry whatever they don't have.

 

[SteelMastiff]

80% of my Livestock has been purchased online, but probably 80% of my dry goods are purchased thru my LFS. I might spend a little more on dry goods this way, but I want to support my LFS so I know they'll be around in an emergency, so to me its well worth it....

 

[BrokenSpoke]

I agree with your argument however you probably should have called the stores to see if they had anything that you liked. Also, most stores can order your choices if they aren't in stock and you can see before you buy it.

If I knew exactly what I wanted you're right I could have called. Most of my purchases have been more of an impulse buy in the sense that I want to add a fish or coral, just not sure exactly what. Then, when I see something that interests me I'll research it for compatibility issues, etc., and then decide whether or not to buy it.

Yes, my most of my LFS will order me something but most require me to buy it. Still, they won't give any sort of guarantee.

 

[jjk_reef00]

I feel your pain. The LFS that is good in my area is about an hour away from my house. It is really hard for me to spend 2 hours driving when I can just order online. I didn't even make their black friday sales because it was just too much time in the car.

 

[TheGodParticle]

I don't get where people always say online livestock orders are cheaper? I've ordered tons of livestock online and I've bought tons of livestock from the LFS. It's always cheaper at the LFS here in KC. I can get high end fish like Male Crosshatch Triggers for $350 yet online, anywhere they are $600+ and in some cases 1k+. Large purple tangs here all day for $150, etc.... Only reason I order online is if I see something I like that the LFS doesn't have or if I'm buying a wysiwyg coral. You guys must have really crappy stores.

 

[RJT]

If I knew exactly what I wanted you're right I could have called. Most of my purchases have been more of an impulse buy in the sense that I want to add a fish or coral, just not sure exactly what. Then, when I see something that interests me I'll research it for compatibility issues, etc., and then decide whether or not to buy it.

Yes, my most of my LFS will order me something but most require me to buy it. Still, they won't give any sort of guarantee.

I blame smartphones for impulse buying on my part. A lot of times I have purchased livestock and did all of my research in front of the tank.

The one good thing about my lfs- they don't require you to buy it. But some do get mad if you don't.

Guarantees are nice the store credits online stores aren't the best but its better than nothing.

 

[nikon187]

we dont have such online shops up here, and getting permit to get stuff from US isnt easy, so LFS is all we got up here.

Actually getting a cities permit is easy enough, it just costs a fair bit. Call fish and wildlife

 

[Reef Frog]

My main small city LFS is OK and I give them credit for taking some risks by getting some interesting and fairly uncommon corals & fish somerimes. It makes it worth stopping by to look but it's close to me. Unfortunately thir efforts are not always rewarded by customers and some decent stuff languishes unsold

 

[NTP66]

It's more than just seeing if the LFS has what you want, though. There are a few places near me that always have a very good selection of fish and coral available, but a LOT of the fish are always sick and in poor shape. That probably isn't the case everywhere, but it's worth checking out the local stores at least once to see how they keep their livestock. I gave up on my local stores for all livestock and went the online route (Live Aquaria and Saltwaterfish.com), and couldn't be happier. The only thing I buy locally now is salt.

 

[scrambler1880]

I think I drove close to 150 miles yesterday checking out the several LFS in my area and didn't see a single thing I wanted to buy. I have always balked at ordering livestock and corals online due to the shipping cost but yesterday got me thinking.

Guarantee - No LFS offers any guarantee while Live Aquaria, for example, offers a 14 day guarantee on fish

Selection - hands down Live Aquaria has everyone beat

Cost - Online prices for the fish are cheaper but when you figure in shipping, they are comprable to the LFS

However, when you figure in mileage, gas, and the time I spent yesterday (time I could have spent with my family or working around the house), the shipping fee, plus the guarantee, has made ordering online extremely attractive. Time to give online a shot and see how it goes.

I notice that you are in Parker.... Have you tried Aquatic Art in highlands ranch? Only open on Saturdays but gives the online retailers some serious competition in terms of selection and quality. Pretty much a coral only shop but some great stuff.

 

[ridetolive]

I enjoy getting out now and then just to check out what my LFS have in stock. It can take some time to find a store that has a good selection of healthy livestock but its worth it when you do. I prefer to see the fish in person and make sure he is eating before I buy it. I also prefer to support the local businesses when I can.

 

[Boston21]

I think the selection availability online is hard to beat, but I havent dived in yet as I have been buying mostly frags and such from stuff I can find at the LFS. Once in a while my local places have good stock, but it usually get's eaten up before I get a chance to check the place out as I usually go in towards the weekends.

 

[krkqm2008]

I have spent 1000's of dollars on LFS it's a waste of money
No guarantee no nothing, even if u r a repeat customer they won't do you a favor and self you a fish on cost price even if you buy something from them full price and it dies with in a week, that is utter BS, so now I have sucked it up and bought only from DD on LA, they are well fed and rarely an diseases , honestly it's best to buy LA DD, or if you wnat to buy from LA but not DD, buy a small 20 gallon tank with a heater and a water flow thing, and a oxygen stone, just monitor ur fish and then put them In the display, I have been happy with my purchases in the last 6 months from LA DD, can't go wrong my friend

 

[evonano]

I stop dealing with lfs a while back,been buying from ppl on the forums or ppl with there home fish store. and its been fun. few friends have grown from home to a lfs and regret it

 

[bullitr]

My immediate LFS sucks so I have to drive 40 miles to the best one but It takes 2 hours one way so I have to plan to spend almost 8 hours to go to my " fish store" but they have better selection than almost every online fish store. If not all

Also living in socal there are a lot of livestock sells on the forum and most of them became friends.

I buy a lot of dry goods from online vendors though.

 

[AdamSabina]

My immediate LFS sucks so I have to drive 40 miles to the best one but It takes 2 hours one way so I have to plan to spend almost 8 hours to go to my " fish store" but they have better selection than almost every online fish store. If not all Also living in socal there are a lot of livestock sells on the forum and most of them became friends. I buy a lot of dry goods from online vendors though.

+1

I like my 3 LFS but when it comes down to it I buy a most of my goods online and coral is way cheaper for good stuff from other friends on reef central. I'm at a draw with fish though. Bought anthias from live aquaria that had red velvet, LFS had ich, and I don't see many for sale on the forum. So I'm sticking with my store it's cheaper.... For now.