LFS vs online

[nrstype]

IF.. I can find a high quality store for livestock.. I frequent that. Seeing the coral or fish or liverock in person makes it worth it, and helps keep my favorite stores running. Fortunately, there are 2 or 3 excellent SW livestock stores around my area I stop in once or twice per month.

But for the "big hardware" purchases, or if I have a list of stuff I can't get all at once at the LFS, then I go to Dr. Fosters, or.. to some extent, to That fish place.com, or petsolutions.com. You usually can not beat the prices on some of the supplies and hardware. (USUALLY) And like others said.. the guarantees are pretty good.

SO... I try to buy at my LFS when I can for livestock, and some once in a while test kit or other single items, but if there is a big list of stuff I need, or $$ Hardware, & $50 -100 price difference LESS on the stuff elsewhere.... then.. for my budget (and I have a family w/kids etc...).. I go online.

All in all.. for me.. it is 50/50.

 

[Dino]

Anymore I've started to do more and more shopping on-line, mainly due to the fact there isn't a decent LFS near me. We do have one small shop here locally but I never go into it anymore due to the fact they don't carry much of anything for SW supplies (no skimmers, only cheap powerheads, only IO salt in little bags, hardly anything for test kits. Their entire SW section is confined to about 10ft of shelf space) and their tanks are always dim and full of algae. So the next closest LFS is ~160 miles away, which while not a really long drive for around here is far enough only manage to get there a handful of times a year.

However, if I did have a LFS I could shop at I'd gladly pay a bit extra to shop there. In my mind its well worth it if you can find one - not only to be able to examine and pick out your livestock and have it right now as you walk out the store, but to really get a close look at different equipment and get a hands on feel. So overall I have to echo what other posters have said - if you have a decent LFS near you that has good quality livestock/service/and all that good stuff don't question for a second to support them. You might have to pay a few extra bucks but those couple of extra bucks you pay can go a long ways when you have a problem. If you don't have one though and/or can't get stuff locally the online vendors are only a click away .

 

[dwd5813]

I'll cast a vote for at least giving your lfs a chance first. i recently was in the market for some powerheads and i thought that i had it all figured out based on reading and researching online. when i went to my lfs, though, i found that the one that i had chosen was not powerful enough for my needs. there is no way i would have ever known that unless the owner had let me put my hand in their tanks to feel the difference for myself between the one i was considering and the one i ended up buying. i for one appreciate the ability to view things in action personally before making a final decision. that said, i feel lucky to have a lfs that will let me do things like that and if i did not, i would be spending more money online.

 

[gunslinger]

i like kinda like going where i can get what I need. I have a great store for fish but dry products are more expensive

 

[steven_dean17]

If you ask the owner at the LFS a question and he/she gives you crappy advice, do you think you should then buy from them? I wouldn't think so, there's no telling what your getting. I try to make sure that when I receive crappy advice that I tell the owner that he/she was wrong so that hopefully he/she stops telling other people the same thing. If I hurt their feelings or make them mad, so be it. Online vendors however, do not offer that same bit of interaction. So what should you do? Check their rep. and make sure you get what you pay for. IMO your taking a chance no matter what, it's just a matter of making an informed decision.

 

[kenske01]

Hi everyone, I am new at this site. I think that this is my first post.

I also like to give support to some of my lfs. Like other members have mentioned, its always nice to be able to see the coral / fish in person. Plus if you need equipment, food, medication, etc. immediately, you can get it quicker.

i have ordered livestock from a few online vendors. I would say that overall, it's been a good experience.

Some collectors corals are hard to impossible to find at a lfs.