LFS vs. Vendor (etiquette)?

[Kay Tickle]

I know the answer: get your SHs from seahorsesource.com. I'm just asking to see what people have to say

My LFS has been awesome. Very informative and helpful about setting up my tank, very interested in what I'm putting in there. Great advice when the person who was going to top-off my tank ended up not being available during Christmas, etc., etc.

The owner asks me when I'm getting my seahorses quite frequently, even though he knows I want to wait 9 months since setup. He's not pushy whatsoever, but I don't want to mess up my repoire with him when I tell him I'm ordering them from Dan.

Any suggestions on how to break it to him? Is it possible that the SHs he would get me would be just as good (if I were to verify they were CB)?

I know I shouldn't be worried about hurting his feelings, but I'm curious if anyone else has these dilemmas... :hmm5:

 

[Peka]

I highly doubt that he could get you better CB than Dan. Dan is dedicated to seahorses specifically and his knowledge and customer service is beyond compare. I understand your dilemma of having this relationship with someone but again, it's your money and the horses are going to be your pets. I for one would only want the best and would want to know where they came from and the person who raised them.

If you are really concerned about hurting his feelings, just explain that in this situation, you want to support breeders to do your part in saving the wild population. Also explain that Dan and most breeders like myself, do not stop at just selling you something, the sale includes helping you through any issues you have. The LFS is not knowledgeable enough to help you in that manner because they don't just concentrate on seahorses....

I hope that helps...

 

[bohannbj]

You can tell him you want them from Dan and maybe he will do a large order. That way you pay roughly the same and he can turn a profit too. You might even come out better because the shipping cost will be spread out.

 

[TamiW]

I think I would just be frank with him. A good LFS will appreciate the honesty because it will give them insight into what they aren't able to provide and why. If hobbyist are insisting on high quality captive bred seahorse and taking there business elsewhere then they will have to follow suit to compete. And I dont think many fish stores are well-versed in why cb is better than tank raised, so consider it a chance to educate them

 

[Kay Tickle]

Awesome feedback, guys! I just thought I'd throw it out there to see what you thought. Plus, I admit, I'm trying to build some relationships on here! I'm so excited and it's been hard to wait to get my SHs. I still need some additional hitches. I've also had some wacky sg experiences, so I need to get a refractometer. Glad I gave myself a 9 month minimum.

I really do want to get my seahorses from Dan, because there have only been great comments about the SHs and the customer service. I'm hoping my LFS will just be happy that I actually got them and I'll just get most everything else from him

 

[syrinx]

As a former shop owner I will chime in. I never had any issue with anyone getting stuff from wherever. The only time I would get upset would be when someone would come in and have me show them and give a full explanation for the use of a product- and then have them say "thanks now I am going to go order it online". As far as your situation goes- I would just be like "hey I am getting them from this guy that bred them"- should be no harm no foul. Don`t be bullied by the "I thought we had a relationship" rap some owners use- the relationship you have is based on money-if they are using that line.

 

[timinnl]

Greetings from Amsterdam,

You can also turn it around later when you have young’s that you can offer him. As long as you are buying the food, salt and other items from him, I don't see a problem with buying from Dan. Most stores like repeat business for the supplies rather than a one off on the livestock sale.

+1 Syrinx. I don't believe the gall some people have going into a store and pumping them for all the info needed and turning around to buy it online. (But I will admit that I said it within earshot of the owner of a store I don’t like. Just to **** him off. )

I have a local store and another store that gets most of my business. The other store is a 30min train ride from Amsterdam that cost me around €7.80 plus my time. Great little mom & pop store. Both of these stores offer something I find lacking ordering online. Face time and the interaction with them and sometimes their customers.

Tim

 

[jeff@zina.com]

How do you know your LFS isn't getting their seahorses from Seahorse Source anyway?

My favorite LFS doesn't carry sea horses and recommends people order them from Dan if they want them. They don't have a tank to keep them in and there isn't a high enough demand for them to stock them. They will happily order sea horses for customers but they want to know the customer has the ability to care for them. They do something similar with mandarins and don't normally stock some of the harder anemones for the same reasons.

On the other hand, I have another LFS that almost always has sea horses, usually in a tank with too much flow and no anchor points. Needless to say, the stock is rather beat up and poor looking. But they do have decent pricing on salt, live rock and used equipment, even though I don't buy stock there.

I don't feel enough loyalty to any LFS to have to explain why I didn't buy something there, but only the worst LFS in the area ever questions me about why I don't buy specific items from him. (He was ticked off that I bought tanks at PetCo's dollar a gallon sale instead of through him...)

Jeff

 

[Kay Tickle]

As a former shop owner I will chime in.

Thanks for your input, syrinx. I have a special place in my heart for small business owners, especially in this economy. I just don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I'm confident he will understand.

Greetings from Amsterdam,

You can also turn it around later when you have young’s that you can offer him.

My first pair will be same-sex, because I don't think I'm prepared to go that route yet. Hopefully, I'll be successful and think about breeding in the future.

How do you know your LFS isn't getting their seahorses from Seahorse Source anyway?

I'm pretty sure he gets them from the same vendor as his other fish, but I'll ask again. He keeps one pair in the store, and there doesn't seem to be much of a market here for them.

 

[timinnl]

Good for you. Smart to start with samesex until you are ready.

Tim

 

[reefgeezer]

I never thought about putting in same sex specimens in my new tank. Good Idea. I'll do that when the time comes. Thanks.

I've been both a LFS owner and a hobbyist. There are things the LFS can sell at a profit, and things they can't. I try to buy the things from the LFS when they can compete on quality and price and go out of my way to make sure I do. I expect that the LFS provide adequate information and service concerning the product I buy from them. When I buy something on-line, I really try not to ask the LFS for help in using or caring for it.

If I do ask a retailer to order something special from a vendor, I expect that its price will be marked up as required for the LFS to make its required margin. At that mark-up, Dan's seahorses might be kind of pricey. I'd just order them direct, and buy the Mysis, medications, salt, & etc. from your LFS. If mark-up is as it used to be, that's where the LFS gets most of its profit anyway.

 

[Elysia]

As someone who purchased captive bred seahorses from a LFS that I had a personal relationship with, even if you can get your LFS to purchase seahorses that you know are captive bred -- if the breeder will sell direct, you are likely better to go direct. Unless your LFS has a very good money back upon death policy, you don't want your horses to go into water and tanks that have held wild caught fish. Even if you plan to have tank mates with your horses at some point, you want to be in control of those interactions.

I agree with syrinx, as long as you aren't wasting the owner's time, trying to get his/her customer service and then buying with whoever has the lowest price (rather than whoever can treat you the best,) the owner should not have a problem.

 

[Kay Tickle]

you don't want your horses to go into water and tanks that have held wild caught fish.

Fantastic point!! I didn't even think of that!

When I've ordered stuff from the past, I've been able to catch it before he opens the bag, and I take it home. But, that may not always be the case.

Thanks!

 

[namxas]

Just to weigh in, another issue with getting SH from a LFS is that even if the SH are indeed TRUE CB specimens, they have now been lumped into a system that is full of non-QT'd WC fish. I'd never add a non-QT'd WC fish to any system, much less to a SH setup.

Also, most LFS keep their tanx too warm for SH, and this can be an issue in terms of latent bacterial infections. I've seen SH from a LFS die anywhere from overnight to a month down the road and no matter HOW good the LFS is, I've never seen one that will take a fish back after a month. And, as mentioned, most LFS employees just aren't super SH savvy, even at the good stores.

Go with SH from a breeder...SH Source, or even some of Peka's SH.