My new 600 gallon reef
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
stdreb27
New member
I know this is way out on the blue from a loong time ago. but Put em on the classified forum, most of us can always use more buckets. I'd pay a couple bucks for em.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10659621#post10659621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
No. I just give them away, but you bring up a good point. I could probably sell them in my store to the boaters.
Goodwin9
Premium Member
Got the answer to the identity of this fish. It's a Yellow Tail Surgeon fish. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/spe...419&genusname=Prionurus&speciesname=punctatus[/quote
Bax
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11158973#post11158973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
If we don't take care of each other, what's left, the LFS?
I have yet to sell or even trade a frag. I keep on giving them away to reefers who visit my office
When I buy frags locally, I often get freebies from fellow reefers.
When I buy used equipment, (most of my high end stuff is used) I often get what ever else is laying around the seller does not want for free (I've got tanks, sumps, pumps and more this way). If I get home and I don't need it, I'll pass it along for what I paid for it, if that was nothing, I give it away.
The LFS around here don't work that way either,
reefers have to stick together .... everyone else thinks we're crazy!!! :eek1:
jnarowe
New member
You know, in my real life, I sell marine products for cost plus 10%, and I have had suppliers go nuts on me. And the 10% is just to cover labor and credit card fees. Why do I do it? Because I can. I grew up boating and crusing is my long lost love. I got so P.O.'d at the local marine store, I decided to do something about it.
If our local LF stores don't get their friggin' acts together, I am going to do something about that too.
If our local LF stores don't get their friggin' acts together, I am going to do something about that too.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
We had a local guy that did it out of his garage but couldn't keep up. He gave us great prices but he had to combine w/ a LFS. They have great stuff but cost more than online prices by far...but that is the way the stores go they have to pay for stuff.
jnarowe adn Bax - hook me up w/ some good prices :lol:
Lunchbucket
jnarowe adn Bax - hook me up w/ some good prices
:lol:Lunchbucket
stdreb27
New member
yeah, I just got out of college, and one of the things I want to do is to open a fish store. I want to do something I love and am passionate about. And why not set up display tanks all over your store. I'd have an excuse. The only problem is I'm trying to figure out how to make money doing it. Most LFS I see here are struggling, or charge way way to much for their stuff and still struggle. Or make their money in fresh water. I HATE FRESH WATER FISH. Ok I don't they just don't facinate me. The only one who does make money makes their money selling customized tanks in new houses and their LFS is basically a showroom. And really doesn't have much live stock. I'm gonna figure it out.
Thanks Lunch for the plug...but some of you are right and some are completely dead wrong. I have been doing the hobby for 10 years plus a little. This hobby is full of people that want lots of information for free....yes for free. Go into a computer store and ask them to fix your computer for free, or give you the quick and simple thing to get it running again. So many in this hobby ruin it for others. Always slamming LFS, well let me tell you I am in financial ruin trying to run a LFS that had online or close to it prices.
jnarowe, please help me figure this out. I am trying to see your point. Tell me any other successful business that only marks items up 10-20%? Even shoe-stores, that have 30-40% off are still making $$$. I do not understand. This hobby is going to implode or something like that because it will only be online, due to lots of people who know nothing put up an online store and charge 10% over cost and sell things. Here is my biggest point, where do a lot of them get the information...yes some here but majority get it from the LFS...not all full of crap. I sold people what they needed...not what would make me the most $$$, and bam I still could not keep it open with no rent, low utilities, and such. I am a good business owner and run a maintenance business now that makes $$, good $$ but all to pay off the $80,000 worth of debt that I owe trying to run a LFS that had "good prices".
Please before you all go on a slamming-fest, think of others. Most LFS do not make money hands over fist, most are on the brink of closing. Just ask around. Might end up LFS being a thing of the past soon.
just venting and a lot of bottled up anger toward people who bash LFS without stating the other side.
Grant
jnarowe, please help me figure this out. I am trying to see your point. Tell me any other successful business that only marks items up 10-20%? Even shoe-stores, that have 30-40% off are still making $$$. I do not understand. This hobby is going to implode or something like that because it will only be online, due to lots of people who know nothing put up an online store and charge 10% over cost and sell things. Here is my biggest point, where do a lot of them get the information...yes some here but majority get it from the LFS...not all full of crap. I sold people what they needed...not what would make me the most $$$, and bam I still could not keep it open with no rent, low utilities, and such. I am a good business owner and run a maintenance business now that makes $$, good $$ but all to pay off the $80,000 worth of debt that I owe trying to run a LFS that had "good prices".
Please before you all go on a slamming-fest, think of others. Most LFS do not make money hands over fist, most are on the brink of closing. Just ask around. Might end up LFS being a thing of the past soon.
just venting and a lot of bottled up anger toward people who bash LFS without stating the other side.
Grant
stdreb27
New member
I'd pay more if I had the money, but I don't.
One of the things I saw an LFS store do is create a fish that is "THE FISH" it is the fish you can buy when you have mastered the art of Fish keeping. The MBU puffer. They charge like 400 dollar for even a younger one. And you really don't see it ever in other LFS's. When you buy the fish, they "make sure" you have all the right stuff, fluvial FX5 about 150 gallon tank or larger, the right tank mates ect. I think the key is getting clientel with lots a money, or doing services with your store as your showroom or hobby.
I guess you miss the point...the point is why help out these people so much and give them all the right answers so they can go online and buy the items...It just hurts, I have the right answers but are they not worth anything? Many people want me to come over and evaluate and fix their fish problems. But when I say I have a service charge they say WHAT...I am a professional also...maybe not a doctor, but I think sometimes better. I have to hear all this mumble jumble talk, and hear about there whole life story of the tank and try to figure out the problem without the patient(fish tank) even present. To me a lot harder than a doctor...but then also not get any compensation for it. Doctors do not tell you over the phone how to treat yourself...it is come in for a doctor call....they get paid for their knowledge...why not me.
just have a lot of slammer here on reef central lately and had to say something...if I offended anyone...probably needed it...
Grant
just have a lot of slammer here on reef central lately and had to say something...if I offended anyone...probably needed it...
Grant
stdreb27
New member
I know how you feel, I used to work at radioshack, and people would bring stuff in from walmart then ask me how to hook it up. then they would get ****ed off after I told them, why don't you ask someone from walmart how to hook it up. All suprised that I had no intention of helping them. These were the same people who would B#$% about the pricing at walk out of radioshack the day before.
My favorite line was "Usually you can get help from the people you bought your product from."
"Oh I bought it from you."
"well that's funny, It says Excusively Avaliable at Walmart"
Then it turns into I can't believe you won't help me sob story.
What alot of people fail to realise that Information is way more valuable than anything you can buy.
The real question is, why are you in business? If you are to help someone, shut down, build an aquarium and set up a non-profit. Then people will just donate you money. And you can charge 15 bucks for people to just walk around. suckers.
but back to my original question, why would you not set up something online? If you feel that is where the money is.
jnarowe
New member
Hey Grant, my "slamming" LFS is only based on what I experience here. There are a lot of dedicated LFS owners around the country that do a great job and make a living in a very difficult industry. I am in retail, and I understand your position entirely.
What I see locally are extremely poorly run stores and I have no idea how they stay in business. And for sure, I would get bent every time someone came in and asked me information so they can buy it online. We get that in our retail store all the time. So, we have a massive online store as well, sell gift cards and electronic gift certificates, etc. and provide as much added value (read: information) as we can. Educating the consumer is the toughest part of the battle IMO.
So how do you compete with online aquarium businesses? Well, embrace the consumer's need for information. Have seminars and build follow-on sales. Have a real live rock display, not a dead rock in a glass box display. Get them when they are starting out. You can tell who they are the minute they walk into the store. Help them build their system, provide exemplary service, and don't sell them stuff they don't need. And by all means, highlight reef keeping philosphies on your store walls. QT process, pests etc. Highlight the true cost of buying a 10$ fish online plus shipping ($40), or paying $20 at the LFS for a healthy specimen with much less stress to the fish.
I have had more than one LFS owner PM me and slam me over my forum attitude, but hopefully you will understand something: I write what I write to save those who can learn and grow their business. One of our local LFS just moved his store to a plaza into a smaller space, painted everything black, and installed carpet. Carpet in an aquarium store? His idea is that it would hide the stains...
I only sell marine itmes at 10% for special orders, and not items available in my store. In the store, my marine markup averages 35% - 40% which is still less than the West Marine 40% - 60%+. And I do it so customers have an alternative to West Marine. The majority of my income comes from import foods, which run at about 40%, which is considerably less than the 200% - 300% seen in LFS. But, LFS' have some extenuating circumstances of waste like high mortality rates, etc.
It's not personal Grant, it encouragement for LFS to get their act together so we sdo have decent local stores that we can trust. Live Aquaria is winning the war by what? 14 day gaurantee. That's it in a nut-shell.
What I see locally are extremely poorly run stores and I have no idea how they stay in business. And for sure, I would get bent every time someone came in and asked me information so they can buy it online. We get that in our retail store all the time. So, we have a massive online store as well, sell gift cards and electronic gift certificates, etc. and provide as much added value (read: information) as we can. Educating the consumer is the toughest part of the battle IMO.
So how do you compete with online aquarium businesses? Well, embrace the consumer's need for information. Have seminars and build follow-on sales. Have a real live rock display, not a dead rock in a glass box display. Get them when they are starting out. You can tell who they are the minute they walk into the store. Help them build their system, provide exemplary service, and don't sell them stuff they don't need. And by all means, highlight reef keeping philosphies on your store walls. QT process, pests etc. Highlight the true cost of buying a 10$ fish online plus shipping ($40), or paying $20 at the LFS for a healthy specimen with much less stress to the fish.
I have had more than one LFS owner PM me and slam me over my forum attitude, but hopefully you will understand something: I write what I write to save those who can learn and grow their business. One of our local LFS just moved his store to a plaza into a smaller space, painted everything black, and installed carpet. Carpet in an aquarium store? His idea is that it would hide the stains...
I only sell marine itmes at 10% for special orders, and not items available in my store. In the store, my marine markup averages 35% - 40% which is still less than the West Marine 40% - 60%+. And I do it so customers have an alternative to West Marine. The majority of my income comes from import foods, which run at about 40%, which is considerably less than the 200% - 300% seen in LFS. But, LFS' have some extenuating circumstances of waste like high mortality rates, etc.
It's not personal Grant, it encouragement for LFS to get their act together so we sdo have decent local stores that we can trust. Live Aquaria is winning the war by what? 14 day gaurantee. That's it in a nut-shell.
- Status
