kscrimshaw
New member
OK, I can't resist putting in my 2 cents, too! I don't know that it's really all that necessary to have an amazing in-house stock of dry goods. How many of you actually browse the LFS for dry goods as opposed to livestock? I admit that I don't, except for frozen food (and is that even a dry good?) and the occasional "oh, s**t, I really need ___" moment.
Yes, it would be great if we could see all the latest and greatest technology on display, but I don't expect or need that in our shops. And I think we can all agree that Tucson doesn't have the market to support a "saltwater superstore" where that would be possible. The LFS need to play to their strengths and advantages over the on-line stores. Of course they can't compete in price, because the volume isn't there. But there is just something about actually seeing that fish/coral/whatever in person that makes it a totally different buying experience.
I know some of you have your favorite on-line vendors and love the customer service you've received, but it's just not quite the same as taking your kid into the store to check out all the tanks, and chatting with the store owner about whatever. That's where the customer service comes in, not just with the owner, but also with knowledgeable and friendly employees. That is what brings me back to the same shops over and over again.
Yes, it would be great if we could see all the latest and greatest technology on display, but I don't expect or need that in our shops. And I think we can all agree that Tucson doesn't have the market to support a "saltwater superstore" where that would be possible. The LFS need to play to their strengths and advantages over the on-line stores. Of course they can't compete in price, because the volume isn't there. But there is just something about actually seeing that fish/coral/whatever in person that makes it a totally different buying experience.
I know some of you have your favorite on-line vendors and love the customer service you've received, but it's just not quite the same as taking your kid into the store to check out all the tanks, and chatting with the store owner about whatever. That's where the customer service comes in, not just with the owner, but also with knowledgeable and friendly employees. That is what brings me back to the same shops over and over again.