premium aquatic pricing.
- Thread starter nathenvan
- Start date
Gordonious
Active member
Actually a lot of the items are coming down as far as what the typical mark up is. The owner of the store is marking things up less and less % wise. Thing is, it isn't that he is raising prices his suppliers are getting more expensive as he is finding the supplies with quality specimens. He seems to be more focused on getting quality healthy animals that live well, then getting in cheap things.(I am glad he has chose quality over quantity, I’d rather see a price that is a tiny bit higher then 3 dead fish floating next to 5 skinny ones that are half alive at a cheaper price) To the best of my knowledge he hasn't raised the price on any specific animal or item. Just when he gets in new things that cost him more he has to mark them up a little higher. If you check out the awesome new corals he brought in yesterday I think you will see he is bringing in nice healthy specimens and still marking them far cheaper then the other stores.
I'm glad you did still note that he is still cheaper then the competition. I am sure he will remain this way. I think the competition has raised their prices because they almost had a monopoly on the area. Hopefully as they start to lose customers because of there outrageous prices their customers find other stores and don't just give up on the hobby all together. Though I think with some friendly competition Just Fish will hopefully bring down there prices to a sensible point.
I'm glad you did still note that he is still cheaper then the competition. I am sure he will remain this way. I think the competition has raised their prices because they almost had a monopoly on the area. Hopefully as they start to lose customers because of there outrageous prices their customers find other stores and don't just give up on the hobby all together. Though I think with some friendly competition Just Fish will hopefully bring down there prices to a sensible point.
davidandliz
New member
just fish has some nice things but they are wayyyyy too expensive.. i was there yesterday and saw a couple walking out with a box of tank supplies and thought,...thats a shame they dont know better to shop around.. this hobby is expensive enough without charging 36$ for a shrimp. The key for any lfs is definately the diversity of its livestock you could have great prices but if you dont have options and something a little different ppl will tend to go to spend more just too see what else is there even if they dont buy it. I dont know what the market is on fw but i dont see too many ppl in there looking at those fish.. and i cant see that they make very good money from fw. i think premium should expand more of the store to be sw. id rather go right accross the street from my house then 45 minutes to get a deal at tpp.
just an idea.
just an idea.
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
I went in the begining and bought a few things from PA, probably when I shouldn't have (broke college kid). But recently I have seen their prices go up as well, haven't really been back since. I shop around a lot and always compare prices, even if it only saves a couple bucks, that's almost a gallon of gas! LOL! I'm with you nathenvan. Everytime I go into JF though, most of there livestock is sick or dying. I've seen queen, emperor and passer angels all with infections, pop eye, ich etc, one emperor was 300-400 bucks and was half dead in the tank, wouldn't they QT to at least save the cost of the fish? It's apparent they don't care about the health of the fish.
Gordonious
Active member
We've talked about QTing at LFSs a while ago before I started working at a store. Seriously I dare anyone to find a store with any kind of selection that qts there fish. Just picture PA with a store time times the size and ten times the electric bill so they can qt the fish. How do you think that would affect the sale price?
The stores are large open systems with shared water, heating, circulation, and filtration. A proper qt time is at 8 weeks. Who is going to ask a store owner if he can get in a particular fish and then wait 10 weeks for it to be available and pay 3-4 times the price?
It's easy to qt one - two fish before you put them in your tank, but 25-40 fish a week?
The stores are large open systems with shared water, heating, circulation, and filtration. A proper qt time is at 8 weeks. Who is going to ask a store owner if he can get in a particular fish and then wait 10 weeks for it to be available and pay 3-4 times the price?
It's easy to qt one - two fish before you put them in your tank, but 25-40 fish a week?
Gordonious
Active member
David and/or Liz,
PA will be expanding there stock, but like with new fish tanks at home you can't do too much too quickly. New store, new biological system. Also, like I explained earlier, he has been working on finding the best suppliers and didn't want to order too much from some random website.
Over the next 3-4 weeks you will see a TON of new stuff at PA and more of everything as the tanks become healthier and stable and we work out all the kinks.
PA will be expanding there stock, but like with new fish tanks at home you can't do too much too quickly. New store, new biological system. Also, like I explained earlier, he has been working on finding the best suppliers and didn't want to order too much from some random website.
Over the next 3-4 weeks you will see a TON of new stuff at PA and more of everything as the tanks become healthier and stable and we work out all the kinks.
Tank Predator
New member
i would agree i used to deliver to shops all the time and know what the cost is
an other thing is i believe markup goes for everything other wise no one would make money
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
Who said you need to QT every fish? I agree its impractical and nearly impossible to QT every fish. BUT! Wouldn't you QT a sick or dying $300 show angel? If not just for the sake of the fish, to cover your costs! I can't believe JF let's expensive angels get cloudy/pop eye, ich etc and let them die. I've even tried to other them a reduced price because the fish is obviously in poor health, but they don't budge from their prices, a little ridiculous if you ask me.
Gordonious
Active member
Yeah, it makes sense to qt(+hospitalize/treat) a show fish. I could see a couple of tanks just for them if necessary. I think Just Fish has been in biz for a while and they are just tired of everything and aren't willing to do too much extra work. They also probably didn't pay all that much for it.
I was glad when I was at Premium Aquatics and the owner agreed to move some zoanthids in with a Regal Angel he accidently ordered just to see if he could trigger it to eat. I've been thinking of taking in a spare 30g tank I have that I used for a copper treatment just incase he needs it.
I was glad when I was at Premium Aquatics and the owner agreed to move some zoanthids in with a Regal Angel he accidently ordered just to see if he could trigger it to eat. I've been thinking of taking in a spare 30g tank I have that I used for a copper treatment just incase he needs it.
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
I just get upset when there's a gorgeous fish that could easilyQT and heal. I know QTing every fish would be impossible. It just doesn't seem that JF takes pride in what they do, they don't care about their animals, therefore I won't give them any of my time, money or respect, regardless of how cheap their prices are. That doesn't seem to be the deal with PA. Everyone in this hobby has a passion about it, and I think to run a successful business, you have to be passionate about it as well.
tat2tillidie
New member
for sure
