For me it is not always the "price". Rare corals, fish and some products, I just can not find at my LFS_like ATI, korallen T5 bulbs, Rox 0.8 activated carbon and many others. I do agree that LFS offer great service and your best buddy when you have an emergency, but unfortunately I can not get everything I need at LFS. I know LFS need 100% support not just 50/50 (store/internet) or even 60/40 like many of us do. I wish I would but it is not possible.
Sad Day Indeed
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For me it is not always the "price". Rare corals, fish and some products, I just can not find at my LFS_like ATI, korallen T5 bulbs, Rox 0.8 activated carbon and many others. I do agree that LFS offer great service and your best buddy when you have an emergency, but unfortunately I can not get everything I need at LFS. I know LFS need 100% support not just 50/50 (store/internet) or even 60/40 like many of us do. I wish I would but it is not possible.
Not sure I agree. No question it is tougher, but it just means that the LFS has to find ways to provide valuable services and focus on core. In my case, for example, I buy ALL of my fish and coral locally (I do drool over DD every now and then, but drooling has not turned to buying), as well as heavy items like sand, salt, tanks, etc. But I do buy the vast majority of my equipment online - not so much driven by price, but by selection and ease-of-purchase.
I always thought LFS ought to sell a kind of tank 'insurance policy' whereby they would have certain equipment available 24/7 for you to borrow when something fails at an inconvenient time. Online cannot do that!
Interestingly, a friend of mine who owns a LFS says that hobbyist frag trading/selling has impacted his business as well - so its not just online. I think selling frags is a terrific practice, but as with all things, it too has unintended consequences.
BfishLpond78
FUPA
Here's my two cents on the online vs LFS purchases. I buy all of my life stock from LFS, I gotta be able to see and watch it move. The problem I see lies with a lot of the hardware, stores cannot keep in stock a wide range of this stuff as it's too costly as there is way too many brands out there. But the brands that they are able to bring in are more for the entry level aquarist as the equipment is less expensive to stock vs. us who are in a club or part of forum loaded with information about various products. It would be hard to cater to everyone as we all have different goals.
I agree that the hobbyist buying and trading of corals is going to impact a lot. A lot of hobbyist, especially the experienced folks who know what they are after (i.e. Myself for example are looking for specific pieces of SPS or zoas) now most stores do not carry these things (PC was different I'll get to them). A lot of the stores order their corals off a huge list from wholesalers and bring in a box of 20-30 colonies of either zoas or maricultured SPS. Not that there is something wrong with that, but it's one sided. Now where PC excelled was they had Joe who was always on the hunt for either large breakdown sales or bringing in ORA, Walt Smith or other "named" pieces that a lot of people love. So what that does is brings in both the experienced and beginners into the store and if most people are like me, I go in for once piece and leave with 2 or 3.
It's a tough business world, and as someone mentioned before, to compete in this economy these stores have to offer something that no one else has done before.
The closing of PC is heartbreaking, as you can see it's driving a lot of emotion out of all the folks in the club and just on the forums. We all loved the PC crew for their efforts and support of our addiction. But as with the loss of anything in our lives we need to be there for one another. Even the LFS, I have my fingers crossed that PC will be able to re-open a new store and do what they do best. But for now we need to sit back, relax in front of our tanks and realize why we are all here. I really enjoy everyone that is in this club and have nothing but positive things to say about everyone...except for Franky, that dude is just out of his mind.
I will step down from my soap box.
I agree that the hobbyist buying and trading of corals is going to impact a lot. A lot of hobbyist, especially the experienced folks who know what they are after (i.e. Myself for example are looking for specific pieces of SPS or zoas) now most stores do not carry these things (PC was different I'll get to them). A lot of the stores order their corals off a huge list from wholesalers and bring in a box of 20-30 colonies of either zoas or maricultured SPS. Not that there is something wrong with that, but it's one sided. Now where PC excelled was they had Joe who was always on the hunt for either large breakdown sales or bringing in ORA, Walt Smith or other "named" pieces that a lot of people love. So what that does is brings in both the experienced and beginners into the store and if most people are like me, I go in for once piece and leave with 2 or 3.
It's a tough business world, and as someone mentioned before, to compete in this economy these stores have to offer something that no one else has done before.
The closing of PC is heartbreaking, as you can see it's driving a lot of emotion out of all the folks in the club and just on the forums. We all loved the PC crew for their efforts and support of our addiction. But as with the loss of anything in our lives we need to be there for one another. Even the LFS, I have my fingers crossed that PC will be able to re-open a new store and do what they do best. But for now we need to sit back, relax in front of our tanks and realize why we are all here. I really enjoy everyone that is in this club and have nothing but positive things to say about everyone...except for Franky, that dude is just out of his mind.
I will step down from my soap box.
frankyrivera
FUP&A Member
Iiiiiiiits Franky lol. And yes I'm crazy so what at least I'm not in denial. What I am though is sad cuz joe saved my butt at midnight on 4th of July mind you and now they're gone. Online can't do that. And who cares if some items were a little more if you'd shop there enough you know that prices were negotiable and in the end we got the deals. Nothing in this hobby is cheap and f your in it to save money get out NOW!!! We lost a great place and that's that hope they come back under a new name and bounce back like they did after that massive storm killed them. Now out of respect for all the people who are jobless and have to deal with real issues like paying the mortgage and putting food on the table why don't we stop whining about frag and salt prices at lfs vs online crap and give it a rest
PL-Reef
Awesome Member
Frankys right. Well said man.
I'd like to add one thing here. It sucks we lost such a great store and some really good people lost their jobs. There's a lot of unanswered questions here and about 90% of the are NONE OF OUR DAMN BUSINESS!! I'm sure you guys don't want everyone knowing about your personal finances. So why don't we show Ron and his crew some respect and and stop digging.....
I'd like to add one thing here. It sucks we lost such a great store and some really good people lost their jobs. There's a lot of unanswered questions here and about 90% of the are NONE OF OUR DAMN BUSINESS!! I'm sure you guys don't want everyone knowing about your personal finances. So why don't we show Ron and his crew some respect and and stop digging.....
FishWrangler
New member
Some of us are just curious and it brings up a good point about the survival of LFS's........sorry, thought forums were meant to discuss stuff.
frankyrivera
FUP&A Member
how much do you and your wife make a year. how many credit cards do you have with balances on them. how much is your mortgage payment. Oh wait none of my damm business. And no thats not what these forums are for to pry into company financial struggles. Its all about the hobby and thats it. Survival of LFS will vary on many things such as economy location etc. We lost one that was good and near and dear to many. Hope everyone fares well in light of the upset good luck to all.
PL-Reef
Awesome Member
Your right they are. But these were people that some of us known for years and considered them friends. Now some of you are starting to dig into some stuff that is just none of our business. Why would any of you need to dig up if PC filed bankruptcy or not?
PL-Reef
Awesome Member
kelley_mc
Active member
Just to clarify to everyone sending me PMs here and on CTFS, I was referring to the store that is working to honor PC gift cards. Nothing else.
saltychick
CTARS and ARKSC member
I'd be broke lol
hazmat319
New member
OMG I just saw this.:sad2::thumbdown
Obviously haven't been on RC in a week. This truly makes me SO sad. Joe was always there to help out with ANY type of question or problem. Anything I needed....he took care of. I was just getting ready to have him order me a bucket of Seachem Reef salt. He took care of all our reefing needs. I've had a few discussions with him over the years about small businesses and competing with online prices. Almost like the writing was on the wall. Unfortunately, it's the way our country is going. My little "mom and pop" pharmacy went under not long ago because Gov. Malloy made all his employees go to mail order. Put the pharmacy out of business. It totally peeved me off just like this has.
I wish all the best for the employees and even the owner. I'm sure you tried to hang in there as long as you could to serve your community. I, for one, appreciate that. God Bless!
Obviously haven't been on RC in a week. This truly makes me SO sad. Joe was always there to help out with ANY type of question or problem. Anything I needed....he took care of. I was just getting ready to have him order me a bucket of Seachem Reef salt. He took care of all our reefing needs. I've had a few discussions with him over the years about small businesses and competing with online prices. Almost like the writing was on the wall. Unfortunately, it's the way our country is going. My little "mom and pop" pharmacy went under not long ago because Gov. Malloy made all his employees go to mail order. Put the pharmacy out of business. It totally peeved me off just like this has.
I wish all the best for the employees and even the owner. I'm sure you tried to hang in there as long as you could to serve your community. I, for one, appreciate that. God Bless!
gmate
MASC Member
This is a shame. Leaves very few stores that I will even bother driving to anymore. Had The Coral Reef not opened up I might even had considered just going online-only for my hobby.
Hopefully all ends well for the PC owners and staff. I hope that the hobby is okay too. I agree with some sentiments of this thread and others I disagree.
I'm just shocked. Didn't see that coming. Seen a lot of stores go downhill and despite their downsize I still loved the store and what they had to offer. Proud to say I have fish in my tank that were purchased from Puppy Center.
Hopefully all ends well for the PC owners and staff. I hope that the hobby is okay too. I agree with some sentiments of this thread and others I disagree.
I'm just shocked. Didn't see that coming. Seen a lot of stores go downhill and despite their downsize I still loved the store and what they had to offer. Proud to say I have fish in my tank that were purchased from Puppy Center.
norrin_radd
New member
there are a few Empty store fronts here in new Britain and Middletown.....
benray4fun
New member
Someone said, "location, location, location is everything." Unfortunately, its a reality check for pc management & will also be for the property managers. The economy isn't what it once was & everyone is or will be affected at some point.
This can be an opportunity for pc to move into a more affordable & probably even BIGGER space for the same or less $. Sorry to hear that Ron, but just maybe this is a blessing in disguise..."good luck"
This can be an opportunity for pc to move into a more affordable & probably even BIGGER space for the same or less $. Sorry to hear that Ron, but just maybe this is a blessing in disguise..."good luck"
sausage pie
New member
Just took like 20 minutes to read all of your comments. Dang PC was the only store I would spend what little money I had in. I went in there my first time last year and the guy didn't even know me but he asked if I was in Ctars and told him yeah I'm Sausage Pie and he gave me a discount right there. In a country as greedy and selfish as our's we need little gems like PC..... If you guys (staff and owners) need any help ever with moving anything or something I'm an in shape, young buck ready to go!! (haha but seriously if you need help let me know)
