Where do you buy most of your corals?
- Thread starter Ocicat
- Start date
Letmegrow
New member
Ocicat - I like you and everything but saying it is stupid to pay LFS prices could be very well translated into LFS are stupid for trying to make a living.
You might want to edit or rephrase.
It is a small world on here, every LFS store owner and employee surfs RC. You might offend one or all of them.
You might want to edit or rephrase.
It is a small world on here, every LFS store owner and employee surfs RC. You might offend one or all of them.
Reefer Wannabe
Premium Member
LFS prices are only stupid when people are getting charged $40 for few stalks of xenia...
Wait, that's not LFS prices that are stupid in that case.
LFS are nice if you're looking for show pieces IMO.
I've also seen some decent inexpensive frags of zoas at GWA and Beldt's.
Wait, that's not LFS prices that are stupid in that case.
LFS are nice if you're looking for show pieces IMO.
I've also seen some decent inexpensive frags of zoas at GWA and Beldt's.
I'll chime in here... and this has been hashed over a few times on RC. Ordering online has both pros and cons.
You have to weigh-in the shipping/handling/packaging charges most online vendors apply. These can easily offset any savings on small purchases.
Additionally, livestock bought online has a chance of being severly stressed, or killed during shipping. You may find online vendors that will offer a guarantee, but an additional cost is usually factored in somewhere in their price to the consumer.
As stated before it's a WYSIWYG purchase and you can get it out of the store and into your tank relatively quickly.
Supporting local LFSs helps maintain the hobby resources locally. Would you want to have to stare at the computer screen to do all of your livestock shopping, or would you rather be able to run to the closest LFS to really get a feel for the size and colors of what your hard earned $$ are going to reap. And how about all the times you will need a fast solution to an unexpected hardware emergency... can you even wait for it to be delivered?
I have bought most of my livestock locally. I believe many on here have done a combination of the two. The LFSs need our business, and most all of us are willing to support them for our own benefit.
You have to weigh-in the shipping/handling/packaging charges most online vendors apply. These can easily offset any savings on small purchases.
Additionally, livestock bought online has a chance of being severly stressed, or killed during shipping. You may find online vendors that will offer a guarantee, but an additional cost is usually factored in somewhere in their price to the consumer.
As stated before it's a WYSIWYG purchase and you can get it out of the store and into your tank relatively quickly.
Supporting local LFSs helps maintain the hobby resources locally. Would you want to have to stare at the computer screen to do all of your livestock shopping, or would you rather be able to run to the closest LFS to really get a feel for the size and colors of what your hard earned $$ are going to reap. And how about all the times you will need a fast solution to an unexpected hardware emergency... can you even wait for it to be delivered?
I have bought most of my livestock locally. I believe many on here have done a combination of the two. The LFSs need our business, and most all of us are willing to support them for our own benefit.
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Very elequantly put Steve. And I agree with you. But you need to remember not everyone has a good experience at some LFS and there have been times when I have been qouted 2 differant prices for the same coral on my same trip to a store! Sometimes it feels they charge what they think they can get from a piece. And sometimes the prices are better online, but the stress and no real store to stand behind them can be a problem
Very simply put, if a business, stone and mortor or online stand behind their product and present excellent customer service, they will earn and retain customers.
I used to think online was the best, and for some stuff it still is, but overall I like getting livestock and corals from in order
1. other reefers
2. certain lfs
3. online
4. other lfs
Very simply put, if a business, stone and mortor or online stand behind their product and present excellent customer service, they will earn and retain customers.
I used to think online was the best, and for some stuff it still is, but overall I like getting livestock and corals from in order
1. other reefers
2. certain lfs
3. online
4. other lfs
Ocicat
Premium Member
Steve, no, it really couldn't. Besides which, I didn't say it is stupid. I asked a question.
I just bought some zoas last night at an LFS, and I've probably spent over a grand at the LFS in the last 2 months, and, now that I am stocking, I will continue spending a lot (way too much!) locally. I support the LFS a great deal. I see people constantly trading and selling corals here, so I was wondering if those *in the know* ever get their corals at the LFS of if they rely mostly on each other, and maybe it was "stupid" of me to be going to the stores. In fact, I prefer buying from the stores.
I don't have time to dance around every time I post so I don't offend anyone that could possibly be reading. These boards are for the hobbyist, not the store. I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but it was an honest, straightforward question from a new hobbyist to other hobbyists.
Letmegrow
New member
What came first ?
The hobbyiest or the LFS owner ?
I was a hobbyist way before I worked at a store.
You asked if it was stupid to pay LFS prices.
If I asked you " Do you kick animals often ?",
it would imply that you do indeed kick animals and it would also imply that the frequenct MUST be often because I had enough nerve to ask you the question in the first place.
So either LFS prices are stupid because you would be stupid if you paid them or your question is stupid and flawed.
I am a hobbyist 1st, a jerk 2nd, and a LFS employee 3rd.
All I mean to say is watch who you could possibly offend.
Plus - Is a LFS just a retail outlet or is it also a service industry ?
The hobbyiest or the LFS owner ?
I was a hobbyist way before I worked at a store.
You asked if it was stupid to pay LFS prices.
If I asked you " Do you kick animals often ?",
it would imply that you do indeed kick animals and it would also imply that the frequenct MUST be often because I had enough nerve to ask you the question in the first place.
So either LFS prices are stupid because you would be stupid if you paid them or your question is stupid and flawed.
I am a hobbyist 1st, a jerk 2nd, and a LFS employee 3rd.
All I mean to say is watch who you could possibly offend.
Plus - Is a LFS just a retail outlet or is it also a service industry ?
Letmegrow
New member
PS - When I shop.
Corals - Where ever I see one that I want.
Fish - There are places I will and wont buy from.
Inverts - Who ever has the cheapest cause they are all the same really.
If you are new I suggest seeing what is out there for yourself and learning the price curve and what is fair and what is not.
Corals - Where ever I see one that I want.
Fish - There are places I will and wont buy from.
Inverts - Who ever has the cheapest cause they are all the same really.
If you are new I suggest seeing what is out there for yourself and learning the price curve and what is fair and what is not.
Ocicat
Premium Member
That is one the most absurd attempts at logic I have ever seen. Note that you had to include the word OFTEN (take it out and see what happens), which doesn't make it a legit comparison. So apparently, if I say, "Are LFS prices stupid?" I am in fact answering my own question and also stating, "LFS prices are stupid."
The next time you are truly just trying to lend a helping hand, to save me from myself so I don't offend anyone, a PM might work really well.
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Wonder if those are in the right order............:eek1:
j/k dude
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