Why I Like My LFS

[kmbyrnes]

Why I Like My LFS


1. LIVESTOCK CHOICES. Each store has things they are good at and opportunities to improve. But overall they each excel in at least one area whether it's fish, coral, inverts or odd specimens.
2. I get recognized by name in 4 of the 5 stores I frequent regularly.
3. I can see/touch/feel products I am interested in before buying and I try very hard to buy from them if we can get the price in line.
4. I do not feel pressured to buy anything and I get asked if I need help even if they are busy. They know I don't mind waiting for one of the employees to get free from other customers. And I rarely overhear 'Hard Sell' tactics on obvious newcomers.
5. By now I know which staff know their stuff and which are trying to make a sale, and they know i do my research and rarely buy on impulse.

If you get good service, reward that LFS with as much business as you can. It is hard to keep a brick and mortar storefront open these days, and the good ones deserve your patronage.

I am grateful to live in an area with a thriving reefing community and multiple LFS. They all have plusses and minuses but compared to the horror stories I read here, I consider myself extremely lucky.
I didn't always feel this way and I admit time in the hobby has changed my perception. But as I gain experience I am finding that my LFS treat their customers extremely well.

Thank you to all the Phoenix East Valley LFS

 

[heathlindner25]

Well said, I love my lfs..

 

[seamonster124]

We have a sweet LFS in WA called Barrier Reef Aquariums. They simply rock. They have thousands of corals and the fish are always very healthy.

 

[vitodog]

I like my LFS's here in Albuquerque. There are two that primarily cater to the Reef clientele and I like them both for all of the reasons stated by kimbyrnes above. Well stated kimbyrnes. I could not have expressed it any better.

 

[TangingOut]

It's really crazy that of all the club forums, Arizona's FRAG is the 3rd largest according to number of threads and posts. I agree, lots of good LFS here in the valley.

 

[AdamD76]

I've got one that's great and one that has a bunch of kids working there, never the same person taking care of the tanks. I was there last week and the girl dropped a fish on the floor and just left it there. I had to go over and save him.

 

[kmbyrnes]

I can't resist this update -
Last winter, I passed on a particularly beautiful Jack 'o Lantern lepto at one of my LFS, uncertain if I was ready to care for it, especially at the price.
When I got home, I had reconsidered and called back to ask them to hold it til I could return, about 30 mins. Of course, it was already sold.
I ask occaisonally about another, particularly from one of the employees who had also purchased a specimen. No luck for months.
Tuesday, I got a text a work that they had just received 5 frags from Reef-A-Palooza, picture included!
I called and they held my choice for me. This new frag is considerably smaller, but also less $ and I have months more experience.

Phoenix East Valley LFS are great!

 

[billdogg]

Why I Like My LFS


1. LIVESTOCK CHOICES. Each store has things they are good at and opportunities to improve. But overall they each excel in at least one area whether it's fish, coral, inverts or odd specimens.
2. I get recognized by name in 4 of the 5 stores I frequent regularly.
3. I can see/touch/feel products I am interested in before buying and I try very hard to buy from them if we can get the price in line.
4. I do not feel pressured to buy anything and I get asked if I need help even if they are busy. They know I don't mind waiting for one of the employees to get free from other customers. And I rarely overhear 'Hard Sell' tactics on obvious newcomers.
5. By now I know which staff know their stuff and which are trying to make a sale, and they know i do my research and rarely buy on impulse.

If you get good service, reward that LFS with as much business as you can. It is hard to keep a brick and mortar storefront open these days, and the good ones deserve your patronage.

I am grateful to live in an area with a thriving reefing community and multiple LFS. They all have plusses and minuses but compared to the horror stories I read here, I consider myself extremely lucky.
I didn't always feel this way and I admit time in the hobby has changed my perception. But as I gain experience I am finding that my LFS treat their customers extremely well.

Thank you to all the Phoenix East Valley LFS

I can't resist this update -
Last winter, I passed on a particularly beautiful Jack 'o Lantern lepto at one of my LFS, uncertain if I was ready to care for it, especially at the price.
When I got home, I had reconsidered and called back to ask them to hold it til I could return, about 30 mins. Of course, it was already sold.
I ask occaisonally about another, particularly from one of the employees who had also purchased a specimen. No luck for months.
Tuesday, I got a text a work that they had just received 5 frags from Reef-A-Palooza, picture included!
I called and they held my choice for me. This new frag is considerably smaller, but also less $ and I have months more experience.

Phoenix East Valley LFS are great!

These are the same reasons I prefer to buy everything I possibly can from my LFS (Rivers to Reefs, Gahanna, Ohio)

Friendly staff who know what theyare talking about, I can ask for special order livestock, and most importantly, I get to see with my own eyes exactly what I'm buying.

 

[Wonton Soup]

What I've come to understand about most all LFS over the years is that you just shouldn't expect too much. If you enter a store with this mindset then you'll often be pleasantly surprised at what you encounter.
If you make a big plan to visit a bunch of stores in a day and have a list of things you're specifically looking for, or advanced questions to ask then many times you'll be disappointed.

Another thing I've learned is that you can hardly compare the majority of stores to each other. As mentioned, most places specialize in one thing or another. They all have different management techniques running them, and for the most part do what they can with what they have.

There are stores that will shine in your mind and others that won't but that doesn't mean that other patrons aren't getting a great experience there and a horrible experience at the places you love. Most fish stores are staffed by high school to college-graduate aged individuals because the pay is low and the hours tend to work out. The folks with years of experience and libraries of knowledge are few and far between. They often have other valuable skill sets that pay better or have a brighter future and therefore don't tend to stay at most stores.
Local clubs are the best way to keep in touch with the knowledgeable folks you can trust getting information from.

 

[3dees]

I have at least 15 lfs' within a 30 minute drive, but I give all my business to one. I can trust him for good info. he will tell me to pass on any coral or fish that wouldn't be good for my tank. after two years, I now get "deals" that others don't.

 

[nuxx]

I have at least 15 lfs' within a 30 minute drive, but I give all my business to one. I can trust him for good info. he will tell me to pass on any coral or fish that wouldn't be good for my tank. after two years, I now get "deals" that others don't.

We have that in like a 200 mile radius

 

[Duke4life]

We have 2 here in our area that are sw dedicated with 3 others that are pet stores, all within 30 mins driving. BlueStar Aquatics has been my go to as they have great staff, a variety, plus they've ordered half of what is in my DT for me. Aquatica is also a good 1 with a good owner and selection, also close to work and the disc golf course we play a lot.