Why I No Longer Support LFS

[TYC]

Not all lfs employees are rude and unknowable. I own a restaurant and been dealing with the public for more years then I like to mention. I find a lot of times people ask you a question just to give you the answer. Instead of making it a competition of who knows more if who knows less why don't you open up your ears and listen [emoji101] I like to think I know a little about keeping fish and corals , sometimes more ,sometimes less than the next guy or lfs worker. But just because I have a good amount of knowledge this doesn't mean I don't listen to what others have to say, even if I don't agree with it. Too many on here and in general think it's there way or the wrong way.

quite true, I'm a firm believer that what works for you may not necessarily work for others and you have to find out what works for you by trying. Unfortunately there r too many "know it alls" in this hobby who dont handle difference of opinions well. Havign said that my experience has been surly unfriendly attitude by LFS workers who never smile and look ****ed with a chip on their shoulder. I think it's the general NYC attitude that I''m just getting tired... I must be getting old :fun4:

On a side note I currently have 44 fish in my 265. Bet a lot of reef central will tell me I can't have that many fish in one tank and they all get along
My current fish list
Blonde naso tang , chevron tang yellow tang , hippo tang , powder blue tang , fox face , pair bellous angels , flame angel , flameback angel , coral beauty , 6 lyertail anthias , 6 barletts , 2 twin spot anthies , 2 mel wrasses , 2 cleaner wrasses , 2 solan fairy wrasses , 2 flasher wrasses , radion wrasses , 2 mandarin, 2 clowns , blue throat trigger , 3 Bangaii cardinals, goby Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

exactly, so true and I agree each fish has their own personality. R the Bangali cardinals finicky eaters (meaty food only) or r they taking pellet/flakes? I'd like to get them for my tank but hesitant bc of their diet.

 

[anthonys51]

quite true, I'm a firm believer that what works for you may not necessarily work for others and you have to find out what works for you by trying. Unfortunately there r too many "know it alls" in this hobby who dont handle difference of opinions well. Havign said that my experience has been surly unfriendly attitude by LFS workers who never smile and look ****ed with a chip on their shoulder. I think it's the general NYC attitude that I''m just getting tired... I must be getting old :fun4:



exactly, so true and I agree each fish has their own personality. R the Bangali cardinals finicky eaters (meaty food only) or r they taking pellet/flakes? I'd like to get them for my tank but hesitant bc of their diet.

Yes some lfs owners and workers are no it all. But if they say something I disagree with instead of arguing i normally just let it go. I really don't go there for advice anyway

As far as bangaii. I started with 5 and 2 died with in a week. The other 2 hang out together and 3 rd one hangs out on the other side of the tank. So unless your tank is really big if you start with more than 2 you might have to rehome if they all live

I feed my tank mysis in the morning , mysis at 7 then flakes at 10. They eat all 3 but took them a while to eat flakes and yes they are very slow eaters. You have to put a lot of food in the tank to make sure they get there share. But with 44 fish I feed a large block of mysis a week so they always get there share.


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[TYC]

Yes some lfs owners and workers are no it all. But if they say something I disagree with instead of arguing i normally just let it go. I really don't go there for advice anyway

you're a wise man, as I get older I try to avoid "conflicts" bc life's too short.

As far as bangaii. I started with 5 and 2 died with in a week. The other 2 hang out together and 3 rd one hangs out on the other side of the tank. So unless your tank is really big if you start with more than 2 you might have to rehome if they all live

I feed my tank mysis in the morning , mysis at 7 then flakes at 10. They eat all 3 but took them a while to eat flakes and yes they are very slow eaters. You have to put a lot of food in the tank to make sure they get there share. But with 44 fish I feed a large block of mysis a week so they always get there share.

thinking of 1 or 2 cardinals only. What's "...took them a while", r we talking weeks/months? I generally like to keep low stock so the family always complain that I don't have enough fish

 

[anthonys51]

Lol yes I am 41. 31 year old me might if told them off.
Didn't really keep track but I will say month or so
I do have 4 tanks hooked up to one system. I always add fish to one tank down stairs feed heavily for a month before transferring to main tank. They didn't eat flakes the whole month in bottom tank and only started when added to main tank. Mostly after they see the other fish eat it.


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[TYC]

Didn't really keep track but I will say month or so
I do have 4 tanks hooked up to one system. I always add fish to one tank down stairs feed heavily for a month before transferring to main tank. They didn't eat flakes the whole month in bottom tank and only started when added to main tank. Mostly after they see the other fish eat it.
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ok, thanks for the good info... WOW, 4 tanks! :eek2: U livin the dream man! Do u know how much grovelling I had to do to convince my boss I mean my wife just to upgrade from 60G to 93G ?... lol

 

[anthonys51]

lol [emoji23]


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[Stolireef]

ok, thanks for the good info... WOW, 4 tanks! :eek2: U livin the dream man! Do u know how much grovelling I had to do to convince my boss I mean my wife just to upgrade from 60G to 93G ?... lol

I'm 50 and have this all figured out. I just refuse to perform my husbandly duties until she lets me upgrade (actually, she's very forgiving and lets me pretty much get what I want...since she's looking over my shoulder as I type this.)

 

[TYC]

I'm 50 and have this all figured out. I just refuse to perform my husbandly duties until she lets me upgrade (actually, she's very forgiving and lets me pretty much get what I want...since she's looking over my shoulder as I type this.)

:spin3: Hey I'll be turning 50 this year! my wife is actually very accommodating & I really shouldn't complain since she let's me ride a motorcycle too...

 

[Therinx]

NY Reef Aquatic in Flushing has some great corals, fish, clean tanks, etc., and the owner is nice and helpful. I went the first two times just to scout and told him so, and he was very helpful even though i bought nothing either of those two first times.

 

[Dr. Reef]

unrelated but i was in petco yesterday for some carbon i needed. was looking at the saltwater fish (i never buy from petco) employee there was advising an older lady that it was of for her to get a flame angel to place in her 10 gal tank and it wont hurt anything.

 

[TokiHacker]

unrelated but i was in petco yesterday for some carbon i needed. was looking at the saltwater fish (i never buy from petco) employee there was advising an older lady that it was of for her to get a flame angel to place in her 10 gal tank and it wont hurt anything.

Doesn't surprise me.... :headwally:

 

[mikeatjac]

I have been in this hobby for over 40 years and I can tell you that one of the most important aspects of keeping a successful tank is having a good relationship with a LFS. There WILL come a time you will need their help.

You can usually tell a good LFS by looking at their store AND talking to staff. However if they are busy don't try and take up unnesseccary time with hobby talk. Keep in mind prices change. Maybe they had a great deal on a buy from a supplier one week and the next week the prices return to normal. So a fish is 14% higher. Not their fault but yours for not asking first.

The internet makes everyone an expert when in fact a lot of information is misleading or not the whole story.

In my area we have a great LFS, Bioreef. They mark their tanks with the date a fish came in and the price. I try and buy everything I can from a LFS, I know what I am getting.

 

[rtparty]

Keep in mind prices change. Maybe they had a great deal on a buy from a supplier one week and the next week the prices return to normal. So a fish is 14% higher.

In my old tank I had a Helfrichi Firefish. I got it for $30 from a LFS. I asked the owner why they were so cheap and he stated his supplier had some crazy sale going on. A week later they were $90 again. It happens.

 

[TYC]

Maybe they had a great deal on a buy from a supplier one week and the next week the prices return to normal. So a fish is 14% higher. Not their fault but yours for not asking first.

Your comment just added more confirmation why to avoid LFS...

Look I'm all for making profit and supporting LFS. However it's Business 101 knowledge that acquiring a new customer is much more expensive than retaining an existing/repeat customer. Anyone who wants to run a successful business knows they cannot alienate and lose the customers' trust with such "bait n switch" behavior and say caveat emptor while providing poor customer service. Any shady business owner who operates this way will fail.

LFS marks up fish 300%, so they have a huge profit margin and range. In this case, had the LFS said we'll split the diff since there was a miscommunication then I wouldn't have felt like they were dishonest and gladly return to spend my hard earned $ there. But after being treated rudely while being over charged, shame on me if I continue patronizing that LFS. :crazy1:

I would never lose a customer (future income) over a 14% current income when I'm still making a 286% profit. :facepalm:

 

[anthonys51]

Your comment just added more confirmation why to avoid LFS...



Look I'm all for making profit and supporting LFS. However it's Business 101 knowledge that acquiring a new customer is much more expensive than retaining an existing/repeat customer. Anyone who wants to run a successful business knows they cannot alienate and lose the customers' trust with such "bait n switch" behavior and say caveat emptor while providing poor customer service. Any shady business owner who operates this way will fail.



LFS marks up fish 300%, so they have a huge profit margin and range. In this case, had the LFS said we'll split the diff since there was a miscommunication then I wouldn't have felt like they were dishonest and gladly return to spend my hard earned $ there. But after being treated rudely while being over charged, shame on me if I continue patronizing that LFS. :crazy1:



I would never lose a customer (future income) over a 14% current income when I'm still making a 286% profit. :facepalm:

You have no idea what your talking about. You have any idea the overhead of a fish store. I don't really see them driving role royces. They are just tryIng to feed there family. For you to bash them saying there crooks is a jerk move


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[rtparty]

Your comment just added more confirmation why to avoid LFS...

Look I'm all for making profit and supporting LFS. However it's Business 101 knowledge that acquiring a new customer is much more expensive than retaining an existing/repeat customer. Anyone who wants to run a successful business knows they cannot alienate and lose the customers' trust with such "bait n switch" behavior and say caveat emptor while providing poor customer service. Any shady business owner who operates this way will fail.

LFS marks up fish 300%, so they have a huge profit margin and range. In this case, had the LFS said we'll split the diff since there was a miscommunication then I wouldn't have felt like they were dishonest and gladly return to spend my hard earned $ there. But after being treated rudely while being over charged, shame on me if I continue patronizing that LFS. :crazy1:

I would never lose a customer (future income) over a 14% current income when I'm still making a 286% profit. :facepalm:

So your gripe is that LFS make too much money?

If so, you should start one and see how it goes

 

[mikeatjac]

Your comment just added more confirmation why to avoid LFS...

Look I'm all for making profit and supporting LFS. However it's Business 101 knowledge that acquiring a new customer is much more expensive than retaining an existing/repeat customer. Anyone who wants to run a successful business knows they cannot alienate and lose the customers' trust with such "bait n switch" behavior and say caveat emptor while providing poor customer service. Any shady business owner who operates this way will fail.

LFS marks up fish 300%, so they have a huge profit margin and range. In this case, had the LFS said we'll split the diff since there was a miscommunication then I wouldn't have felt like they were dishonest and gladly return to spend my hard earned $ there. But after being treated rudely while being over charged, shame on me if I continue patronizing that LFS. :crazy1:

I would never lose a customer (future income) over a 14% current income when I'm still making a 286% profit. :facepalm:

I am not sure where you are getting your figures from.

Business 101. They got a good deal from a supplier and they passed it along.
When you went there they had a new supply at a higher cost.

You never asked what the current price was, that is like going to a TV store the day after a sale and expect the same discount. You always ask.

You yourself said don't spend much at a LFS so if they gave you a break then then they would have to give it to everyone else. Not worth it.

Btw most LFS mark up their live stock 100% but that has to cover rent, labor, taxes, electricity, food, lost live stock......

 

[billdogg]

I have been in this hobby for over 40 years and I can tell you that one of the most important aspects of keeping a successful tank is having a good relationship with a LFS. There WILL come a time you will need their help.

You can usually tell a good LFS by looking at their store AND talking to staff. However if they are busy don't try and take up unnesseccary time with hobby talk. Keep in mind prices change. Maybe they had a great deal on a buy from a supplier one week and the next week the prices return to normal. So a fish is 14% higher. Not their fault but yours for not asking first.

The internet makes everyone an expert when in fact a lot of information is misleading or not the whole story.

In my area we have a great LFS, Bioreef. They mark their tanks with the date a fish came in and the price. I try and buy everything I can from a LFS, I know what I am getting.

^^^THIS^^^^

x 1000

There are several LFS around here. One that I've been asked to leave because I have contradicted the employees who were trying to sell a couple a tank, fish, and corals all on the same day and telling them that it would all be fine.

Another where I was told how wrong I was and how my system was doomed to crash within a month if I didn't switch everything over to their method. I didn't bother to explain that my system had been in continuous operation longer than either the employee or owner had been alive.

My go-to LFS is owned by someone who has been in the business for many years, working his way up, and I assume learning along the way. His employees are all knowledgeable hobbyists. Can I purchase dry goods cheaper elsewhere (online)? Sure. And sometimes I do. Salt comes to mind. Fedex brings it to my door. I buy all my livestock from him because I like to see what I'm buying and know that it will be a healthy specimen. (I QT regardless)

 

[JimON]

For a person to understand what it takes to run a business, there is no other way but to run a business yourself. Bills keep coming in every month, and unless the doors stay open and the lights stay on, the blood, sweat, and tears that the business owner has put in to make their business work are for nothing. That said, what I look for in a LFS is quality of stock, cleanliness of store and displays, service to the customer, and then price. Granted, there are those out there who are in their business to make a quick buck off the next sucker that walks through their doors. I would guess that the LFS store owner that is in it for such reasons didn't have a clue what they were in for when they bought/opened their store, and are just trying to hold on. Those that love their business are in it for the long haul, and will go above and beyond to provide a good experience and a competitive price to their customer so they will keep coming back, and tell others of their experience. If you haven't found that yet, keep looking. They are out there.:beer: Cheers, because I like beer.:hmm5:

 

[SuperSaltwater]

As far as the pizza goes -- true story. The rest of the country apparently doesnt understand what pizza is supposed to taste or look like. Its probably the only thing I miss about NY.

went to an LFS yesterday, dude came off as a know it all. bashing other stores talking about how much better he is than them. very annoying, however he is better as far as selection so i will give him that. some ppl just don't know how to earn buyers respect. he did have healthy fish and said he will not sell bad fish. so i guess its ok to be a little cocky when you actually do not sell bad fish and take good care of your stock. :hmm5: