Why werent any LFS at the swap?

Though I'm not local ,as Richard stated, I was in attendance.
I was going to bring frags but I kept going back and forth about bringing them and if I didn't bring them should I go and did I want to make the drive back and forth and did I want stand around all day....etc. The thing that kept me from bringing anything was I just didn't relish the idea of bagging it all up ,hauling the gear ,water ,and everything else. Setting it all up ,tearing it down, and bringing it back. I went back in forth with that for a while but finally decided that there looked to be more 'n enough goods that would be present so I saw no need in bringing anything else. I enjoyed myself with my relative anonymity wearing my hobbyist hat. Would I bring anything next year? I don't know. Would I bring anything to one that was local? You bet.

Now as to the other things brought up in this post,WOW.
I have strong opinions and feelings about these subjects and some of them may be surprising coming from a B&M LFS operator but I don't think I'll go into everything in this post.

I will say this, I think the E-Retail sites have been a boon to people that live in places where their local outlets are lacking or are non-existent. There is also the potential money saving factor and sometimes convenience is a factor as well. Will they hurt the LFS? Yes. Some will go out of business, some will adjust and survive, some will see a increase because of the others that go under,and there will always be some brave soul that opens a new one. That's life in the new E-Commerce world and it's not just LFS that are effected. Of course it's not just the B&Ms that will feel the heat, E-Commerce sites will come and go as well. Is there a place for us all? Of course there is if we can adapt. Do E-Retail sources hurt the hobby? This is the one question that I wonder about the most and it worries me both as a LFS and a hobbyist because I feel that they might........short term at least. Because I wonder if E-Commerce sites bring in NEW hobbyists. Just like I wonder if the Fish Clubs bring in new hobbyists. Sure they bring in new customers and new members but do they bring in new hobbyists? Because if they don't or if they don't bring in as many as the LFS (mom-n-pop,big box,fish department in some super store,...etc.) the hobby will suffer. New blood is what it's all about.
It's just something I wonder about but I know time will tell. I'm also sure we will not have to wait too long to find out the answer.
That's enough from me for now.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6567185#post6567185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waynesworld
We need a finding nemo2 also to boost the hobie.:D :fish1:
Click to expand...


noooo, then we have a lot of 4 year olds going into the LFS, buying a "Nemo" putting it with their betta and well...the rest is history. :)
 
The thing that kept me from bringing anything was I just didn't relish the idea of bagging it all up ,hauling the gear ,water ,and everything else.
Click to expand...

Oh come on Dave, there were quite a few of us that made the trek from Knoxville and it was more than worthwhile I thought. I was looking forward to the stuff you had posted pictures of as well...alas, I don't even know if I would have made it that way as I was swamped at my little setup for a good while. If you were closer, I'd come on down there...maybe I'll be in the area someday.
 
Wow... Um... does anybody know what store oldschooler runs? Since there are only a few good LFS around and I can only do so much to support them, I only want to patronize the ones that don't talk to us like we're crap!

If you don't want the name of the store bandied about on the boards, could someone PM it to me?

Yea, it's great that this guy (I'm somewhat new, so I don't know the dude) helped start the club, but DANG!!!
 
Just Dave,

I'm entirely new to the hobby. I was "brought in" by theop who is in the club. He was also new to reefing several months back, and the club has helped him out a great deal. So I'm not sure of the numbers, but at least in this one instance, "the club" (through theop) has brought me in...

Jack
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6568286#post6568286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
Just Dave,

I'm entirely new to the hobby. I was "brought in" by theop who is in the club. He was also new to reefing several months back, and the club has helped him out a great deal. So I'm not sure of the numbers, but at least in this one instance, "the club" (through theop) has brought me in...

Jack
Click to expand...

I'm not saying it doesn't happen ,I just don't think it happens in the same numbers. So if the number of places that people can walk into and look around while their other half/kids/whatever are shopping/getting their nails done/hair done/*** waxed/...etc. is reduced ,I think the number of new hobbyist may be as well. I'm sure that some people stumble on websites (like if Acro-Wrasse was looking for some S&M sites and a search brought up Spankys Reef and out of curiosity he took a peek) :D and others are exposed to it at restaurants ,zoos ,public aquariums ,friends ,movies,...etc. I just think B&M places expose more people to it. Especially those that are in malls ,strip-malls ,and shopping centers.
 
When do I get my finder's fee? Or will the LFS's be sending a commission check for all the money crumbletop spends there?

For the right price, I'll recommend him to buy a bunch of bio-balls, a NO flourescent hood, a couple of sharks for his 29gal tank, and a prizm skimmer. ;)
 
Because I wonder if E-Commerce sites bring in NEW hobbyists. Just like I wonder if the Fish Clubs bring in new hobbyists. Sure they bring in new customers and new members but do they bring in new hobbyists? Because if they don't or if they don't bring in as many as the LFS (mom-n-pop,big box,fish department in some super store,...etc.) the hobby will suffer. New blood is what it's all about.

I started brand new and found this site on my own. I was very very excited being a total newbie and have not had a real exciting experience. I don't find that there is a lot of support personally on trying to improve my tank by asking questions here or anything. I have no idea sometimes what the corals are or anything, especially hard corals, so I go to meetings to find out...only to not really find much interested from others to teach, but more just to trade, sell and such. Might be because I am a female I wonder...and asking mostly a bunch of guys? I notice the camraderie amongst the guys in the club, the ones that are more established with ideas and lots of experience. I don't notice the welcome mat out quite as much as I wished. This is nothing personal....but I love the hobby and would have loved to bring more friends of mine into the hobby and the club....maybe should start a female club hehe....seems more and more females are getting into the hobby!!:mixed:
 
Wow... Um... does anybody know what store oldschooler runs? Since there are only a few good LFS around and I can only do so much to support them, I only want to patronize the ones that don't talk to us like we're crap!
Click to expand...
:lmao: :lol: :lmao: :lol:

For the right price, I'll recommend him to buy a bunch of bio-balls, a NO flourescent hood, a couple of sharks for his 29gal tank, and a prizm skimmer.
Click to expand...

:lmao:

If nothing else this thread IS entertaining:D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6569828#post6569828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by theop
When do I get my finder's fee? Or will the LFS's be sending a commission check for all the money crumbletop spends there?

For the right price, I'll recommend him to buy a bunch of bio-balls, a NO flourescent hood, a couple of sharks for his 29gal tank, and a prizm skimmer. ;)
Click to expand...


No thanks. I can get the same deal cheaper on-line.
 
WOW
my 0.2$

i support LFS so much i can they are always so nice and helpful

and members i met over time i allways felt good and welcome

is pleasure to know all you guys "Y'ALL COOL"

week ago i went to Memphis to visit Boofer
we went to JustDave LFS it was cool to see cool stuff he has in the store
but sad to see his aquarium that broke hope you will rebuild it soon
BTW it was Sunday
is nice hobby an nicer friendships i got over time


thanks
Igor
 
Freakin' sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!! Thanks, everyone! Today was the second-busiest monday I've had since I've been open, and I don't even sell fish or corals, yet!!! I could not ASK for better help in getting the word out- sold my first-ever bottle of Reef Plus (hey, ya gotta start SOMEWHERE)!

And Mike... For what it's worth... I prolly WON'T use under-gravel filters in my new fish room! <huge grin!>
 
well, as a new member, I really dont know exactly how everyone fits in here. I have been a member since the swap, and so far, so good. however, some of this bickering aobut hte lfs issue seems quite odd to me. I have been in the hobby off and on for about 10 years and have always relied on my LFS or LFS's to get livestock. I have never ordered any thing but drygoods online. most if it from Ebay as this for me was the best way to do it on a budget. I bought my tank from Fin den in Donelson. shopped for fish at the fish bowl for at least a year before I found the critter. I also visited what I think was Emerald Bay but that was several years ago, and I havent been since as for me it is basically onthe opposite end of the earth (sorry guys). Without the Lfs's in Nashville, I would have never started my tank. I had one in college, but once I moved here, I was making good money and finally for the tank of my dreams. Since that point, I have made many upgrades to it and have dumped mucho dinero into it. Aside form the origional purchase, I have upgraded lights 2x. from NO to PC and now to VHO. I bought my who online as AC did not carry any such kit. all they had were raw Ice Cap ballasts, endcaps and bulbs. several friends in the hobby I know have steered me away form Ice Cap because of issues with them (refered to as Ice Crap). so for me, what I needed was not available locally. I ordered an ARo 4 bulb 440watt kit. it came with prewired endcaps, stand offs, ballast and sireing harness. the kit is basically 2 pieces. the ballast which is wired into a multi plug, and the endcaps wired into the same. this makes it wasy to unplug to remove the hood as the ballast is attached to the stand. all this for $140. I got my lights from Hellolights cause frankly, AC sold them for $38 each and Hello lights for $21.95 plus shipping. for 12 bucks, they were shipped, so I came out ahead.

however, I have relied and continue to rely on LFS for food and livestock and the occasional piece of hardware. I dont think the club will hurt lfs as today I visited another lfs that I didnt even know existed because of this forum. whenever I am in the area, I stop by AC to see fithey have anything cool in the frag tanks. if they do, and I can, I usually buy it. I plan on using the club to get my tank stocked and from there, the LFS for cooler hard to get items.

this is not a rant, just my 2 cents.
 
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