There is a really great lfs in my area. Living up in the hills, all of the petshops in the area are pretty small. This particular lfs specializes almost solely in cichlids and the owner is very knowledgeable. I get great advice from him on everything from general maintanance to what to feed to what books to buy. He has great prices on fish but everything else is way expensive. I will usually spend my big money at Petsmart and larger fish stores down in Sacramento but I really only trust the advice of my local fish store guy. I feel bad, but I really can't see spending $200 on an xp3 when I can buy it for $100 down at Petsmart. I can't see spending $9 for an 80 gram bottle of spectrum fish food when I can get a 600 gram bottle of the same thing for $21. I feel like a hypocrit but I am going to keep doing what I'm doing anyway. What is a guy to do?
Should we support our local petshop?
- Thread starter gadomody
- Start date
get to know them and spend a bit more cash with them your more likely to get the prices you want that way.
dont feel to bad, i do the same thing....i get plants and fish from my LFS, also a wealth of knowledge...but i usually never buy food lights or filter media there....I dont feel to bad bout not buying my food and lights and media there, cus thats the only place i get my plants....did that make sence? It sounded good in my head....
The lfs doesn't usually make much on fish, so it has to make money on hardware. They know they're priced high, and they know that knowledgeable people are going to buy elsewhere - However - Do what you can to support them or one day they may not be around. The lfs has his money invested in the equipment he stocks, and that can sit for a while, so he has to get a decent markup on his investment. That said, since you already have a relationship with the owner, you could discuss the situation with him and maybe reach some accommodation. He may be receptive to ordering stuff he doesn't carry (fast turnover), for example, and can forego his usual markup. Also, talk him up to others whenever you can, and send people his way when you can.
Big chain stores should keep to supplying equipment and food. They should either get full time aquarists to sell the fish (like a vet that watches over the birds), or stop selling fish all together. The LFS has quality, but sometimes the price hike is a little bit much. Except for the worms I buy all the time. Actually cheaper there.
I'd stick to supporting your favorite LFS. If you don't like yours, keep searching. Oh, and recommend your friends to your favorite shop too. Without them, your only resource would be *gasp* the chain stores.
I'd stick to supporting your favorite LFS. If you don't like yours, keep searching. Oh, and recommend your friends to your favorite shop too. Without them, your only resource would be *gasp* the chain stores.
they know they are high, but if they can't sell volume, they have to make it up in price, and it doesn't sound like this is a make a fast buck guy. I would talk to the guy and see if you can't work out a discount or something, but in the end, you have to make the choice. is it worth keeping a local guy with quility you like in buisness even if you have to donate a few extra bucks on occassion, or do you prefere to solely rely on the big box stores. thats what it comes down to, don't think of it as paying overpriced, think of it as donating to keep a local guy in buisness. doesn't mean you have to buy the big stuff from him, but toss him a bone now and then. seriously, maybe even talk to the guy and see if he'll cut you a little discount, or order you the 600gram food, it might end up being a lot less then you think.
Support the LFS...I drive about a hour and a half to my favorite LFS (thats what sucks about small town life), but its well worth it. The quality and knowledge is much greater at your LFS...as fore mentioned dont think about paying higher prices, its also the knowledge and the feeling that youre appreciated, and where are you going to turn when you want that special hard to find fish?...petsmart?...I think not...LFS
Ask your LFS that you like to use if they have a Customer Loyalty Card. That is what mine has and after I make 10 purchases I get a percentage discount on my next purchase.
I prefer the small business. I like to be called by my name when I go in there. I also like being asked how my tanks are doing or even how that fish I bought 2 weeks ago is working out. I enjoy going through the door and having someone say " come check out this new fish that came in, I think it is something you might like!" I am more than willing to pay the little bit extra to be acknowledged as more than just Miss. or Mam.
I prefer the small business. I like to be called by my name when I go in there. I also like being asked how my tanks are doing or even how that fish I bought 2 weeks ago is working out. I enjoy going through the door and having someone say " come check out this new fish that came in, I think it is something you might like!" I am more than willing to pay the little bit extra to be acknowledged as more than just Miss. or Mam.