View Full Version : Big Als online
IGKYA!!!
12-14-2002, 8:13 PM
Can someone explain how this merchant can offer such low prices? They are waaaaaay lower than other LFSs or online places. Is it because their warehouse is in Canada? What else?
And customer service, which you would expect to be crappy for a discount dealer, is GREAT (in my experiences, at least)!!
JamisonBWolsh
12-14-2002, 8:14 PM
They buy in BULK, so they get better deals on their products. Hence, the prices they sell to you is cheaper.
IGKYA!!!
12-14-2002, 8:16 PM
Originally posted by IGKYA!!!
Can someone explain how this merchant can offer such low prices? They are waaaaaay lower than other LFSs or online places. Is it because their warehouse is in Canada? What else?
And customer service, which you would expect to be crappy for a discount dealer, is GREAT (in my experiences, at least)!!
Are they the BIGGEST online retailer?
NJ Devils Fan
12-14-2002, 9:19 PM
YEa, their prices are insanely low. They have 4 pages of ads in Tropical Fish Hobbiest.
I think they also have a warehouse in Buffalo.
goldfish freak
12-14-2002, 11:06 PM
They are not so low on their canadian website.
Richer
12-14-2002, 11:51 PM
They're not so low on their Canadian site if you convert the US prices over to Canadian... but comparatively, they are still pretty decently priced compared to other Canadian stores (cept for maybe MOPs). But then again, Big Al's has a lowest price policy, so they could probably beat MOPs' pricing as well.
-Richer
kbaker721
12-15-2002, 12:36 AM
Some things are cheaper than other online stores but not everything. I have use That Fish (Pet) Place online, they have awesome prices, and are quick in shipping and service...
125gJoe
12-15-2002, 12:40 AM
I got the best price for my Onyx sand from them....
They have good deals... :)
another basic rule of ...ummm... retailing?
they can do it somewhat because they are entirely a web and mailorder business. maybe that's why they are more expensive in canada too, they have stores. by being web based they have very little overhead. they don't have to buy or rent a store... pay utilities... stock the stuff in a 100 different places... and pay some *cough* knowledgable employee to explain the benefits of using or buying the product...........
Skippy
12-16-2002, 12:15 AM
I know I printed a few pages from Big Als and took into an LFS that said they woudl meat or beat any advertised price and they ended up flat out telling me they wouldn't.
Fed up some story about "well any advertised price doesnt include the internet because who knows if t's real"
Then the employee who was forced to give me that line from her manager wrote down the URL and thanked me for showing her.
slipknottin
12-16-2002, 12:18 AM
they have little to no overhead...
when your not paying for a retail location you dont have a whole lot of expenses.
However, they do have retail stores in Canada....
Anton Wernher
12-16-2002, 12:18 AM
joe,
How many bags(or total lbs/kg) did you order from them and how much was the shipping. They don't list rates heavy items such as substrate.
125gJoe
12-16-2002, 12:25 AM
Originally posted by Anton Wernher
joe,
How many bags(or total lbs/kg) did you order from them and how much was the shipping. They don't list rates heavy items such as substrate.
It's been awhile now. I do know that if I ordered it thru LFS's here, I'd waste money. Big Al's had the best prices, even with shipping charges!
(looking for the reciept now..)
goldfish freak
12-16-2002, 12:36 AM
Richer have you tried www.jlaquatics.com in canada some of their prices are even lower than M.O.P.S and they have a 10% price guarantee. It guarantees that they will beat any canadian competitors price by 10% of the difference.
Richer
12-16-2002, 12:54 AM
In all honesty, I've never bought from an online shop before... i've never found the need to. A small LFS near here sells all the fertillize + food I need... for even less than what Big Al's has it for (mainly cuz I get a discount from the small store). On top of that, they got awesome plants and fish there, so I want to support them.
As for equipement, from now on I'll probably just buy from the Big Al's that just opened here a couple months ago. As far as I can tell, the prices are the same as the online prices. For me, convienece is worth the extra money... I'd rather pay a slightly higher price to get my stuff now, rather than later... call me impatient, but thats how I am =)
-Richer
99RedSi
12-16-2002, 10:49 AM
Originally posted by Richer
In all honesty, I've never bought from an online shop before... i've never found the need to. A small LFS near here sells all the fertillize + food I need... for even less than what Big Al's has it for (mainly cuz I get a discount from the small store). On top of that, they got awesome plants and fish there, so I want to support them.
As for equipement, from now on I'll probably just buy from the Big Al's that just opened here a couple months ago. As far as I can tell, the prices are the same as the online prices. For me, convienece is worth the extra money... I'd rather pay a slightly higher price to get my stuff now, rather than later... call me impatient, but thats how I am =)
-Richer
You're blessed! ALL the LFS around here suck! Little to no plants whatsoever. And the fish leave something to be desired too :(.
Mongrel
12-16-2002, 12:21 PM
I buy almost everything at Big Als. I found that their prices are considerably lower than the local LFS. I bought the fluval 404 for 99 dollars at Big Als, around here the lowest I saw was $169. I only use the local LFS for immediate supplies.
Wippit Guud
12-16-2002, 12:31 PM
I only wish Big Als shipped fish... I miss the selection of being near a store.
jdheff1982
12-16-2002, 1:17 PM
I ordered a Filstar XP3 today from them. About how quick is Big Als in getting stuff shipped. Do you thik I will get this item this week??
125gJoe
12-16-2002, 2:08 PM
Originally posted by silver_shark
I ordered a Filstar XP3 today from them. About how quick is Big Als in getting stuff shipped. Do you thik I will get this item this week?? They were quick with my orders from them. You should get it this week, but there's the Christmas rush too.....
SomethingFishy
12-16-2002, 4:51 PM
Originally posted by silver_shark
I ordered a Filstar XP3 today from them. About how quick is Big Als in getting stuff shipped. Do you thik I will get this item this week??
Maybe beginning of next week. Wait a few days then do the package tracking. Also I think you will get an email when it is shipped with the tracking info. I've ordered from them twice, seemed like shipping time was very reasonable. I agree their prices are much lower and they have so many items I can't find locally, but the website leaves much to be desired. Many times I have to go to another website for item description & pics. The strip lights I ordered were very well packed. double points on wednesdays :)
Mongrel
12-16-2002, 8:56 PM
When ever I order things from Big Als, I receive my products on an average of 3 - 4 buisness days. 80gJoe is right, there may be a little lag time due to christmas.
Darkangel
12-16-2002, 9:09 PM
While they do have stores here in Canada a lot of them are franchises. So I doubt that has much to do with the price differences. Part of the reason I think they are so cheap in the US is they were trying to break into the market and now that they are there they want a bigger piece of the pie. Ther online prices here are the same as the store prices. At least on the half dozen or so items I have checked. I am forced to buy from them now as all the Mom and Pop type places are gone. I would rather deal with the small independant as I think you get a better quality of service.
JamisonBWolsh
12-16-2002, 10:04 PM
Yes.. MOM and pop stores are the BEST for service quality.
But for me, I prefer to do my own research and save ALOT of money!!!!
Barbie
12-17-2002, 2:43 AM
Most Mom and Pop stores are no longer in business, due to the inability to make enough money to keep their doors open, when people insist on saving that dollar or two and mail ordering, rather than buying those same supplies locally. Rent, good help, good fish, and the time to stand around and teach new hobbyists how to keep fish are expensive. Someone has to pay for it. If you don't, pretty soon, the stores that bother to do a good job aren't there anymore.
Barbie
Skippy
12-17-2002, 3:00 AM
Well, I am all for the small LFS existing and doing well.
But for instance in Dallas, it's not mail order that is killing the LFS, it's large chain stores which are undercutting prices.
One of the nicer locally owned and operated sotres here went under less than a year ago, I have a rack of 24 gallon tanks I bought from them when they were closing. Biggest reason was that people could get all the equipment they needed from petco, or petsmart. And this shop didn't do any specialization that would help it survive, like offering services and such to customers.
The places I see surviving are differentiating themselves by offering better products, competative prices (it can be done), and thriving off the people who get fed up with the poor livestock selections and crappy service at the others. Here for isntance they ahve hourly rates to ahve thier people come out and clean and maintain your tanks for you. Not something the hobbiest would use, but something offices do, and that Petsmart doesnt offer.
I still vastly prefer to buy all my livestock local. And usually newer products I'm buying I buy local so I can get a look at them pre-purchase. But I wont say I dont hit Big Als for things like amquel and filter supplies.