FYI: WalMart phasing out fish . . .

[rosita]

So, I was at WalMart yesterday getting some recording dvd's for a horse show, and as usual went to give the poor fishies some healing energy. Whilst standing there wondering what happened to the 20 million firemouths they'd had in a tank last week, the person working the pet area came up and started talking to me. He informed me that ALOT of the WalMart stores will be phasing out the live fish over the next 6 months, as they were losing alot of money. Apparently the tank system set-up costs $30,000.00, they buy $500.00 worth of fish a week, and sell maybe $600.00 a week. You could have knocked me over with a feather!!! And, he added, the store across town had all of their fish reduced (can you imagine? "I'll take 3 of the pacus, 5 plecostomus, and 5 silver dollars, and that 29g tank set, please.")

They'll still be selling all of the supplies, but fish will be going. Wow. Just thought I'd share. :eek:

[FL22]

Fish - 1
Wal-mart - 0!


yay!!!

[Rallysman]

I'll believe it when I see it. I hope it's true (even though a few of them around here have nice fish)

I read that walmart makes somewhere between $30-$50 on other "stuff" every time someone returns a dead fish. IMO that's part of the reason that most of them are crap......just a way to get people back into the store. I know when I go in there I buy crap that I didn't initially intend on purchasing.

I'll be rooting for them to get out of the fish part of it so I have a chance to get their fish systems:thm:

[clayt101]

It's probably just the one store, not a company wide thing.

[sully1255]

Interesting post. We have been tracking the rumor for about 2 months now. Have not bothered to call them and ask--too busy with other stuff. But, there are several new WalMarts that have recently been opened sans live fish and tanks. There are other comments coming back to us just like the one made to open the thread.

If they are getting out I can only applaud the decision--eliminates one retailer for us to chase. one that is well versed in how to ignore public advocacy. and, more importantly, Wal-Mart quits needlessly killing fish.

If we get to the responsible retailers that know how to care for the fish in transit, provide accurate information, and provide good customer service that would just about be nirvana. stores are allowed to make profit. just hate to see them do it irresponsibly.

YAHOOOO!

[rosita]

It's probably just the one store, not a company wide thing.

From what the employee told me, and info I have from other aquarists across the States, it is INDEED a company-wide venture. They're just losing too much money (it's not a viable loss-leader) --although they will keep selling bettas by the billion . . .

Levi, I'd keep my eyes open and chat up some employees who often work the aquarium section, find out how they will be de-accessing the tank systems. They're pretty new around here . . . very nice for that seriously tanked fishkeeper!!!! :laugh:

[Malbri]

What are they doing with all the tanks?

[danzig]

It would most likely be demographic dependant.
Certain locations might do well in the fish dep't while other locations it could be a loss.

[jm1212]

our prayers have been answered!!!

[kuhliloach]

sue wallmarts fish department, it's fish torture!

[Joshuainthebox]

Don't know if losing Walmart in the fish arena is such a bad deal.....supplies etc are often cheaper, but was never too crazy about the fish supply....

Malbri...when the Walmart here upgraded to a super Walmart, they sold their tank system to a smaller lfs....

[TipStylez]

The walmart here has no chance haha.

Surrounded by atleast 5 LFS in the 2mile radius.

[Mgamer20o0]

ill take a tank system.

[jm1212]

ill take a tank system.
i wouldnt have a problem taking it off their hands either... id just need to get a much better filtration system and run some med-filled, straight tap water through there to get rid of the fish plague they have growing in their tanks.

[VitaminJ]

It is, indeed, company wide.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fish12feb12,1,363256.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

"You see too many floaters." Sad, but true.

- sj

[Bkman]

from what i have read, it is not company wide.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=marketsNews&storyID=2007-02-09T174924Z_01_N09323902_RTRIDST_0_WALMART-FISH.XML&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage3

[jgavlock]

Thank god.

[VitaminJ]

You are correct, Bkman. For those who choose not to read the articles, perhaps I should be more specific.

It is not something 100% of Wal-Marts are doing, but it appears that a great deal of the stores that sell "live" fish will be phasing out of that business. Maybe 'widespread' would be a better description.

- sj

[fish_freak]

Seems walmart is doing a lot of revamping now that they have come in at a loss for the first time in 10 years. Fabric's is also on the way out. It cost's them to much money to staff it and layway was already closed. I think Target has them scared.

[tai95]

The funny thing is when Walmart closed layaways some targets opened them.

[Iamkellogg]

I was at a Walmart the other day and they are selling all of the display aquariums. They were taking bids on them. :dance2:

Kelly

[Malbri]

thats so cool! I wonder if my local walmart is doing that