Eheim's - Sight, Unseen....

125gJoe

125gJoe

2009 VMAX
Jul 6, 2002
3,047
0
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I'm just curious as why there are no Eheim canister filters in stock at the 'many' - yes many, LFS's I've visited? None. Seems like if many think this is the best canister out, then stores would carry them. Why would it be a 'special order' product?

(No need to flame Florida - there's a whole flame thread in Chit-Chat.)

:)
 
My guess would be that some of the LFS can't afford to sell those units at a competitive price? Perhaps, since they already cost a lot to begin with, they wouldn't sell as often as the cheaper fluvals or filstars and therefor it would be too costly to hold many of them in stock.
 
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Good point -- but, none at all??

If they are worth the extra money, seems like someplace would offer them. Perhaps even a sign near other canisters on the shelves stating to ask an employee for ordering an Eheim.

Point to ponder...
 
My LFS has the complete line of Eheims, plus all the bulk media, plus all the common components (impellers, suction cups, surface extractors, the various tubing sizes- both flexible and rigid, etc.).

Perhaps it depends on the clients of the shop, or how serious the clients are about their tanks as well as how the management feels about filtration. This store is happy to deal with anyone, but they are really aiming at real hobbyists, not just parents getting an Eclipse for the grammer school kids. It also is a strong differentiating attitude from the big box stores & chains- they have the materials and know-how those stores cannot match.

Not too long ago the owner brought in a new manager - who was shocked at the number of serious hobbyists. He says this LFS sells more big setups with good filtration every year than he had sold in the last 6-8 years total at a more conventional non-chain suburban mall store.

Custom orders for fish - even calls to let you know what is available from the importers - are routine. Understand why I don't do mail-order? This is too good a resource not to support.
 
Eheims are only modestly more expensive than the competitors. They get a bad rap for being expensive even on this board.

Their modestly higher cost lowers the profit margin for stores who have customers who don't assign a higher value to a superior product. So they don't stock them because they make more money off the inferior products. It's simple economics.

good luck
:)
 
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Well, IME lfs's charge about double their cost on equipment. Thus depending on the size of the Eheim this can get into the $400 range. Who's going to spend $400 on a canister filter? No one. So instead of making the price more reasonable, they don't sell it at all.
 
I agree with Heady. My LFS had an medium size ECCO for the same price as a Pro 2026 from BigAls (with Media). The ECCO wouldn't have really been big enough and I would have still needed something else. I was also going to get a HOT Magnum but it was going to be $15 more from the LFS than BigAls. I do order fish from them though, that way if one dies I can return it.
 
I think if you look at all the points above and mix them together a bit then you have your answer 80gJoe. I'm lucky enough to live near a big als factory outlet so I have a good selection of everything at fair prices (plus they'll beat anyones price by 5%).
 
Originally posted by skeletalmachine
I think if you look at all the points above and mix them together a bit then you have your answer 80gJoe. .......
Click to expand...
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Thanks, good points to think about..

LFS's here for the most part, could use a much better inventory.
 
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