Should we support our local petshop?

Please do support them- if it costs a little more consider it payment for the time and experience they offer you that you won't get in the big boxes... we have a guitar shop, fill a specialized niche within the guitar biz and spend a lot of time, sometimes literally hours w/ a customer and there is nothing more frustrating than watching them take what they've learned and buy the part or the instrument from Music Link, Guitar Center or some other huge discount retailer.

I appreciate you thinking about your small businesses and the other people in the thread that are doing what they can to help us out. :)


And yes a small business can and probably will reward repeat customers, so you may find you're getting a better deal in the future.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
there really isnt one lfs i really like and will always go to so maybe thats a reason also.
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I'm the same way. There are a TON of shops around here that carry fish and supplies. Lots of big box retailers like Petco and Petsmart, and lots of aquatics shops, too. A few are terrible, some are better, but I've heard wildly detrimental misinformation being tossed about even in aquatics specialty stores, so I have yet to develop any sense of loyalty to any of them.

Also, I have a cat, and I am lazy, so a lot of the time if I need something, I just pick it up at the pet store when I'm getting cat stuff. For shame, I know, but it's so much easier! I am a spineless weakling, writhing in the iron fist of the commercial retail gods.
 
I'm the same way, always shopping for the best deal but because the op said he'd gotten extensive advice from the owner I think it's only fair that he get some compensation for the time s/he spent. If I go to a fish store and get a good answer or advice for a problem I'm having and I feel like I need to try what they recommend I always buy what I need at their store. It's a way to say thanks for the time they spent trying to help you. I may not pay an extra $100 for a filter but at least get your cheaper everyday supplies to give a little back to the guy who helped you. He knows every one of us needs fish food, water conditioner, spare gravel vacs or what have you and if you're not buying anything in his store, he knows you're taking his advice and then buying your stuff somewhere else. Probably won't improve your relationship in the future. :)
 
The only thing I buy at the LFS including Petsmart and Petco are fish. Everything else I try to buy online. Even knowledge about fish keeping I get online.
 
To have a knowedgable LFS would be great.
 
i buy all my fish from one lfs they do just FW great info good prices (bulk buys get discount to!) also if i need some meds instead of having to buy 100 tabs for 1 sick fish they will give them to me for free or sell them single. all my hardware and food comes from a LFS that does mainly tropical a little SW and reptiles. info is ok but they have a large store with young sales assistants but cheap hardware tanks food plants wood but there fish are pricy e.g cardinal tetra 3.95-4.85 EACH!
 
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