I'm so tired of paying full retail!

[Joe_B]

Calling all fellow reefers out there...I'm tired of unreliable LFSs, expensive shipping charges, and huge mark-ups. In southern CT where I live any store selling Marine life is going to dig deep into your pockets on both dry goods and livestock. I've tried a bunch of ways to save...trading, selling propagated corals, etc... with no luck. I have been asked by friends to do custom aquarium installations and would like to be able to buy low and maybe make a little profit! HELP ME OUT!!!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SAVE!

THANKS!

[ June 13, 2001: Message edited by: Joe_B ]

 

[DEADFISH1]

A few things that I save money on is RO water and Kalk, I use the RO water machine at Wall-mart, it's perfect, I've tested it for phosphates and its completely at 0, the refills are only .33 cents a gallon, for Kalkwasser you can use the pickling lime, it's the same thing and its under 2 bucks at Wall-mart.

 

[bigtank]

1. Buy online

You can save buku bucks that way!
2. Go farther for cheaper LFSs. CT is a rich state and I'm not surprised the LFSs want a lot for everything.
3. Buy online.
4. Find a wholesaler type place :smokin:

 

[Speed]

You said you were in southern Ct. in Colchester is one of the best live coral stores [actually it's a garage] I have ever seen. I think their web address is www.paragonsales.com but their phone is 860-537-8153. Their prices are reasonable and the quality is AAA+. Advice is outstanding but no fish or supplies that I know of.

 

[swreefer]

I'm from CT. How far south are you? Is Shelton too far. There is a tiny little LFS tucked away on Route 110 near Sikorsky that has great prices and quality livestock. I just picked up a pretty decent size rock with 10 Ricordea polyps on it for $35. The rock even had coralline on it.

 

[Joe_B]

swreefer, I do know the store...stopped in to take a look about two months ago. Store was a mess, tanks were dirty, livestock was not healthy. Have things changed? Have you ever heard of World Pet Center in Naguatuck (sp.)?

 

[swreefer]

Yeah Phil (the owner) works FT somewhere else and the 2 kids he had working there were terrible. One never showed up and the other did no maintenance. Then they quit with no notice. The place went downhill for a few months. There is a new kid working there and they have been putting the place back together again. If your interested I have some corals for sale in the marketplace forum. As far as the other place STAY AWAY. That store is really bad. Smells worse than Life Gallery and the tanks are even worse. Not much in CT for decent stores with good prices. Reef and Fin has some nice stuff but OUCH, the prices. House of Fins has about the most outrageous prices in the state.

 

[Joe_B]

I have had some dealings with chris at Reef and Fin...Good guy, helpful but your right about the prices. Been to Life Gallery once never again! I've also heard about House of Fins! There is a great place in Milford called Coral Reef Imports. Good prices and very clean but lately thay have been closed a lot.

 

[swreefer]

Where is Coral Reef Imports located in Milford? The only decent place I knew of in Milford was Marine Invertebrates on the Post Road but ever since Charlie passed away, the place has been closed.

 

[Joe_B]

Just up the road from Charlie's place same side maybe 1/4 mile. I would call first before stopping in to make sure their open (878-9292). Its a small plaza with a Carvel. Let me know what you think I haven't been down in awhile.

 

[Ryan22]

I'm in Southeastern CT, There is a store here in Willimantic called Exotic Aquatics that I like a lot. They have only been here about 1 1/2 years but are very dedicated to keeping up with changes in the hobby and doing things the right way.

But, I'm always open to check out a new place if you know of any around me. I know Paragon is right around the corner but I haven't made it over there yet.

 

[Joe_B]

Hello Folks,
I'm hoping to gather some more info on this topic....We could all benefit from some money saving tips!!!!!! Or tonights lotto numbers! You can tell I'm pretty broke right? To many hobbies not enough cash.

 

[myreef]

The best way I have saved money is building equipment myself. I have built my own stands, hoods, reactors, skimmers, auto-top off, DIY lighting, etc, etc. I can justify buying something a little more expensive, when I know I saved $100's because I built my own stand and canopy.

When I buy online, I try to make sure I buy enough to justify the shipping charges. I look for free shipping over a certain $ amount. I loathe shipping charges, but I loathe handling charges and box fees more. Just charge me the shipping and eat the cost of the boxes. I know they cost $, but that is part of customer service IMHO.

 

[loosbrew]

you wont be dissappointed with paragon. some of the best business people in know of. very polite friendly, alwasy willing to go the extra mile for ya. prices are cheap, but i dont really ask anymore since i dont buy wild corals. i love the people who own the place, couldnt find such nice people in any of the stores i have been to, but that shasnt been many in the last few years. if you want some sps frags, i too have some for sale or trade or whatever.

loosbrew

 

[Anonymous]

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[Sniper308]

Have you ever heard of World Pet Center in Naguatuck (sp.)?

If you are refering to World Wide Pet Supply in Naugatuck, STAY AWAY. I recently had some pretty bad dealings with them and woul not recommend them to my worst enemy. I woul go searching for coral in a sewage pond before I would deal with them again. Poor customer service. No let me rephrase that No customer sercice. No delivery of my order. No one will answer the phone. No bussiness from me. Do a search on this board for world wide pet supply and you will see what I mean. They are the worst. STAY AWAY. You and your tanks will be much happier and you wont end up paying for stuff you never recieve and it wont take an act of congress to get in touch with them.

 

[monkeyboy]

[]

 

[amber]

hello everybody--I'm brand new here.
You can sometimes get good on line coupons for pet stuff. Try www.coolsavings.com and Bargains 4pets. Right now there is a Petsmart coupons for free shipping up to 25 lbs. Might help with salt???
amber

 

[2poor2reef]

That's the whole idea monkeyboy. It's not out of control. It's how technology works. LFS need to sell high quality livestock. You want to be able to see what you're buying with livestock, and it's best not to ship them across country anyway. Using livestock as a loss leader to sell dry goods is not gonna cut it in today's business environment.

 

[Mike02]

ya, i dont agree with the support your local LFS idea. Look what Walmart did to all those Western Autos, Aimes, even K-mart, and a bunch of others i cant think of. They dont exist anymore. I read a WSJ article friday, that said a popular retailer in Mexico went to Walmart(now in Mexico) to buy a bunch of whatever, and he marked it up and re-sold it in his stores. He could get it cheaper from Walmart then he could from his supplier. Its what makes the free-trade system so good. higher quality/lower prices. Usually the plan is to price all your competition out of business, and then raise your prices because noone can out compete with you for price anymore. Thats what all the airlines do and everyone hates to fly, but Walmart hasnt done that. They still have low prices. Like the poster above said, LFS's have to fill a niche, that is, to provide high quality live-stock at a reasonable price. Its worth xtra to see your livestock b4 you buy.