I'm so tired of paying full retail!

[MandarinFish]

The convenience is valuable too.

I ordered a retrofit kit from Champion.

2 1/2 weeks ago.

They wasted no time charging me.

Still haven't gotten the lights.

When I call, they give me the runaround and keep transferring me to other people and putting me on hold forever.

If I could go back and do it again, I would have gone through LFS.

Mail order can be a total PITA.

 

[King Jason]

Our economy is based on simple supply and demand. If there is a demand, someone supplies it. If they can supply it for a little more then the next guy and still sell it GOOD FOR THEM!

I don't own a LFS but have thought about opening or starting one from time to time. If I ever get into the business I will want to make some kind of profit. I am pretty sure my LFS is doing pretty good, the owners has a new car every 3-5 months! His newest car is a Hummer :? . Their prices are rather high on dry goods. Their prices are rather high on livestock. But their livestock is also great looking and they have a pretty good selection. I pay a little higher price for good looking livestock. I only buy dry goods that I “need” at the time or something I buy on impulse. Unfortunately their advise isn’t worth much but that’s ok because I educate myself on most of my purchases.

I have easy access to a lot of MO/Internet stores. In fact Jose from Marine Depot drops my orders off and checks my tank out on his way home from work (what a guy!). Just like the LFS I too need to earn money, save money, invest my money, and build for my future. I can't justify spending extra money on items $10-50 more expensive at the LFS. Even if I like the LFS and want them to stay in business, money is money and it's hard to just waste it. For my LFS which have easy access to wholesalers all over LA area it's hard to believe they have all these shipping/boxing/etc charges. They are just here to make money. That's ok because that is why we work, to make money (for the most part). The consumer controls the prices based on his willingness to buy overpriced items. If everyone in the US decided that we won't pay more then $3.99 for a damsel then the price would go down. Everyone would have to adjust their prices to accommodate for the demand.

These types of threads are fun. Keep the thoughts flowing!

 

[wetone]

Just an update for CT reefers. Coral Reef Importers in Milford is closed on Fridays, usually 11-7 all other days. Great livestock at decent prices, Alex is knowledgeable and always helpful. As far as dry gods, I dont think you can beat online prices for most dry goods stuff anywhere.

 

[Carpentersreef]

:wink:

 

[tripsied]

Last week (Friday, Nov 21, 2003) I decided to do a 5 minute job of adding some fixtures to the overflow and return of my 75 gal jetstream tank. The result was that the washer on the return moved (i.e. dropped a notch)(not really sure what caused this, it was prolly me) and the tank emptied on the floor in 15 minutes flat. I found that the worst thing I can put into my tank is my very own hands! ( :lol: :lol: :lol: there IS humor in here somewhere)

I was fortunate enough to be able to save roughly 20 to 30 gallons of water and managed to get my livestock packed into a cooler with water and my live rock and sand bed packed into a holding tub.

I headed for the LFS (Tropiquarium in Ocean, NJ), ready to pack the whole thing in (I had had a few other self-induced disasters and this was the last straw). I cried the whole the way, hoping that the creatures I had taken care of would survive the trip. I got to the store (in a panic 8O 8O ).

I wound up talking with Mike (THE BEST shrink in the hobby and spent probably the better part of 45 minutes to an hour or more with me), who finally convinced me that getting out the hobby was not good and that I needed to stay in and fight! The store was kind enough to hold my stock for me until I get the tank up and running (as of Tues, Nov. 25 things are looking very good). Ralph was great in helping me calm down as well (he has a very no-nonsense approach to things) and got my corals in order in their tank. Charlie helped me get my plumbing plans in order-he is the best at construction. The whole staff there has been great, especially through this ordeal!!!!!

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think that there is ANY internet or mail order dealer who could have pulled off what the great staff at Tropiquarium did for me. I am truly thankful and extremely grateful for all the care that they gave to ME (let alone my livestock)!!!!

To me, their prices are well worth the care that I PERSONALLY have received from them. I will be buying pretty much anything I can from them (there are a things that they don't carry, which I buy elsewhere, but the main bulk of my business goes to them.

John, from Aquariums For You in Long Branch, NJ (who will be building my next tank) spent the better part of a half-hour with me finding a replacement bulkhead. The reason this is mentioned is that AFY is an aquarium fabricator, NOT a storefront, yet John spent time with me and helped find the right part for the job (especially being that I could not find a 1 1/4" bulkhead anywhere!!). The staff here was excellent and they do high-quality work...check it out at http://www.aquariumsforyou.com

Everyone mentioned above went above and beyond the call of duty to help me out. Find me an internet or mail order company that could pull THAT off and I'm sold! Nothing beats having a great LFS in your area...so what if the prices are higher than the internet? My opinion at this point is that I support my local LFS wholeheartedly, however, if I need to buy something that they don't carry, I am more likely to ask if they can order it, however I WILL buy off the internet or mail order if necessary, but Tropiquarium gets my business hands down!!!

The tank will be up and stocked by Friday :lol: :lol: :lol: and the "children" will have a much improved home to live in!

 

[Saltykirk]

Wal Mart hasn't raised their prices? Where do you live? It is the highest place to buy milk in West KY.