Decided to do an informal poll

[Anonymous]

What I dont understand is that more then fifteen posters have stated that a fresh water tank got them to do salt. If they didnt get the fresh tank in an LFS then where? Getting a fresh water tank at the LFS then a later going back to upgrade to a salt should count as a hit in the" LFS" catagory ......not "other'?
And where is the catagory for "online etailer" :wink:

I bought most of my FW fish from a dime store, as I recall. Then I ordered fancy guppies mail order.

I think there are three stages that could be discussed when talking about reefkeepers in many, perhaps most, cases:

1) FW
2) SW fish only
3) Reef

These different phases could have been sparked by different sources. For instance, FW by WalMart, SW FO by a LFS, reef by online BB.

How many would have even gotten in water hobbies were it not for the goldfish section of WalMart?

Just something to think about.

 

[Anonymous]

So 25% start the hobby by visiting a LFS.
Now start adding to the list.

LFS sold me fluval filtration and couldn't tell me how often to change the filter.
LFS sold me mandarins when my tank was new
LFS sold me a skilter for my 250 gallon
LFS sold me 5-6 fish at the same time.
LFS sold me......please continue!!!!!!!!!!!

When you finish the list or even think about some of the possible list entries you will see how hobbyist view the 'comments' on the LFS vs. online store threads.

Wayne,

Let's be fair with the LFS. There was a time when those little Sanders skimmers were cutting edge and a time when Skilters were a step up from that. There was a time when the hobby didn't know much about mandarins either. Shoot, there was a time when undergravel filters were the best we had.

Let's not blame the LFSs of 15 years ago for not knowing what we know today and not having the technology that we have today.

-Lee

 

[naesco]

So 25% start the hobby by visiting a LFS.
Now start adding to the list.

LFS sold me fluval filtration and couldn't tell me how often to change the filter.
LFS sold me mandarins when my tank was new
LFS sold me a skilter for my 250 gallon
LFS sold me 5-6 fish at the same time.
LFS sold me......please continue!!!!!!!!!!!

When you finish the list or even think about some of the possible list entries you will see how hobbyist view the 'comments' on the LFS vs. online store threads.

Fair comment but sadly nothing has changed.
Boxes of skilters and Sanders fill the shelves;
LFS, too willing to sell mandarins, cleaner wrasse Moorish Idols and mulitiples of fish.
Than, the newbies find out about www.reefs.org and www.canreef.com and wonder why they were sold all that stuff. The LFS did not tell them pods and mandarins and the requirements for a large mature tank.

If the LFS did a good job, online stores would be tried, tested and fail and the reefers back to you all in droves

Wayne,

Let's be fair with the LFS. There was a time when those little Sanders skimmers were cutting edge and a time when Skilters were a step up from that. There was a time when the hobby didn't know much about mandarins either. Shoot, there was a time when undergravel filters were the best we had.

Let's not blame the LFSs of 15 years ago for not knowing what we know today and not having the technology that we have today.

-Lee

 

[JT]

There was a time when those little Sanders skimmers were cutting edge and a time when Skilters were a step up from that.

A lil Sanders Piccolo will out-skim a skilter all day long.

 

[mark@mac]

THey rock!
and sanders skimmers are still a fine choice for smaller aquariums.....
(do they make big ones now????)

8)

 

[Anonymous]

So 25% start the hobby by visiting a LFS.
Now start adding to the list.

LFS sold me fluval filtration and couldn't tell me how often to change the filter.
LFS sold me mandarins when my tank was new
LFS sold me a skilter for my 250 gallon
LFS sold me 5-6 fish at the same time.
LFS sold me......please continue!!!!!!!!!!!

When you finish the list or even think about some of the possible list entries you will see how hobbyist view the 'comments' on the LFS vs. online store threads.

Fair comment but sadly nothing has changed.
Boxes of skilters and Sanders fill the shelves;
LFS, too willing to sell mandarins, cleaner wrasse Moorish Idols and mulitiples of fish.
Than, the newbies find out about www.reefs.org and www.canreef.com and wonder why they were sold all that stuff. The LFS did not tell them pods and mandarins and the requirements for a large mature tank.

If the LFS did a good job, online stores would be tried, tested and fail and the reefers back to you all in droves

Wayne,

Let's be fair with the LFS. There was a time when those little Sanders skimmers were cutting edge and a time when Skilters were a step up from that. There was a time when the hobby didn't know much about mandarins either. Shoot, there was a time when undergravel filters were the best we had.

Let's not blame the LFSs of 15 years ago for not knowing what we know today and not having the technology that we have today.

-Lee

You should work on your quoting skills there buddy...

 

[Douglas S Lehman]

Hello
I still have that Sanders #350 skimmer I bought back in 78", Not a bad value for $22.00! Compared to (no skimmer) it work remarkedly well! Does any body remember? The Aquarist Supply Manual, by Daleco. That was when mail order was mail order. Back then you'd look through the catalog, fill in an order form, insert check and off it went. In two to three weeks your order would arrive. I had to mail order the skimmer as, Jeff at Old Town Aquarium was charging $34.99 for it!

 

[JennM]

Great quote for a sig, Jenn :

"An online shopping cart doesn't ask questions. Support your LFS!"

Peace,

Chip

Done! And I improved on it a bit

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

Great quote for a sig, Jenn :

"An online shopping cart doesn't ask questions. Support your LFS!"

Peace,

Chip

a cash register doesn't talk either-that's what a shopping cart is

online reps do indeed ask questions, however

 

[JennM]

Great quote for a sig, Jenn :

"An online shopping cart doesn't ask questions. Support your LFS!"

Peace,

Chip

a cash register doesn't talk either-that's what a shopping cart is

online reps do indeed ask questions, however

Not if a person points and clicks without ever contacting a human at the other end.

The one thing about "getting to the cash register" is that the customer has an easy opportunity to ask questions - and likewise a *good* B&M has the opportunity to ask and answer questions. You can't check out of my shop without a little "tank talk"

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

hmm, let's compare apples to apples...


a customer placing an order online, without calling, is just like a customer who walks into a store, knows what they want, gets it, and walks out...



a customer who calls the call center for that online company is just like a customer who approaches your staff, once in the store...


NOW how much of a difference is there, between what you do, and what i do ?

(bear in mind that EVERYONE i talk to get's volunteered info w/out solicitation )

 

[Anonymous]

NOW how much of a difference is there, between what you do, and what i do ?

Well, some of your customers are probably naked when they talk to you, and Jenn's I suspect are not.

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:


by the way, who here remembers metaframe's 'dynaflow' hang-on filters ?


those rokked !



remember the little nylon ball bearing on the impeller base that were like gold, once those were no longer manufactured? it was the only part that really ever wore out, heh

the supreme aquakings, vortex diatom filter, etc--we DID have some good stuff available 'back then', when slate bottom tanks with metal frames and plumbers caulking were the tops in tank technology

(the first lfs i worked in had all of their feeders in slate bottomed 50's-we ended up cannibalizing the slate bottoms to make spawning strips for angels, after glass tanks got cheaper,heh)

 

[JennM]

Well like I said - everybody who checks out with me has a bit of "tank talk"... I'm just a nosey parker so I ask about anything and everything... ask anybody - there's no "quick trip" to my LFS!! :lol:

And cjdevito has a good point - I don't serve nekkid customers - but then again if they call me for help or advice they may be at that time... :::shudder::: I've never asked

There are some similarities between what we do, Vitz, but in many aspects they are vastly different.

So how many of those overnighted water tests have you done this week?

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

:roll:

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think we can usefully compare the extremes of online and b&m. It seems that one or two examples, good or bad, is not a great way to paint the entire way of doing business.
There are good of each and there are bad of each, just as there are pros and cons of each.

Most of the LFS in my area don't do water tests at all for customers, and most that do use 'quick dip' tests.

BTW, I still use a vortex, but only when naked

 

[JennM]

Ugh I hate those test strips Some LFS around here use and sell them - I do neither as I find they are grossly innacurate and when you ask a customer what their parameters are, they say, "Safe" :roll:

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think we can usefully compare the extremes of online and b&m. It seems that one or two examples, good or bad, is not a great way to paint the entire way of doing business.
There are good of each and there are bad of each, just as there are pros and cons of each.

Most of the LFS in my area don't do water tests at all for customers, and most that do use 'quick dip' tests.

BTW, I still use a vortex, but only when naked

i would also venture that one who has experience with only of of two things, doesn't now enough about both to make a comparison of any sort, since what they know about thing #2 is strictly hearsay, and the hearsay is almost always about those 'extremes' to begin with

 

[Anonymous]

There was a time when those little Sanders skimmers were cutting edge and a time when Skilters were a step up from that.

A lil Sanders Piccolo will out-skim a skilter all day long.

You're right, the Piccolo is still the better product of the two. I was just searching for examples to help vindicate the LFS against what Naesco said. Your comment serves me right for trying to do something nice for LFS. You guys are on your own.

 

[Anonymous]

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