LFS vs Online

[greenfish]

Ok I need to vent. I don't get it. Why is stuff way cheaper online than in the [acronym:5ca53e8f43="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:5ca53e8f43]? I can see buying tanks and fish at the [acronym:5ca53e8f43="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:5ca53e8f43] but why buy anything else there? Even the heavy stuff that requires extra shipping costs is cheaper to buy online. If everyone shopped online then all the [acronym:5ca53e8f43="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:5ca53e8f43] would go out of business. You would think that they would know this and try to be competitively priced. Sorry to rant on but I find this very annoying.

[WarOrks15]

well i have found a [acronym:d887453664="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:d887453664] that has prices that are cheaper then online. and then you do not have to pay for shipping. but that is only on dry goods. on his live stock the prices are really $$$$ but they look really good. and i think [acronym:d887453664="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:d887453664] stay in business becasue of all the people who do not want to order it and wate. there is some things that you have to have right now and cant wate for a week for it. and they also sell live stock. i do not buy that online becasue i want to see the fish and coral i am getting.

[greenfish]

I definitely can see buying livestock locally but drygoods at the [acronym:8eaf639e41="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:8eaf639e41] in my area are way more expensive than online.

[TankGirl]

Most on-line businesses have much lower overhead and their customer base is much broader, so they buy more bulk and "pass the savings on to you" so to speak. You get to pay for shipping so it usually comes out even in the end.

[shawmutt]

You get to pay for shipping so it usually comes out even in the end.

Maybe for some stuff, but I'll never get over buying my Filstar XP1 filter at a [acronym:190f9319b2="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:190f9319b2], after the store owner was generous enough to drop the price down to $100 from $125! I thought I had a great deal, until I saw that I could buy a XP3 online for the same price! The same goes for the filter media--up to three times as much in the only [acronym:190f9319b2="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:190f9319b2] that carries it! When I start getting my 55 gallon stuff, all of my hardware will be bought online--most likely from drsfostersmith.com.

[TankGirl]

You are right about those filters - I got my XP3 including media from Big Al's for just under $100 - I won't even tell you how much the [acronym:7972a19efd="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:7972a19efd] wanted for them - no media included. In that case, a lightweight item like that with shipping it was still a great deal.

[Bearfan]

I buy a lot of my stuff online, the [acronym:5f86a181a5="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:5f86a181a5] up here bend you over pretty much. I haven't bought livestock yet...but will be soon online.

[WarOrks15]

watch for the little stuff. i know when i got the clear tubeing from drfosterandsmith.com for more then i could get it at home depo. it is the little stuff that you have to watch out for. i was just lazy when i made my order and did not look around. i think i payed like 10 for 10 feet and i could have gotten it for like $5 for 10 feet. but you win some you lose some.

[greenfish]

Originally Posted by WarOrks15

watch for the little stuff. i know when i got the clear tubeing from drfosterandsmith.com for more then i could get it at home depo. it is the little stuff that you have to watch out for. i was just lazy when i made my order and did not look around. i think i payed like 10 for 10 feet and i could have gotten it for like $5 for 10 feet. but you win some you lose some.

Yes I guess ordering some little thing online doesn't really pay but if you have a bigger ticket item or at least a lot of little items it sure is worth it.

I guess I expected better prices locally. I just can't see buying at the [acronym:422b89ca67="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:422b89ca67] when I can get it online for at least 15-35% cheaper. I know sometimes I have trouble waiting for getting things online. I check the tracking number over and over again thinking somehow that it might come quicker that way. I guess one needs to be patient if they want a bargain.

[Bioworldmaker]

Originally Posted by greenfish

I guess I expected better prices locally. I just can't see buying at the [acronym:9e4d0bb2ee="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:9e4d0bb2ee] when I can get it online for at least 15-35% cheaper. I know sometimes I have trouble waiting for getting things online. I check the tracking number over and over again thinking somehow that it might come quicker that way. I guess one needs to be patient if they want a bargain.

Think of that this way:
the [acronym:9e4d0bb2ee="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:9e4d0bb2ee] has many more costs than any online store - like hiring all the employees, being open on weekend, ordering 300 types of fish from all kinds, keeping them, ordering plants, supplies, organizing shelves - not to mention the rent they pay for their location. I am not saying that the online store doesn't have some costs, but theirs is probably a huge warehouse with cement tank and not glass aquariums...

Also, you gain the convenience of going there and looking exactly at the ONE fish you want and getting what you need when you need it, not 3 days later... I am more than willing to pay more for something I need in exchange of the convenience, as long that it isn't unreasonable...

As someone said before... With the shipping costs, ends up about the same...