Supporting the Local Fish Store

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

CatoeSc

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Messages
654
Location
Dallas/Fort Worth
I have a question for everyone. So, I don't know about you guys, but my LFSs are small private businesses with people who enjoy the hobby as much as their customer. I have learned most of what I know in these stores.

Question is, have you ever over-paid for equipment at your LFS just as a courtesy to small local businesses that are helping you out?

Reason for question- I'm seriously considering knowingly over-paying just to support the local business. I could get my filter on-line much cheaper, but part of me just wants to buy it from this store.
 
I always purchase stock and equipment from the small independent retailer without regard to cost.
 
I have a question for everyone. So, I don't know about you guys, but my LFSs are small private businesses with people who enjoy the hobby as much as their customer. I have learned most of what I know in these stores.

Question is, have you ever over-paid for equipment at your LFS just as a courtesy to small local businesses that are helping you out?

Reason for question- I'm seriously considering knowingly over-paying just to support the local business. I could get my filter on-line much cheaper, but part of me just wants to buy it from this store.

I'm a salty guy, and my LFS is absolutely incredible. Very smart, always willing to help, and yup, expensive. Do I care? Nope, not at all. I get unconditional advice, and they never seem annoyed or not willing to help improve my tank. If you think about it, keeping fish is an expensive hobby. When it comes down to equipment, how many filters, protein skimmers, lights, etc do you actually buy? Maybe a new filter every couple years? My point is, is that the difference in price is minimal compared to how long you keep this stuff, and good advice is priceless. I will gladly pay more money to my LFS, just because they are worth it...
 
Personally, I will overpay by a slight margin to support my LFS. However, some of their markups I cannot abide by. I paid $50 at the LFS for an AC70 which I could have bought online for about $40 at the time. However, my LFS was selling a medicine called prazi pro for 18.99 that I was able to purchase for 5.09 at Petmountain. The same goes for Prime. I say if you can live with the markup get it at your LFS. I believe there comes a point where even good LFS's are taking too much advantage of the convenience they provide.
 
I don't get all my equipment from them but I do get at least 50% of my fish from them cause they will get wild caught cichlids for me and the price is a little high but I rather wild caught over tank breed.
 
I only overpay in the same way i overpay for a gallon of milk at the convenience store. I don't buy if its a huge price difference and don't feel obligated to. If the local lfs want to stay in business they've got to find a way to be reasonably competitive, can't fault people for wanting to save money.
 
I only overpay in the same way i overpay for a gallon of milk at the convenience store. I don't buy if its a huge price difference and don't feel obligated to. If the local lfs want to stay in business they've got to find a way to be reasonably competitive, can't fault people for wanting to save money.

I agree
 
I wouldn't call it over-paying, but yes, I purposely buy from the LFS when I know I could get it somewhere else cheaper. Sometimes. I don't give all my business to the LFS, but do when I can. If I need something quick and the LFS isn't open, yes, I'll go to the BigBox retailer and get it. Or online.

I look at this this way: I'm paying for their knowledge, too. My LFS has a better quality fish and advice that is top-notch. So yeah, I'm willing to pay a little extra for that. :D

Now, we do have two LFSs in the area and the other one is kinda cocky. They always have sick/dead fish in the tanks, too. Their aquatic plants are in horrible shape. I rarely go there.

I guess my point is go where you get the best service and knowledge. Price isn't always my first concern.
 
I think you guys hit the nail on the head. I didn't really think of it, but I do agree that I'm paying for more than the equipment. I've spent hours talking to the owner of my LFS and he never seems ready to brush me off. He answers every question and if he can't, he does all he can to find the answer.
 
whenever possible, I buy from the local guys. I paid $15 more for a washer and dryer set than i would have at a big box store. I paid about $20 more at the lfs for my ac110 than I could have bought it for online. I believe i'm paying for more than the product, they've helped me immensely, and I have spent hours talking with the owner. They gave me some sponge material to jumpstart my cycle on my first tank, they frequently give me a discount on the marked price of items I purchase, so yeah i don't mind paying a little more there.
 
I appreciate all the feedback. I think buying from the LFS is definitely the right thing to do when possible. And they do pass savings on when possible. Plus, there have been a number of times that he passed on a sale by telling me I didn't need something or that it may do more harm than good. Integrity is hard to put a price on!
 
ALL of my stock has come from LFS. They are so good; their return/exchange policy is wonderful. When I got my first Bolivian ram, at the time I had an angelfish and danios, and my angel and danios went after my rams even though I had them (the angel and danios) for a month or more they still let me bring them back. I have exchanged fish out when they don't get along a few times and they always help me as much as they can. I'm actually on first name basis with them now lol. I normally don't buy equipment from them, because I honestly can't afford to pay for some of their prices; as said before you gotta
Save money where you can! But for things like food, dechlorinator, etc I will buy from them. I highly doubt I will ever buy fish or plants from anyone else, unless somewhere like petsmart or something has a fish LFS doesn't have access too.
 
The first time I walked into my lfs, the owner was walking around in bare feet, humming to himself, practically half emersed in a large tank. I liked the place instantly :)
I have purchased all but a couple of my fish from him, and even though I pay quite a bit more than I would at the Petsmart less than a block away, it is worth every cent. His fish are healthy, tanks are always clean and never overstocked, and he has given me some fantastic advice. All the fish I have gotten from him are thriving and happy. I have also purchased some of my water conditioners there, and they were no more expensive than down the road. I am all for supporting my lfs, the few extra bucks means a lot to me to know he will be there when I get my next "new tank idea" itch ;)
 
I always buy from my lfs. For fish. I am planning on buying the fancy guppies and rams from there even thought the guppies are 4 each and rams 10 as petsmart is 1 and 6. I just like the quality and the hospitality. I also bought a stand that was more expensive than petsmart a there as well as tank, because they are so nice and help alot!
 
This is an interesting thread and something I was just reflecting on last night. We have a small local pet store that is part of a chain in our area. The people who work there know a lot about all kings of animals, not just fish. They are kind of dorky, but they grow on you and recognize their regular customers. I buy from them when I can.

I had heard ominous news that a Petsmart is going in a couple blocks down the road at a mall complex. Ugh. I like Petsmart for some things, but I hate to think about another one being arbitrarily plopped down in our area and potentially putting those guys out of a job. Not only might a small LFS go under, but that just means another blighted storefront...the Fish store has been there for years and it is a good local business. Maybe it is just the inevitable progression of the "Big Box Store" over mom and pop businesses. :nono:
 
The first time I walked into my lfs, the owner was walking around in bare feet, humming to himself, practically half emersed in a large tank. I liked the place instantly :)
I have purchased all but a couple of my fish from him, and even though I pay quite a bit more than I would at the Petsmart less than a block away, it is worth every cent. His fish are healthy, tanks are always clean and never overstocked, and he has given me some fantastic advice. All the fish I have gotten from him are thriving and happy. I have also purchased some of my water conditioners there, and they were no more expensive than down the road. I am all for supporting my lfs, the few extra bucks means a lot to me to know he will be there when I get my next "new tank idea" itch ;)

Wish there was a place around here like that. The few locally owned pet shops their are around here have SOME knowedgeable employees but most are kids who dont know much, or older people who abide by the old water is better rule. Its sad but for me the healthiest fish and best advice, has come from the aquatics specialist at my pet smart. I know the owners of the small shops know what they are doing for the most part but they hire less than knowledgable staff.
 
I found out about a new-to-me LFS in town and will be checking it out soon. As far as buying equipment/fish, it's up to you. The big box stores are ok sometimes, but when you are shopping at these, do your homework and have an idea what your going for. Craigslist can be a great place to shop too. I love to shop local anytime, fish keeping included. They can be a bit overpriced, but IMO, sometimes it's worth it.
 
I'm glad to be able to come back to this thread and say I've bought all my equipment from the LFS. He got me the stand for a reasonable price and is diligently trying to find me a good deal on some good lighting!

In the meantime, he gave me a light to borrow until he can find what we want for the right price! Today, he picked up the cost for our water thanking us for being patient while he looks for the right light and the other day he comped us a plant-just because!

I wouldn't know half o what I know now if it weren't for them... So, support you LFS- we would probably all be lost without 'em!
 
I believe there comes a point where even good LFS's are taking too much advantage of the convenience they provide.

They aren't really taking advantage of you, IMHO we are too used to super-cheap online prices and then we feel ripped off when we see something being priced higher. It's hard for stores to compete with online prices. That being said, I'm not going to pay $20 for a $5 bottle of prime just because it's a local store. You do have to draw a line. But, I think that higher prices should be expected when buying locally.
 
They aren't really taking advantage of you, IMHO we are too used to super-cheap online prices and then we feel ripped off when we see something being priced higher. It's hard for stores to compete with online prices. That being said, I'm not going to pay $20 for a $5 bottle of prime just because it's a local store. You do have to draw a line. But, I think that higher prices should be expected when buying locally.

Exactly.

Around me, I only have two pet stores. A ma and pa store, and a Petco. I do have to say I actually go to Petco more that the lps. The lps has bed employees, weird stuff going on in there, and don't tell you anything you need to know. I have only been there once, where I have been into Petco a lot. I am probably going to go in there today, because it seems like they have fairly healthy stock. But they do severely over stock.
 
Back
Top Bottom