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Skyetone 
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 Topic: What do you want from your LFS?
Posted: January 29 2005 at 11:24pm |
I was at a local fish shop a week ago and i bought around 100$ worth of goodies. I told them that it happened that they had a lot of what I wanted that particular time. They said that they are trying to figure out more what the people really want so they can accommodate and also profit from it.
Got me thinking....... The larger nationwide pet stores make millions, but most here despise them. But the little LFS that make enough to cover the shop and mortgage. What is it that the LFS can do or have that would make you buy there more?
I like to have the shops have a good selection of lights. It seems that the LFS I go to never seem to have the light I want right then and there.
I also need to have a variety of stuff cuz i have reptiles and fish (fw/sw) But I also want a specialist when i am talking about each thing.
Kinda trade in's get to me........ I know it was a trade in, I know you gave them say 50$ for that huge whatever that you are now selling for 100$+ Drop trade in prices a little. There is no guarantee anyways, so why try and make a lot of money off of them.
And lets see what others have to say. Kinda a neutral way to hint to the LFS about the good and bad in general. Lets keep names out of it. Eric will cry.....
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I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.
Magna
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flashmc
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 12:52am |
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1. Big beautiful display pieces of coral.
2. Small & Medium size frags.
3. A good variety of fish, that should change regularly. If an LFS
always has the same fish I don't even think of them unless it is in
regards to that specific species.
4. A good variety of hardware, not just budget minded parts or high end parts, both.
5. Used gear at used prices.
6. Consignment area.
7. DIY hardware. This could be difficult, but hey, isn't this a dream list anyway.
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smatney
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 8:32am |
1. Zoos besides orange and green.
2. Ricordea florida and yuma.
3. Consignment area is interesting Robert - good idea.
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Susan Matney
Farmington, UT
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chrisslc
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 9:00am |
7. DIY hardware. This could be difficult, but hey, isn't this a dream list anyway
This seems a very good Idea to me too, Maybe just a selection of acrylic sheets and tubes, bulkheads, glues, no need to get too overboard, just stuff to adjust the things your buying from them at least, more than building all your own.
Edited by chrisslc
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Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 10:20am |
Lots of fish in stock.
Adam
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 12:06pm |
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Be as open as possible to what fits best for each customer. Being helpful and friendly builds long-term business. When that relationship exists, I shop at that store.
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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reptoreef
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 3:20pm |
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We did the consignment thing at my store... came out about more neg than positive. If I had the same product or animal that I was trying to move, brand new, that had to come first and that meant having to tell people, "no"... another thing was that some people thought I could afford to house and feed a critter for free and if it didn't sell, they should get it back for free. However, after making an agreement policy that gave both parties fair reimbursement, things went realtively well, but it does create a type of in-store, self-competition(for lack of better words). It is definitely not an easy business and does demand ALOT of time and patience as well as sweat, tears, and $$$. These small LFS aren't getting rich, believe that!!!
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www.captivereefing.com
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bugzme
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 4:18pm |
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I've already got what I want with 3 stores in the area. I wish they would carry cultured coral rather than wild. I would pay the price difference! would you?
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Jeff
125 tank
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Skyetone
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 4:59pm |
I am glad to see people getting on this thread. The LFS need our help. 
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I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.
Magna
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flashmc
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 9:14pm |
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8. Price lists. It would be nice to have prices clearly marked on each tank.
I used to like how Marine Aquatics had a price list next to each tank, but for the last 6 weeks or so they have been blank.
I have heard from one LFS that they used to mark the prices on the
tanks, but someone erased a 2 in front of a $25 item and then made a
scene and demanded the item for $5. So they have since moved to
printing lists out, but then you have to make sure they are updated
regularly.
To be honest, I hate having to ask for prices, expecially when you get
different answers depending on who you ask. I feel like I am going to
get ripped off if I ask one person, and that I am getting over on an
LFS if I ask the one who always gives the lower number.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 9:38pm |
I agree with Robert on that. It is a real pain to find 6 fish in a store that you are thinking about, and then have to ask what the prices are on all of them. I realize this is one of the more difficult and time consuming things for a store to do, but really is nice to have all the prices in front of you to see.
Adam
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MBX5
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 10:35pm |
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Price lists is a big one! I never know if they make a price up or it is the
real thing.
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Joe Barnas Westminster, CO
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jfinch
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 11:16pm |
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Price lists... IMO, that's the most important thing mentioned so far. Bird World and Aquatica are very good about keeping pricing up to date and posted on the tank that the coral/fish is in. And I really like the fact that BW also posts the date of arrival on the sticker too.
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jfinch
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Posted: January 30 2005 at 11:20pm |
Oh, and a nice DIY section is nice. Bulkheads, acrylic sheet/tube, glues, plumbing stuff, float switches, solenoids, venturis, uni-seals, etc. But I wonder if any of it would really sell? A handful of us here on the board might be the only ones buying
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 31 2005 at 12:14pm |
 jfinch wrote:
But I wonder if any of it would really sell? A handful of us here on the board might be the only ones buying |
And when we can get the same item at a commercial supplier for half the price... and what would JFinch do if he couldn't stop by NPS for a bargain on something and what would Seti007 do without the UofU surplus outlet?!! 
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Skyetone
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Posted: January 31 2005 at 6:37pm |
what about all the tanks that they have on the floor. seems to me that is a waste most of the time. but If I was a newbie, I'd want to just get a tank. May be they could keep the smaller regular sellers and take the big stuff out for more room.
Another "wishlist" item is time. I know there is NO way around this, but it seems that every time I go to a LFS I spend 1hr when I wanted in and out in 20 min. We almost need a DMV setup, "now serving # 27"
I like when a LFS has DIY, but I don't like that they get a 20% markup on most things by getting on the same websights I can and ordering the same things I can. I thought the idea was they bought wholesale and sold retail. So if it was 5-10% markup to me from the internet (bastard) and the convienience of going to the store and purchasing. I'd do it in a hart beat. But for 20% I'll order online everytime. It saves alot on cheeper stuff.
I am looking into a lighting setup. Around 400 from the internet. This doesn't include shipping and stuff. I LFS carries the same thing, but it'll be around 575 for the same stuff. Thats alot to me.....
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I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.
Magna
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Crazy Tarzan
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Posted: January 31 2005 at 10:42pm |
I would like to see more small $5-10 frags of not necessarily expensive or rare corals, but things you like when you see them. I've gotten $5 frags before with a fish store, and I ended up spending $20 on them, when I wouldn't have bought anything other wise. Yeah, I like cheap pieces of coral, but what really floats my boat is being able to tell people that I grew that big honking coral out of a stick in about a year.
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Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ?
Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing
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Will Spencer
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Posted: February 05 2005 at 8:09pm |
Adam Blundell wrote:
Lots of fish in stock.
Adam
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I couldn't agree more. Nothing is worse than taking the time to go to 3 or 4 stores and finding that noone has the fish you are looking for.
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Weimers
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Posted: February 05 2005 at 11:16pm |
All I really care about is good service. I'd like to say that I want more, but that's it for me. When I visit a LFS that has good service, I think that takes care of pretty much everything. I can ask them to keep an eye out for a used piece of equip if that's what I'm after. 99% of the LFS are AWESOME!
Renee
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Corey Price
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Posted: February 11 2005 at 1:56pm |
Honest staff- that's what I like.
I used to frequent many LFS in search of the "best price"- but what I really was after was the best service and a reasonable price that I feel comfortable with.
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