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I would of never set up any of my big tanks if I couldn't get the equipment online. Its to expensive around here. I guess I shouldn't be worried since they have a 15 day guarentee and Im using a QT tank.

Hey ya'll. I have been to most of the large chain stores in my local area as well as the smaller independant lfs's. What I have found, without exception, is that the chains have better merchandise and at better prices. The smaller independant shops just can't afford to keep their tanks as clean and pristine as they would like, but they do offer a better chance at getting the species you want. The people who work at both (the ones I talked to anyway) were friendly and knowledgeable about their products as well as their stock. The people at the chain I go to (Petsmart) know a lot about their stock and their merchandise, but can't special order fish they don't have a sku for. (The fish dept manager there, however, may run a good dept but doesn't know a *%@# thing about fish. Go where you prefer, depending upon price, quality and what you're looking for.

When I can get the exact same product as they have in the store for half the price online. Then I will go online. I have to think about me first. I would have never started any of my large tanks without being to buy online.

Hi All,
where will you go for after sales back-up or support of your chain store, on-line purchases from some-ones back-yard, set up on-line business. Will you take your cheap purchase to your dedicated LFS and ask for parts for one-off cheap copies of real aquarium filters, lights,air pumps etc. or will you try to track down the on-line backyard sales person thats now moved to another part of the planet to escape prossacussion by authorities for selling dubious quality goods for the sake of a fast buck.$$$$. The Local Fish Store is there for the long run, to sell only top quality goods and stock so that you keep comming back to get the right service and advice, If he dosn't you want buy there, will you??????. His price is a little higher than the on-line sharks, because he has spent many hours building a business, supporting his staff/ family, paying heavy sales taxes, rents,freight, power and light, to give you the best service and stock at a fair price. If you choose to boycott him because you can get 20c of a pack of food or cn etc. He may not be their when you need him. A broken tank at 1a.m. in the morning, a ceased filter on a long weekend, when other stores are closed and the on-line backyard guy is off on overseas trip, buying more cheap junk to sell on-line. Give us a break,"GUYS" most of us (LFS) are dedicated to giving everyone good stock and service within a very low margins.Rents, running costs, of light and power, import fees, taxes and government charges, staff wages, doesn't leave much profit for the ownwer, beleive me, I know. Muss

I agree with trying to buy local.

My Pet Supermarket I have 1 mile down the street will price match anything out of DrsFostersmith or Big Als.

Yes I have to pay tax and they only figure 10% for freight. When was the last time an online store shipped an Ebo heater for $1.80

buy local!!!!!!!!! U CRAZY..WHEN LOCAL PET STORE CAN MATCH PRICE OF ON LINE I WILL BUY LOCAL!!!!!!!! LOocal fish stote is used only in emergenies... Chain vs Local.. doesnt depend on the STORE but who is working there... MOst knowledgeable guy I know works at PetCo but best fish variety is at smaller LFS ... however when it comes to supplies neither can compete with on line

chain stores are probably cheaper, but don't forget that each pet store is different.

*slap* Bad theresa!!

Buy local dammit!!

I would if the markup wasn't ridiculous. When I was buying stuff for my 75 I need a bunch of power heads. One at the LFS was like $48. I got three online for the same price. It doesn't make sense to pay triple for something I can get much cheaper elsewhere.

I also buy lots of my fish from Wal-Mart.They have a really great fish department,the tanks are always clean and the fish always look very healthy and you very rarely if ever see any dead or diseased fish in any of the tanks. Unfortunately are LFS is a joke. The lady that owns it knows absolutely nothing about fish and will tell someone anything just to make a sale. We did have a really good one,but it burned down recently.So, now I have to travel about 20 miles to another fish store that I like really well.

ya i buy almost all of my fish at Walmart and they are cheaper and most of the timg healther than the ones at the lfs but the lfs has more species

I buy supplies online too

*slap* Bad theresa!!

Buy local dammit!!

What I have found is that like most retail type outlets, most individuals that work there have little or no knowledge of the product(s) they are selling. For most of them it's just a job while still going to school, or waiting for something better to come along.

One of my pet peeves with all of the stores is as has been noted elsewhere are the know-it-alls. Basically, if a fish comes in from the wholesaler as a certain species then that's what it is. An example of this is at one of the local lfs they were selling salt & pepper cories as pandas and when I asked about it, that was there answer. They came from the wholesaler as pandas

You just have to pick out the best in the area, whether it's a chain store or a lfs and then support them with your $s.

Jim

Last edited by OldTimer at 28-Apr-2005 09:18

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Im starting to get fed up with my lfs. They're always more expensive and the quality is low. Today I went to probably the best one in town and looked at the glowlights I wanted and everyone had ich. This seems to be a common occurence there. I went to petco today and every tank was good looking a couple tanks had dead fish but I expect that from any lfs. They also had a lot more variety than the lfs. Do you think that its time to start at the chain stores.

Last edited by greenmonkey51 at 27-Apr-2005 21:17

It definitely depends on the individual store and the employees.

I buy supplies online too. In the city we moved from (15 minutes away) I'd never buy fish from either of the big lcs. But here both are great...clean tanks, healthy fish, knowledgeable & friendly staff.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I think it really depends on the fish store. I've been to places where the people were completely incompetent. The only fish store in my college town was small...and the mollies always had ich and a 55 gallon tank with gouramis had ich. I would stand in there and want to get a fish or two and be completely ignored. I think half the problem is that they hire people that don't have people skills and/or don't have fish knowledge. Now, we have a Petco in Rochester, Mn, which is usually pretty good at keeping fish stocked and in good condition. One of the workers is kind of a know it all. I went there to get a couple of blue rams for my 29 gal. I was getting them at petco because they had the best price. When I was getting the fish, the same worker was telling me that they were Ruby Clown Cichlids (which were a higher price). I argued that I know for a fact that they are German rams...that worker got another worker and tried to explain that they were Ruby Clowns because of their red eyes.......maybe they should look up BOLIVIAN RAMS next time to find that they are also called Ruby Cichlids...not GERMAN RAMS. Uhg. I guess you'll get the same kind of people wherever you go. Sometimes I will look at Walmart for fish...because I usually know about the fish and look for illness because I know what I am getting myself in to.

I've got a fever... and the only prescription... is more cowbell!

The LFS's here are light years better than the chains... it all depends on where you live and what kind of an area it is.

Go where the quality is best, regardless of price for livestock, and wherever the hard goods are cheaper.

I gotta agree with rast the chain sores in oz will screw you over due to the lack of knowlege, I live in Canberra and out of the entire capital, only two small aquairium stores cut it.

I like the manager of the lcs he seems to know what he's doing. I think I will go get those dollar diamond tetras.

None of the LFSs in my county are what I'd say have even close to decent living conditions for their fish. Most of them even carry lots of dyed fish. However, the chain stores around here have much healthier fish and no dyed fish whatsoever. Usually, the manager of the Aquatics Department is also very knowledgeable (but don't try asking any of the other employees fish questions).

Before I discovered the LFSs in other counties (one of which I now travel 35 miles to work at), I always preferred to purchase my fish from the chain stores.

If the chain stores have better quality fish than the smaller stores, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing business with them.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

None of the store around here can answer my question anyways. I only ask very basic question. I don't really care about supplies since I get most supplies from the internet. I think that I may buy some tetras since Im using a qt tank.