Support your LFS or E-tailer?

[Rick]

On-line stores are convient for making a purchase if you live in a
rural area and for looking for a low ball price.

I however prefer to support my local retail location as they have
better service and can usually answer questions about the hobby. And
guess what I dont pay more. Next time when you want to buy
somthing-Ask your LFS if they will match internet pricing.

What I do is print out a page of what I want to buy and show it to my
LFS and they match the pricing. I just saved $75.00 on my last purchase
on a new lighting syytem.

A lot of LFS are now offering a best price guarntee. This also gives
your LFS leverage when buying from their distributors. Print out what
you want to buy and bring it to you LFS and try supporting them as the
part of the profits they make go into your local community.

The advantage is you dont have to wait for UPS and there is no freight
charge. You know its new and if you decide it the wrong one or want to
return it its easy.

I'm not saying dont buy on-line just that you would be supprised that
most LFS will work with you and they do need your business.

[Billy]

"Rick" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On-line stores are convient for making a purchase if you live in a
> rural area and for looking for a low ball price.
>
> I however prefer to support my local retail location as they have
> better service and can usually answer questions about the hobby.
> And
> guess what I dont pay more. Next time when you want to buy
> somthing-Ask your LFS if they will match internet pricing.
>


I buy everything I can from a small, out-of-the-way, privately-owned
LFS. However, no brick-and-mortar shop can match some of the prices
that e-tailers and big-box stores can offer. That in mind, I'm not
going to pay 450 bucks for a skimmer that I can get for 325 elsewhere
just to make myself feel like I'm doing my civic duty. Just my 2
pennies.

billy

[Tre' Landrum]

I whole heartedly agree. There are many ways there is just no way a brick
and murder shop can some prices. but unless the price is way off I will
defiantly go with the local shop. Now when you are comparing prices please
don't forget shipping. I know you can get sand for half the price online,
but the shipping costs twice as much as the sand.... Just how much advice
would you have missed out on, esp. in the early part of your hobby days, if
you didn't have the LFS. There are many things the online guy just will
never give you.

Tre' Landrum

"Rick" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On-line stores are convient for making a purchase if you live in a
> rural area and for looking for a low ball price.
>
> I however prefer to support my local retail location as they have
> better service and can usually answer questions about the hobby. And
> guess what I dont pay more. Next time when you want to buy
> somthing-Ask your LFS if they will match internet pricing.
>
> What I do is print out a page of what I want to buy and show it to my
> LFS and they match the pricing. I just saved $75.00 on my last purchase
> on a new lighting syytem.
>
> A lot of LFS are now offering a best price guarntee. This also gives
> your LFS leverage when buying from their distributors. Print out what
> you want to buy and bring it to you LFS and try supporting them as the
> part of the profits they make go into your local community.
>
> The advantage is you dont have to wait for UPS and there is no freight
> charge. You know its new and if you decide it the wrong one or want to
> return it its easy.
>
> I'm not saying dont buy on-line just that you would be supprised that
> most LFS will work with you and they do need your business.
>

[Chris Gentry]

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:pwMYd.1297$Qz.466@okepread05...
> I whole heartedly agree. There are many ways there is just no way a brick
> and murder shop can some prices. but unless the price is way off I will
> defiantly go with the local shop. Now when you are comparing prices please
> don't forget shipping. I know you can get sand for half the price online,
> but the shipping costs twice as much as the sand.... Just how much advice
> would you have missed out on, esp. in the early part of your hobby days,
if
> you didn't have the LFS. There are many things the online guy just will
> never give you.
>
> Tre' Landrum
>
What online guys? It seems I'm online now, and I get all my info right here
and at reefcentral.

Seriously though, I have talked to the local guys, and they tell me they
just can't compete with the internet stores. Every single store (and there
are 5 of them in about a 30 mile radius) just won't even talk to you nicely
if you aren't going to buy anything. I've tried to glean info from these
people, in an unobtrusive way. If there is a customer I let them handle the
paying person first. Last time I checked, I didn't smell bad, so what's the
deal? Why do they not want to talk? Anyway I've given up trying to get
advice from the lfs. Especially when I can get it from here and the advice
here lacks the typical (can I bullsh*t you into buying something??)

[marika]

Tre' Landrum wrote:

> There are many ways there is just no way a brick
> and murder shop can some prices.

lol. i guess that job is better than being a gangsta in la

mk5000

"every time I drink, say, water, I am aware that I am exploiting the
fish, the algae, the miroorganisms, the men who built the pipeline, the
filtration plant employees, the woman who made the glass from which I
am drinking, the poor lackey who, stooping like a lowly indentured
servant, brought me the glass of water"--The Absolutely No Anything
Diet, George Saunders

[Tre' Landrum]

Yea, if this is the way they treat you they have no business being in
business. Customer service is what keeps the small business open.... and
your loyalty to them is therefore earned. And that is why you should shop
local. If that isn't the case... well the no service you get from online is
stores is better than bad service to your face!

Tre'

> What online guys? It seems I'm online now, and I get all my info right
> here
> and at reefcentral.
>
> Seriously though, I have talked to the local guys, and they tell me they
> just can't compete with the internet stores. Every single store (and
> there
> are 5 of them in about a 30 mile radius) just won't even talk to you
> nicely
> if you aren't going to buy anything. I've tried to glean info from these
> people, in an unobtrusive way. If there is a customer I let them handle
> the
> paying person first. Last time I checked, I didn't smell bad, so what's
> the
> deal? Why do they not want to talk? Anyway I've given up trying to get
> advice from the lfs. Especially when I can get it from here and the
> advice
> here lacks the typical (can I bullsh*t you into buying something??)
>
>

[Rich R]

I walk out of any shop that treats me wrong. that's the only recourse you
have,The online shops also have support if you need to get information.

try to contact some one by email or preferably an phone number.

In the reef keeping business I feel its better getting rock from different
shops anyway to keep it different (meaning from different areas of the world
to mix the critters)


--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:ilPYd.1308$Qz.894@okepread05...
> Yea, if this is the way they treat you they have no business being in
> business. Customer service is what keeps the small business open.... and
> your loyalty to them is therefore earned. And that is why you should shop
> local. If that isn't the case... well the no service you get from online
> is stores is better than bad service to your face!
>
> Tre'
>
>> What online guys? It seems I'm online now, and I get all my info right
>> here
>> and at reefcentral.
>>
>> Seriously though, I have talked to the local guys, and they tell me they
>> just can't compete with the internet stores. Every single store (and
>> there
>> are 5 of them in about a 30 mile radius) just won't even talk to you
>> nicely
>> if you aren't going to buy anything. I've tried to glean info from these
>> people, in an unobtrusive way. If there is a customer I let them handle
>> the
>> paying person first. Last time I checked, I didn't smell bad, so what's
>> the
>> deal? Why do they not want to talk? Anyway I've given up trying to get
>> advice from the lfs. Especially when I can get it from here and the
>> advice
>> here lacks the typical (can I bullsh*t you into buying something??)
>>
>>
>
>
>