Michigan Cichlid Association
Announcements => Suggestions => Topic started by: sam-macmasteri on April 17, 2015, 08:30:20 AM
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An available species list for each individual store or supplier... would help local business and they can help us with chiming in with their stock lists every once in a while. Just for the added business of doing this simple task can increase business im sure.I live so far I cant just drop in and take a look... critters is somewhat close but pruess is two hours... royal oak is a drive.50 minutes threw the city.. been to the "shop" but cant just drop in without knowing what they got. Many of the stores websites fall short.
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I believe that most businesses have a phone number you can call, with the added bonus of up to the minute stock information.
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I like the idea in theory but most LFS don't even maintain an up to date stock list on their own websites. So expecting them to diligently update a stock list on this site may be asking a bit too much.
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I like the idea in theory but most LFS don't even maintain an up to date stock list on their own websites. So expecting them to diligently update a stock list on this site may be asking a bit too much.
Exactly
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As a former Preuss employee, I can tell you that with the incredible variety and ridiculous livestock turnover we had, there is no way they will ever have an up to date list of all livestock. We took calls where people wanted to know what we had, and we would always tell them they would have to come in because it would take us literally the whole day to tell you. The closest I could ever see happening is giving notices of new stock. But seriously, like 200 tanks and probably 1000 species and color morphs there is no way a stocklist is possible. Most of these shops benefit most from foot traffic; none of them want you to just call in and see what's there.
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Often wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to have internet accessible video cameras trained on some of the main tanks as a sample of what is carried at that LFS etc., as an IT guy I know the logistics of this wouldn't be very costly or take up much room. Just an idea..:)
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Lilscoots your answer is great!! Your a big help. Honest.
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Their websites are sub-par I know... sux... but a few good stores do keep a nice detailed list and every importer does as well...
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It's nice to see, there are dreamers still alive...you can't find a regular store with a reliable up to date inventory on their own website.
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I know this is dated.. but since I have lived the "inventory control" life for a major company, to keep an inventory of available fish comes down to how bad they want to... No disrespect to the previous posters and yes I agree there is also an error rate for any inventory, but there is no way that a company like Preuss or the like just orders a line item "fish" and sells line item "fish". Each species has to be orded specifically by a stock number and recorded for business purposes upon receipt and sale. Anyway, my point is that if there is a decent inventory system (that is a requirement for any business) and being that the livestock is a major part of their "assets" or "inventory", it would simply require an interface from their sales info to their inventory. Then post the inventory to their site. The only additonal work would be to overlay an exel file onto their website at the end of the evening, and of course add incoming fish.. which my guess is they have to now. I think their is definitely a way this can be done.. the question is can you convince a LFS that handling several calls a day about what's in their tanks is more or less a waste of time then tracking and posting their inventory. If the registers are PC based then I would say the infrastructure is there.. they just need the justification to tap into it.
-Marc
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I can tell you for fact that Preuss does not keep inventory of their aquatic livestock. It's entirely based on visually checking whenever they feel like it. The codes for all fish designate a compatibility code which they share with hundreds of other species. The employees write the prices on the bags.
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http://www.cichlidworld.net/NEW_STOCK.htm best lfs website I found so far.
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Good reply eden2020. That was the idea. I know a guy named Dustin Labo. Bryan, Ohio He makes a master list everytime he receives fish or has availability charts to order as well. Just that extra step that makes a customer come back.