proper etiquette in a lfs.

[danielratti]

Let me share something with everyone here. When you go into a small business pet store or not please do not come in there for help when all you are going to do s bash prices of things to replace what you happened to destroy from your own ignorance. All business have overhead that the need to make from selling items so if it is 30 dollars less online but you can get it today for 30 then do so and support said business not buy something call back like a dummy  and say find me a new used item for less and then come back and demand you want your money back and said item for free since it is lightly used not only are you wasteing the workers time but the other customers who are actually spending 100s of dollars. And people wonder why small business go under...

I cannot wait for the taxing on the internet to start.

[linuxrulesusa]

Related to this is not wasting the workers' time asking a ton of questions with no intention to buy a fish or piece of equipment, right?

[danielratti]

I feel that is different I can still clean tanks or work on things if that is the case but when I am looking all over hell and back for something you want just to make a stink over it. This is a guy I've asked to leave before because he felt it was ok to hit his kid as hard as he could with a open hand because that is ok.

[linuxrulesusa]

OK...if it was me I'd be annoyed if they used the LFS as a display outlet for Amazon etc, kind of like how many people use Best Buy to view or test out items then go buy somewhere else (usually online).

[danielratti]

No no the only other lfs is kinda like a box store and every 7 years it burns down after the owner trys to sell it. So id like to inform then let people be misinformed.

[JeffroM]

1) If a store (any type of store) cannot come within 10% of the online pricing then they have no business carrying that product as all they are is what linux referred to as a display outlet for the internet.  There are plenty of product lines out there that aren't whored out on the internet.  Stores need to learn that they cannot continue to support manufacturers who don't support them.  But brick and mortar stores also need to come to the realization that 100% mark ups (not referring to livestock) are a decade old practice.  Business is leaner and meaner.  That is just the way the world is.  You can complain about it and die off or innovate and thrive.

2) It is inappropriate to expect any business to give you their knowledge and experience without something in return.  For someone to ask a LFS how something works that they bought from someone else is frankly rude.

[danielratti]

We match online but I saw this in the hardware store also the dude had a hissy fit over something that was 10 bucks less online but needed it today... use it and bring it back then duh

[johnny_mixup]

Hi all! New to posting here, but, figured what the heck, I'd chime in anyhow with my 2 cents.

First, I will always support local businesses (i.e., purchase the products I need/want from them) so long as they:
a) actually have what I am looking for;
b) understand the products they sell (and if I ask, help me learn how to use a given product);
c) back up the products they sell (without an hour long story about how others have tried to screw them over and how the wholesaler/mfg won't credit them for the defect unless blah, blah, blah... don't care);
d) don't treat me like an idiot, like I'm trying to screw them over (or generally treat me rudely);
e) are honest and (specific to the LFS here) adhere to the best ethical practices in acquiring and maintaining their livestock.

Granted, no single business anywhere can score 100% in each of these areas every day they have their doors open. No reasonable person expects them to. On the flip side, if the LFS typically doesn't carry what I want, and the owner/employees typically treat their customers poorly, etc., I'm either going to drive to the next nearest LFS (~30 miles away), or go online.

Notice, price didn't show up in the list. There have been times where I've spent nearly twice as much on a given small item -- say a heater -- at the LFS about half an hour away as I would online. I'd likely do so more often if that store focused on freshwater rather than saltwater. Maybe that makes me an idiot, but I'll remain the type of idiot that whenever possible will pay a little more to support my neighbors, not wait for shipping and at the same time have some level of local product support.

'Just wish it were feasible to do so more often.

[Ron]

b) understand the products they sell (and if I ask, help me learn how to use a given product);

That's something that annoys me to no end, but is driven by business models these days. The cheaper the help, the less they know about the product, which typically means most employees don't know much at all beyond what I can already read on the product label itself. Especially on more premium items, I'm willing to pay extra for service and knowledge, but it's sometimes really hard to find. I recently went to 5 different stores all selling the same products for the same prices (dealer regulated). Why 5? The first 4 seemed staffed by people who didn't know or have experience using the product. 

[linuxrulesusa]

Notice, price didn't show up in the list. There have been times where I've spent nearly twice as much on a given small item -- say a heater -- at the LFS about half an hour away as I would online. I'd likely do so more often if that store focused on freshwater rather than saltwater. Maybe that makes me an idiot, but I'll remain the type of idiot that whenever possible will pay a little more to support my neighbors, not wait for shipping and at the same time have some level of local product support.

This is a difficult one. 

For example, if no one buys new tanks, there are never used tanks to pick up at garage sales and via CraigsList.  If I had bought everything new through my LFS I'd have two tanks instead of ten to fifteen.  Which might not be a bad thing, but at the same time I would have spent the same $500+ for a lot less stuff. 

For something like a heater, I like the Aqueon Pros.  The LFS closest to me sells them for at least double the online price.  And I can get them shipped within two days. 

So...I've typically chosen to get dry goods used, except for heaters, which I've bought via super discounts/sales at Petco.  I'm sure this is not the best choice for the LFS by me, but it's the choice I've made. 

I do try to support the LFS who sell healthy fish for a fair price, e.g. Fins, Bruce's, and so on that are near me.  It all depends on the funds available and what's happening at a given moment.

[four_by_ken]

From prior discussions I think some of you know how I feel about buying local.  I will go out of my way and spend a little more to by local.  I am 100% supportive of this.

I do buy some stuff online if I cant find it locally, but I try my best not too.

And if I do hit the internet for something... I start here first.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A2A02U6YIW6LGE

Still local.

[runawaypencil]

I guess I will toss my two cents in cause its a different point of view then the norm.   I do follow the rest where i try to buy who has the knowledge and a good prices, but I also will only buy from those that also buy local,  As I would consider my self as a small breeder there are a number of LFS that will not work with a local breeder or try and beat me up over pricing to the extreme, I under stand the over head they have as I also have over head on my operation and the cost to do business. But it drives me crazy when I have a list of 15 ish  different cichlids and they want to tell you everything is only worth a buck.  When we all know they pay more then that when they order there fish from out of state not to mention the cost of shipping and packaging and the DOA that occurs. So it all drives me a little crazy especially when it is a small LFS,

[danielratti]

We buy from a local guy so its win win for us a lot of his stuff we get for like 3-5 bucks.

[jcunningham0295]

I guess I will toss my two cents in cause its a different point of view then the norm.   I do follow the rest where i try to buy who has the knowledge and a good prices, but I also will only buy from those that also buy local,  As I would consider my self as a small breeder there are a number of LFS that will not work with a local breeder or try and beat me up over pricing to the extreme, I under stand the over head they have as I also have over head on my operation and the cost to do business. But it drives me crazy when I have a list of 15 ish  different cichlids and they want to tell you everything is only worth a buck.  When we all know they pay more then that when they order there fish from out of state not to mention the cost of shipping and packaging and the DOA that occurs. So it all drives me a little crazy especially when it is a small LFS,

I couldn't agree more.  This bothers me as well.

[African cichlid Keeper]

Hi all! New to posting here, but, figured what the heck, I'd chime in anyhow with my 2 cents.

First, I will always support local businesses (i.e., purchase the products I need/want from them) so long as they:
a) actually have what I am looking for;
b) understand the products they sell (and if I ask, help me learn how to use a given product);
c) back up the products they sell (without an hour long story about how others have tried to screw them over and how the wholesaler/mfg won't credit them for the defect unless blah, blah, blah... don't care);
d) don't treat me like an idiot, like I'm trying to screw them over (or generally treat me rudely);
e) are honest and (specific to the LFS here) adhere to the best ethical practices in acquiring and maintaining their livestock.Granted, no single business anywhere can score 100% in each of these areas every day they have their doors open. No reasonable person expects them to. On the flip side, if the LFS typically doesn't carry what I want, and the owner/employees typically treat their customers poorly, etc., I'm either going to drive to the next nearest LFS (~30 miles away), or go online.

Notice, price didn't show up in the list. There have been times where I've spent nearly twice as much on a given small item -- say a heater -- at the LFS about half an hour away as I would online. I'd likely do so more often if that store focused on freshwater rather than saltwater. Maybe that makes me an idiot, but I'll remain the type of idiot that whenever possible will pay a little more to support my neighbors, not wait for shipping and at the same time have some level of local product support.

'Just wish it were feasible to do so more often.

I agree with what say in red.