Best Websites For Equipment

[tigé21v]

I know what you mean. Our collective laziness is more effective than any advertisement or sale the online guys could run. ;)

I don't think , at least in my case, it's out laziness. Or necessarily a better price and/or no taxes (though both are a nice perk). It's more out of frustration. Ordering through the LFS used to give me a reason to "have to" stop by the LFS, and of course I'd have to check out what new livestock came in that week. Usually I would leave with more than just what I had them order in for me. I finally realized that leaving the store irritated on a regular basis was doing nothing for me or building a positive relationship with the store. And it wasn't just a single store I had the issue with, it was every one in my area.
This all being said, it HAS been a while since I've tried using any of them to order for me. It may be time to give them another chance.

 

[GoVols]

I've used every one of the vendors mentioned so far, with the exception of SaltwaterAquarium. I've never had a bad experience with any of them.
My go-to is Premium Aquatics. Although I'm two states away, if I order sometime before 1:00pm, my order is sitting by my front door by 10:30am the following day. (Talk about an enabler...:))
I have over the years gone through my LFS for dry goods, admittedly more so in the past than now. I would much rather see the profits of my money (or at least part of it) stay in the community. A LFS only has so much shelf space. They can only offer a very, very small fraction of the overwhelming dry goods available to us. If it was something not immediately needed, I had no problem letting them "special order" the item. But there always seemed to be a "delay", and an excuse that went with it. It was very frustrating waiting two weeks or more for an item I could have had delivered to me in half that time, even if coming from either coast. I find myself just plopping down in front of the computer and hitting the "Submit Order" any more.

Well Said,
When I bought my chiller: I did my research and wanted a Teco, It's top quality + It heats too. So drove to my (lfs) and asked him if he could order it for me. He said: No I can't get it. So I got it from Aquarium Specialty.
I did the same thing for my current skimmer "Bubble King" he couldn't get one.
So I ordered it with (Jason's Help) at Premium Aquatics.
He only sells Reef Octopus cal. reactors I've asked him can you get me a GEO and model#.
He said no I only sell the "Reef Octopus" and understands that I want the brands and models that I trust.
I run a Apex System and he sells another brand. Same thing...

I brought up the Reef Crystals earlier in this thread: I know what he sells it for and I know what it sells for online. I don't use it for my long haul mix.
I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef and he doesn't sell Tropic Marin anymore.

We've have a great friendship since 1989.

The big things he sells or can get (That I like): I buy from him.

 

[cigarshark]

As a store owner in Denver, I sell my products at internet prices. Most of the products have controlled pricing and the internet prices are the minimum price the manufacturer allows their products to be sold at.
Salt does not have to be expensive, some stores feel the need to charge up the butt for it. I see it as an opportunity to sell the customer something else when they come into my store.

 

[mcarroll]

It's more out of frustration. Ordering through the LFS used to give me a reason to "have to" stop by the LFS, and of course I'd have to check out what new livestock came in that week. Usually I would leave with more than just what I had them order in for me. I finally realized that leaving the store irritated on a regular basis...

That you have to buy something extra on top of what you came for when you're there is a different issue not related to the store per se – I'm not sure it's fair to be irritated at them, is it? :) In fact, isn't that a sign they are actually doing a good job in selecting inventory you prefer? That's kinda their reason for being. ;) ;) ;)

(BTW, that's not laziness you have, but it's something. :) I know cuz I have it too. Takes one to know one! :P)

 

[GoVols]

As a store owner in Denver, I sell my products at internet prices. Most of the products have controlled pricing and the internet prices are the minimum price the manufacturer allows their products to be sold at.
Salt does not have to be expensive, some stores feel the need to charge up the *** for it. I see it as an opportunity to sell the customer something else when they come into my store.

To Your Point:
My (lfs) owner knows online prices and if he can sell salt, dosing chems. etc... marking up to 30% over online prices and customers will buy it and THEY do it's in his pocket. (He's a business man)
He also has nobody to compete with him in the Nashville market for the saltwater reef aquarium hobby.

He's happy and I'm happy. Some things he'll budge on price for me and somethings he won't.

 

[Adamc13o3]

I've used almost all of the companies mentioned above. I usually try Premium Aquatics first because ground shipping gets to me the quickest from them. I do find myself using BRS a lot too as they carry a bunch of things that PA doesn't. Most if not all of the vendors mentioned are all great IME. I barely use Marine Depot but that's just because I am on the east coast. To comment on the LFS situation. I find that the ones near me just don't ever have the latest products. They're always 2 years behind. So nothing to do with pricing at all they just don't have the newer released goods that I am shopping for. I do like buying livestock from them Vs. online but that's mainly for fish not sticks. They don't have a great variety of sticks near me anywhere and if they do they are 3 x the price. I think if you're a local business and don't have a site that can be ordered from you are doing yourself a major disservice. Times have changed. People not only order things online these days they want them the same day or within 2 hours like Amazon same day or prime now shipping. If you want to stay in the game you must get with the times, it's just how it works in any industry.

 

[mcarroll]

We've have a great friendship since 1989.

That's great to hear.

If only more folks (still) had LFS's...

 

[tigé21v]

That you have to buy something extra on top of what you came for when you're there is a different issue not related to the store per se – I'm not sure it's fair to be irritated at them, is it? :) In fact, isn't that a sign they are actually doing a good job in selecting inventory you prefer? That's kinda their reason for being. ;) ;) ;)

(BTW, that's not laziness you have, but it's something. :) I know cuz I have it too. Takes one to know one! :p)

Lol, my point exactly. My leaving irritated was not related to other purchases (livestock) I made while there (my wife's irritation- DEFINITELY.:rolleyes:) My irritation was related to the item not being there when they said it would be, and the excuses offered up.
But like I said, you've got me to thinking I need to give them another chance. I have two really nice LFS within five miles from my house (sorry,not trying to rub it in mcarroll;)). I may just have to stop by both this weekend and have them order something in for me..

 

[mcarroll]

My irritation was related to the item not being there when they said it would be, and the excuses offered up.

I see! I read it wrong or was confused.

I can actually understand this a bit.....they don't order all the time, so that's the first delay. You might place your request the day after they placed their order with the supplier and they may only order once a month or even just as-needed when a particular item runs out of stock.

In addition, special orders out of this sequence would get a shipping charge almost without exception, ruining the price they have to offer you. (You would usually pay only a fraction of their shipping cost that gets spread over a whole large order of items...and if they order in bulk from the right supplier their shipping rate might be free. A special order out of sequence spoils both angles...you pay 100% of shipping and it's very unlikely to be free shipping for them.)

I dunno about excuses beyond that, but **** happens – I do know that. ;)

Let us know how the second chances go!! :)