LFS

[iplayhockey1919]

Please tell me if I am wrong on this subject.

I have been going to a LFS for about 5 years now, and gotten to know them well as we all have done. About 3 years ago, I bought a fish from them and then raised him to a beauty of fish. The fish is a One Spot Fox Face about 6-7 inches long and very healthy. I have been thinking about reducing the fish in the tank for a while because the fox face and tang had been arguing and being only a 90 gallon tank, not too much for them. I talked with my LFS about dropping it off and trying to get a credit or something for the fish. In his response, I was told that he needed to make a living and doesn't give credit out. So about a week has gone by; I went to the store yesterday to pick up a light for my UV Sterilizer and saw that he put the fish up for $150.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that he does need to make a living. How I see it though, the reason LFS survive is due to both the owner and the regulars that have a good business relationship. Should I still give him my business even though he doesn’t want to look after the regulars?

 

[cwalton00]

I would think giving you a small store credit would of been the appropriate thing to do. It didn't have to be much but it would of been a nice gesture.

From my understanding getting fish/coral from a local person is usually preferred over a wholesale. Usually the fish are healthy and the corals are too.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

A good business owner would realize that customers are what keep them in business. You don't say it, but you brought the fish there anyway after he said he doesn't do credits? I guess it depends on your options, are there other LFS around? I see your point here and his. Although he could've done a much smaller credit and still profited from your fish trade.

 

[iplayhockey1919]

A good business owner would realize that customers are what keep them in business. You don't say it, but you brought the fish there anyway after he said he doesn't do credits? I guess it depends on your options, are there other LFS around? I see your point here and his. Although he could've done a much smaller credit and still profited from your fish trade.

Yes, I brought it to him after he mentioned it. We do have another LFS around, about an hour away, which makes it a little harder to go to on a regular basis. I would have been fine with a small credit or a fish swap (small one). At one point, I thought about giving him my Power blue tang (almost as big as the fox face) but again, wouldn't give a credit. Previously I had talked to him about bringing in some coral frags and he was going to give me a couple of bucks for each one which is all I wanted.

 

[Captain Quint]

So you paid an initial purchase price, raised it into a healthy state worth more with no credit at all? No gesture of say a % off your next purchase?

Nothing?

In other words, the LFS owner at least doubled his retail profit off of you alone?

I'm not sorry to say that this guy is doing you no favors.

That was not only bad business but selfish and taking advantage. Please don't allow that. It seems to be the nice person tends to get taken advantage of.

In no way am I trying to instigate an ill will of Y'alls dealings but just speaking the truth.

You are taking a high road on this which I don't think I could do on a matter like this. I respect you for it. Not so much toward the LFS owner I'm afraid to say.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

So how about a consignment tank where the store owner makes some return but you get the largest percentage? If I owned a store I might take this approach. Maybe the percentage changes the longer the livestock is for sale to cover for overhead. Just a thought.

 

[Captain Quint]

So how about a consignment tank where the store owner makes some return but you get the largest percentage? If I owned a store I might take this approach. Maybe the percentage changes the longer the livestock is for sale to cover for overhead. Just a thought.

Exactly. I had a great relationship with an LFS. I even had an account I paid on a monthly basis. I enjoyed doing business with the two owners. I purchased a pair of Domino Clowns for ~$400 and changed my mind. Did the consignment thingy with them and told them I'd be satisfied with $200. They sold them for $400 to a customer while I was there and completely happy with that.

Sorry I went off topic.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I had a great LFS when I was in Washington. Traded stock, and took back tangs that outgrew my 20gal any time because they knew I was bringing healthy fish/coral to them when needed. Often brought bags of chaeto in for trade. Some are great and some take advantage because they think they are the only show in town.

So far the closest LFS to me back home now in NY is an hour drive and a 20min ferry ride(which is not cheap). I'm looking for something else and am willing to drive a couple of hours. I've offered the requested amounts on here to people selling frag packs and when they get my zip code they decide they don't want to ship for what they originally mentioned. Different topic as well, but it is frustrating. I agree that this owner, after being with them several years, needs to recognize where his sales are coming from.

 

[Kali]

Ouch, that would leave a bad taste in my mouth. I'd defintely be reluctant to go back or steer new business his way.

A LFS that I do a lot of business with has a policy where they only give credit Mon-Fri, never on weekends. Another in the area (not really but close enough) will give a small credit any time. IMO, there should be some incentive to develop a relationship with your LFS and credit or trades for healthy fish, corals, and plants should be one.

 

[Opus]

Guess I'm lucky. All the stores around me will do some kind of credit. My go to store would usually give me 50% of what he planned to sell it for.

 

[iplayhockey1919]

So you paid an initial purchase price, raised it into a healthy state worth more with no credit at all? No gesture of say a % off your next purchase?

Nothing?

In other words, the LFS owner at least doubled his retail profit off of you alone?

I'm not sorry to say that this guy is doing you no favors.

That was not only bad business but selfish and taking advantage. Please don't allow that. It seems to be the nice person tends to get taken advantage of.

In no way am I trying to instigate an ill will of Y'alls dealings but just speaking the truth.

You are taking a high road on this which I don't think I could do on a matter like this. I respect you for it. Not so much toward the LFS owner I'm afraid to say.

Yes, I paid all of that last time when I bought the fish and nothing in return. And I am sure he doubled his profits because a few years back I think I only paid 40 for him which was before prices increased due to restrictions on tropical fish.

I agree that it is bad business and selfish practices which is why I asked everyone because I wanted to be sure. I actually thought that I would have had a few side with him. I had thought of getting to the counter with the light bulb for the sterilizer and then saying never mind, I don't need this from here and walk out. And my second thought was to open a store myself and do things right. I have lost all respect for him and wont be going back.

 

[iplayhockey1919]

I had a great LFS when I was in Washington. Traded stock, and took back tangs that outgrew my 20gal any time because they knew I was bringing healthy fish/coral to them when needed. Often brought bags of chaeto in for trade. Some are great and some take advantage because they think they are the only show in town.

So far the closest LFS to me back home now in NY is an hour drive and a 20min ferry ride(which is not cheap). I'm looking for something else and am willing to drive a couple of hours. I've offered the requested amounts on here to people selling frag packs and when they get my zip code they decide they don't want to ship for what they originally mentioned. Different topic as well, but it is frustrating. I agree that this owner, after being with them several years, needs to recognize where his sales are coming from.

I have spent a ton of money at his store over the years and when I freaked out over a chip in the top part of tank, he was nice enough to calm me down. He will be moving soon, because the city the store is at, is being taking down for a parking lot and will likely move south. On another reef site I belong to, I keep seeing that people want to have more of an option on the south of Boston/south shore area. Maybe, just maybe I will get into that world as a hobby.

 

[count krunk]

that is messed up on his part. I brought some fw plants into a LFS i have never bought from before, and he gave me $20 in store credit. I would certainly think twice about buying from him again. But I wouldn't have given him my fish for free either.

 

[Pntbll687]

I would say that the lfs is not doing well business wise. It may not look like it, but something is wrong if he won't give credit on a fish like that.

My local lfs encourages trade ins when fish get too big. He has the contacts for people that have the huge tanks and want big, show ready fish.

That being said, when I trade in a fish I'm probably gonna get 50%-60% of retail on it, which I'm fine with. Even coral trades are decent value.

 

[Captain Quint]

Yes, I paid all of that last time when I bought the fish and nothing in return. And I am sure he doubled his profits because a few years back I think I only paid 40 for him which was before prices increased due to restrictions on tropical fish.

I agree that it is bad business and selfish practices which is why I asked everyone because I wanted to be sure. I actually thought that I would have had a few side with him. I had thought of getting to the counter with the light bulb for the sterilizer and then saying never mind, I don't need this from here and walk out. And my second thought was to open a store myself and do things right. I have lost all respect for him and wont be going back.

I wanted to open an LFS years back but in talking with 2 LFS who are personal friends they told me straight when they said that they are declining in sales due to online purchases and that things are much tougher than they used to be and both are the two best LFS' in the area with franchise now around the state. So I can't even imagine how tough it would be for a 'Mom & Pop' LFS nowadays.

Like I said I really respect you taking the approach on asking opinions here and not flying off the handle with him the way I did at an LFS person one time for trying to really rip me off once and that was the last time they saw me. They actually called and apologized and asked for my business back. I accepted their apology and apologized for my actions as I was wrong for the tongue lashing I dished out and they accepted mine as well but I never went back.

I still believe you took the high road not making a scene and with your visiting the LFS will eventually dawn on them and perhaps start to value a client instead of taking advantage of them.

 

[Captain Quint]

I would say that the lfs is not doing well business wise. It may not look like it, but something is wrong if he won't give credit on a fish like that.
.............................

I totally agree.

 

[Scurvy]

I have spent a ton of money at his store over the years and when I freaked out over a chip in the top part of tank, he was nice enough to calm me down. He will be moving soon, because the city the store is at, is being taking down for a parking lot and will likely move south. On another reef site I belong to, I keep seeing that people want to have more of an option on the south of Boston/south shore area. Maybe, just maybe I will get into that world as a hobby.

I know of the store you speak and also received no credit the one time I brought them a fish. It didn't upset me as the fish arrived in an online order and was not what I had ordered so I was credited by the online source. I was grateful they took a Parrot fish off my hands but I was a little surprised when they said they offered no credit ever on fish.

I know it's probably farther away but the store in Framingham offers small livestock credits. I bring them the bulk of my business and have had better luck with my purchases there.

Our options in the Boston area aren't great.

 

[iplayhockey1919]

I know of the store you speak and also received no credit the one time I brought them a fish. It didn't upset me as the fish arrived in an online order and was not what I had ordered so I was credited by the online source. I was grateful they took a Parrot fish off my hands but I was a little surprised when they said they offered no credit ever on fish.

I know it's probably farther away but the store in Framingham offers small livestock credits. I bring them the bulk of my business and have had better luck with my purchases there.

Our options in the Boston area aren't great.

It kinda makes me think that I should just have sold it in one of these forums or local to us. It could have been fixed if my wife let me have a bigger tank....

I go to that store when I can. They have better options with live stock, corals and are little more established but further away. That is where I got my first tank, and it was used that lasted a few years.

 

[ReefTeacher]

My LFS doesn't really give ***-for-tat credit, but because I regularly bring Chaeto and frags in, I get 20% almost every purchase. I also get free replacement if a fish dies after a day or 2 in QT. THAT is really worth it.

If I got nothing, I would definitely advertise on a local forum instead.

 

[Captain Quint]

I know of the store you speak and also received no credit the one time I brought them a fish. It didn't upset me as the fish arrived in an online order and was not what I had ordered so I was credited by the online source. I was grateful they took a Parrot fish off my hands but I was a little surprised when they said they offered no credit ever on fish.

I know it's probably farther away but the store in Framingham offers small livestock credits. I bring them the bulk of my business and have had better luck with my purchases there.

Our options in the Boston area aren't great.

Wow.

That LFS will surely fail if they continue to lose good customers like Y'all.