Makes Me Upset!!!!!!

[BlazinNano]

You know what really makes me upset? There was thread started and was closed about someone complaining how much livestock is marked up at the store from what the store paid for it from the wholesaler. How can any of us complain about how much of a markup there is? Think about how much that store had to pay just so you can walk in and look around and leave with nothing. How many licenses did they have to buy? How much equipment is in the store running and not for sale? How much is their electric bill? How much do they pay employees? We complain that something has a huge markup, well how much did the cheese burger from Burger King actually cost them and how much did they sell it to you? Don't complain about a markup!

Sorry had to vent. Can't believe people complain. Don't buy it if you don't like the price! No matter how long you have known the owner of the store he is running a business.

Mods if you want you can delete this before it becomes a problem.

 

[Viva'sReef]

+1......

 

[Nicks387]

Well said. I agree. I have owned all types of stores from pizza places to tanning salons to liquor stores and you wouldn't believe what it takes to own any store, nevermind a lfs. Think of what your tanks expenses are and then times that by 50. Then add in the costs of employees, rent, permits, inventory, insurance, losses, etc. etc. and see if selling frags for $10 keeps you in business.

 

[Rskillz]

I think you're dead-on if it's the walk-in stores you're referring to. They have enormous overhead; lights, tanks, water, rent/mortgage, etc etc. Most would be shocked by how much it costs to get a LFS up and running.

If you are referring to Online retailers, then you're both right and wrong. You can have a "online store" from your extra bedroom and a frag tank. All you need is a business ID. So no, a lot of "stores" really don't have astronomical overhead. And some of them are the worst about mark up. I think some people will ALWAYS default back to: Price=Quality, which is why these business do well. People with too much money want to look "Baller," or "cool," by buying from them.

In short, LFS are being run out of town by customers buying online. The LFS are the ones who truly deserve to mark their stuff up.

 

[BlazinNano]

Yes I am talking about the real LFS. I have helped two of my friends close their stores down in orlando. One had to take second mortgage out on his house to try and save it and just gave up spending his own money and never getting it back. The other guy had to file bankruptcy. Both my parents and my fiance's parents own their own companies. Neither are fish stores but I see what it cost them to open the doors everyday. One company is a ceramic company and the other is a flooring company. They will go 2-3 days and not sell a single thing. Try to own a fish store when today you sold $100 worth of stuff but your lights, ac, everything ran for 8 hours and you sat there and had 2 fish die. That $100 is not worth it most times. I always buy everything I can from the LFS. I have bought 1 coral online in the three years I have been in this hobby. I don't even buy dry goods online.

 

[cockybrock]

I own part of a LFS and the costs are enormous! People do complain but most months we barely break even. Luckily we have a good following so we do stay afloat, but with people selling on the internet, it makes it a lot harder!

 

[BlazinNano]

Now I am not bashing the internet companies. I do not want this to become that. I was just stating that I don't understand how any of us could be upset with a markup. The internet guys have spent alot of money as well. I know one company that started as an internet company in someone's garage and is now working on a store front. I love alot of the corals I see on the internet I am just an impulse buyer. I go to the store for salt and see a frag that I have the extra cash for so I get it. I rarely go to any LFS to just buy coral. I always have dry goods I need and the coral and fish are just an added bonus.