I will make SWF.com mad at me for this one!

[1journeyman]

Links:
Guys, the problem with links is pretty simple. While SWF doesn't sell every type of product, they do sell a lot of different products. Other sites also sell those same products, or allow advertisements or other forums, etc.
SWF doesn't want people coming to these forums only to be lead somewhere else for SW related products.
Salt has been talked about. So let's say we stat allowing links to places that sell salt. Are there any stores that only sell salt? As Mods, are we then going to have to start checking the inventories of every store to make sure none of the products compete with SWF products? As sites can change their inventories immediately, we would have to routinely check other sites to see if their inventory had changed.
Guys, it's just easier to use the rule as it stands curently.
SWF is a for-profit business. While we all enjoy these forums, they cost SWF money to host and maintain. While education and promoting the hobby are important, obvously they want and expect a +net gain from the forums too.

 

[viper_930]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2487130
I did not mean to let us post links freely. It was simply a point to supply us with useful dry product. I meant it by why be SO strick on the rule if your not going to sell it right hear.
My simple answer is that it would be way too time consuming to weed out the ok links vs the not ok links. "ok links" meaning those posted to products that SWF.com does not carry if we did have such a rule. It would be a gray area that some may cross, intentionally or not. After all, they do sell dry goods here, albeit maybe a smaller selection than many other sites.
I'm just a mod though so that's just what I think and may not be the reason for the rule setup years ago. I don't make the rules but I do stand by them. I did even before I became a mod.

 

[al mc]

Back to the topic: First Thanks Bonita for starting the thread and keeoing it on track
Thanks to Scott/swf.com for explaining some things to/for all of us.
Wish list: Livestock: More WYSIWYG items, especially corals

 

[lexluethar]

I agree with SWF's policy on not posting competitors sites. ALthough i think it is lazyness from the side of the person giving the link. How difficult is it just to tell someone to google a topic or product? I've done it a few times, just saying "hey guys google sunpod, the second link is the one i want to buy what do you think."
Like an above poster said, no business (Fish store or not) would allow you to walk into their doors and start talking about other businesses. How pissed would you be as an owner if one of your employees was directing a customer to another store (even if your store didn't have the product)? If it is a purely educational site then no problem.
I am dissapointed that they stopped selling some things, for one refractometers. I've personally advised 10+ people on purchasing this piece of equpiment and I wish i could have told them to just get it from this site - which is where i bought mine from 7 months ago.
I would also love to see some more light fixtures, this is another thing that a lot of people talk about, although you sell lights, you don't sell any fixtures - i'd love to see some, but i realize from a business side these are expensive, cost a ton for shipping, and probably not a lot of people would buy them.
One thing I think would be cool is if they offered some type of program for continual buyers. Something like if you've purchased 300+ dollars of live goods from SWF.com then your minimum order comes down to say 30 dollars, or some type of scale. Because i understand the cost allocation of shipping 10 hermit crabs overnight, its not worth the cost. But to 'reward' people that continue to buy from this site I think would be a great idea. Associate the 'cost history' with the user name or something.

 

[nietzsche]

reading this thread brings up something crazy to mind. people are complaining that there aren't any fish to buy from this website, but as stated earlier, the fish can't be found in the ocean for whatever reason. i think we need to be happy with what we have you know? we need to stop being so selfish and greedy over the things we want

 

[bonita69]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2487102
No problem with your "vent". Not all of my comments were directed at you.
Just to clear one thing up though; We Mods aren't "you" at SWF. We're just volunteers; we know Admin through the forums only

A few posts, including yours made me belief people thing we are actually a part of the company; We Mods are not. Scott (Admin) is the Big Boss and the only one who has posted here that is actually a part of the SWF company.
Even a huge tank would have to use a ton of food to justify paying the $30 or more for overnight shipping on frozen foods. Especially when making your own food is so easy and so practical.
yea that is why I said I don't know? I make my own food too

When I said "how about frozen food if you can ship corals you could ship frozen foods", why did I said that? Well hell it made my point stronger

because they don't even have the choice is poeple are willing are not. Other sites seem to sell it well I could PM you a perticular site that does and see how they ship the product and the cost. For Educational purpose only of course. I would not PM any other here so don't ask
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2487102
Not all of my comments were directed at you.
I knew that

Yea I guess I did think your part of SWF. WELL YOU ARE NOW BUDDY!!

just kidding.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2487130
I did not mean to let us post links freely. It was simply a point to supply us with useful dry product. I meant it by why be SO strick on the rule if your not going to sell it right hear. Thats is all. I did not mean for it to come out so strong. and again NOT THE LIVESTOCK area I think that area is just fine the way it is. The way the pages are set up could stand for some improvment IMO.
I agree bashing was not the reason for my thread in the first place. I want to see a + come from it. And our needs better met by SWF.
So Guys don't let this take place let this be a tool to better meet our needs. Guys we have their full attention tell them what you want to see stocked here. I already posted mine.
You do have admin's full attention. Scott said that this was originally a fish only site. They are working on the dry goods. If you had a site, for anything, would you want links to competitors? That rule will never change as 1journeyman stated. We all understand your concern. SWF is working on it. It would be great to tell admin what exactly we are looking for though, so that they know what to stock. My #1 request is the refractometer that I bought off of this site before. It is terrible to tell people to "google" it. Most of the posters that I respond to need a refractometer. It was an awsome deal on here at $39.99. I sure hope that they get those back in stock.

 

[lexluethar]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2487164
You do have admin's full attention. Scott said that this was originally a fish only site. They are working on the dry goods. If you had a site, for anything, would you want links to competitors? That rule will never change as 1journeyman stated. We all understand your concern. SWF is working on it. It would be great to tell admin what exactly we are looking for though, so that they know what to stock. My #1 request is the refractometer that I bought off of this site before. It is terrible to tell people to "google" it. Most of the posters that I respond to need a refractometer. It was an awsome deal on here at $39.99. I sure hope that they get those back in stock.
AGREED!

 

[sepulatian]

I just started a thread in the aquarium. Post what you want this site to carry. Admin is interested, tell him what you all want.

 

[acpants]

alls I know is its kinda heartbreaking when you shop online and get pumped for something, just to find out .... not in stock!!

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
http:///forum/post/2487075
As far as the livestock goes, SWF.com has a bigger in stock selection than most of the WHOLESALERS I've personally seen locally. As some of you may know, the SF Bay Area here has some of the best suppliers in the US, maybe second to the Los Angeles area only. .
I buy wholesale once a week (off three differet suppliers) and their lists are very similar to what SWF has in stock. varying suppliers can influence whats in stock as I order I keep in mind the quality of the last thing I got from them I would RATHER CARRY A DIMINISHED STOCK OF QUALITY ANIMALS, than have a lot of sick ones
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
http:///forum/post/2487075
I thought I'd point out that SWF.com used to carry more dry goods like salt, lights, and protein skimmers. I can't say for sure why they were discontinued though, but I can speculate.
.
IMO there is a tough market for dry good buy WAYYYYY BIG AMOUNTS and sell cheap well. can you afford 3,000 buckets of salt so you can sell them at a web comparable price. I cant....... obviously to stay in business you carry what sells. (not arguing right or wrong here folks just the facts of retail, wholesale, and internetsale, buying from a reliable seller that has what you need when you need to get it to your customer is damned hard. If I were to sell online there is no way I would carry dry goods at all. SWF tried... so as long as they (14 day {last I checked gaurantee} online gaurantee) provide quality LIVE stock I dont care if they offer one mandarin goby per year I'll see whats available just for the gaurantee, ok 'nuff said there.
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
http:///forum/post/2487075
As for the links to outside sources, I think allowing them would be ridiculous from a business standpoint. I doubt any LFS would welcome customers to stroll in and send people to competitor stores. Perhaps some of the nice guys won't kick you out for it, but they certainly frown upon it. SWF.com pays for this forum so it's essentially part of their store, but the goal is to help the hobbyists, not etailers. Allowing links would also open doors for people to advertise their own online store while maybe hiding the fact that they own it. This isn't the only forum that has a rule against links to etailers, but from what I've seen we probably enforce it the most.
eh well again nuff said. its SWF's sand box they built it, your here, whine about it to some one who thinks they should be allowed to pee in your bed before you sleep in it. and such...
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
http:///forum/post/2487075
Anyways, I think this thread was good to see opposing views. We've had similar "discussions" in the past about these same issues that often turn sour.

often they do and.... hows your frag tank doing?

 

[1journeyman]

Ok, so the list we have so far:
Frags
WYSIWYG expanded list
Salt
Frozen foods (for the goofy people like Bonita who are willing to pay shipping

)
Refractometers (All are good suggestions, but this one is huge)
I'll add:
*Kent's Liquid Garlic xtreme (while it has no medicinal value whatsoever, it's so great for getting finicky fish to eat, and the dropper is great for adding it to frozen food homemade recipes)
*Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, although this may be out of print as Fenner is writing a new edition to it.
Other changes:
More and better descriptions of livestock
Divide up webpage to load faster
Did I leave anything out (that's what I remember, and the laptop is burning my legs too much to go back and reread the entire thread) What else?

 

[lexluethar]

Revamp the live goods section, so not everything loads up at once
Explaining more on the discriptions
I know these are more modifications then additions - and it is just MHO.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/2487184
... hows your frag tank doing?

LOL, you don't ask Viper questions like that. The question should be: "What ultra rare coral have you had incredible and never before seen success breeding this week in your frag tank?"
Seriously, Viper will be the guy who successfully begins breeding and raising Achilles Tangs or something equally impressive. And I, of course, will be the guy that hates him for it...

 

[bonita69]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2487171
I just started a thread in the aquarium. Post what you want this site to carry. Admin is interested, tell him what you all want.
Not a lot visit that area so maybe you could cross post so you get more. I have been on this site for some time and never until just now went to that board...weird

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by LexLuethar
http:///forum/post/2487198
Revamp the live goods section, so not everything loads up at once
Explaining more on the discriptions
I know these are more modifications then additions - and it is just MHO.
Great points, the description thing Scott has already told us Mods is on his "To Do" list. I'll add both to my list.

 

[lexluethar]

Oh and keep up the good work. Seriously the amount of knowledge that is on this site (i know it is because of the hundreds of members) and the amount of new people (including myself) that have saved literally thousands of dollars because of the good advise from this site and people is great. I do think there are little things here and there that would 'streamline' some things from the forum prospective and a business prospective.

 

[bonita69]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2487188
Frozen foods (for the goofy people like Bonita who are willing to pay shipping

)

now that was strickly directed at me!!

all in fun^^
I am glad to see more + remarks coming out of this!

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2487200
LOL, you don't ask Viper questions like that. The question should be: "What ultra rare coral have you had incredible and never before seen success breeding this week in your frag tank?"
Seriously, Viper will be the guy who successfully begins breeding and raising Achilles Tangs or something equally impressive. And I, of course, will be the guy that hates him for it...
well i just need a nother aussie pseudochromis if he has babies I'm in. ('round 250 up here)

 

[srgvigil]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2485737
I never bashed them on the livestock area because I understand that part and being out of stock. Any livestock I have purchased here has been outstanding agreed. Like I said I will wish list coral and livestock no problem!
But I am not willing to wait for Dry goods sorry
Read my very first post I talk more in dry goods here. Service has always been top notch I agree to that. I was saying stock DRY ITEMS we need and use they never have or don't even sell.
THEY DON"T EVEN SELL SALT? I mean come on the sell bioCubes fish,corals and such and will band you if you tell somebody where to get salt from to fill it.
So overall this is the point I was trying to make. DON"T BAND/LOCK POST FOR Telling or linking to other good sites for product if you can't step up and supply it right here on this site! Again dry good guys!
I don't think anyone is listening to you
I am though if that makes you happy