LFS overpriced

[sandman1966]

I can't believe how overpriced supplies and livestock are at the lfs where i live compared to online sites. some things like lighting and filters and filter media is all double what it is on the net. does anyone do all their shopping exclusively online and avoid the lfs all together?

 

[airforceb2]

I get my rock and sand at the LFS, otherwise, it is online.

 

[scoobydoo]

I just bought a Rena XP3 canister filter. Was researching on line and found on the Petsmart website that they were 104.99. Shipping was 14.99. I went to the Petsmart near me and it was $179.99! I asked the manager and they matched the online price. It's the SAME store why the big difference in price.

 

[sandman1966]

yea i did research on my pc lighting after i went into the lfs and they wanted over 400 bucks for it!!!!!!,did a little research online and found one for 250 including shipping. i just bought some live rock from this site the other day it is on its way i am looking forward to receiving it it will save me some bucks too. next thing i am looking for is some live sand . at the lfs it is $45 a 20lb bag !! i think i sasw the same brand online for 19.99.

 

[scubadoo]

I mostly purchase on-line including that big auction site. I prefer buying fish from individuals as the animals have already adapeted to aquarium life and I know the history of the animal, diet, etc.
The lfs in my town is too expensive. I would prefer supporting local business....but I cannot justify paying significantly more.

 

[vanos]

I buy most everything online and try to avoid the lfs. All of my equipment except the actual tank and stand. I even try to buy my fish online but if a lfs has a sale, I'll buy there.

 

[speg]

Of course they are high priced. It is how business works.. supply@demand. Just about all businesses when they buy a product they have to double the price they paid for it. This is how they pay for their store/workers/etc.
These online sights.. you think the deal you're getting from them is a good one too... but they double their prices as well.. anything you see on their site... for example a 400 dollar light cost them around 200 dollars to purchase.
If only we could buy straight from the businesses making these products.. then this hobby would be much easier to afford. We can in some cases... but its not worth it to us.. i've visited cyclop-eeze's website to see if I could buy straight from them.. and you can.. but they only sell in mass quantities... which none of us need.. this is why we will always pay double price.

 

[airforceb2]

Keep in mind a lot of the stuff on the net is either damaged, refurbished or stolen. I've been a victom of two of the three so far.

 

[f1shman]

well i only buy from well known fish websites (dr, ***********, here) and i have been very happy with every single order I have placed on all three websites. So I'd stay stick to those 3, they all have great deals on different things.

 

[airforceb2]

Oh yeah, those are good sites...the auctions sites however are another story.

 

[f1shman]

Let me give you an example of a LFS rip off
Refractometer on Dr. : $38.99
Refractometer at LFS: $139.99
dang

 

[sluggo]

Originally Posted by sandman1966
I can't believe how overpriced supplies and livestock are at the lfs where i live compared to online sites. some things like lighting and filters and filter media is all double what it is on the net. does anyone do all their shopping exclusively online and avoid the lfs all together?
I guess I am lucky to have the three Fish stores that I have in our town. My primary store owner goes to aquarium shows and buys some of the display aquariums and fish at very low prices and passes the savings on to the customers. I bought my 90 gallon Marineland wave front tank with stand and light for $500 after it was setup for 3 days at a show. They also find good deals on new in the box items. I got a 36 inch power compact light with bulbs new for $50. My magnum 350 filter cost me another $50. Their fish are only slightly higher than internet prices, but n shipping fees they are probably a little cheaper. But of course you dont have the same selection. My secondary store is a little pricier but I get a 10% discount because I purchased so much stuff there.
Don

 

[vanos]

That's awesome you have the ability to save money. The 90G tank you bought was a steal.

 

[airforceb2]

Originally Posted by sluggo
I bought my 90 gallon Marineland wave front tank with stand and light for $500 after it was setup for 3 days at a show.
You aren't kidding that was a steal!!! My wife searched for months and the cheapest she could find was $700. How do you like your tank? I think it is really awesome!!

 

[vlondi]

One thing you have to understand is that online sites have a larger consumer base than local stores do; with fewer employees they can sell to a very large customer base. This way the smaller profits they make from each sell add up immensely. Local fish stores sell substantially less so need to make more profit from each sale so have to have higher prices.
There are actually 4 different fish stores in my area. One of them I haven't visited; another has great prices and will get anything you want but the service is utter crap--so bad in fact that I will never set foot in their store again. The two remaining stores are pretty good in their own areas. One of them I won't buy a single fish from but his corals are outstanding and he will get anything I ask for. The other store has terrible pricing on coral but has more inverts and healthier fish. I buy from both but sometimes have to order online when my needs can't be met (every store around here wants $80+ for a flame angel, can get them online for like $25).
My only advice is to look around at other fish stores if they are in your area and get to know the owners and employess. Often enough if you get to know them well enough they start to cut you better deals and will serve you better. Remember also that although what you get online is cheaper you don't get to see it until it gets to you; you don't know how the coloration is, its age, if it has any personality, etc. Local stores may be pricier but have perks as well. Plus you get your livestock immediately.

 

[sluggo]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
You aren't kidding that was a steal!!! My wife searched for months and the cheapest she could find was $700. How do you like your tank? I think it is really awesome!!
airforceb2, I love my tank. If i could have found one for $700 I would have bought it sooner. The cheapest I found was about a thousand bucks, then I went to my primary fish store and they told me that if I could wait for 2 or 3 months that they would be going to an aquarium show in Orlando Florida and that I could probably get one for $600 or less, so I waited. Like I said these guys are really good about providing quality products at cheap prices. The only problem is that lately they have not been ordering much variety in fish. Every Saturday when I go in it seems like they have the same old thing. Every once in a while my wife and I drive about 50 miles to Evansville Indiana and visit a couple of shops over there. Their prices are not quite as friendly but have much more diversity. Two weeks ago I went there and purchased 3 Pajama Cardinals, 1 Horseshoe crab, and 1 large Cowery snail.
Don

 

[acrylic51]

I think certain things are worth while buying online than at the LFS, but something like 200 gal container of salt gets expensive with shipping unless they are having free shipping or something of that nature

 

[exile415]

Originally Posted by scoobydoo
I just bought a Rena XP3 canister filter. Was researching on line and found on the Petsmart website that they were 104.99. Shipping was 14.99. I went to the Petsmart near me and it was $179.99! I asked the manager and they matched the online price. It's the SAME store why the big difference in price.
I was lucky. I got a new in the box rena filstar xp3 with a bunch of unopened filter media for only $56 shipping was $7 so it was 63 together.

 

[sandman1966]

i finally recieved my satellite pc lighting today plugged it in and wow what a difference the websight i ordered it from gave me a fair deal on the light and shipped it here within 5 days. can,t wait to expand my livestock options.

 

[zeromus-x]

I end up buying most of my stuff at one of the LFS around here. I don't know why... they're more expensive, a lot of time I don't think some of them know what they're doing, and even though I've bought almost everything there (tank, LR, sand, salt, fish, inverts, corals, you name it), they still won't give me a deal on basically anything.
I still end up going there because it's nearby, I suppose.
The one thing I wish we had around here was cheap live rock. If I buy it locally it ends up being $6-$12 per pound. If I buy it online it's like $2 - $3 a pound but it's got to be re-cured, which is why I don't bother.