There is one great store in SNJ, Aquarium Center, which has been in operation for 20+ years. The owner does not support fish clubs, and won't take trade in unless they are free . He views taking trade in risky for sick and hybrid fish, and reducing sale, and fish clubs are competition. His store is the only one thriving while all other nice owner stores closed down. His store has decent selection , best price in the state, and still displays a few show tanks that inspire imitation.
my lfs is shot
- Thread starter jagsandpits
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LFS seem to be a dying breed in my area too. I try to avoid going to the big box stores if at all possibile and patronize what few LFS are around. I might not always buy fish there but I'll buy all my supplies even if it sometimes costs a little more I figure it's worth it to try and keep them around. I know it's not easy for any small bussiness to compete with the coorperate giants. It's my choice to decide when and where I spend my money, I also do not hagel over price I either want to pay what's being asked or not.
house of tropics has a 10% discount for CCA members!?! Anyways, they always seem so crowded there and the owner himself, told me "we ain't going anywhere". I have never been to beltway but everyone seems to always talk about how great it is.
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He is a VERY smart business man. He obviously does not only look at his shop from a hobbyists view but a business view.
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I don't know why people have to be extreme. its not a polarized discussion. im not standing on one side of the fence poking fun at a business or something like that I was just was stating some things about a fish store/pet store that aren't in the customers favor in anyway. I understand it is rough to run a business but I was just opening discussion. people are bashing me. they think im some 16 year old behind a keyboard looking to russle feathers. when people post essay sized replies getting on my case about how inconsiderate I am it aggravates me because im not a cheapo Ive spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on my equipment and pets. I buy all my tanks brand new from fish stores but it seems lately that when I want to buy something( not nessasarily fish) from this particular store they turn into car salesman and I end up feeling like im in the business to buy a yacht or something......really? a 3.5 thousand dollar pond filter for a backyard koi pond?
I understand why the older gentleman are upset. when they were young the hobby was crazy popular and there was probably a lfs on every corner but you have to understand its the decline of the hobby that is making them shut down. kids and teens want the latest iphone with 10,000+ apps. they want xbox and ps3. no one seriously asks for a big tank. modern entertainment is keeping people from even going outside nowadays. im in my 20s ive never ever met someone my age who is into fish tanks unless I personally introduced it to them. its the decline in interest that is making your beloved fish stores board up not me pointing out ONE single store that's not customer friendly.
no your not wrong in the least bit. a bussiness cant just sit there and try to get leverage on their customers. I bought 2 fish from this store for 50 dollars each. the guy told me they might get along in my tank he goes you could try it. they almost killed eachother. I called and asked if I could bring one back for a refund they said no. I said ok well can I get like 5 bucks back on the one fish. they said NO. so I ended up bringing them both back I said screw it ill start over with small cichlids. I come back the next day and one of them is gone. I said what the hell happened to that fish they said "oh the other one killed it". .....are u serious. you have all these tanks and u couldn't keep them separate with all this glorious tankspace you have and now ones dead?
This coming from someone who shares a 125 with his dad & and brother, and just recently stated "I payed for half the tank setup" ....... not too sure how that equates to thousands upon thousands of dollars?
And the real irony is that almost exactly to the day, 1 year ago here's what you had to say about the same LFS.
Ring any bells?
Now you expect that a LFS should allow you to take fish home & try, then bring them back for a refund if they don't work? Between you, your bro, and your dad, I can't keep track of how many different fish have been in & out of your 125 gallon in the past year. The LFS employee told you exactly what I would have- when it comes to cichlids it's a gamble as to how different personalities are going to play out in a 6ft 125. If you want to keep aggro species, which apparently you do, then you pay your $$$ and you take your chances.
The only somewhat legit gripe you have about this store is you now feel that they have been screwing you on prices.
I'm sorry that it took several years, and thousands upon thousands of dollars for you to figure that out.
i work. i been working for awile i put a couple thousand into my stuff and i have dogs cats and reptiles i dont just have a 125 i have a few tanks and have owned more than you think. i put more money into my current tanks than my dad even though he has payed alot for past stuff when i was younger . and my bro put 0 dollars into it. and just because ive had fish since im 10 doesnt mean i know everything. this forum taught me most of what i know. and here you are just another guy who thinks lfs are above critisism and you even go into my old posts trying to get dirt. you my friend are pathetic. its a fish forum not a school yard beef stop trying to get dirt you either agree or you dont. if you think my points are wrong state why im wrong intelligently dont just blab. now all these people are pressing my buttons making me seem like im SOOO MADD trying to make me look like i wanna wright a book on it or something. im not even that mad now im just mad at some of you for thinkin IM in the wrong for voicing critisism. all of you who think im wrong for criticizing should never criticise anything ever again then and shall we all just post happy go lucky threads and when something bad happens that has to do a lfs lets just say ohh everythings ok , or when you feel like your local fish store's are doing bad bussiness lets just say "ok we wont talk about it just boycott the place" but doesnt that go against your little "support your local fish store" motto. so then lets just blame the customers when local fish stores get boarded up and people are shopping online. oh us fishkeepers are so vindictive arent we? shame on us for getting the same flowerhorn for 10 bucks when we could have spent 50 on it , im such a bad man (sarcasm)
More bogus factoids. The aquarium hobby as a whole is thriving, and is gaining ground every year in both import and sales of live fish (both marine and freshwater) as well as the continued advancement of dry goods. The 2013 Nation Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association found stated that 14.3 million homes in the US owned Freshwater Fishes and 1.8 million homes owned Saltwater fishes, for a total of 145 million freshwater fish, and 13.6 million marine fish.
Obviously the economy has taken a nose dive over the past number of years, which means the vast majority of America are holding on to their money tighter than ever, which equates to slower/lower sales in ALL retail sectors. Add to that the internet, and the ever expanding numbers of BIG BOX stores, and unfortunately it has taken a tole on many family owned & operated businesses. Geographis will also play a large role in the closure of stores, some areas being hit much harder than others.
MFK seems to be growing steadily as well, with plenty of young people joining on a regular basis.
And jags, you're right, this forum does appear to have taught you most of what you know about fishkeeping. Perhaps next time before you go off on some of the very people that have taken the time to help you over the past year, you should keep that in mind.
Happy fishkeeping.
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