Buying from Amazon: what are your thoughts?

[JackEmerson]

Hi,

I am wondering what people's thoughts are on buying fish supplies from Amazon.com? I want my purchases to support the future of the hobby, and I am concerned (currently thinking about it) that purchasing from Amazon may not be very good for the future because it will inevitably crush the little guys, and with it the knowledge that they hold. On the other hand, Amazon does seem to have the one-up on shipping, which makes it an attractive place to buy.

So what are your thoughts? Do you buy from amazon? Why or Why not. And if not, where do you shop (online at another store or LFS).?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I'm probably not the best datapoint, but most fish supplies are either unavailable from Amazon, suppliers won't sell them or only sell US voltage. Or they're significantly more expensive once you add in $100 shipping. So, I usually buy from local websites.

 

[Leonardo_CH]

I find that a lot of the stuff sold on amazon tends to be either chinese off-brand garbage or too close in price to local suppliers for it to be worth it.
And even when it is cheaper it saves so little I would rather spend the money on a local store and support the local hobby.

But this is a bit different in my case as amazon and the Swiss governament dont like each other very much and for this reason most products dont even ship here or have insane taxes.

 

[JackEmerson]

And even when it is cheaper it saves so little I would rather spend the money on a local store and support the local hobby.

That is what I am thinking too. I seem to be able to get food and filter stuff cheaper on amazon (prime membership keeps shipping to zero), but I would rather throw a few bucks at an independent online shop. In terms of local shops, I don't have much luck in my immediate area outside of PetSmart, Petco, etc). There are LFS in my area, but I have not had good luck with them having what I need when I want to buy it.

 

[ken31cay]

I buy at least 95% of my fish supplies from Amazon, have Prime membership, and have been doing so for years now. One reason is ease of use: since i live outside the U.S. it can be a chore ordering from different websites each time I need something. With Amazon I just click 2 times and it goes to my freight forwarder in Miami, FL who puts it in my hand a few days later. It doesn't get any better than that here.

 

[Yuki-Rihwa]

I bought all my fish supplies from Amazon, it's way cheaper than any LFS in my area, I meant way way far more cheaper than any local fish stores

 

[Trouser Cough]

Amazon destroyed mom and pop 2nd hand book stores but many still survive and those that survived have a niche. The same will hold true of the LFS. There are some things you can't picture buying elsewhere and the successful survivors within the LFS community need to identify what those things are and focus on them.

What they should not be relying on is selling feed in bulk at 50 point markups as that segment will be taken by a low cost provider like Amazon. Watch closely to see how your LFS morphs but don't expect that you buying everything you can from him will be his or her ticket to financial success... because it's not. That success will lie in their ability to remain relevant given market dynamics and recognizing what specifically brick and mortar brings that online businesses cannot.

 

[dr exum]

get all my stuff there,

hikari foods,

filter pads,

other stuff from chewy

i live in seattle n my lfs supply prices are pretty gucci

 

[DMD123]

While not the Mom and Pop pet stores, I have found good online sales in the past on fish food and supplies at Petco.com and Petsmart.com. Stuff that does not show up if you walk in and purchase but if you sign up for their emails, you get their online offers. I also use Kens fish for a lot of my other supplies along with other places like Chewy. These online pet retailers seem better than Amazon when it comes to base price but you either eat some shipping or order enough to qualify for free shipping. If I had to purchase supplies from any of my local fish shops I would be broke! I guess I do buy my frozen fish foods, some live fish, driftwood pieces from my local shops so I do support them to a certain degree.