Downfall of the LFS?

[Fat Homer]

All in all tho, do you have pretty good access to various fish where you are at? Never been to Hong Kong.

I mean there are still 3-5 specialty shops around that sell stuff none of the others do... but i have to say, if those go as well, then there really will only be very generic shops, which MAY once a year get something rare/un-usual in...

Like i remember a few months ago there was a specialty shop that only sold rays (for real decent prices too), and within 1-2 months they changed all their stock and are now only selling goldfish and Flower Horns...

So i think a lot of it comes down to what people are buying or what the hype at the time is which determines whether a shop will survive or not...

 

[Cecropia]

I think it comes down to the business models...

I've got one that has a dirtier shop, sicker stock, etc. but they order at cost for me, give me free fish and filtration equip. the food selection is limited but the prices are the lowest in town plus they have great customer service and good advice. It's one of the more fragile shops around because they don't sell anything furry and cute and are a lil dirtier than most shops.


The second is mildly dirty stocks oddballs on occasion and likes to charge too much for stock....I know what they cost wholesale. Thing is even though they charge too much they usually have a good selection of used tanks and equips. The prices are just high enough to justify not buying new. I bought a 40L from them last week. customer service is fantastic. As far as food/supplies go, they have NOTHING. They also suffer from lack of staples and alot of people locally think they're a saltwater shop for some odd reason and shirk the shop all together.

The third is the most successful, merely because their PR allows the to prey on the wealthier western side of town. Customer service is lame except a few of the employees who are pretty cool. Fish prices are high and tank/stand prices are absolutely INSANE. A 55 gallon combo there will go for $1200+ easy. Thing is I always browse the stocks when I go in to buy supplies as they are the only shop within 4 hours drive that carries any excel, FD krill, etc. and occasionally they have some oddballs, unfortunately the command a steep price. African butterflies are in stock now for $25 a piece....The other shops sell them for ~$15 when in stock. This shop also is the cleanest and almost everything i've recieved from them skips quarantine with absolutely no issue. They carry everything i needed to make my sump, down to individual connectors and everything.

The third, even though I absolutely love the other 2, gets most of my cash even though they receive less visits than they other 2. I can go there in an emergency and count on them having something that will work.