Just be direct with them: "I'm hoping to learn what the source of the Texas cichlid I bought from you is. Could you help me with that?"
Matt
Matt
Lfs fish Supplier?
- Thread starter Andy02793
- Start date
I tried that and they spoke in a different language and then they laughed and after that they said they dont know.
LOL...that's tellin em!
Most suppliers of lfs do not sell to individual hobbyists....Someone called them Sergeant Farms a few posts back but I think the name is Seegress, or something like that...I think one of the top people there is actually a member here and he has said in one of his posts that they don't sell to hobbyists....There was a great supplier from a few years ago who was also a member here who did sell to individuals and was a pretty good vendor here.
Most LFSs buy their stock from wholesales because wholesalers sell large quantities of fish for low prices. If they purchased from people who sell to the public, that location would likely charge them retail prices, meaning their own retail prices would be that much higher.
There isn't really a reason why they wouldn't tell you. In most states, you need a license to purchase from wholesale locations. A $100+ license plus the fact that wholesalers often won't sell in quantities lower than 6 fish of each species with most orders have to contain at least 50-100 fish means that hobbyists don't want to go through the trouble and expense of dealing directly with wholesalers when they are just looking for a few fish. I also doubt that they don't know who their supplier is. Sounds to me like they are just being a**holes, especially when they speak to each other in another language and laugh before telling you they don't know.
I have encountered this resistance before. It often comes from employees who don't understand how the system works and are afraid they will give you the key to their cheap fish supply. If explaining how things work to them doesn't result in a proper answer, generally I get someone higher up the food chain and explain that I don't buy crappy fish, so if they don't give me the info I am looking for, I will take my thousands of dollars worth of yearly business to another location.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
There isn't really a reason why they wouldn't tell you. In most states, you need a license to purchase from wholesale locations. A $100+ license plus the fact that wholesalers often won't sell in quantities lower than 6 fish of each species with most orders have to contain at least 50-100 fish means that hobbyists don't want to go through the trouble and expense of dealing directly with wholesalers when they are just looking for a few fish. I also doubt that they don't know who their supplier is. Sounds to me like they are just being a**holes, especially when they speak to each other in another language and laugh before telling you they don't know.
I have encountered this resistance before. It often comes from employees who don't understand how the system works and are afraid they will give you the key to their cheap fish supply. If explaining how things work to them doesn't result in a proper answer, generally I get someone higher up the food chain and explain that I don't buy crappy fish, so if they don't give me the info I am looking for, I will take my thousands of dollars worth of yearly business to another location.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
This is from my shipment from my freshwater only distributor they Jane no salt water and there's an exotic reef imports box so its just better to ask
Sent from my PG86100 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Maybe it's just equipment int he exotic reef imports? cause it doesn't have the arrows for live fish
I guess its a possibility but I know they just use whatever boxes they have so looking at boxes not always the best idea
Sent from my PG86100 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my PG86100 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
They wouldn't get another dollar from me being not just unprofessional, but rude ontop of it. most the private lfs I know order from multiple suppliers... That being said if you want say a Rapps Texas ... buy directly from him... or if your looking for a particular bloodline/supplier... look them up BEFORE buying from you store after confirming they can order you one from that source ( when your only buying a few fish saving on shipping by having you lfs order it in w/ their shipment sometimes is still cheaper)
Oh and next time I would just swallow my pride and ask my usual place for a special order ect.. I've had this happen on occasion. I simply ask them to order certain fish if they can.. and they generally don't hold them for me unless I call on shipment day saying i'll be in late or the next day ect....
