Was I ripped off?

[duanes]

First off is the cichlid Herotilapia multispinoss?

If it is, then its a Costa Rican cichlid that often lives in very shallow water.
They spread out onto flooded plain during the rainy season, and spawn in water only inches deep.
I have never heard of a deep sea rainbow cichlid, and doubt there is such a thing.
Or????
is it a deep "water" rift lake species? Deep water Hap? which turn blue as they mature.
Maybe Placidochromis phenochilus? This is a cichlid that might go normally for $70.
Where I lived in Milwaukee, a LFS might sell a rainbow cichlid (multispinossa) for $10, although at our local club auctions you might get 10 juvies for a dollar.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I often quoted a gent from Roman times; Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it. Publilius Syrus ~100 BC

I couldn't agree more, I myself did many trades in the past where is my total fishes value at least 2 or 3 times higher than the fish i'm getting. As long as I happy about the trade then it's worth my money, it's my fish and no one able to judge the feeling, how much I wanted it, and depend on area some fishes only show up 1 in a blue moon or never....

 

[millerkid519]

The lesson here is to do your research or ask on mfk before you buy

 

[philipraposo1982]

I would easily pay a hefty premium on a 2 year old grown out healthy fish as opposed to buying a 1-3" young fish for less. its worth it if you want it bad enough

 

[Tahn]

I would easily pay a hefty premium on a 2 year old grown out healthy fish as opposed to buying a 1-3" young fish for less. its worth it if you want it bad enough

I 100% agree here, but the fish he bought was 2.5-3 inches

 

[Oddball]

I used to work in a popular lfs in S. D. I can tell you that the fish prices, sight unseen, carried a 300% markup. This was due to store lease payment, insurance, payroll, utilities, trash, foods, meds, etc. Tank prices were sold at nearly cost so as to promote fish sale revenues and profits from supplies. The store had frequent sales of bulk species they got deals on from the wholesalers. Then, the focus was on whatever else could be recommended to accompany the on-sale purchases.

 

[Oddball]

Be aware that every thing you choose to buy in your entire life is Caveat Emptor.

I always keep in mind a little anecdote I heard during my fossil hunting days;

A guy wanders into a little remote rock shop in the desert. Inside he sees racks of nice fossils and a complete and mounted dinosaur skeleton. He asks the owner; "How much for the dinosaur?" The shop owner says; "It's $250,000.00" The shopper says; "Wow, that's a lot. I could only afford to spend $10,000." To that the shop owner replies; "That's the best offer I've gotten in 40 years. I'll take it."

A little haggling won't hurt. In the end, you may get the deal you're looking for.

 

[Tahn]

A little haggling won't hurt. In the end, you may get the deal you're looking for.

Pretty much this. I NEVER pay the marked price. It's livestock, there is no MSRP. No matter the fish, you can at LEAST get 5 dollars off just by pretending like you don't really want it.

For example for a 30 dollar fish, just stand in front of the tank, looking like you are debating whether or not you want to buy it. A worker will eventually approach you and ask if you need help, just be like, "man, not sure if I wanna grab this guy or not, can you do 25?" 100% they will accept that.

An LFS I went to had cloan loaches for 13 a piece, I said, if you can do 10 for 90, I'll grab them right now, he said the best he can do is 120, I countered by saying 105 and you take off the taxes for me. They agreed

Another strategy I use is asking different or inexperienced people. I went in and saw a chinese high fin banded shark, it's pretty difficult to find one locally. I asked the manager and he said 40 bucks, I went to the saltwater section, reptile section, and kind of killed time until I could make sure I can ask someone else while the manager is busy. The next guy I asked said 20, and I took him. At the same store, I knew there was an inexperienced guy who mainly works salt water, I got a baby royal pleco (1 inch) for 5 bucks, cuz he didn't know the difference between plecos and thought it was a common.

 

[Hendre]

Haha that's a good way to do things. May need to try this because I don't have much money

 

[Fat Homer]

Still not cool for a store to sell something at a ridiculous price. If you a convenience store was selling a pack of gum for 50 dollars, you'd say something.

Pretty much this. I NEVER pay the marked price. It's livestock, there is no MSRP. No matter the fish, you can at LEAST get 5 dollars off just by pretending like you don't really want it.

For example for a 30 dollar fish, just stand in front of the tank, looking like you are debating whether or not you want to buy it. A worker will eventually approach you and ask if you need help, just be like, "man, not sure if I wanna grab this guy or not, can you do 25?" 100% they will accept that.

An LFS I went to had cloan loaches for 13 a piece, I said, if you can do 10 for 90, I'll grab them right now, he said the best he can do is 120, I countered by saying 105 and you take off the taxes for me. They agreed

Another strategy I use is asking different or inexperienced people. I went in and saw a chinese high fin banded shark, it's pretty difficult to find one locally. I asked the manager and he said 40 bucks, I went to the saltwater section, reptile section, and kind of killed time until I could make sure I can ask someone else while the manager is busy. The next guy I asked said 20, and I took him. At the same store, I knew there was an inexperienced guy who mainly works salt water, I got a baby royal pleco (1 inch) for 5 bucks, cuz he didn't know the difference between plecos and thought it was a common.

No offense, but funny how when a store over-charges a customer as you would say its not cool and how you would speak up that they ripped him off...

But you basically ripping off the LFS is all good coz the manager is charging you $40 and the Salt guy who doesnt know anything is charging you less, so you keep quiet and take the deal...

Funny how the tables can be turned so quickly...

Anyway, as a person in the distribution and re-sale business, i agree with one of the posters above who said the item is only worth what the end user will pay...

And obviously the consumer in this case had $70 to burn...