What to do with all the babies?
- Thread starter jefferymoorhead
- Start date
Well yesterday I decided I need to seriously reduce down my population of Dovii's. I bagged up 11 bags of 25 fish in each bag total 275 2 inch+ Dovii's. I hardly made a dent to the group! I still got estimated 300. I then and set out to sell or trade them to 5 fish stores. The first store I stopped at they said they take 2 bags but I talked them into 4 at a $1.00ea. So I looked around the store to see what I could trade for them. They had a 7 inch AGTF I was interested in. But they wanted $170.00 but they were having a sale on all fish which knocked it down to 130.00. I offer to throw in another 2 bags for it. He said no at first then said how about another 3 bags. I said OK 175 Dovii's straight trade for the goliath. The next store I went to that SOB only wanted to give me .30ea for two bags. I laughed said your crazy i'd rather pour them into your parking lot drain then give them to you for .30ea. So I left and hit my 3rd store. They only want 1 bag at 1.00ea. I looked around the store and saw 3 fish I would trade for. I offered a deal to trade $36.00 worth for 3 fish for 2 bags. She accepted it was a good deal for them and I needed to get rid of my fish. I then went to the 4th store. The manager I had spoke to a month prior said she give me .75ea which I wanted at least a $1.00 but I agreed. So when I get there she says she'll only give .25ea. that she doesn't need them. I saw many empty tanks in the store. It pissed me off so I said I guess I'll have to take'em to your competition and left. I got to my final 5th store and sold my last 2 bags for $40.00 cash. I felt good to get rid of them. I was determined not to go back home with any of these fish. In couple weeks I plan another round of unloading my fish out to another area of fish stores.
There are many reasons why lfs do not offer cash for fish and only give credit towards other fish. Much has to do with the cost the store can purchase the fish from compared to what you think you should get for your fish. The mark-up on fish is significantly different than it is on dry goods. As for the fish you are talking about, there is simply not enough demand for most lfs to house your 40 red devils or dovi. They will quickly grow and will require seperation in order to ensure good health and minimal body damage.
Credit comes with its own set of issues for a store. Customers horde it until they have hundred of dollars accumulated and then attempt to use it all at once. Sounds great for the customer, but that negatively impacts the stores gains for the day. A $150 fish sale is far different from a $150 fish sale using credit. Customers lose their credit slips and expect the store to keep a record or "remember" what it was they traded and the value in credit that was given. Customer's credit falls short of what it is they want and so they haggle to try to get the fish they wanted. Does that work at Petsmart? Mom and Pop shops depend on every dime they get. Temporary financial loss for a M&P can be the difference of going out of business (or appearing that way for significant amounts of time).
The bottom line is that stores want your business. Honestly, we NEED it. So we try to work with you to keep your business and help you out. If when you purchased the fish you did not get it from us, we are doing you the favor of helping you out. The same goes for the person looking to unload large amounts of fish when they do not own a business license and the lfs had made no prior agreement to use you as a breeder.
For those of you looking to get credit for your fish, keep in mind the following:
1. Having a long standing, good relationship with the owner/manager helps you get more in credit.
2. Shopping with that store on a regular basis (even just for dechlor and food) increases the chances that the store will work with you.
3. Frequent the store and notice what they have sold out of or have not had in a while. If you have what we want, we will work something out to get it.
4. Smaller amounts on a regular basis help a store out much more than a lump sum of fish. I will certainly give you more credit for 5, 3" red devils than I will for 15 of them.
5. Recognize that if your fish constantly breeds, so does everyone else's who has that same fish. They are looking to offload their babies just like you. It is for this reason that most stores do not offer credit on convicts, and jewels. The demand is not on par with the supply. However, the same does not go for high quality guppies, mollies and other livebearers which are traditionally heavily inbred by the farms and are of poor health upon arrival to lfs.
6. Recognize that mark ups are different on fish than on dry goods, and that the cost to the stores changes weekly. If I can order from my supplier for .20 a fish, I am not looking to give you .75 a fish. However, next week, my supplier may charge .60 a fish and with freight, it is cheaper for me to get them from you at .75 a fish.
I hope this helps you to understand a little better regarding credit and how/when/why it is issued. Remember, you (the customer) are our best source of advertising. We are not looking to screw you over but we need to make a profit and pay the bills just like all businesses.
-Andrew
Credit comes with its own set of issues for a store. Customers horde it until they have hundred of dollars accumulated and then attempt to use it all at once. Sounds great for the customer, but that negatively impacts the stores gains for the day. A $150 fish sale is far different from a $150 fish sale using credit. Customers lose their credit slips and expect the store to keep a record or "remember" what it was they traded and the value in credit that was given. Customer's credit falls short of what it is they want and so they haggle to try to get the fish they wanted. Does that work at Petsmart? Mom and Pop shops depend on every dime they get. Temporary financial loss for a M&P can be the difference of going out of business (or appearing that way for significant amounts of time).
The bottom line is that stores want your business. Honestly, we NEED it. So we try to work with you to keep your business and help you out. If when you purchased the fish you did not get it from us, we are doing you the favor of helping you out. The same goes for the person looking to unload large amounts of fish when they do not own a business license and the lfs had made no prior agreement to use you as a breeder.
For those of you looking to get credit for your fish, keep in mind the following:
1. Having a long standing, good relationship with the owner/manager helps you get more in credit.
2. Shopping with that store on a regular basis (even just for dechlor and food) increases the chances that the store will work with you.
3. Frequent the store and notice what they have sold out of or have not had in a while. If you have what we want, we will work something out to get it.
4. Smaller amounts on a regular basis help a store out much more than a lump sum of fish. I will certainly give you more credit for 5, 3" red devils than I will for 15 of them.
5. Recognize that if your fish constantly breeds, so does everyone else's who has that same fish. They are looking to offload their babies just like you. It is for this reason that most stores do not offer credit on convicts, and jewels. The demand is not on par with the supply. However, the same does not go for high quality guppies, mollies and other livebearers which are traditionally heavily inbred by the farms and are of poor health upon arrival to lfs.
6. Recognize that mark ups are different on fish than on dry goods, and that the cost to the stores changes weekly. If I can order from my supplier for .20 a fish, I am not looking to give you .75 a fish. However, next week, my supplier may charge .60 a fish and with freight, it is cheaper for me to get them from you at .75 a fish.
I hope this helps you to understand a little better regarding credit and how/when/why it is issued. Remember, you (the customer) are our best source of advertising. We are not looking to screw you over but we need to make a profit and pay the bills just like all businesses.
-Andrew
buy a bichir and fed it until its wider than it is long
lol you could try selling them as feeders on MFK post high quality feeders and im sure some one will be interested in it
lol you could try selling them as feeders on MFK post high quality feeders and im sure some one will be interested in it
I can't find anyone to tank my convict babies.... If the eel doesn't eat them.... My Oscar will get them.
