Roatan Reef
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MAC of SW Florida
My Tank Thread
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Sooooo....I never got into the Saltwater game until moving to the space coast in 21. 2022 started 1st 40GB Saltwater Tank. Born and raised in Orlando. Sure...we all visited WWC for the oooohs and aaaaawwws...but again wasn't in the Saltwater game.
I've had Freshwater for over 20 years.
I only visited LFS on the Space Coast and every so often 1 or 2 in Orlando once I got my 40B up and running.
Virtually everything I have comes from the Space Coast and a few coral from Reefpalooza. All good.
Fast Forward 2 years, we set up my 14 year old nephew 13.5 Evo Tank...all good. We got some stuff from our local Space Coast stores...all good. Gave it some time...and my nephew being 14 watches tons of YT videos, and there is a certain YTer who most people know who gets all his stuff from a certain place in Orlando.
Well...fast Forward, and my nephew and I took a trip to Orlando to revisit 1 store, and also visit another store that said YTer gets all his stuff from.
Holy Space Balls....they were literally charging Triple to Quadruple the prices we see on the Space Coast.
Also, we have gotten to know many of the LFS owners over here...and they will all tell you...they all pretty much get the same stuff from the same suppliers.
So How can it be??
A few things.
I feel bad for anyone in Orlando who would like to get into this hobby, because most people think it's terribly expensive...and yes it can be...but not to the degree these top stores in Orlando make it out to be.
IMHO...They are deterring people to start up. It was literally highway robbery the prices they were charging...I couldn't believe it.
And to make matters worse, the one store that said famous YTer post videos of....we overhead people in the store saying... well...look this is what ---- ------- bought...or this is what he has...
It's almost like because they are being blown up on YT....they feel like they can charge whatever they want.
The fish prices were absolutely dumb...and the Coral were absolutely laughable insane.
Would you like a Snowstorm, Frostbite, Black Ice x Gladiator, Gold Nugget, Maroon for $1400/pair??
Of course they had plenty of the infamous Golden Chalice Torch for $1000.
Would you like a Golden Hammer $200/head smallest being a 3 head?
Or how about our Local LFS's?
Bi color hammer 2 heads...on sale $40.
Dragon Soul Torch $75.
Pikachu Zoas $45.
Shoot...even one of the newer LFS we go to had a shop for 10 years on the Space Coast...he pretty much retired for a few years, and because he's friends with people from WWC, Frag Box Corals etc....they convinced him to reopen a new store..he has amazing Zoas, Hammer, Torch etc...and they are literally a quarter of the price...and he makes a profit...
So how is this reasonable?
1 LFS has same stuff as other for a fraction of the cost, but another 40 minutes away has same stuff for Quadruple the prices???
Places were a total Rip off!!
But because of YT celebrity status, they seem to be OK with ripping people off. They should be ashamed.
I shall not name names, But many of them are sponsors here and like to have special sales on R2R. You all know who im talking about!
I've had Freshwater for over 20 years.
I only visited LFS on the Space Coast and every so often 1 or 2 in Orlando once I got my 40B up and running.
Virtually everything I have comes from the Space Coast and a few coral from Reefpalooza. All good.
Fast Forward 2 years, we set up my 14 year old nephew 13.5 Evo Tank...all good. We got some stuff from our local Space Coast stores...all good. Gave it some time...and my nephew being 14 watches tons of YT videos, and there is a certain YTer who most people know who gets all his stuff from a certain place in Orlando.
Well...fast Forward, and my nephew and I took a trip to Orlando to revisit 1 store, and also visit another store that said YTer gets all his stuff from.
Holy Space Balls....they were literally charging Triple to Quadruple the prices we see on the Space Coast.
Also, we have gotten to know many of the LFS owners over here...and they will all tell you...they all pretty much get the same stuff from the same suppliers.
So How can it be??
A few things.
I feel bad for anyone in Orlando who would like to get into this hobby, because most people think it's terribly expensive...and yes it can be...but not to the degree these top stores in Orlando make it out to be.
IMHO...They are deterring people to start up. It was literally highway robbery the prices they were charging...I couldn't believe it.
And to make matters worse, the one store that said famous YTer post videos of....we overhead people in the store saying... well...look this is what ---- ------- bought...or this is what he has...
It's almost like because they are being blown up on YT....they feel like they can charge whatever they want.
The fish prices were absolutely dumb...and the Coral were absolutely laughable insane.
Would you like a Snowstorm, Frostbite, Black Ice x Gladiator, Gold Nugget, Maroon for $1400/pair??
Of course they had plenty of the infamous Golden Chalice Torch for $1000.
Would you like a Golden Hammer $200/head smallest being a 3 head?
Or how about our Local LFS's?
Bi color hammer 2 heads...on sale $40.
Dragon Soul Torch $75.
Pikachu Zoas $45.
Shoot...even one of the newer LFS we go to had a shop for 10 years on the Space Coast...he pretty much retired for a few years, and because he's friends with people from WWC, Frag Box Corals etc....they convinced him to reopen a new store..he has amazing Zoas, Hammer, Torch etc...and they are literally a quarter of the price...and he makes a profit...
So how is this reasonable?
1 LFS has same stuff as other for a fraction of the cost, but another 40 minutes away has same stuff for Quadruple the prices???
Places were a total Rip off!!
But because of YT celebrity status, they seem to be OK with ripping people off. They should be ashamed.
I shall not name names, But many of them are sponsors here and like to have special sales on R2R. You all know who im talking about!