LFS Challenge - Lets see how many of us can commit to shopping first at our LFS

[14 foot reef]

LFS Challenge - Lets see how many of us can commit to shopping first at our LFS

Even if they don't stock what you need ask them to order it for you and pay their fair mark up price.

Without our LFS's where are we ?

Lets try our best to support LFS

If you don't have a convenient one, then that's understandable

I have committed to 100 % LFS first !!!

 

[IceNein]

What about individuals selling frags in your area to clear space in their tanks? I get where you're coming from, but I'm not going to pass on some guy selling frags at prices you could never find at a retail store because it's either sell cheap or throw them in the trash.

On principle I avoid buying without seeing, but I am lucky enough to live in an area where I can go to a bunch of high quality stores within about 2hrs of driving one way.

 

[14 foot reef]

What about individuals selling frags in your area to clear space in their tanks? I get where you're coming from, but I'm not going to pass on some guy selling frags at prices you could never find at a retail store because it's either sell cheap or throw them in the trash.

On principle I avoid buying without seeing, but I am lucky enough to live in an area where I can go to a bunch of high quality stores within about 2hrs of driving one way.

Individuals are different, understood friends and neighbors selling frags. Back in the day they were called frag swaps. No money exchanged, trading only. What a concept, can we get back there ?

 

[VintageReefer]

Even if they don't stock what you need ask them to order it for you and pay their fair mark up price.

Ridiculous. What is your LFS doesn’t have fair markup. Mine charges $150 for a plug with 4 small acans. Your choice red or green. 100$ for gsp on a 2-3” rock.

No thanks

 

[exnisstech]

I'm already doing this. I'm a firm believer if we do not support all of our local businesses they will cease to exist.
I will not grossly over pay tho

 

[smitten with ocean life]

i always try to buy at my lfs first. if they dont have what i need, theyll order it in for me. however, sometimes i need something quicker than they can get it so ill order it myself. but VERY rarely do they have livestock that i would want. thats when i usually order it from somewhere else

 

[00W]

We have one.
I buy as much as I can from them within reason.

 

[rtparty]

If my LFS wants my money, they should work for it just like everybody else. Carry stuff reefers want. Have clean tanks. Don’t sell sick and disease riddled livestock.

There isn’t a LFS around me that’s worth supporting

 

[Slocke]

Going to the LFS is the highlight of my week.

 

[EliMelly]

No lfs pre quarantines fish so my lfs is @Dr. Reef

 

[14 foot reef]

If my LFS wants my money, they should work for it just like everybody else. Carry stuff reefers want. Have clean tanks. Don’t sell sick and disease riddled livestock.

There isn’t a LFS around me that’s worth supporting

Fair, so this is not an option for you. Thanks

 

[14 foot reef]

No lfs pre quarantines fish so my lfs is @Dr. Reef

Dry goods, test kits, salt, Those wont need quarantine. Just try is all that was asked.
Just check first is the goal here.

 

[14 foot reef]

.

 

[14 foot reef]

Going to the LFS is the highlight of my week.

One of the best answers yet !!! !

 

[EliMelly]

How about supplies, dry goods, other items besides livestock.
Frozen foods, live foods. There are options they may or may not carry.

None of them within 30 min carry what I need for the most part. Why would I want to deal with buying hundreds of gallons of salt which weighs about a hundred pounds? Why would I want to spend more on gear when I get better deals from friends? None of them carry live food either.

 

[EliMelly]

I absolutely wish I had an LFS that had the frags I am looking for and was within distance for the specific products I want.

 

[Tamberav]

what LFS? We have Petco up here in the frozen tundra.

 

[EricR]

I buy all livestock and food from my LFS, plus some other random stuff that I don't need often.
For equipment, it's too easy to research and buy online, though (for me).

 

[Asm481]

I have a really good lfs about 45 minutes away. They quarantine all livestock, clean tanks. Nice somewhat knowledgeable staff. Have used them for decades between fresh, planted and reef. Price is usually in line and they will special order for me.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

My lfs isn’t that L to me. It’s a 30+ minute drive each way. Now that I can no longer drive it’s a big ask to get someone to take me and help me get around and bring me back. Those epoxy floors looked great when I could see and are easy to squeegee clean…. Now I’m a severe fall risk and I know better than to even attempt navigating that hot mess. A slip and fall just waiting to happen and I don’t know how the insurance underwriters even allow it. Here’s where the lfs lost me. I bought everything from them when I moved here (complete tank, components, rock, livestock, etc) it was a decent amount. I continued supporting them as much as I could as my health changed. When it came down to asking for goods delivery they flat out refused. Stating it wasn’t worth the hassle and if you want items delivered, take your business elsewhere. I understand they couldn’t have an employee deliver goods and wasn’t expecting that but using Uber (wether they did it and charged me, or I did it and just had them walk in and pick up) shouldn’t have been an issue, but it sure struck a nerve with them. Now, I wouldn’t have been bothered so much by the refusal, I get it. You don’t want to take cc over the phone and don’t want to be take out. It was the attitude I got for even asking (it was the actual owner not an employee). With that, I’ll never set foot in there again. Customer service is dead (not entirely, but it is rare nowadays). I’ve always supported local businesses but it goes both ways.

Edit..but I do generally agree with the premise of supporting local first..this was just a trigger for me being someone who’s done that their entire life and when the shoe was on the other foot, well