dont ya just hate that lol the nerve of some people who do they think they are lol

i hate when i dont get any help jeesh its nice to hear that people actually try to offer advise now its being ignored is what i hate.:)

Oh so I need all 4 products to lower my phosphates?
I went to another store and got a straight up answer "using phosdown is the least expensive and equally effective way to lower phosphates"

I do get it though. I got married earlier this year, and talked to a photographer about it, and he tried to sell me photo services. Although he was highly recommended, I doubt I'll ever deal with him again.

P.S. My head hurts....

Well, ok, you didn't word it that he tried to sell you ALL those products at the same time. :) Not so cool...
Just razzin' ya :razz:

He basically told me to run gfo to lower the phosphates and then use bio pellets to maintain it. It just seemed like he was piling things on. And if I hadn't known better I would have probably bought everything he recommended

Did he try and sell you additional photographers, additional prints, canvas prints, extra for pictures on a DVD?

Actually, ya..but no bad feelings, it's what they do. People that sell for a living need to do just that, sell. Now if this guy tried to sell you the magic cyano zapping ray gun, then that's bad. but if he tried to sell you a reasonable solution to the problem you took to him, then he's doing his job. The better he does his job, the nicer toys he can buy his kids for Christmas. It's how he makes a living. If you had bought his solution, it in all likelihood would have done the job you needed.
I expect my LFS to be good at his job, whether it's researching new technologies, maintaining healthy livestock and being friendly to me when I come in. But the flip side is, the primary purpose of all that stuff is sales. No sales, no store, no toys for kids.

But the lfs that gave me the straight forward answer and seemed to have my best interest in mind (cost effectiveness but still gets the job done), basically gets all my money now. And I have no problem recommending his store to anyone I encounter that has a tank.

Just like with anything. People like to have a "guy for that"
Like I have a tv guy, I have a car audio guy, I have a fish guy. They will always recommend that "guy"
And I believe that's the most important aspect of a successful business.

Suddenly the store changes from $1000/box to multiple boxes.

Thats believable, 3 boxes can easily be $1000 worth of shipping and fees.

As for the Purple tangs I am doubtful they are loosing money on them otherwise they wouldnt sell it for that price. Its one of the more successful shops in town, I dont think they are in it to loose.

This may help clear up some questions people are asking.

First and foremost, you as the consumer always have the choice to where you shop, we as the retailer have the option to refuse services (Which we have in many cases). We as the businesses need you as much as you need us. If we don’t have customers we go out of business, if you don’t have more places to shop your prices WILL go up.

As for prices, all stores try to be consistent, most LFS’s in Edmonton deal with the same suppliers with the exception of the large BOX stores. If a price is out of whack, maybe mention it to the store as prices are not written in stone, maybe someone just priced it wrong.

As for a $300 purple tang, that should get you to wonder why it is that pricy? Especially the fact I can price an Achillies Tang at $350. Is it supply and demand? Since purple tangs are rare now as only places that have them readily are Yemen and Sri Lanka. Since Yemen is war torn right now, and no one is allowing any products from there on air cargo that only leaves Sri Lanka to fill the needs of consumers.

No business can sell things at a loss on an extended period of time, that’s not even considered “non-profit”, that is considered “bankruptcy”.

I have done some things in the past for “cost” for a new customer, got him a RSM250, blew away a box stores price, the customer swore left to right that we would be his “main” store, guess what? In a year no sight or sound of this customer, karma’s a bitch though, I hear from other sources that a pump died on it and he didn’t have the nerve to call us for support in which we would have helped him regardless.

Just the other day, a customer asked me for some salt at box store prices, I wouldn’t match the price, but was off by $2 (for 8 boxes). The customer didn’t see it as I was dropping it $18 from my retail price, but the fact I $2 short from the price the “other” store was offering. The only problem was I had it in stock, and they didn’t and were not offering rain checks.

Running a LFS is a lot of work, long hours, and later runs to the airport. In Edmonton we don’t have proper direct international flights to keep costs down. Flying inventory from Vancouver or Toronto or even Calgary can increase shipping costs by 100%, it costs as much to fly inventory from LA direct as it does from Vancouver.

Unless you are directly involved in dealing with the orders, you do not now the costs involved with them. Shipping, CITES, USFW, CFIA, and a lot of other acronyms I haven’t even listed, all of these take a piece of the pie, that is not including the businesses that supply the livestock or the agents (transhippers) cuts.

Where it comes down to, as a consumer you have final say. You can shop at your LFS, box store or online. That is your choice.

The moral of this story…..

Loss Leaders are a ploy from box stores to bring in new customers, as for retention if the services, knowledge and the vibe aren’t there they won’t be back. I speak from personal experience.

This will be my last post on this topic, as I feel a flame war arising soon.

Enjoy your holidays, enjoy the sales, enjoy your hobby.