We in the lowermainland have had it good for a number of years, two major LFS's have been competeing very aggressively for our $$. One store buys in such volume they make money on other items like dog foods, and other pet supplies while making less on saltwater fish/corals etc. The other store deals only with salt water fish and supplies so their profit margin is much lower, however they still compete in the price war.
I've made the drive to OA and have to say for the product and service it's worth the drive regardless of the price. I don't spend thousands of dollars, I'll pick up a small SPS frag, maybe a book or something else but yes the drive is worth it, even from Maple Ridge.
Wendell, I agree completely, a fish that's established and is in good health is surely worth more than one that has just been shipped from hell and back, subjected to cold temperatures, medicated, drugged, starved and then to add insult to injury left to sit in its' own waste or the groups waste for a day or two, then dumped with out ceremony into a tank at the LFS that may have larger fish, more aggressive fish, more territorial fish, or sicker fish in it.
We've gotten spoiled I think, not that I'm complaining.
Doug
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