Hi, all. Thanks for the Ocean Aquatics link! Not sure I've ever been to their store; I'll definately check them out. If they're in Delta (Richmond), this makes livestock purchases simpler, too.
Back to the retailer issue: retailers traditionally mark up 100% from wholesale, at least this was the way of the world back in the days when I managed a retail operation.
I've moved past my youthful resentment of standard markups. Retailers have got bills and staff to pay, their inventory and ordering and cash flow balances are tricky and often risky -- and they've got to make a profit, in the end. There's nothing wrong with making profits.
So (personally speaking) I pick my battles.
Buy locally when you can, and when the retailers' prices are on par with the market. Buy online or whereever you can when the price differences start to make you twitch. Your local retailers will get the message when overpriced items don't move off the shelves. But another suggestion is to let them know--graciously--when you're not buying something from them because their price is too high compared with others. This gives them the chance to adjust more quickly to competition (or not, I suppose), which helps all of us.
Cheers, everyone -- and happy new year!
Erik