what makes a good lfs ?

[DEAD_BY_DAWN]

i'm going over a few ideas to make the denman pet gallery better,we have already added another 150g for soft corals and will be setting up a q/t system in the back ,but if anyone one has any ideas please feel free to post..thanks john

[kuatto]

Maybe having a weekly"manager's special" on easy to care for coral frags,or fragging demonstrations for beginners.Small samples of new products such as dry foods,etc.If you do something that people will remember,they'll talk,and thats the best kind of advertising.

[Willow]

knowledgeable staff (that doesn't mean cocky), reasonable prices, good in store selection (it irritates me to no end to hear a retail store say yeah we can order that for you.. guess what so can i off the web for cheaper), quality advise and in your guys case free parking. that stuff seems pretty obvious but is pretty lacking in most retail environments these days.

its also always great to go into a place and see a really nice show tank to inspire people, then leave the guts of the cabinet open and label everything so we can see how you made it all happen.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

No BS. Don't ever sell a coral or fish which will not survive in the customer's tank setup just to make a sale because in the long run, you'll end up losing that customer. No dyed corals that will lose its colour & often its life within a few weeks.

Its a good habit to post your specials & new shipments on this website so we'll know when to make the trip d/t.

Keep up with tank maintenance. There's nothing like a tank with dead or dying creatures (corals/fish) to turn off a customer & make them go elsewhere.

And in your location, it really is nice to have free underground parking.

PS. Glad you guys are still around.

Anthony

[Murminator]

1. Starter packages when I was starting out I had the glass so I was buying everything separately everyone has a f/w starter package, not until a couple weeks ago Big Als has a s/w starter it's bigger than my tank and cheaper too . eg 29gal light, salt, hydrometer, test kit, live sand, 10lbs live rock, and a coupon for a couple mushrooms. Do it for around cost and make your money with repeat patronage when they come back for coral and livestock. Hey cause once your hooked your hooked. I found out starting up was half the battle so make it too easy for someone to start.

2. Open ear....listen to everyones experiences, it is easier to learn from 200 people experiences then from 1 yours!!

3. ADVICE !!!!....good and bad can go a long way the best way to give good advice .....see #2

[Nemo]

Well being someone who has just been in the hobby for a few months, I can tell you what would have made my life easier and bought my loyalty.

When looking to get in this hobby I found nothing but conflicting information, even from the LFS. What would have made me want to buy from 1 LFS instead of searching the net for an alternative is the following.

1. The LFS should be upfront about all costs and potential costs when someone looking to get in asks. (The 2 LFS I went to for info both neglected to tell me about items)

2. Be willing to spend a great deal of time with customers who would like answers to questions. If the store is busy offer to set up a time to go over all questions without being rushed.

3. I would have paid to have some one come help me set up my tank for the first time. This would have given me piece of mind that my investment was off to the right start, and allowed me the oppertunity to ask questions to understand why hings needed to be the way they were. (I fully understand that everyone has different ideas, but it would gives us a good solid starting point)

4. If asked a question, please say I am not sure or you do not know, if you do not. I am putting alot of trust in the people I buy from, once again if I am new to the hobby it is not possible to walk in informed, with all the conflicting information out there.
eg. I was told tha my tank could cycle in less than a week.

5. If you have an item in your tanks that is not healthy please be up front about it. I give Ocean Aquatics full marks for this. I was in there one day and Jack told a customer that a coral was not doing well and not to buy it until was back to health. He lost the sale that day but in my books will be a place to buy from.

Sorry for the long winded post


Robert

[StirCrazy]

one big point would be for the store to admit freely when they have a problem such as red bugs. this alone is a slight inconvenience as you have to treat the new corals in a small tank be for you put them in to yours but it is nothing that should stop a sale if the coral is nice.

not pointing out a problem is totally irresponsible and dishonest weather it be flat worms, red bugs or what ever.

having a staff that actually has a clue or at least knows how to find your answer would be another bonus. Have the staff read recent books as well as older ones so they are current with different setups and methods, also the requirements for them.

not selling stuff that isn't needed for the sake of a sale. One way to help with this is do not have commissioned sales persons.

not selling fish/whatever to some one with a tank that is to small for it.

educate people who say "I will just get a bigger tank when the fish gets to big" that it will take more than the cost of a new tank, other possibilities like rock, sand, new skimmers, ect that may be needed along with the work required to change all that over.

you don't need to have every employ a salt water guru, but have at least one on at any given time you are open so the less experienced ones can ask advice when needed, also make sure that the staff isn't scared to say"I am not positive about that sir/Mame but "Tom" know quite a bit about that so let me get him over here so we can answer your question". then have both staff members stay for the discussion so the first can learn also.

Steve

[Willow]

ok when this fanasty store opens up somone let me know, im gonna drop some major coin there

[muck]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

you don't need to have every employ a salt water guru, but have at least one on at any given time you are open so the less experienced ones can ask advice when needed, also make sure that the staff isn't scared to say"I am not positive about that sir/Mame but "Tom" know quite a bit about that so let me get him over here so we can answer your question". then have both staff members stay for the discussion so the first can learn also.

This is a must in my books to constitute a "good" LFS!!

[Tigger]

I like it when you post pictures of your new corals so that I have an idea of what you have. It saves a long drive for nothing.