What qualities do you look for in an LFS?

[michika]

I just want to know what criteria everyone uses (subconsciously or not) to determine what a good LFS is? What are really good qualities and what are some of the drawbacks.

I'm not looking for flaming or anything, just general comments about what it is that people like about their favorites, and what people don't like?

For example I like personal service, good selection, knowledgable help, etc. What does everyone else look for?

[marcingo]

I look for the most variety in stuff and low prices (Im cheap )

[WWWD]

Honesty.. hard today I admit but some stores do a better job of it than others.

[michika]

What kind of honesty? Do you mean that you would rather they be honest about you needed all these gadgets that you really don't need?

[Moogled]

I'm just going to go along with the qualities that make a good retail store:

1. Fair prices.
2. ACCURATE information.
3. Not treating customers according to their wallet size.

Personally, I don't know how some LFS stay in business. They lie and give inaccurate information to make sales, yet people keep busting their own balls and going back.

[Ruth]

Here are some that I look for:
-Willing to ship (I don't have a LFS in my town or even close)
-good selection of healthy livestock
-fair prices
-helpful staff - I long ago learned to do my own research and consider myself fairly knowledgeable so am not likely to heed advise that I know is incorrect but I do like it when there is someone there to help me once I do make a decision
-clean, well laid out store
-willingness to work with me - I once had an experience with a LFS in Edmonton that I wanted to hold a clam for me for 2 days while I went to Calgary and back (of course I wanted to pay for the clam immediately) Even though I had spend probably in excess of $10,000 in this store they told me that they would not hold and would only hold for people that had earned the privilage - needless to say this store no longer gets my business.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I've been made to feel stupid at one or two stores since I started into this hobby. If I'm new and already feeling overwhelmed and insecure about asking questions, a snide or belittling comment is not going to do anything to secure my business. And it hasn't.

That said, I've learned more from the people on this forum than I have anywhere else. You're all pretty fantastic.

[Pan]

hmm, changed my mind...yep it's the money tooo

i rather as murminator said get my info from all of you guys

[Murminator]

$$$$$ all about the $$$ I have the web to find my own answers.....I would rather have 1000 people answers than 1 guy at the fish store sooooo for me it's the $

[vanreefer]

info and help without the expectation of a sale... for example telling me I could raise my ALK with baking soda not the latest buffer