A point to ponder...

[midgetwaiter]

I've made this point before and it hasn't really generated a lot of useful discussion.

Lots of retailers are under pressure from online and big box stores, not just pet stores. For a small shop to order a pallet of protien skimmers and get the wholesale pricing that allow them to compete with an online store you are going to put a good week's worth of sales revenue into that order. You have to move them fast for that work. It's a difficult situation and there is no simple solution.

I have experience with all sides of this issue, I still do buy stuff online but at least 75% of my spending goes local. I make that call because I don't want to see the small shops that started me in the hobby go away.

Special orders are tough too. If you want something that is available through a regular supplier it shouldn't be too difficult for a store to do that and I'd be surpised if you were refused. If you want an item that can't be combined with a regular order though, it won't happen. There is no way you can have something shipped by itself and recover the costs (shipping, cites, time etc) at a price someone would be willing to pay. Same reason we all do group orders. An online retialer, usually based in a larger center, has the pontential market to make stocking more unusual items work, Calgary doesn't.

Prosnow mentioned the live rock example. Well you aren't going to get that $4 price if you try and get 3 pounds, which is the way a lot of people buy rock. I'll bet if you asked your local store to get an extra box of rock for you the next time they order you might get a better deal. Provided you pick up the box as soon as it arrives and don't want to cherry pick the best of the shipment of course.