A point to ponder...

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I agree with midgetwaiter. I think people fall back to online stores to quickly when the local shops will often do there best to provide similar product or service. (salt orders or large clean up crews?) If people are too picky in the stores, then expect to pay for that. If the local fish stores, simply put pictures of all there corals at the cash out, and you paid and then got to see it, I'm sure they would sell everything easier with less losses.(with better prices) But as long as people can "window shop" and pick the best items only, expect to pay for that service.

I personally have bought 100% of my freshwater and saltwater either from other hobbiests directly or from local fish stores. I don't care to support the online stores if I can get the same things locally with better service and personal selection.

Either way, the hobby is growing, some stores have closed so I think the SW market in Calgary will be fine this next year. But, ya I'll keep supporting the local stores, I hope others consider the same.