Bit of a Vent

marie · #1 10-29-2007, 05:09 AM

What Brad said ^^^

I've tried to post something similar all day but I couldn't get it to sound nonconfrontational so I never actually got to the submit reply button.

Veng68 · #2 10-29-2007, 05:15 AM

Yeah........ well said.

I think unless you have owned or worked as a manager at a retail store ...... your not going to really know how the prices are effected.

I know that a lot of stock was bought when our dollar was lower (family friends business not related to the aquarium trade) or in some cases the business hedged against the US dollar and lost that bet when the loonie took off (my friend did that because his main customer base is in the US).

Cheers,
Aquaman

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #3 10-29-2007, 05:35 AM

Good for you Neal.

Most of us knew that this was an expensive hobby when we started. We (on the coast) are really spoiled having several good to great LFS to shop at. I very rarely shop online because I know that I may save a little money but it can end up being a lot more hassle. And if I & other local reefers don't spend our money at places like OA, J&L, King Ed's, Coral Ocean & others, then when we need to get something quick, we'll be stuck. Also, it is a great way to blow an afternoon doing an LFS tour.

As Neal also pointed out, if its too expensive, don't buy it. Some things in this hobby I just can't justify spending that kind of cash but that's why these stores carry a wide selection. Otherwise we'd all be stuck buying a Prism or maybe a BubbleKing. Instead, we usually can find a product in the right price range to suit our needs and our budget.

Anthony

Chaloupa · #4 10-29-2007, 06:34 AM

THANK YOU Neal for speaking up! I as well was too harsh in each thread/rant I wanted to start over some complaints I'm reading about price so didn't post...but this was well said, well put! Nice!!

And hey, if we all "really" cared so much about cost...we wouldn't be in the hobby. It's definately not cheap!

andresont · #5 10-29-2007, 07:31 AM

Interesting to see what will happen to our dollars when Amero kiks in 2010?

Skimmin · #6 10-29-2007, 08:27 AM

mark · #7 10-29-2007, 12:32 PM

I applaud you efforts as well Neal but I do think we have a right to speak up, thought not about you.

Prices for live stock locally, I don't have a issue with any of the places and if I choose not to buy it's more a concern of quality.

Price of equipment is another thing. When you see stuff here that's double and sometimes more, than what I can get from J&L or OA delivered, I might not complain, but I'll just be making a phone call south. Never been personally to either J&L or OA but it's my understanding than they both have stores so we aren't really comparing apples to oranges.

I'll still support my LFS but it going only be for the $5 piece of foam rather than the pump or the new set of lights.

Matt · #8 10-29-2007, 05:23 PM

Underlying this is a lot of emerging (formerly repressed) resentment and anger about the long-term weakness of the C$, and how that has affected us when making purchases. Many retailers were getting skinned for years, and are reluctant to give up the gravy when they finally see some.

Also, bear in mind that many of the prices in the US will be going UP to meet us. The US dollar is falling against world currencies, not just C$. Some of the price discrepencies are the result of inventory levels in the US (old prices) not just in Canada.

The tax and duty rates, population density (market size, shipping, economies of scale), energy costs, and a host of other factors will keep Canadian prices somewhat higher than the US on a lot of items for a long time (forever)?

howdy20012002 · #9 10-29-2007, 12:38 PM

Skimmin, are u kidding me?

All you had to do was ask for the fish back...I would have gladly given them back.

just because you bought them for 110.00 don't blame me.
I sell them for 25.00 a piece.
therefore 30.00 for the pair is reasonable in my mind (and also about my cost wholesale)..I do try to make some money.... and you were the one that brought up the idea of me giving you the suggested store credit for the clownfish.
I brought in 3 fish in the attempt to give you what you wanted.
One of which died.
the other two were fighting for dominance as all clownfish do(especially the maroons). One was losing and had a few nicks in the fins...awww, guess those fins will never grow back eh?

I would not have brought those fish in because they are known to be aggressive and most people don't want them...but I did it to help you out...some thanks I guess.

This is also the beauty of owning my own store - Aaron, don't call me back as I won't waste my time with you in the future.

thanks for shopping at marine experience

Neal

Ephraim · #10 10-29-2007, 02:34 PM

Neal this has been ****ing me off recently too. Thankyou for saying what i wanted to say, alot nicer and more P.C. than I would have said it.

I say to anyone that has a problem with Candian aquarium retail pricing, go shop in the usa, have it shipped to you, deal with that headache. I am sure I will run into you at a store around town here very soon when you give up that endevor.