Are you still buying in the USA? Why?

[tim the toolman]

I think that another point that should be made is keeping the $$ local. I have a LFS that I go to whenever I can in hopes that a good store owner can stay in business. I'm glad this hobby doesn't have a walmart mentality yet, and I hope it never will.
Here's to the little fish in big water

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by marie

I only buy from the US when I can't find what I'm looking for here..... but having said that I have to pay shipping costs for whatever I buy and anything I do get from the States I get shipped usps and the brokerage fee is only $5
eg. I bought 3 phoenix 250K mogul bulbs from premium aquatics and after including all shipping costs they came to under 70$ can.each and to top it off canada post must of messed up because they left the parcel on my doorstep without collecting their brokerage fee or the taxes

Can't realy beat that..I assume they were on sale? PA sells then at $69.99.

Our (and lot's of other CA stores) MH 250K mogul are a tad over $70.

Ray

[daplatapus]

I kind of agree with Marie. I don't have a LFS that deals with much of what I use (actually don't even have one here in Port Alberni). All they have is some Hagen tests and Tailored Aquatics supplements. When you consider the price of Salifert tests and BRS's alk, Ca and Mg, even with the shipping I pay about a third of what it costs me locally, not including the minimum hours drive to get anything at $1.37/l for gas.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

I'm glad this hobby doesn't have a walmart mentality yet, and I hope it never will.

Oh, it absolutely does now! So many people quibble over a couple of bucks. Sure, I can get that item at J&L for 3 bucks cheaper, but now I no longer have a store up the road to go browse around. I always try to buy locally first and support the stores that let me hang out with my coffee and poke around with the products.

[marie]

Originally Posted by Reef Supplies

Can't realy beat that..I assume they were on sale? PA sells then at $69.99.

Our (and lot's of other CA stores) MH 250K mogul are a tad over $70.

Ray

At the time I was looking for the single ended Phoenix bulbs and the only ones I could find in Canada were double ended. The weren't on sale, the regular price was $64.95

[04V10]

Well I might as well be the bad guy. I'm all for supporting the Canadian economy, and local shops, however when I can buy something online and have it show up to my door for half price compared to buying in Canada, I'm gonna do it. Here's a perfect example, I wanted to get new tires for my car and would have paid $4800 for just tires from the dealerships or local tire shops. There was also a back order until the end of June for the back tires. I order online on a monday from tire rack, and they show up to my door on Friday, for$2200!!!!

[Reef Pilot]

I live in south Langley, and the Pac Hwy border crossing is only 15 min for me. That's way closer than J&L. I use a freight forwarding whse in Blaine to pick up my online purchases. I choose my times to cross, so line-ups are not a problem.

Having said that, I still buy locally or online in Canada whenever possible and if the price is not too far out of line. In fact, I have found that J&L prices are sometimes equal or better than online from the US, incl BRS. Most times I buy online from the US, is when something isn't available locally, and then while I am at it, I usually stock up on a few other items.

To keep customers local, LFS's should offer to bring in special purchases at close to or equal US online prices, even if they don't make a profit. That way they will keep the customer coming back, and buying other stuff, that otherwise would have been lost sales.

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

I think that another point that should be made is keeping the $$ local. I have a LFS that I go to whenever I can in hopes that a good store owner can stay in business. I'm glad this hobby doesn't have a walmart mentality yet, and I hope it never will.
Here's to the little fish in big water

It will never get there, this hobby is to personal (for a lack of a better term).

It has however gotten much more accessible and will continue to do so. Competition is VERY strong and that is what drives manufactures to make new products, better products and products that are accessible to the masses.

Back 12-15 years ago we had 1 maybe 2 reef stores in Montreal, live rock was $20 a pound and seaclone skimmers were at the top of their game, heh!

Ray

[daplatapus]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

To keep customers local, LFS's should offer to bring in special purchases at close to or equal US online prices, even if they don't make a profit. That way they will keep the customer coming back, and buying other stuff, that otherwise would have been lost sales.

I agree. While I understand this won't make a LFS rich, it will keep customers. I don't mind paying 10-15% more to have it local, heck for some things, even 20% but when things cost 100-200% more, sorry.

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Oh, it absolutely does now! So many people quibble over a couple of bucks. Sure, I can get that item at J&L for 3 bucks cheaper, but now I no longer have a store up the road to go browse around. I always try to buy locally first and support the stores that let me hang out with my coffee and poke around with the products.

Have to disagree.

Yes, we get the occasional client locking to save 5 bucks BUT most of the time we are talking about 10-15-20% differences in price for the same products. If my client can save 10-15% elsewhere, he should take it...he is a fool if he does not.