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#1
04-26-2012, 01:36 PM
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im geussing you havent seen the "are still buying from the us?why?" thread. apparently nobody cares
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Can't is the cancer of happen - charlie sheen 20g reef 25g sump, DIY led form modular led, 2 false percs 
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#2
04-26-2012, 03:30 PM
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Bottom line is that it is a very expensive hobby, so I will mail order from any store that has reliable service at the lowest price. Some items, I just can't find in Canada so I have to make a BRS order every now and then and I am lucky that Concept is here now as they have pretty much the same prices as J&L but they are local. If something breaks down or I can't wait a few days, then I pay the premium to purchase the items locally, but if I can get it cheaper elsewhere, why would I pay the local store more. It is more on the local store to step up and price match to within reason to that of mail order stores or potentially lose business. You can make just as much selling multiple items at a lower price then one item at a higher price.
The price difference in Calgary was so bad when I initially got into this hobby that I would buy spare heater, pumps, food, etc on J&L's boxing day sale just to make sure I didn't have to hand over my first born if something died on me. Calgary has come along way since then with pricing.
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#3
04-26-2012, 03:42 PM
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For me, going to the LFS and browsing for fish or corals, or being there when the orders come in, is a privilege I'm willing to pay slightly more for. As it is now, we're running out of places to see real live fish in person. Sure, online prices are a bit cheaper, but I don't want to spend the rest of my time in the hobby ordering fish and corals based on pictures. I want to go to the store, watch the fish eat, watch it swim around and then take it home.
By supporting my local stores, I ensure that I have a store to go to...
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Brad
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#4
04-26-2012, 03:52 PM
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Quote:
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Can't is the cancer of happen - charlie sheen 20g reef 25g sump, DIY led form modular led, 2 false percs
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#5
04-26-2012, 04:05 PM
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Quote:
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#6
04-26-2012, 04:08 PM
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Quote:
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Brad
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#7
04-26-2012, 04:40 PM
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I have no issues buying used equipment or fish from fellow reefers. I don't buy out of the US, and have 2 stores here in edmonton that i visit all the time! I get my food from them, my salt from them, fish and corals from them...
but as for hard goods... if someone is selling something and I know the person, I'll throw him a few bucks before buying new from the store!
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Flash - Free Agent Fb- edmonton fish coral and hardware buy and sell!
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#8
04-26-2012, 05:07 PM
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Almost all my addiction-related $$ goes to the LFS or local reefers. Once or twice a year I might join a group buy from a Canadian vendor (usually). Almost never order anything from the States myself, unless I tag along with one of my buddies on his group orders (once every two+ years).
I buy local because I too like to see the fish or coral in person. I almost always get the LFS staff to feed the fish before I buy it. This is the same reason I always use a teller at the bank instead of the ATM. If everyone goes electronic, then lots of real people lose their jobs. Besides, I seem to know most of the people in this hobby locally and am good friends with a lot of the people working in our LFS. In Greater Vancouver, we are blessed with several good sw stores so I try to give them most of my business if I buy retail.
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If you see it, can take care of it, better get it or put it on hold. Otherwise, it'll be gone & you'll regret it!
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#9
04-26-2012, 05:41 PM
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I dunno,
While I agree that buying local is always a noble idea, it just doesn't always work out to be the best for me. I typically don't fuss if an item is a few bucks more than I can get online and I try to keep the price difference in perspective with the cost of the item; e.g. $20 difference on a Koralia powerhead is too much, but $20 on a Skimmer or LED light system is not a big deal. Similarly, stuff that's a little finicky to ship (like salt or T5 lightbulbs) I almost always buy local. I agree with prioritizing local business... but only to a certain point. That said, I get a little weary of listening to the constant mantra of "If you don't buy your dry goods from your LFS at a premium price than you won't have any fish and coral to buy from us". I don't buy that for a second, I would bet heavily that 90% of the profit comes from livestock and small stuff like food and lightbulbs. If an LFS owner decides to spend the money and bring in a ton of dry-goods and then prices them so uncompetitively that people buy elsewhere... that's a bad business decision, not a failure on the part of the consumer to "be supportive". The other argument, that was floated at the start of this thread (and that I have heard several times when discussing cheaper ways to do things) that "It's the worlds biggest money sucking hobby and if you can't afford to buy new you shouldn't be in it" is unbelievably elitist, ridiculous, and shallow minded. It's like saying if you can't afford $1.50 a litre you have no business owning a car because you're obviously too poor to deserve an automobile. This IS a money sucking hobby which makes it that much more important to be price conscious. Even if you're filthy rich, you probably didn't get that way by throwing money around without a care. Not saying you have to be out to squeeze the last nickel out of an LFS, but you shouldn't be obligated to overpay too much either.
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