Bit of a Vent

[howdy20012002]

Just wanted to say a couple of things.

I have noticed more and more complaints about the cost of things in this hobby...I can't really place blame as I was one of those ranting a couple of years ago when I got into this hobby.

However,

First, I must say that personally, I definitely run at a loss..I know that for a fact, I have lost over $ 10,000 this year alone trying to give people the prices that I do.
Maybe now that my dollar is worth more when I buy from my supplier, I may actually break even.
I personally do what I do because I enjoy this hobby and I like helping people out.
However, If I needed to suport my family off what I sell, I would definitely have to increase my prices...to at least double to what I sell for to make a decent amount of money...
So when I look at the stores that do charge more, I can actually understand why.
I really don't see many fish store owners driving around in new cadillacs or BMWs...and if they do, good for them...
(my limo company bought my escalade and my town car..definitely not the fish)
these supposed merciless companies that people rant and rave about aren't making millions...they are trying to make a decent living.. and so they should as they put everything on the line to start up a business and hope it works.

you know what, if you wanted to be cheap, you picked the wrong hobby...and if you don't like it, get out of it..or buy from the states and see the headaches that can sometimes come with it.

I honestly don't know how places like Golds, J&L, OA's and hidden reef are actually able to keep their doors open with the great prices they offer and it must be strictly pure quantity that keeps it going....(great job you guys and please keep it up)...they have very similiar prices to those of the states.

Most online stores in the US don't have the costs of a actual store and most of them drop ship as well...this greatly reduces the costs of things and allows them to reduce the prices.

if you think that our price difference is bad, go to europe...everything costs twice as much there as it does here.

different prices are charged for different things around the world..that is just the way it is.

so personally I say, enough is enough.
we all have our own reasons for buying where we buy.
if you don't like it...go somewhere else..
then when the local stores close down because they can't afford to keep their doors open, then I hope you like to deal with US fish and wildlife and their fees to bring the livestock across the border along with the hardware.

We all spend thousands of dollars on this hobby and yet we complain because a fish is 10.00 more in one spot more than the other.
to me, it is starting to be more about the quality that I get...than the price tag.
and I certainly know now, after a couple of years of doing this, why some store charge what they do (maybe they just want to make a living after all).
but what the heck do I know?
Neal

[Aquattro]

Neal, well said.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

You do a good thing, Neal. That Crocea I got from you sure is purty

It's definitely an expensive hobby. I've resigned myself to that. And frankly, if it's too expensive for me (which it often is), I just don't buy it.

P.S. Mmmm, Escalade.

[marie]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Skimmin]

_

[mark]

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.