Am I the only one happy with my lfs?

[ohio reefer]

I always read how people hate there lfs, I personally love mine, they have great prices and great advice, they sold me a beautiful red bubble tip, in near perfect health for 64$ it's about 5 inches across, and my most recent purchase was a hammer coral, rather large and I paid 14$

 

[fyrfytr]

Personally I like the ones in my area. I think that one bad apple spoils the lot and they all get a bad rap from a few bad experiences

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[Downbeach]

I think you're lucky if you have a good one nearby, and would support them as much as possible, but I think they are few and far between.

 

[mfinn]

In the Seattle area we have 3-4 that I would consider very good, and there are a couple more that I haven't been to that others swear by.

 

[Fatmike92]

I've got one locally that gets some nice stuff in I don't get corals there but they have awesome fish

 

[GHill762]

I really really like my NSLFS (not so local fish store) it's quite a drive though (~2hrs each way).. but my LFS sucks.. all sw livestock is always in poor shape.. our local petco is actually very good, but doesn't carry sw.

 

[SDguy]

I have several good ones nearby.

 

[T.W.]

I have 2 LFS near me. One has no Marine Critters but an awesome selection of gear, while the other has good looking marine critters but a small selection of junky equipment brands. I use both for small purchases to avoid shipping that is 3 times the product price plus I usually hit them up during a sale. Both have helpful people. I take what they tell me and cross check it with everyone here. LOL

 

[fragmatic]

I have two outstanding LFS's and one new one that is showing great promise. Then I have one that is not so good but on occasion can have a good deal if I make sure to take their past history in mind and act accordingly. Then I have a chain store with a salt water section that I avoid like the plague.

I did once purchase three nice looking fan worms at the chain store and when I got home and was about to do the acclimating I discovered that the tubes were soft and flexible from the lack of Ca in their system. I thought to go back and explain, but realized I may as well go to the zoo and tell the chimps. ...LOL... The fan worms did not survive in my healthy tank for more than a few days. They came so far out of their tubes they failed to get back in, so I figure the sales person let air get into the tubes. I had failed to watch them not do that.... MY FAULT. It is since then I avoid that store like the plague, and kind of did already, but learned my lesson well.

 

[Bootstrap]

I love mine. She is very knowledgeable and trustworthy. Wont sell fish you won't have the room for etc.

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[SloppyJ]

We're lucky to have a great LFS in my area. And another in the works.

 

[reefingnoob]

my LFS is A REEF CREATIONS one of the sponsor of r2r. you can't be unhappy with them. A year ago when I was just getting in to the hobby I took them to be the most expansive of all my LFSs but having the best collection of toys and live goods but as I progressed I learned that there is a difference in SPSs that were collected from Bali and SPS that grew up in J Fox's personal tank per say. So I consider my self lucky to have them.

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[Fatmike92]

Ha id say the reason it seems no one likes their fish store is only the people with bad experiences complain about it but those who are happy just sit back and enjoy!

 

[Eggs]

my LFS is A REEF CREATIONS one of the sponsor of r2r. you can't be unhappy with them.

I've traveled to Buffalo often for work and that has to be the best LFS I've visited.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I used to think that I did not have a decent LFS until I found a hole in the wall place. The guy that runs it is very passionate about the fish he sells and he sells them at fair prices. The fish look pretty good. I recently bought a yellow tang from him and QT'ed it. I was shocked when it did not show signs of ich at all during QT.

 

[ermartin]

I love my LFS i used to have about a half dozen around me 3 of which i liked. now i have 1 and thankfully it was the best one that survived

 

[GratefulReef]

I have a great local fish store that has two locations! I only go to one though, because it is closer is the only reason. They have good pieces, and very nice system set up for everything. I have never seen an overhead light on in that store, and all their livestock including freshwater look amazing! Picked up a sweet rbta about 9inches across 80$ 2 head hammer frag thats about ready to split from both heads 30$. To me, their prices are great and I enjoy shopping there. Not to say I dont shop online at times, just because lets face it were reefers we wanna save money to buy more stuff for our reefs! I try to support my lfs as much as I can though, because they are great!

 

[Rikerbear]

I am not unhappy with the ones in our area per say....each have their pros and cons. One has great dry goods with reasonable prices but wouldn't get fish or inverts from them as they always look a bit 'off'....and I am not happy with the staff who seem to be willing to sell anyone anything, regardless of it being appropriate or not.
Another has amazing livestock and a 'fair' price, but gouges on the dry goods not to mention staff with some serious attitude issues.
Another has 'okay' stuff and 'okay' prices, but offers excellent advise and awesome customer service.
The fourth has yet to impress me on anything, and the last one is just so far away that I have only been there a couple times to 'browse' so can't make a good review just yet.

 

[Pappy]

I loved the Lfs's around me for the first couple years but then started collecting nice stuff and realized I was better off a. Getting stuff from a hobbiest. B driving all the way to Miami for the good stuff!

 

[Eienna]

I have a sort-of-okay LPS here, but there's one nearby called Fish Fantasy and it's terrific. It's in Riverside if anyone wants to try it. The Petco in Temecula (on Haun Rd, I believe) is one of the better Petcos, as well.