Dream fish store!

[Snook65]

World Wide Corals is pretty close to being perfect LFS for marine tanks. As a regular customer, the guys take good care of me with attention and knowledge. Pricing is good most of the time and well stocked. Other supplies on hand.

In short, the LFS should have what you need when you need it at an acceptable price, with a good selection of livestock. Knowledge is also an important piece. I do agree robbrouse about dead fish. Having worked part time at a pet mega store many years ago, I made sure the dead fish were removed immediately. Looks bad to the customers.

+1 on World Wide Corals

I agree, in fact I drive from Sarasota to shop there. I just wish their display tanks were bigger! :biggrin1:

 

[Tylermacdonald15]

I live about 4 hours away from world wide corals and I must say they are nearly as good as they get and I will drive the distance to go and support them. Of course there are things that you could critique them about but it is near perfect. I have been in there before to buy a fish and they wouldn't sell it to me because they said it wasn't eating, even though it appeared to be healthy. This to me is great, most fish stores would have bagged up the fish with no problems selling me a sick fish.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Good pricing, good selection and Good Knowledge

 

[Squishie89]

It really means a lot to me when the staff engage in conversation with me. Ask me how my tank is, what is new, etc.
But I agree with everyone else; stocked with dry goods, clean tanks and clean store, not too expensive.

 

[nicolassoleil]

1. Unpretentious staff - I hate when someone acts like everyone should be keeping the same type of tank as they are, especially the ones who are into fads. If it's my dream to have a 300 gallon Xenia display, the staff should celebrate that decision and help me work towards achieving that.
2. Relatively clean tanks - It should appear that the people in the shop still enjoy the hobby and are willing to do the chores it requires. If you're lazy or burnt out, just cut your losses and sell your shop to someone who cares.
3. Variety - I shouldn't be able to guess everything that is in stock without visiting. Having 30 tanks of frogspawn defeats the purpose of having 30 tanks in a shop.
4. Great (big) displays - Something should make me dream of going bigger or more creative.
5. Color - If a supplier is sending brown frags, then drop them.
6. Window-shopping welcomed - If I stop by just to kill some time and look around, there's a chance that I might buy something. In fact, I'm more likely to buy something. I don't understand the mentality of shop owners who feel they need to babysit their customers. If I want to visit a fish several times to see that it's consistently active and healthy before I buy it, a pushy shop keeper isn't going to change that.
7. Clear Pricing - If something isn't clearly labeled with a price, I assume that a shop thinks that it's too valuable to part with and I'll look for it elsewhere.

 

[glb]

1. Healthy display tanks. If they can't keep their own tank looking good, how can they help me with mine?
2. Reasonable prices.
3. Corals in different sizes/prices for every size tank and level of experience.
4. Staff that will actually steer you away from a product if they don't think you need it. I know if they do that I can trust them when they tell me I need something.
5. A general feeling that questions are welcome.
6. Help carrying the 5g jugs of water out to the car!

Strictly Fish is the best store in Miami as far as I'm concerned. They do all of the above and more. They know exactly what will work in my nano and what won't. I'll definitely buy from them when I upgrade!

 

[Tradewinds]

All of the above, plus no pests on the coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

We have a LFS that has Aptasia everywhere. Not good for the hobbyist or business. Nice displays are helpful as well as Trained staff............... Not a staff whereas each employee has a Different answer to your question. Wit my store, I gave every shopper the time of the day, reference sheets to take home and a quarantee on livestock.

 

[StikHedRon]

I would have to say the perfect store would have actual quaranteed fish.

 

[Reef.ductionist]

A perfect store?

A store with a dedicated NANO tank section!
With Nano tank ato's, nano tanks, nano tank skimmers, nano tank lighting systems, nano tank reactors, nano tank filters, nano tank ideal fish list posted in the nano tank section, nano tank coral list (corals ideal for nano tanks) posted in the nano tank section, nano tank cleaning tools, nano tank filter media,
Nano tank sump systems,nano tank powerheads, nano tank pumps etcetcetc.
Nano tank live rock(SMALLER PIECES). And the nano section would have a dedicated area highliting or showcasing the latest technologies related to nano tanks... and a large board on the wall where customers who own nano tanks could post a picture of their respective nano tank. It would/could be titled , ''The nano appreciation board. ''
BUILD IT....AND THEY WILL COME!
CHEERS.

 

[nazzman]

Hey Bigbpro good LFS in our area??? Let me know if you find one .LOL

 

[Ted_C]

A perfect store to me is one where the owner and/or manager is more than a hobbyist with some background education in Chemistry, biology and biochemistry and has the talent to apply that knowledge to whatever problem a hobbyist presents to them.

2nd: A store that doesn't succumb to all of the marketing. If I walk in and you repeat the marketing material that Red Sea gives you - chances are good I will not trust what you have to say.

3rd: Like previosly stated - a store that has knowledge of their tanks. I know we should quarantine everything - but if a store knows they have red bugs, aiptasia, AEFW, etc - tell me and sell me what I need to make sure it doesn't destroy my tank. Dont just sell and sell and sell.

Most of my dollars are spent at FAOIS over here in Tampa Bay area. WWC is definetly nice - but its a trek.

 

[ohio reefer]

A perfect store to me is one where the owner and/or manager is more than a hobbyist with some background education in Chemistry, biology and biochemistry and has the talent to apply that knowledge to whatever problem a hobbyist presents to them.

2nd: A store that doesn't succumb to all of the marketing. If I walk in and you repeat the marketing material that Red Sea gives you - chances are good I will not trust what you have to say.

3rd: Like previosly stated - a store that has knowledge of their tanks. I know we should quarantine everything - but if a store knows they have red bugs, aiptasia, AEFW, etc - tell me and sell me what I need to make sure it doesn't destroy my tank. Dont just sell and sell and sell.

Most of my dollars are spent at FAOIS over here in Tampa Bay area. WWC is definetly nice - but its a trek.

That is why I love my lfs. The workers don't get paid. They're volunteers who have spear time and love the hobby. They have one paid full time worker and he's there sunrise to sun set and knows more than anyone I've ever met. The store is not in a retail setting. It's on a country road away from other shops. The owners house is almost touching the shop. Only his driveway separates the house from the shop. They have 5 displays including a 900 gallon with a 2 foot clam. You will not believe it until you see it. I'll try to get pics this week. He establishes a relationship with every customer, and he buys frags, grows them in the green house section. He waits for his anemones to split, and then sells them so he can sell them for cheap. He barley even marks up his prices. I got this rainbow anemone for 70$ and it's 5 inches across.

A 21 head frogspawn for 35$.

 

[mfief]

Fair prices, good selection and clean tanks are all important but the one thing that will turn me off is the shop that trash talks every competitor within a 100 mile radius. That junk gets under my skin quick.

 

[chefb_5]

+1 with revhtree! Also Wow factor in display tanks! Stock everything in different variety of supply's and equipment. Own there own tanks for at least 8 years. Give advise on what they think would look great with coral u already have and not with a sale in mind just to as a friendly reefer.
Also ohio reefer +1 I would LOVE to see rbta's be a decent price I always see them way to much for there size.

 

[MistaOrange]

1. Nice Stock and New Stock
2. Good Pricing
3. Helpful and Friendly Staff
4. Cleanliness

+1 & knowlegable staff & not sell you everything under the sun that you won't need...

 

[jt17]

A perfect store to me is one where the owner and/or manager is more than a hobbyist with some background education in Chemistry, biology and biochemistry and has the talent to apply that knowledge to whatever problem a hobbyist presents to them.

2nd: A store that doesn't succumb to all of the marketing. If I walk in and you repeat the marketing material that Red Sea gives you - chances are good I will not trust what you have to say.

3rd: Like previosly stated - a store that has knowledge of their tanks. I know we should quarantine everything - but if a store knows they have red bugs, aiptasia, AEFW, etc - tell me and sell me what I need to make sure it doesn't destroy my tank. Dont just sell and sell and sell.

Most of my dollars are spent at FAOIS over here in Tampa Bay area. WWC is definetly nice - but its a trek.

+1 on FAOIS. When in Tampa I always stop in their. The owner will not sell a fish before going over what's in your tank to ensure the fish they sell go to an appropriate commmunity for them. Also the buy rowaphos in bulk, repackage it in smaller bags and resell for less than you can buy it online. RODI supplies also. They care as much about your tank as the almighty buck.
2 weeks ago I went to Coral Corale in Tampa and saw a high end shroom I just had to have. The employee gave me the pricing and I agreed to it, he then called the owner to confirm he had the pricing correct. Turns out the coral was 50 bucks less than he thought it was. I had already agreed to a much higher price and they could have kept quiet and taken more of my money but they didn't. They did the right thing.
I'm actually in Orlando more than Tampa and have to agree that WWC is as close as it gets to LFS perfection. You know a good business when the employees enjoy themselves at work. That's a sign of good management. Also the owners are always there and they are working just as hard as the employees. Leadership by example. Not to mention their insane selection of corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just a note as many referred to selection. I owned a store for 11 years and pet store owners depend on suppliers for in-stock. Often we order from wholesalers and do airport pickup and thru handling and flight delays end up with DOAs which lowers our availability. Also we do not get everything we order.
as I often say" The ocean is Not a Supermarket". We hope for full and Live orders as well.

 

[EW_Fish]

We also have a local store that is really nice.
600+ display
2 8' x 4' frag tank.
a 25' fish wall
a 180 cube divided into 4 sections
a 180 cube frag tank
another large 6' x 4' tank for sharkes and rays.

When I walk into a store I don't care about appearance I want to see a large supply of corals and fish with alot of knowledge from the staff. I would like to see high end corals also. I think with that being said anything on top of that is a bonus. Also +1 On all the post above

 

[mbray94]

1. Nice Stock and New Stock
2. Good Pricing
3. Helpful and Friendly Staff
4. Cleanliness
5. Staff that actually have experience and now what they are talking about.