LFS Etiquette

[srobertb]

Is it "bad etiquette" to point out to a LFS owner that they're charging twice the price of a product? I understand they need to make a profit as they have overhead costs, shipping, rent, utilities etc. and I believe in supporting local businesses as much as I can. I'm not sure I can continue to support a business that wants to charge twice as much as the manufacturer charges. Thoughts?

Every LFS from the beginning of time does this. I’ve negotiated once (on a Milwaukee Salinity tester) and they matched BRS.i

My new preferred fish store (I moved) adds 5-10%. Ie a Radion that’s $850 price locked is $915+Tax in store.

I needed an arm for my Kessil and they wanted an egregious amount for it and the conversation ended with “Ill pay for convenience but I’m not going to get ripped off. I’ll just buy it online.”

It bums me out because a- they’re banking on some sucker coming in looking to start a tank for themselves or a child and trusting someone who doesn’t have their best interest at heart or b- they’re hoping someone will have a light or something break on a weekend, panic, and be forced to pay more.

maybe (probably) it’s me but even the nice fish stores with knowledgeable people are still happy to sell you a Queen Angel for your biocube. Profits are thin, times are tough, it’s amazing what people will justify doing.

 

[LeftyReefer]

My LFS price matches any online retailer, including Amazon and BRS.
Unfortunately the selection just isn't very big. I'd buy more there if they had more. Right now they basically only stock the Brightwell line. If it's not Brightwell, they probably don't have it. So I end up ordering online for most items even though they would price match if they could.

 

[Kenneth Wingerter]

I've worked at a number of LFSs from 1990 through 2014 in different states. But one thing that always stayed the same--there was always some shop that had been around forever and was firm on reasonable prices and then some other, newer stores that always pandered to the cheapa$$e$ for the unreasonably lowest price. The "cheap" stores predictably went out of biz fast. Oh yeah, everyone loved them and talked cr@p about the "expensive" store, but the results were always the same. Always. And it's pretty simple why; you can't make a profit giving stuff away. And yet that's exactly what you're doing when you price match Amazon. It was pretty sad to watch some of my extremely talented and knowledgable coworkers assist a customer for literally hours (basically providing free professional consultation at my boss's expense), only for the "customer" to take pictures of the recommended products and then go home and buy it all online. Let it suffice to say that these lame nutsucklers got coldshouldered real fast, and deservedly so. The average LFS owners (and LFS employees for that matter) are hardly getting rich doing what they do, contrary to the crazy notions of some hobbyists. Amazon is nothing more than a delivery service; a good LFS is something else. Better be prepared to pay for that, if you want it. And if you're "that guy" who comes in for free water tests every weekend but doesn't ever buy sh!+, don't complain when the staff treats you like the homeless drunk who came in to destroy the public bathroom.

 

[Derrick0580]

My lfs has a wholesaler account with brs so everything is pretty much the same price. This being said, if I can get it cheaper with amazon prime I will always go that route. I do know the owner of my lfs and can order brs items and save on shipping if I don’t need the items asap.

 

[Dburr1014]

I just said I'll think about it and I may return later. I was interested in the Hanna Alkalinity Checker reagent.........Hanna and most other online retailers list it for $10.00. He wanted $20.00 for a bottle w/a expiration date of 2/2022. The store is a new one in our area but the owner has a aquarium maintenance business so I'm pretty sure he's aware of the costs.

Gee, wonder why he can't sell it before it expires???

 

[Chrisv.]

My LFS goes as far as to tell us that xyz is on sale this week because BRS is habit a sale and they match BRS prices.

I always give stores the opportunity to price match. I just ask if they want the opportunity to price match online retailers or if they prefer I just buy things where I can find the best deal. They typically match.

 

[damsels are not mean]

I don't think it's a good idea to do something like that in front of other customers. Free market economy means you have the right to buy your goods elsewhere. If they can't sell it at the elevated price they will have to adjust.

I would feel guilty letting this go. It's like never talking about wages with coworkers. The only one who benefits is the person trying to take advantage of people who don't know any better. I don't like to incentivize that behavior when it can be discouraged.

 

[Totroc3]

It would be great to hear from retailers. Is it normal to mark up 50%, 100%, 150%? I have no clue.
I would venture to guess that some items have a greater (normal) mark up compared to others.
Equipment sitting in a box doesn't have much per day cost sitting on a shelf.
Someone had to buy, stock it, re shelve it if it is taken down, etc.
Fish and coral have additional daily requirements, (feeding, maintenance, etc).
I would image the normal mark up to be much higher.
Any retailers out there who could shed some light?

Markups vary from item to item. Some items like pet food markups range from single digits to teens while items like airline tubing can be 50% or more if you are selling bulk items. If you know your business, your competition and your customer you dial it in. Of course sometimes you get it wrong which is why I suggested that the OP ask the owner if they price match. Most shoppers today are savvy so retailers have to be sharper than ever. The retailer should have a price matching policy clearly visible so even the shyest customer feels comfortable bringing it up. If they don’t they will most likely see another retailer move in and take over.

 

[fish farmer]

Markups vary from item to item. Some items like pet food markups range from single digits to teens while items like airline tubing can be 50% or more if you are selling bulk items. If you know your business, your competition and your customer you dial it in. Of course sometimes you get it wrong which is why I suggested that the OP ask the owner if they price match. Most shoppers today are savvy so retailers have to be sharper than ever. The retailer should have a price matching policy clearly visible so even the shyest customer feels comfortable bringing it up. If they don’t they will most likely see another retailer move in and take over.

I'm that shy guy that would never even think about asking to price match. I would see the price, either feel it it too expensive and not need it, find it somewhere else for cheaper or eat ramen noodles until I could afford it.

This feels like going to my local grocery store and asking the butcher to price match steak or I'll go to Walmart and get it cheaper.

 

[ZoWhat]

What do you expect to gain from this convo?

For him to say, "you know you're RIGHT! I'll sell it to you right now for 75% off"

.

 

[Chrisv.]

What do you expect to gain from this convo?

For him to say, "you know you're RIGHT! I'll sell it to you right now for 75% off"

.

I'm a little confused. This is literally what happens sometimes. And it works, btw. I used to use bulk reef as my go-to for basically everything. My LFS now matches online prices and I prefer to support the local store, given that they will price match.