So Do You Still Buy Anything From a Local Fish Store?

[gar732]

Salt, bulbs, fish, and whatever else I might need quick. A lot of my coral I've gotten online and if its a more expensive item I'll usually shop it online. But my LFS gives the local reef club a discount also so I try to support them as much as I can.

 

[repoman95]

98 percent of the time its my LFS. Living in Atlanta we have an abundance of stores available and a majority of them are sponsors of our local reef club so I get a discount. Also its nice to "talk shop" with the employees. Its great to be able to pick the brain of someone who raises and cares for the corals everyday.

 

[Crooks]

All my dry goods I get online. Most of my fish and coral are from LFS or other reefers in the area.

 

[skinz78]

I don't have an LFS so always online.

 

[Chops30]

Our LFS are also very personable. Plus, members of my club work at one of them so it's win win.

 

[tangboy]

Our LFS are also very personable. Plus, members of my club work at one of them so it's win win.

I agree, it helps when reef club members work at the store

 

[FaviaFreak]

$39 for this entire colony at my LFS last night..that is hard to beat

 

[steamer51]

I support several good LFS as a priority. If they have dry goods on sale I check prices on line and if their price is only 10 percent more than on line including shipping I'll pay the extra to support them for the good reasons already mentioned here. When I decided to buy an RO/DI I went to an LFS that did not carry them in stock and asked what kind of deal I could get on a special order that I would pay for in advance. Guaranteed profit for the LFS without tying up their money in stock until it sells will get you a comparable deal to buying on line from a cooperative LFS. I was part of a group buy for CUC that was purchased through an LFS that was a good deal for everyone involved. There are always special sales at several LFS in our area on livestock that run less than on line prices before figuring the shipping costs. They work hard to purchase good deals from their suppliers to draw in customers with low prices. I do buy some things on line if the price is much cheaper than the LFS but I buy locally whenever I can.

 

[Bubbles_B]

Yesterday I went to a LFS in San Francisco and found an awesomely vibrantly orange metallic mushroom colony. Check out the thread I put up on it. That's why I still go to LFS here and there. :tongue:

Never Mind forget the thread I posted. Here they are...:xd:

 

[clowns101]

I get absolutly every thing from the Online world.There are not any stores whom are worthy to sell good stuff,just being honest.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I am glad to see such a diverse range of answers. I was expecting more online stuff but i totally get where people want to support their LFS. Plus if you have a good connection or a reef club memeber works there then you can definitely trust them. So many have bad advice, bad prices and just a business feel....glad that some have friendly places to go. One day i hope to find one myself...until then dry goods will come from online!

 

[Viva'sReef]

There is a couple stores around town that I buy from....mostly the higher end corals they get in, or Salt because they buy so much and sell it cheap.

Other than that, everything else is online. Especially when shopping for the higher end equipment

 

[Angels 2010]

Once in a while if I need something quick I'll buy from the LFS, if I've got time I'll usually try to order online. Marine Depot is pretty close to me so their regular shipping ends up being overnight more often than not, can't beat that.

I'm pretty close to Marine Depot, too, but closer to SoCal Tropical Fish and Tom's prices are right on with MDs, sometimes even better. also he will match prices if you ask him...

 

[Tabasco1]

I would love to support a local fish store, but there the closest LFS is about 2 hrs away. Not real practical! Whenever I go to the big city I try to stop in though.

 

[ReeferDan]

No, lfs is not so local for me and expensive with poor livestock, order everything online now.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I'm pretty close to Marine Depot, too, but closer to SoCal Tropical Fish and Tom's prices are right on with MDs, sometimes even better. also he will match prices if you ask him...

It would be amazing to live in SoCal with all the sick stuff you have access too. Super Jealous for sure!