What was the last straw with your ex-LFS?

[Frogspon]

Share your stories here on what finally made you part ways..

 

[Crustaceon]

I have several in my area but only went to a particular one a single time and never again. The moment I walked into his empty store, the owner started ranting about politics ruining his business and not the disgusting condition of his tanks or said ranting.

 

[Gtinnel]

The final straw for me was when they went out of business. Sadly the only reef shop that is close at all to me went out of business over a year ago.

 

[BlennyTime]

I went to a store once where there was a lot of aptasia in the frag tank. That was my first and last trip there.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Diseased fish and poor husbandry

 

[X-37B]

I have 3 within 4 miles of me. All have different quirks but all are worth visiting.
No last straws yet.
Next closest is 3hrs away.

 

[WirelessMike]

Mine was when the owner of the store went off on me because of the company I work for. Had a company jacket on and she lit me up as I’m spending like $300+ on rock and sand. I now drive 30 minutes out of my way to go to a store that has never done me wrong.

 

[Jeepguy242]

3 visits. Every fish I got there dies within 5 days of getting it.
Fish from another store I’ve had for year’s

 

[Peter_in_the_city]

It is all about the level of care for their own inventory. Fish stores show their level of care in an extremely front-facing fashion. Inspecting their tanks is like inspecting the kitchen of every restaurant you eat at.
I can deal with misinformation. I can deal with prices higher than online, but I cannot handle laziness (pests, visible disease, parasites, decaying fish, etc.) in a business.
In NYC there's a shop that has an INSANE amount of aiptasia in their DT. Why do I not shop there? They don't care enough about a tank with 1000's of dollars in their DT why would they take care of 15$ clowns?

 

[Chrysemys]

I’ve gone to the store for years bought a lot of livestock from them, had meaningful conversations about my systems and how my fish are doing. Last time I go in, I get 2 freshwater angels and 2 peppermint shrimp. I get asked, “Do you have both a fresh and salt....”
Did all these years me nothing... I thought we had something special.
Seriously though I was a little put off. I’ll probably should give them a chance. I was wearing a face mask.

 

[KrisReef]

I do a lot of window shopping. Even if I don't enjoy the interaction with a certain owners or sale rep I do love to see what they have in their tanks. If a store has treated me poorly I just make a point of not purchasing much from that establishment. I spend my money where the livestock is good and with the stores I hope will remain in business.

I also try like to purchase stuff from the vendors who support this website.

 

[Reef man 89]

Last straw for me was when the owner makes you feel like your wasting his time once you enter his run down hole in wall store. I just hate this guy and feel bad for the fish in his care that all look like there ready to die any second.

 

[Cole.mormon]

My last straw was at the denton petco, the Open bathroom she used, a pervert employee hightailed her into the bathroom. also another employee kept nagging at us to wear a mask. First of all my grandma is on o2, and i have asthma...
Manager said we were fine. They also had aptasia

 

[Ameer214]

The LFS double charged me and took 6 months to get me my money back. I had to call them multiple times to get it done.

 

[rmay6850]

Empty promises, diseased fish, poor husbandry and telling me “all tanks have ich, it’s just part of the hobby”

 

[jradishness]

One of the largest fish stores around here, they pay their employees commission. And it shows. Many of the employees make horrible recommendations, tell you whatever they think you want to hear, and won’t ever stop asking if you need a hand with anything. Maybe more stores do this, and I just don’t realize it because it doesn’t reflect in the employees behavior, but it does here. All the best selection, the most beautiful tanks, and exotic fish and coral don’t mean much to me if you’re just slinging product.

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Aiptasia on a frag. Is that too Savage of me?

 

[X-37B]

Aiptasia on a frag. Is that too Savage of me?

No! Your lucky if thats all you get on your frag from what I have seen, lol.

 

[JosephM]

They took down most of their saltwater tanks, their dry goods are almost double retail and a no name frag of anything that’s MAYBE 1/4-1/2” is $40. You can barely see the coral and they’re nothing special

 

[king aiptasia]

if the tanks are too sterile I usually never return