what makes a good lfs to you?

[Jeff]

there are a few things that make a lfs stand out and i was hoping someone could add to this list.

1. clean tanks / well lit tanks- nothing looks healthier that a tank that is free from algea on the front glass and the lighting is white and not yellow.

2.clean floors- you feel you can look at the tanks and not your feet so you don't trip. (wet floors don't count- it's a fish store).

3. having the hard to find dry goods- paying a little more at a store can sometimes be better than ordering off the net.

what else makes you go to certian stores first besides location.

[Jeff]

4. large enough livestock display tanks - there is nothing worse than seeing a large full grown naso tang being held in a 10-20gl tank, or a very small tank overloaded with fish.

[aquasport24]

Good customer service and some honesty .

[justahobby]

4. The one's that give you free stuff!

5. Carry unique specimens besides your run of the mill fish and coral

6. Don't follow me making sure I am ok. I hate when people hover.

[Mr Cob]

A good fish store is like Cheers... "...where everyone knows my name..."

I also hate stores that only give you the time or day if you buy $100+ every time. Some times I might just want to browse with my son and not buy anything, or maybe I only want to buy a Pepsi after 1 hour of browsing and don't care to be greeted with a sarcastic "That's All" when I go to the register.

A great fish store:

-Knows their fish and coral + hardware
-Takes time to answer questions and is not frustrated by noobies (they remember that they were also once a noobie)
-Treats all customers as if they were important
-Clean
-Climate controlled
-Tanks maintained properly

the list go's on and on... but I do think one of the biggest impacts for a LFS to be great and have lots of repeat business is a friendly staff including the owners. They don't even have to know everything, they just need to be honest when they don't.

[Texreefer]

One that stays open so we can keep the luxury of going to LFS

[Mr Cob]

One that stays open so we can keep the luxury of going to LFS

True...this would probably be the first requirement for a great LFS...LOL...but more likely than not it will not be possible for them to stay open for too long if they don't meet some of the things already mentioned.

Search deep inside your "inerself" and tell us what hits your sweet spot for a great LFS.

[swjim]

A nice selection of frags at reasonable prices.

[seatrueblue]

I'm going to try to come up with a list but its difficult since we don't have a great lfs in san marcos. I know one of the local pet stores here is trying to improve but I can't get past the wall of stink every time I walk into their store.( no joke its like the smell punches you right in the face.)

kind and honest knowledgable staff
clean store
all fish look healthy and lively ( if there is any sick fish they will tell you not to buy it)
clean tanks, no hair algae covered tanks and no salt creep on the outside of the tanks.
If there are any bleached corals or anemones they won't sell them.
no over crowded tanks.
they have warranty on their livestock.
Doesn't matter how many times I come back to the store in one day..no matter what it is for.. I don't want to hear.."back again, huh?"
I like it when they are not afraid to recommend a different store because they don't have what I'm looking for.
they have same hours as petco and petsmart ..that way, I am not forced to go to the franchise petstore because the lfs is closed.
they will price match with other stores.

this would be a dream store for me
hehe..I think I'm asking too much.

[Gseclipse02]

"they have warranty on their livestock."


pet stores do this for saltwater??? i have never been to one that does


i go for pricing and friendly staff i tend to never buy corals from stores because of pricing (maasst always has better deals)


i always look for one fish (fire fish) and i see how much they cost and go from there on other live stock ... i know good/great pricing is about 6.50-7.50 on them but when i see them for almost $15 i tend to just window shop every once in a while you might find a great deal on some fish from the higher priced place but yea....


i know the store i buy most of my fish from does not have a/c in the fish room and sometimes the tanks have GHA on them but the fish i have bought from there have NEVER flopped over to health reasons

[SVT519]

I know this fall under some said categories but i dont want to see a single dead fish in the tanks if they can be netted out. Just the other day in Houston at a lfs there were 10 clowns dead in a little spot in the corner. We just turned around and walked out. Id rather pay the bigger bucks at a nicer store.

Petco has warrenty btw. 2 weeks or so.

[Gseclipse02]

Petco has warrenty btw. 2 weeks or so.

not on saltwater

[Joshua]

The only things I even remotely care about:

1) Price. If the prices aren't good I'm only there because I'm desperate.
2) Healthy critters if I'm actually going to buy a critter, which is usually never - see above
3) Good selection of dry goods. There are times when you just run out of something and don't have time to order online, for this a good LFS can come in handy but see #1 as it still factors in.

I don't care if the staff is knowledgeable as I won't be asking questions.
I don't care if the store is clean as I won't be staying long.
I don't care if the staff knows a clown from a picasso because I do know.
I don't care if they're frustrated with n00bs because I'm not one.
I don't care if the tanks are clean because they're not my tanks and I'm not there to waste their time by looking at their pretty tanks.
I don't care if they're nice or rude as long as they bag/box up what I need quickly and get me out the door.

[FossilReef]

1. Knowledgeable, honest, and helpful staff. I don't ask questions because I need answers, I ask them as a test. If the people working don't know what they're talking about, chances are that despite how things appear the husbandry isn't on the up-and-up. If someone tries to BS me, I'm gone.
2. Well-maintained aquaria. Good husbandry is a must.
3. Quarantined livestock. This is a must, and it's why I'm still getting all of my livestock shipped down from my old lfs in Michigan. Price really isn't so important as health, IMO.
4. As I used to work for an lfs that specializes in natural aquascapes, I find that well-designed and natural-looking displays are a must. If I see anything like blue gravel in one of the tanks then I'm out.

[Mr Cob]

If I see anything like blue gravel in one of the tanks then I'm out.


Haha! That's funny! I hate that too.

[ErikH]

I don't go to one of the popular LFS anymore because it is profit driven over being helpful. Owners should be humble and appreciate you for stopping in. I buy local due to the people, not the price. Oh, and I do understand why people don't put things like rock in their tanks, because often fish hide. When you are trying to sell a fish, one you can see is always better.

[Mr Cob]

I don't go to one of the popular LFS anymore because it is profit driven over being helpful. Owners should be humble and appreciate you for stopping in..

I recently scratched one very popular LFS off my list for this very reason. The owner sold me a $70 eshopps overflow (the smallest version they have..300gph) and I get home to find out the thing costs only $40 online brand new from several shops. This is also the same place that I went to purchase a pepsi and the owner greeted me with the sarcastic remark. So they lost my business forever or until they have a new owner.

It is extremely important for me to support a LFS that cares about business and it's customers. I like a shop to make decissions that will keep me coming back...not decissions based on a quick sale or profit.

[hobogato]

well, if a store isnt profit driven, it wont stay open long....

also, it isnt a store's fault if the same merchandise is cheaper online. i think we are lucky to have so many good stores in the san antonio/austin area. i went to houston a while back and the pickins were slim.

having an 800 gallon system with 28 tanks tied together in my classroom has also given me a better perspective on how difficult it can be to run a fish store.

[Richard]

I don't care about any of the things mentioned. When I go into any LFS, I'm just really really happy to be an LFS customer.

[hobogato]

I don't care about any of the things mentioned. When I go into any LFS, I'm just really really happy to be an LFS customer.

we still miss your store.

[Mr Cob]

Of course it needs to be profit driven to a certain extent...but I think a store that charges 40% more on a product is rippin people off PERIOD, I'm not talking markup from wholesale...I'm talking 40% more retail from other sources, I can live with 20%. I also don't appreciate rude comments from a store owner when I don't spend what they expect me to spend.

As a customer/consumer these are things that I can expect from a store of any type when I'm spending my hard earned dollars.

Fact is... if I'm not happy then I shop else where as does anyone else that cares who gets their money. We should hold shops to a certain standard...fortunately there are multiple shops to choose from in SA so that should keep them competitive and it gives me the pleasure of "Choice" as I know some people don't have.

[TexasTodd]

Snails at the bottom.

[hobogato]

Snails at the bottom.

only if the water is cold :lauging:

[Bill S]

If you are a LFS in San Antonio and you haven't seen me in more than 6 months, then you must have ticked me off. If you don't remember why, PM me.

My rules are simple.

1) Reasonable prices - not cheap, just reasonable. I'll gladly you pay you more than online prices. But, if I can buy blue leg hermits for $0.25 each, I'm not paying you $1 a piece, in volume. And, don't get ticked when I go to reeftopia for those hermits.

2) Never, ever, lie to me, or cheat me. I'll never come back.

3) If the odor knocks me over, I ain't coming back. Unless there's a good reason for it.

4) I bothered to actually drive down to your store. The phone call from your sister to chat is NOT more important that I am.