Is it bad form to call ahead to reserve?

[Double-O-Zilch]

It was about 4 right? You were in the Eclipse? If not you have an evil twin!

[Gseclipse02]

It was about 4 right? You were in the Eclipse? If not you have an evil twin!

you threw me off when you said tonight lol but it was about 3 when i went by ... i wanted to get my calcium/alk. tested but it was 5 bucks for each and i was to cheap to pay lol ill keep dosing till something doesn't look right haha

[Double-O-Zilch]

should have posted this in 'ask a sponsor' to see what the store owners think about this ... ;)

I'm sure as long as you show up, as you've already paid, they don't mind at all. I just wish they would remove items on hold to another, hidden location. I seem to want what's claimed more then if it wasn't!

*Oh yeah, I heard Jason saying he'd like his employees to start charging for testing. Whether they do or not, just a heads up.

[allan]

I was at a nlfs on wednesday and noticed that they charged for their testing as well with one rub. The charge was a store credit for that day.

Makes sense and I wouldn't imagine anyone driving all the way to a lfs and not buying something.
Kari, I don't think it's lame to call first and I've done it a couple times. I recognize it as an obligation though. Not always pleased either.
What I do think is la
e is that you stopped flashing your badge- ahem, I mean your maast card. ;)

[Gseclipse02]

*Oh yeah, I heard Jason saying he'd like his employees to start charging for testing. Whether they do or not, just a heads up.

check out there price chart next time ... 5 bucks each for calcium and alk.


i ended up testing my calcium and it was good no way to test my alk. tho

[Gseclipse02]

Makes sense and I wouldn't imagine anyone driving all the way to a lfs and not buying something. ;)

<<< ------guilty as charged lol

im at a full point in my tank and i want my last items to really catch my eyes you know... so im always on the look out for nice pulsing xenia and yellow polyps

[ErikH]

Charging for water testing will make me never go back there again. People go there to purchase items, the water test will lead to more sales, or give the customer comfort to purchase more items. Either way it leads to sales. I am about to turn my back on alot of sponsors because the pricing on things is getting out of hand. When I see a tiny frag that costs 60 dollars for maybe an inch and it is not a LE coral, I want to vomit. There is such a thing as making a profit, and "taking advantage". If I walk into a store and there is a frag right behind a price, let's say 49.99, and I get to the register and the price jumps up 20-40 dollars, I smell something fishy.

Mark the prices ALL clearly, and don't try to charge me double for a fish I can get on LA for cheaper. LA is more expensive than most, so if your prices are higher than theirs, don't expect me to buy anything, ever, again from your store. This is not one store, it is MANY.

This is why I do not call ahead to reserve an item. I will call around and "shop" first.

You would not believe the price of DI Resin. The entire unit from BFS is 20.00 and I bought just the resin and it cost me 25 locally. The resin itself would have been around 15 dollars. 10 dollar price margin on a 25 dollar item is FLAT OUT ROBBERY.

40.00 for a DI Insert? COME ON GUYS.

I understand that you all pay a premium for the items in your store, but for the love of God, that is just bad.

[CoryDude]

It always costs the store when they run a credit card. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) credit purchases over the phone cost the store even more of a % of the transaction.

... its annoying to go to a store and them have nothing at all that you like esp. with how far you drive .... i tend to only go when i need food or a part...

That's why you establish a relationship with a store. Then you know when stuff is coming in and what. I rarely go to a lfs knowing what I'm going to leave with. There's nothing like coming up to the display tank only to discover some amazing specimine. And, there's nothing more frustrating than seeing "hold" next to the id/price tag.

As a store owner, I would limit phone reservations. If i knew you had been looking for an item for a while, or had pre-paid before I ordered the item, I'd have no problem holding something for you.

But, if you were to call up on regular intervals, ask my what I have, and then cherry pick everything, I'd limit it. Not fair to the new customers or regulars who just stop by to see what you have. JMHO

[RayAllen]

ive called ahead and purchased but only from stores/owners I trust isnt going to screw me over and up the price on me.

[Europhyllia]

There's nothing like coming up to the display tank only to discover some amazing specimine. And, there's nothing more frustrating than seeing "hold" next to the id/price tag.

As a store owner, I would limit phone reservations. If i knew you had been looking for an item for a while, or had pre-paid before I ordered the item, I'd have no problem holding something for you.

But, if you were to call up on regular intervals, ask my what I have, and then cherry pick everything, I'd limit it. Not fair to the new customers or regulary who just stop by to see what you have. JMHO

Yeah that's what I was wondering about. I do look and see what's coming in. That's how I know when to call ahead! ;)
Maybe online ordering is more my thing until the kids are bigger and it's easier to have them in the car for an hour and a half just to chance it and see if what I want is still there.