Stop being cheap!

[Big_Pun]

this article on reefbuilders reminded me of this thread so ill bump it with new article

http://reefbuilders.com/2011/05/06/l...ng-1300-miles/

[CoryDude]

Are those roti cultures he has in those cylinders in the background? Oh, I'm dreaming about a career change. Hope the move works out for him.

[Mr Cob]

funny you brought this thread alive again....this thread was actually what got me thinking of starting our business Mr. Cob's Corals.

For those that don't know....we did not exist at the time of this thread....but did go live shortly after : )

So I commented on this thread several times strickly as a hobbyist.

Now my perspective is from an online vendor's point of view and I must say I still feel the same. I love LFS, I still shop at them....that is the ones that welcome my business. I do not agree with comments about "being cheap" and expecting customers to act or conduct business in a certain way. As already mentioned by someone else here....customers should not have to adapt to the business, the business should adapt to the customer's needs.

I like a business that will pick up and leave if needed and one that has the wisdom to adapt to change. That was probably a smart business move.

[jroescher]

New acronym: LOS (Local online store). Mr Cob's Corals

[Bill S]

OK, I'm cheap.

I didn't respond before, because I pretty much agreed with Richard. Heck, he spent several years owning a store. I spent 8 years in middle school, high school, and college working in a very large LFS (over 1000 tanks).

I buy all of my livestock from either LFS or other hobbyists.

Unless I need it now, I buy dry goods and frozen food online. I'm sorry, but when I was going through a bucket of salt every 3-4 weeks, $35, delivered, no tax was just way better than $60 plus tax locally. Frozen food is about 1/3-1/2 the cost, online, when spending $200. If I could buy it CLOSE to the online prices, I would. But, generally, I can't. I was buying salt from one LFS, and they were at first, competitive. But, they kept increasing the price by $5 each time. So, I quit buying.

As for haggling: If I know the store owner, just about never. If I don't, I'm going to try and get a deal. That's just about everywhere, including Home Depot, Best Buy, and those places that don't deal. I lose some, but I win many. I buy my cars for wholesale. We bought new living room furniture from a store that "never has sales" for about 55% of their "no haggle" sticker price.

[350gt]

I am not cheap and if a store has what I need I will buy instead of driving home and ordering it online...

What I do hate is a store that has nothing in stock, then the " I can get it for you" line.... Guess what so can I and I dont have to drive back to pick it up.

Like these stunner strips, nobody here carries them and I had to order them, I need more and guess what? I have to order them again online.

[Big_Pun]

I like the discussions this thread starts hehehehe.....

@350gt if you don't mind a drive to one our good sponsor aquatek in Austin carries most of the eco exotic stuff and a lot of other good products and livestock

[ErikH]

I am not cheap and if a store has what I need I will buy instead of driving home and ordering it online...

What I do hate is a store that has nothing in stock, then the " I can get it for you" line.... Guess what so can I and I dont have to drive back to pick it up.

Like these stunner strips, nobody here carries them and I had to order them, I need more and guess what? I have to order them again online.

AD carries them locally as well.