I'd like to address one other point in this matter as well. Can any single person on MAAST truly say they buy 100% of their supplies or livestock online. To do so would be rediculous. The reality is that online purchases are a reality in our hobby in today's marketplace. Some LFS have come to terms with the presence of the internet in our hobby and learned to change their business plan to address this fact, other's, and I am NOT pointing a finger at Alamo, have put their head in the sand and wished it would go away. I think most serious aquarists have done some purchasing online at some point. The reasons they do so may be for product or livestock selection as well as price on major items. The fact that MAAST members do group orders in a public forum to take advantage of volume pricing or free shipping just makes us more visible and leads to the type of attitude that was voiced by this individual. The fact that the ownership at Alamo has chosen to become a sponsor of MAAST shows that they recognize that MAAST has become a factor in the marketplace as well and they choose to work with us cooperatively to achieve both of our goals.
I would have encourged this particular individual to recognize the fact that MAAST is not a buyers club. We are a group of indivduals. Some of our members may do things that we as an organization do not sanction but we are not the aquarium police either. I would have also explained that we do encourage our members to support our sponsors, both online and at LFS for the simple reason that our sponsors have chosen to support us in the pursuit of MAAST's goals. However, the goals and purpose of MAAST are only oriented towards education and support of aquarists. I think I can make a pretty good argument that we are pretty helpful to all LFS, even non-sponsors, because we have helped encourage and keep people in the hobby when they may have thrown their hands up in frustration in the past. How many people have you known that said they had a SW aquarium in the past but found it to difficult? These individuals probably did so because they just didn't have the type of support that an organization like MAAST can provide. Such ex-aquarists aren't going to spend any money at an LFS and nor is he/she going to encourage their friends and acquaintances to get into the hobby.
Yes, the LFS do provide a valuable service to many aquarists in providing valuable information. Unfortunately, they do not have the luxury of taking the time to ask all the quastions or get the follow-up that we often do online. Additionally, an LFS owner may not have the direct experience that one of our members may have concerning a specific issue. They can't be an expert on everything. Also, our hobby is going through many changes as the result of scientific research and technological innovation. Because some of our members are so devoted to the hobby we may be aware of information that is more up to date than is an LFS employee. I have often heard this at an LFS where an employee is telling someone that is perfectly good advice, or rather would have been 5-10 years ago. I'm sure some of you have had similar experiences. Again, its not the LFS employee's fault that he can't be an expert on every facet of the hobby. That's where an organization such as MAAST, or dare I say RC, has a role.
OK, I am off my soapbox.
Gary
125 SPS, 75 gal. LPS/softie reef, 9 gal. Nano
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Originally Posted by falcondob
