I also try and keep my business at LFS. There are times when it just doesn't make sense - like a group order for cleanup crew. Having spent 8 years working in a very large LFS - many, many years ago - I know how difficult a business it is. Most owners will tell you that livestock is break even.

As far as guarantees, that is an owner issue. If one decides to offer a guarantee, that cost will be added into the prices they charge. So, you, the consumer, will pay for that incremental part of the price increase to offset the replacements made to the folks who don't know what they are doing. Look at it this way. Say a fish sells for $20 in Store A, with no guarantee, and $22 in Store B with a guarantee. Which would you choose?

We had a guarantee on all fish. 100% on freshwater, 50% on saltwater. 7 days. Aclimation instructions were included with each purchase, and the guarantee required return of the item (frozen) and a water sample for testing. This process REALLY cut down on the claims. To the LFS owners, how SURE are you that when you sell livestock, that they person buying it KNOWS how to aclimate it? And does so according to YOUR instructions?

Anyway, I'll continue to support the local stores when I can. As Louis knows, I buy a LOT of salt. I've found prices on Reef Crystals ranging from $32 on line (plus shipping, but when you buy 10 buckets, it's only $2 a bucket), to $60 locally. I buy it from Louis at a decent price, but certainly not $34! But, I'm also shopping for a chiller. I'm hard pressed to pay a $200 premium to buy locally, I think...