LFS going extinct?

[john26]

Interesting thread, I happen to believe LFS's will be around for a long time.

 

[mhensley]

I've been out of the Reef hobby for a few years, and most of the stores I used to frequent (Cappuccino Bay, etc) are all closed. It was shocking at first, but considering the costs associated with keeping up a store, vs the budgetary restrictions of most families, it makes sense.

 

[straydog]

Couple of questions how close to your home is a lfs the closest one to me is over half an hours drive. Second the way the economy is today do you think of your self as a type of lfs when you sell old equipment or frags. I would Support a lfs if I had one but think supporting a local reefer is helpful also.

 

[seth the wine guy]

I will admit. I am warming up to a couple LFS close to me. I know they both visit the boards on ARC and aware of much of the conversation here. I think both of these stores have seen this thread and they know who I am here. Yet, both have delivered nothing but outstanding personal service, products, and advice. I don't know if they're trying to prove me wrong or just do what they would do with any other customer. (My gut feeling is they would do it for anyone) But, either way, I'm very impressed and appreciative. The LFS will never get 100% of my business but they will be seeing a lot more than I had previously thought.

 

[tromblydavid]

Rehash of the same question that as been asked several times.

If they are going extinct why do I see 5 new ones every year?

It's like most businesses, if they have good customer service, good products and can compete with online when they need to they succeed. If not they fail.

 

[seth the wine guy]

tromblydavid;700864 wrote:
If they are going extinct why do I see 5 new ones every year?

Cause 5 others failed.

But what do I need a LFS for when I can come hang at your place? You have one of the best selections in the city!:yes:

 

[tromblydavid]

Ha ha. If I was an LFS I would be broke. I spend way more that I get from the frags I occasionally sell.

A species going extinct doesn't keep reproducing as fast as they die. LFS keep coming back so some people obviously see a market for them.

Some LFS stay around. Ask yourself why. Then you will know there will always be a market for LFS.

 

[dawgface]

I don't think Seth meant dead literally but rather dieing due to online sales.

IMO the more competition in the hobby tends to increase sales by our LFS but adding more people to the hobby by attraction, options, interest and addiction if that makes sense.

 

[tromblydavid]

What hurt LFSs more was places like Petsmart.

 

[ripped tide]

Petsmart used to hurt LFS. From what I have gathered, they are about the same price on dry goods, if not more expensive than a LFS. When they first came out, they had super low prices. They ran a ton of mom and pop shops out of business. Now that they have gotten rid of most of their competitors, they have jacked the prices way up. I was trying to find some nitrafurizone at petco the other day, and they were $5 more than the shop I work at.

 

[dan30097]

I was there earlier. They don't have much live stock. Can't see what you end up buying beside fish.

Edit: What are some websites that people favor over LFS. I'm talking about price gaps that only a wholesaler could provide to retailers.

 

[eagle9252]

My petsmart only has FW fish. It has some SW stuff not much. many years ago off Johnson Ferry Rd. they had SW fish. The LFS that is closest to me is old and down sizing.

 

[dakota9]

Honestly, I don't think they are going extinct, I just think there's too many of them in the market.

Atlanta seems to have a lot of stores.

 

[thanh386]

Atlanta does have a saturation in stores, but the selection is somewhat limited. A few stores use to carry high end coral and fish, but nowadays many rarely ever has anything I am looking for... Some can't even get it. I don't think they are dying , I just think some Us on the board look for things that can't be found locally.

 

[crobattt]

everything i have comes from fish stores, or members here.

 

[heathlindner25]

I've been in the hobby for a year and a half now and have never bought anything online. but I'm a people person...lol half the fun is going to the fish store

 

[picoreefguy]

I'm at 80% I've only ordered online a handful of times and at least half the time I was disappointed unless it was a dry good I was ordering. I'm the type of person that likes to see what I'm buying in front of me so i know what I'm getting and can tell if its healthy and colorful. And you get to talk to a real person and have a conversation. I spend a couple hours a day a few days a week at the Lfs in my town and the owner and I are friends and were even on a trivia team together. i help him out when he needs it and he helps me out you don't get that online.

 

[au alum]

I buy the vast majority of my livestock and supplies at the LFS or from club members.

I have never bought any livestock, fresh or salt, from online vendors. I think its because going to the LFS now is like going to a candy store when you are younger. I enjoy using the display tanks as inspiration and watching the fish that I could never keep due to tank limitations swim around.

I think good LFS will stand the test of time, online vendors are kinda like Webvan (remember that online grocery store) to me. I enjoy making the trip and seeing all the the coals and fish and personally inspecting the ones I like best.

Eric

 

[kilralpine]

Nothing replaces being able to pick out healthy specimens with your own two eyes. Even still you cannot beat a ~1 hour drive in comparison with shipping a specimen 2000 miles in 1 day.

 

[darren24]

I do buy from LFS (30%) or so but it is becoming so easy to order and have "stuff" dropped off at your door. I will always still visit and purchase from my LFS's as there is no comparison to seeing live specimens, etc. There are a few online sites that I trust to buy fish / corals from but I have been burned by others more than once...