Your LFS and trust?

[JYoung]

Hello folks, I'm still some what new to the hobby and am wondering if others out there have had concerns about their local fish store(s). I live in an area were there are not to many quality stores and the few that there are I either feel I am being way over charged, or disrespected because I am not a big ticket customer. I have found one that I have been going to since setting up my second attempt, and I some times feel like he is just trying to get me to spend money that I don't have when I could go a different route. Have any other had any experiences like this and some advice that would be beneficial? Also, are there any diy'ers that have some advice on projects they have done.

[TL1000RSquid]

I have several LFS in my area and they range from real shady to pretty good, but even the pretty good ones can vary depending on the help thats working that day. I've figured out whos word I can take. If I'm in doubt about the price, compatibility or care requirements I'm told I whip out the phone and google it before buying.

[SkyJunkie]

My lfs treats me insanely awesome but I wonder about their knowledge and advice. Some of it matches what I read here and some doesn't. The three main guys there will each give me a slightly different answer to the same question.

[JYoung]

Thanks, that is similar to the issue I have. I have been doing a lot of research on building my own refuge/sump system with a counter current skimmer to replace what I feel is not working to well for me now. I was talking to the owner of the fish store that I have the highest trust with and he told me that I should look into buying a bigger system and was showing me one that he has for sale. I would love to, but right now I can not afford to. He also says that he has not seen any success with diy'ers and I am wondering if he is just trying to persuade me not to go the route I can afford right now to try to make money off of me.

[mthomp]

i trust my lfs to the extent of my own knowledge. I think they all will take advantage of the less educated or experienced person. They kind of have to though because once a person learns so much they tend to need their lfs less.

A good example is I took a water sample to my lfs over the weekend, I like to do that once a month. A new person was working and did my water test. He came back and showed me my nitrate was like 180ppm. Well I knew that was impossible as that would pretty much kill my tank but he tried to sell me some bio spira for some odd reason. Anyway I left came home and retested my stuff to find I have near 0 nitrates.

[JYoung]

I've been talking to the same guy at the store I go to, and sometimes his story changes when I buy a product that he recommends, doesn't work as he says. For example, I have high phosphates and have been running gfo without a reactor. I have had some minimal success, using it as he suggested without the reactor, but not to the extent that he said I would. Then when I was telling him of my results, his story changed a bit. I am still going to go there because I do feel like he is not just trying to get over on me. He does give great deals, I just wonder if I should trust him about trying a few of the diy projects I am considering or should I just suffer through what I am dealing with now and continue to fight it without changes except for the one he suggest.

[AZBigJohn]

I think the fact that different people giving you different advice at the LFS is no different than you will find here; the difference is that the people here do not have a financial interest in the answers they give you. Finding several different answers to a question is not uncommon on this forum, or any LFS or online forum in the world.

I have three LFS stores within a decent drive to my house; I buy from the smallest, because the owner has given me his time and attention on several occasions when I have had questions. I have even paid more for things there than I probably could have online, but I try and support his store, as he has helped me.

That being said, I have bought many things online as well. I guess my point is that the local guy that is willing to help you out deserves some loyalty.

[JYoung]

Big John, that is the same story I have here. And I am using the smaller guy because of the same reasons you are, and will continue to. I just wonder if I should go the route he is trying to convince me to go because of the financial aspect of it. That is why I am here asking for some more insight.

[JYoung]

I started another thread on the do it yourself board about some projects that others have tried asking pretty much the same questions on here. I thought about using this board so others who are still new in this who may have the same questions about some do it yourself projects and concerns like I am having but wasn't sure if this would be the right board to do that in.

[Crkbaby]

I work at the LFS on my day off and I trust me lol. You can never know though some people have a job and some people just love it and do it because they do.

[skidoctor]

I go to the smaller LFS in my area for a couple of reasons, but most importantly beause they take the time and answer all of my questions, however idiotic or mundane. They know my tank (even without ever seeing it), they know my personality and that I'm more likely to get into a DIY project as opposed to buying something if I can (like a reactor or sump). They are the ones that turned me onto this site and even BRS to get supplies cheaper than what they offer at retail. I still do my own research though.
The best thing I've learned to do is just frequent the LFS of your choice. Don't buy anything. Learn their practices and let them learn yours. Don't purchase a fish or coral just because they have it now. talk to them about it, how it might acclimate and fit into what you are trying to accomplish with your tank. Learn by picking their brains. then come home and check it out yourself- through RC or other sites. I've learned that there are no set in stone rules in this hobby- what works for one person might not work for another, or a LFS for that matter. I think te LFS will respect you more as hobbyist that way, as opposed to an opportunity to make a buck.
And as far as the DIY success- you will find that many of us here have had great luck building our own setups, from sumps to lighting to filtration, etc. Every step forward in this hobby had to start somewhere, right? When you get a chance, check out some of Paul B's posts. DIYer that practically invented the hobby in the US.

[JYoung]

Thanks a ton skidoctor. Being a diy'er its good to know that there are success stories because I really want to do some of my own beginning with a skimmer.

[Wolverine]

Originally Posted by AZBigJohn

I think the fact that different people giving you different advice at the LFS is no different than you will find here; the difference is that the people here do not have a financial interest in the answers they give you. Finding several different answers to a question is not uncommon on this forum, or any LFS or online forum in the world.

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by skidoctor

The best thing I've learned to do is just frequent the LFS of your choice. Don't buy anything. Learn their practices and let them learn yours. Don't purchase a fish or coral just because they have it now. talk to them about it, how it might acclimate and fit into what you are trying to accomplish with your tank. Learn by picking their brains. then come home and check it out yourself- through RC or other sites. I've learned that there are no set in stone rules in this hobby- what works for one person might not work for another, or a LFS for that matter. I think te LFS will respect you more as hobbyist that way, as opposed to an opportunity to make a buck.

Definitely true. You can also listen to advice they give to other people in the store. There are two stores in this area that I've been to where I've seen them refuse to sell a certain fish or coral to someone who doesn't have the tank setup to support that animal, and then they explain to the customer why that fish is a bad choice for that tank. That goes a long way with me.
On top of that, if you have a good relationship with an LFS or two, they can really help you out in a bind. I've had LFS temporarily house my animals for me, lend me equipment when mine needs to be replaced (but they couldn't get the replacement yet), etc. They'll also be more likely to take trade-in frags and fish that you've raised if they know you well.

[TjwBlake]

I have 2 stores that I go to.
One of them I trust to have healthy stock (lets me get some varied species) but I do my own research and buy what I am looking for, I dont ask them for help not because they would rip me off.. but because they dont really know what they are talking about.
The other one I use almost exclusively. It is just him and his dad running it so i have 2 people to deal with. They both give good advice and on occasion they have missed my sarcasam and instantly said no to "purchases" i have inquired about. I am treated welll and I enjoy going there to talk fish.
regardless of this however, I come here to learn first and make sure I know what I want and never go completely on what a sales person says, dispite how much I trust them. It is my responsability to learn for myself and approch things educated

[serion]

I have one LFS in my town and a PetSmart which carries a very small selection of marine equipment. My LFS is run down and the employees don't even acknowledge you unless you ask them something. Their tanks are run down and the ceiling leaks and is bowing down in several places. I go in there from time to time just to look at the fish and get ideas. I was in there today and they cut all filtration and flow from their live rock tank. It was a mess. The only tank they have that looks decent and that I'd ever be interested in anything from is a display tank that they don't sell out of. To top it off they only offer a 3 day guarantee on their fish.

Fortunately, there are a couple other LFS about an hour away. Both have nice setups that are well kept and their fish are generally pretty healthy looking. As for accessories their markup is quite ridiculous, so I end up getting most stuff online. Their employees were generally nice to deal with and fairly knowledgeable. I'm a few weeks out on adding fish to my tank, but when I am ready I'll be looking at these places or online before I'll deal with the LFS in my town.

[jong11]

I have four in Maine I've been to and I have four different opinions about them. One I think the owner is full of it and marks up products to high. Another the owner is really nice, but I get the feeling will just agree with me when I ask questions and what I've heard. But the prices are fantastic and has given me testing kits for free. That's my go to for clean up crew and fish. The two others are a commute for me so I don't frequent them often. One the owner believes knows all and knows the perfect method to set up a reef tank. Also hates on RC because you're all obsessed with SPS. The other place is awesome, order from them online for corals. They email you after a couple of days to check in on the corals and make sure you're happy with your purchase.
I get all my advice for RC first and trust RC over my LFS. The collective knowledge on here is far greater than any LFS employee.

[Agu]

I probably have an unusual relationship with my LFSs. I'm a reverse shoplifter, I walk into the LFS and drop frags in their tanks, tell them to give me store credit for what it's worth.


We have a partnership of mutual respect. I understand they have to make a profit and they know I have to be treated fairly.

[RyanSweatt2004]

"jong11" I'm also here in Maine. Your right, besides the 3 or 4 Petcos that are hit or miss sometimes with livestock, we really only have 4 saltwater reef stores here in Maine that I'm aware of these days. The one online store in Orono Maine is awesome to by from, Super nice owner, really great livestock, lots of rare corals and dirt cheap prices.
The one reef store in Auburn is half convenience store and is run by a really nice guy who has always treated me nice and welcomed different opinions and Ideas about this hobby. Seems to be willing to barter and haggle on prices as well. Not to mention he pays more for my frags and macro algae than anyone else.
The one in south portland by the jetport seems a bit empty. Been there a few times over the past 6 years. Never seen anything different or worth spending my money on.
The only other one I know of here in ME is just to difficult for me to deal with anymore.
I used to trust all the LFS's around here when I was a noobie but reef central and other hobbyists have really opened my eyes to the fact that one way or another, its always about the sale. So I trust myself and other hobbyists along with good books before I trust any LFS.

[Stu Pickles]

Short and simple, if you want to put something from your lfs in your tank, do your own research. Someone elses experience will not share the same results.