I usually buy my fishes at my local fish stores because of the better selection....For the other stuff, like water conditioners and food, and the other aquarium stuff, I go to like petsmart, wal-mart, pet club, etc, where the prices are cheaper..I kind of feel bad that some of the big chain stores are driving local fish stores out of business because of the price differences..
Do you buy your food and fish supplies at pet chain stores or your local fish store?
- Thread starter watermelon
- Start date
If the LFS was good anough I'd pay.
Unfortunately, though LFS has good healthy selection, the employees are not very helpful, and I don't like the owner. So I'll buy their fish, but petsmart gets my dollar for supplies because they're cheaper.
Unfortunately, though LFS has good healthy selection, the employees are not very helpful, and I don't like the owner. So I'll buy their fish, but petsmart gets my dollar for supplies because they're cheaper.
echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
I'm very selective about the LFSs who get my money, but I don't like the idea of the big chains running them out of business. Thing is my local Petsmart has the best water conditions I've ever seen in a fish department. The only other LFS that even comes close is currently closed because of a fire. (The Hidden Reef) Their fish room was amazing, though often there was a noticeable degree of ich in their water. I still bought fish from them, but they always well qt'd before being introduced into my system.
Most of the other LFSs near me have horrid water conditions and are ridiculously overpriced. (Try paying forty dollars for a Rena Cal Toplite Excel 50w heater!) That's where mail order comes in. Plus, Petsmart will honor their online prices if you take in a printout of the page.
The funniest thing is that each pet store, chain or not, that I go to offers me something that the others don't while also disappointing me in some way.
Because of that, even me, a completely anti-corporate upstart has allowed himself to not distinguish between chain or LFS. I just go to whomever has what I need at the best quality and/or the best price.
Most of the other LFSs near me have horrid water conditions and are ridiculously overpriced. (Try paying forty dollars for a Rena Cal Toplite Excel 50w heater!) That's where mail order comes in. Plus, Petsmart will honor their online prices if you take in a printout of the page.
The funniest thing is that each pet store, chain or not, that I go to offers me something that the others don't while also disappointing me in some way.
Because of that, even me, a completely anti-corporate upstart has allowed himself to not distinguish between chain or LFS. I just go to whomever has what I need at the best quality and/or the best price.
I buy all my food from BrineShrimpDirect.com
Anything else, unless I need it yesterday and the LFS has it, I buy online.
Roan
Anything else, unless I need it yesterday and the LFS has it, I buy online.
Roan
Like RoanArt, I tend to buy online, unless there's an urgent need.
And if there's an urgent need, there are 3 options:
Actually, I first learned of Big Al's on this very site, and am glad to have found them :clap:
And if there's an urgent need, there are 3 options:
- Walmart in my town - only if I can't live without it or if weather prohibits driving elsewhere
- LFS in my town - this is the one that has the circa 1994 test kit on its shelf, near the $79.95 AQ 70 filter; usually good livestock
- Not-so-local LFS 60 miles away - good plants, well-meaning and friendly employees, tanks and livestock typically very good, prices about what one would expect for retail
Actually, I first learned of Big Al's on this very site, and am glad to have found them :clap:
Convience says I buy it at the chain store as there is no parking near the LFS, unless I go on Sunday and I never think to go then.
For my fish, I go to the LFS. They take great care of their fish. They have a huge selection and the sales people (the two guys that own the place) are very knowledgeable. They have a good selection of foods also. As far as supplies for the tank, they have very little.
That’s when I go to the big pet store down the road from them. The big store has lots of stuff for the tank. I would never buy a fish from them. There are always a few dead ones in the tanks and the selection (of the ones still living) isn’t the best.
I’ve only gotten a few things online, but I think I’m going to start looking into doing that more often.
That’s when I go to the big pet store down the road from them. The big store has lots of stuff for the tank. I would never buy a fish from them. There are always a few dead ones in the tanks and the selection (of the ones still living) isn’t the best.
I’ve only gotten a few things online, but I think I’m going to start looking into doing that more often.
Petsmart doesn't carry NLS. I bought that at my LFS. I buy a lot of other stuff from Petsmart as well, since their prices are better and their employees are nicer. The big LFS (bigger than Petsmart) has jerks for employees. It's rare to get good service there.