Online stores vs LFS looking better...

[piranhapat]

Always like to support LFS. But saw a place that had 3 fishes that I wanted and one you hardly see any more. Blackcap is the fish I'm talking about. So I order 3 fish which all was price very good. Qualify for free shipping. Now we like to see the size and health of fish. But someone else will do that since online. My order came and the fish were eating and no sign on disease on day 10. Perfect size too. I just received an another order from a different online place. This time a couple of SPS frags. Never see these two in store if you do its gone or over priced. All I can say perfect size and color was awesome. My point here and didn't mention store name because that can be discussed in another trend. Is instead of driving to many places and wasting gas and never find something you want. Buying from someone online was a risk. But if you see something that you know they have it. Was worth the chance of getting what I wanted. Instead of wasting my time and gas. Now seeing a different light since excellent transaction online. Next topic should be places to buy and not to buy from online.

 

[marrone]

Buying online lets you buy things that aren't available in the the area, which for certain corals and fish maybe the only way to get them, especially if it's a rare item that doesn't show up that often. The problem is that you don't always know what you're going to get. Some time the fish may come in very large and other times very small, so there maybe a chance of getting something much better than what you expected or getting something much less than expected. If the place is actually a store you can ask them to send you a picture, otherwise it's very blind to what you may get, and sometimes you mayn't even get the fish or coral that you're thinking you will be getting.

As for diseases, unless the place is an actual store the fish is most likely being shipped out of LA, so you don't have any clue what diseases or problems the fish may have, so you need to make sure you QT the fish or coral before placing it into you tank. The positive side is most place with give you a Live guarantee for anywhere from 7 - 14 days, and if the fish does have something some places will even extended that period.

There are a lot of + and - in buying online, so depending on what you're buying you need to weight them. So, if it's a common item, say a Flame Angel, it's probably not worth buying online, but if it's a very rare fish or coral than it's probably worth the chance.

 

[piranhapat]

Exactly right Marron, it's kind of sad going to LFS these days. Of course if it's next door there's no trouble stopping by so often. But finding same stuff and it even has to be on a good day when you catch a shippment that just came in. Finding Rare stuff is one thing. LFS just can't get enough of it. Online seems to be were its at for rare stuff these days. Since buying online I'm dealing with different headache. But I like next delivery but can't choose the fish. But all in all very happy with two online places. Let's face it all my dry good stuff is cheaper online and don't have to waste gas and time. So now less visits to variety places. Doing big orders when needed. Hope when I do visit LFS I start seeing changes. I like to support LFS but finding it not working on my needs to find Rare stuff.

 

[b-ridge]

which online store did you order from piranhapat

 

[jackson6745]

I try to support my LFS's whenever I can. I would rather buy everything in person where I can see it. The LFS in my area have all the "rare" corals without the crazy hype names and jacked up prices. Higher end fish are much cheaper locally as well.
I still buy most of my dry goods online because I order in bulk and like to get everything from one place.

 

[mrdobie]

ditto dry goods are cheaper or easer to buy on line. live stock and quick items I buy at lfs. why carry heavy salt and or just heavy items if there is free shipping just click and have it delivered.

 

[piranhapat]

I ordered fish from BlueZoo very healthy fish. Order few frags from Diversden. Excellent .... Other good online Saltyunderground For frags... Stay away from Coralhut not good transaction.. Frags tiny,,
NwAquatics very good experience. Prices very cheap nice frags.

 

[lnevo]

Woo's Aquatics on eBay. Found them from a facebook link. Great service. All the frags i ordered were better than expected, packed well and doing great!