A
Anonymous
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Sometimes I do. Mostly it depends on whether theres any markup available to them. If not, it doesn't serve either of us any good.
A friend of mine just opened up a LFS recently. Mainly geared towards reefs. I'd say about 75-80% of his drygoods consists of stuff that people actually would buy (no plastic plants), but he'll special order whatever you want.
It's a different approach than the norm. More like the LFS for the hobbyist, by the hobbyist.
It's a different approach than the norm. More like the LFS for the hobbyist, by the hobbyist.
Nope. If he ain't got it, I order it myself.
I like to support my LFS, but not to the point of knowingly paying way to much for drygoods.
I'd hazard a guess that the (4) new 400W 10K Reeflux bulbs that I just ordered on-line for $59.95 would likely have cost me $89.95 each, had I special ordered them through my LFS.
Shipping was free on my on-line order too!
Louey
I like to support my LFS, but not to the point of knowingly paying way to much for drygoods.
I'd hazard a guess that the (4) new 400W 10K Reeflux bulbs that I just ordered on-line for $59.95 would likely have cost me $89.95 each, had I special ordered them through my LFS.
Shipping was free on my on-line order too!
Louey
The bulk of my dry goods order this week is special order items for customers. I have no problems ordering things for people, and often I can compete with online prices. I'd rather get the business and take a smaller profit on an item that will be in and out the door in a couple of days, versus letting something gather dust on a shelf for weeks or months. Plus the customer gets the added value of the store's support on said items if they have warranty issues, questions, problems with assembling an item etc.
My customers know that if I don't have it, I can get it, and they take advantage of this. IMO it's win/win for all of us.
Jenn
My customers know that if I don't have it, I can get it, and they take advantage of this. IMO it's win/win for all of us.
Jenn
I only buy dry goods from the LFS's if I am in a pinch. When they charge $169 for a mag 9 there is a markup problem IMO. If they can get it good for them but when they cost $69 online plus 5 for shipping I have to draw the line.
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1970 recession
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1970 recession
afishyonados":fovpyg8s said:
I don't think it's cool that retailers can't buy some things for what they're going for online. I've seen it too. I realize that the big box etailer that buys by the truckload straight from the manufacturer is going to get a better deal than the mom and pop store that buys onesies and twosies from a distributor - everybody gets a slice of the pie, but it's frustrating at times. That or the smaller etailer is selling basically for cost and making up for the lower profit margin, in volume.
Rob, I do think $169 for a Mag 9.5 is an excessive markup, at least here in my local market, however wholesale list on it through a distributor is over $80. I have contract pricing with my own distributor for that item, but I couldn't sell them for $69 either - I'd be losing money. Of course the customer buying it from me (at a more reasonable retail price), also gets the value added of coming to me if there's any problem under the warranty period - no need to pack it and ship it back, no RA fussing etc. - they bring it in, I exchange it for them and I look after sending it back etc., plus they can get it TODAY, not wait for a delivery etc.
That's an item that most shops keep on the shelf, and stuff that "lives" on the shelf needs a certain amount of markup to earn its proverbial keep.
You may find that many retailers don't apply much markup to special order stuff - as we said, it's in and out the door so it doesn't need to rent shelf space.
Jenn
I understand your points. If the my LFS charged $100-$110 for the pump that would be OK IMO. I understand that the LFS has to make a profit otherwise they wouldn;t be there at all. But if I can save $100 then I have to go somewhere else.
There is probably a business law or soemthing but why cant you purchase the products from an etailer and resell them?
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Knight Rider Forum
There is probably a business law or soemthing but why cant you purchase the products from an etailer and resell them?
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Knight Rider Forum
Rob_Reef_Keeper":1fd2cvn3 said:
Well, for one, if *I* buy from an etailer and resell it, if my customer has a warranty issue then I have to go through the fuss of an RA and packing and sending it back etc. Buying from a distributor, if something comes back defective, I contact my distributor and it goes back to them on my next regularly scheduled truck. No fuss, no muss. If I was dealing with umpteen different vendors for different products it would become an administrative nightmare. Couple that with the fact that my vendor discounts are proportionate to the amount I spend with the distributors I might actually end up paying more for items that I couldn't get for a better price online, simply because my overall volume would decrease with my main suppliers.
My shop doesn't do enough volume to enable it to buy directly from many manufacturers... and even if I did, I wouldn't have the storage for the minimum orders - hence my overhead would go up so any "savings" would be evaporated by increased fixed costs. It's just not practical for a mom and pop to try that route. Some items must be purchased direct from the manufacturer - as they don't have distributors, and that can be tricky to carry some of those specialty items because to fill the order for one unit, the retailer has to buy x more units...
It's not always feasible for a small shop to be able to compete with etail however, if you have a LFS that you support, it would be beneficial for hobbyists as well as the retailer, to at least investigate the possibility of special ordering items through them, before shopping elsewhere.
I've heard tell of some stores that won't special order stuff - that's certainly their perrogative, but IMO it's short-sighted and poor customer service. Deny a sale to a client for one special order item, and the retailer may find that the customer takes all of his/her business elsewhere.
Jenn
i ask sometimes. but the lack of motivation bums me. he is only interested in stuff he discovers on his own. if i point something out he waits 6 months and then says " hey check these out. i found these thru one of my vendors!"
I tell him. i showed you these 6mos ago.....!
I tell him. i showed you these 6mos ago.....!
That's why I love going to trade shows. I only get to go once or twice a year, but it's the time when all the manufacturers showcase their next generation of stuff. Unfortunately sometimes it takes ages to actually receive some of that new stuff - I saw Current USA Aquapods in September (actually I saw their promotional materials, not the actual tanks) but knowing and liking that product line, I ordered some - in September. I think I finally received them in February.
That kind of thing is a bit frustrating...
It behoves a store owner to listen to his customers' wants and needs, check out new products and such - it's the only way to stay current.
Jenn
That kind of thing is a bit frustrating...
It behoves a store owner to listen to his customers' wants and needs, check out new products and such - it's the only way to stay current.
Jenn
Rob_Reef_Keeper":2nm8zovf said:
I don't think anyone should begrudge anybody else for trying to save a bit of money... and $100 as in the example you gave, is excessive, IMO, as I stated earlier. Nobody in their right mind would expect a consumer to pay $100 more someplace else. I surely wouldn't.
In my experience if a customer can get it from me within $20-50 of the online price (of course depending on the overall price of the item, and if the etailer charges shipping, that's considered too), most would rather buy it from me, *because* of either loyalty or value added that I mentioned. That $20-50 applies to big-ticket stuff... light fixtures, skimmers etc. Obviously smaller items the margin is closer - and usually I can be in the ball park, and I'm more than happy to provide this service to my clients.
Jenn
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