View Full Version : Is Haggling Okay?
SlightlyCranky
09-27-2009, 01:56 AM
My LFS.. Local Fish store is what that stands for right? I'm still a bit green.
Based on that...
My LFS just opened a couple months ago. It's a fish warehouse and prides itself on wholesale pricing to the public. It's not so wholesale....
Today I purchased a couple of Oscar's and wanted a price match with Petsmart. Needless to say the owner is very proud of his fish and got a little defensive about matching Petsmart. At the end of the day Petsmart is cheaper and has a warranty the LFS guy only gives a 24 hour warranty. I got him to match Petsmart so long as I bought a pair of Oscar's and all was well.
Was I in the wrong for trying to haggle?
I want to support small business and appreciate the knowledge the small business guys have. I understand you pay a little more but I think I've paid my share buying RO water at 30 cents a gallon on a weekly basis, buying overpriced water tests, etc. I think a little haggling was fair and due.
What do you think?
Northernguy
09-27-2009, 02:07 AM
Small business has to charge more because he isn't a chain store! He cannot compete with the prices.
Chain stores buy their product in bulk.Lfs guy buys minimum amounts and pays large!
I am willing to bet that the lfs guy has much healthier fish!
Support the smaller stores and you have healthy fish to buy in the future!
William
09-27-2009, 02:10 AM
That said. It can be ok to haggle when you buy a lot.
Lab_Rat
09-27-2009, 02:14 AM
I think it depends on the situation, but generally the Petsmarts and such are much more expensive and have poorer quality stock than my LFSs. I would not ask my african cichlid specialty lfs to price match the same fish that another store has as I know his fish are much higher quality.
Now if you're talking craigslist, haggle away! Unless something is priced unbelievably on craigslist I usually offer less than listed.
Wow... I have found totally the opposite. Every small fish store that I've been to can't hold a candle to stores like Petsmart or Petco! Those two stores seem to have pristine tanks with very healthy tanks! I have two fish stores, one a smaller and one very large (not a huge choice of fish oddly enough)... and Petco and Petsmart's fish are much healtier looking....
Lab_Rat
09-27-2009, 02:40 AM
Wow... I have found totally the opposite. Every small fish store that I've been to can't hold a candle to stores like Petsmart or Petco! Those two stores seem to have pristine tanks with very healthy tanks! I have two fish stores, one a smaller and one very large (not a huge choice of fish oddly enough)... and Petco and Petsmart's fish are much healtier looking....
Really? I have a ton of lfs around me (which makes me very happy) and for the most part they are way better than the chains. Petco especially always has ich in at least a couple of tanks. Plus, the chain stores carry the more common stock and I've started to prefer fish that are a little different and that not everyone has. Plus, many of the mbuna at Petsmart are hybrids, especially the kenyi, with broken bars, etc.
Really? I have a ton of lfs around me (which makes me very happy) and for the most part they are way better than the chains. Petco especially always has ich in at least a couple of tanks. Plus, the chain stores carry the more common stock and I've started to prefer fish that are a little different and that not everyone has. Plus, many of the mbuna at Petsmart are hybrids, especially the kenyi, with broken bars, etc.
How interesting! LOL... I guess different areas are different. Bottome line is, go to the best one you can find! Maybe I was just lucky going to the petsmarts and petco's that I went to. Maybe I just found the only ones that were nice... LOL.
I even spoke with the supervisor of one of those and he was telling me how they quarentine their fish etc. Heck, Global Aquatics (around here) sold me gouramis with ANCHOR WORMS!
But again, definitely go to the fish stores that you feel have quality fish, that's why we shop around! Hell, I belong to BOA. The one in the city where I live SUCKS! That's why I drive 25 miles to go to a specific one that I KNOW is a little better in doing business (even though BOA SUCKS!) LOL
domjd05
09-27-2009, 03:02 AM
That said. It can be ok to haggle when you buy a lot.
Exactly... put up with the prices, so long as they aren't WAY overpriced.. if they are, just keep quiet and goto petco or wherever.
If you establish yourself as a regular, one day when your in trouble, you may get some slack.. or he/she may just cut you a deal once in a while when they see you keep coming back... You can goto petco for years.. I've never seen them cut someone a deal, but I have to admit the 15 day warrantee on the FW fish is a great bargain.. and there prices are super low.. its hard to dish out the extra cash sometimes.
Owlbehere
09-27-2009, 03:29 AM
sorry about spelling mistakes and grammer mistakes Im tired and on my iphone
How interesting! LOL... I guess different areas are different. Bottome line is, go to the best one you can find! Maybe I was just lucky going to the petsmarts and petco's that I went to. Maybe I just found the only ones that were nice... LOL.
I even spoke with the supervisor of one of those and he was telling me how they quarentine their fish etc. Heck, Global Aquatics (around here) sold me gouramis with ANCHOR WORMS!
But again, definitely go to the fish stores that you feel have quality fish, that's why we shop around! Hell, I belong to BOA. The one in the city where I live SUCKS! That's why I drive 25 miles to go to a specific one that I KNOW is a little better in doing business (even though BOA SUCKS!) LOL
Mith dud you say the supe at petsmart said they quarentine? I used to work at one and we didn't do that. I don't have any good LFS. They are all small, specialize in saltwater, or majority of fish are sickly I only buy fish from the petsmart I used to work at... With haggling it depends all on circumstances. Small stores have harder times keeping there heads above water, but at the same time if they are hugely over priced and are marketing their fish as wholesale then there could be a right to get a lower price. One small LFS near me has very over priced fish. Also this may be an obvious question but were the fish the same size as petsmart?
BirdOfPray
09-27-2009, 03:35 AM
I have a terrific LFS near me, and I haven't tried to haggle with them. Their prices are decent -- possibly a little higher than the chain stores -- but their fish are SO much healthier-looking that I'd be willing to pay significantly higher prices if they asked it. I haven't yet had one of their fish die on me. Also, I've been in often enough that at least one of the employees recognizes me and has gotten me some good deals -- when I got my cardinal tetras he charged me for 7 instead of 9 (on purpose), and he got me some free Christmas moss for my tank. He also let me buy flourite by the pound from an opened bag when he could very easily have told me I'd just have to buy a whole bag. I got what I needed for $4 instead of $20.
So, based on my LFS and my personal experience, I wouldn't haggle because I know they're trying to do right by their customers. At a different LFS, maybe I'd answer that differently.
Mith dud you say the supe at petsmart said they quarentine? I used to work at one and we didn't do that.
That's what he said. I was in uniform so I'm assuming he was telling me the truth... LOL. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that someone lied to me... hehe
Owlbehere
09-27-2009, 04:24 AM
The only question I would have is where lol... We had a 20 galllon tank that some sick fish would go in but when new ones came in they were released into the main system. Of course if too many fish were suck it sucked. Or is a cichlid was in there lol
The only question I would have is where lol... We had a 20 galllon tank that some sick fish would go in but when new ones came in they were released into the main system. Of course if too many fish were suck it sucked. Or is a cichlid was in there lol
The two places I went (petco and petsmart) I believe were in Pasadena Ca
wolf_eyes
09-27-2009, 04:43 AM
I live in a bigger city now, and I have a few tricks to let you in on. Making yourself a regular always helps. There was this store that opened up around me and my brother would go in each week to look at the new fish. We wouldn't buy anything, just look. We would also talk tot he guy a lot and just chill out at his store. I do this at the two LFS near me and so far, I've gotten deals out of both of them. As long as you're friendly and don't try to push them too much, you can haggle.
That being said, I'd say half of my fish are LFS and the other half are chains. The ones I bought at chains, however, seem to cause me more problems than the locally bought ones. If you have a GOOD local place, buy from them. They need the money more, and usually their stock is better than chain (of course there are always exceptions). I would rather pay more for quality stock than have to keep replacing cheaper stock.
jaysee
09-27-2009, 04:58 AM
I would only haggle at a LFS if I was buying a tank setup.
Bur01014
09-27-2009, 06:09 AM
Petsmart/Petco- for community fish, and beginners (great return policy)
Walmart- Python, Water Conditioner, Nets, Air Pumps, Some Hikari food...
LFS-(ask questions, advice) Rare fish, pairs, cichlids, larger fish, equipment(AC 70s 10 bucks cheaper here)...Haggle Away- Market Driven business involves competition, which lowers prices, and improves products...if he couldn't match Petsmart he would have denied you....I don't see anything wrong with the "buying a car" method when shopping for fish...frankly we don't do it enough....for example- Saw some German Blue Rams at one LFS for 7.99 then found the same fish at another for twice as much, if they want your business, they will match prices, otherwise they will tell you..no biggie.
bluebluecow
09-27-2009, 06:25 AM
I agree with the make yourself a regualar thing.
At my LFS, a very good one, Ive often had extra fish in the bag with neons and with corys, sometimes I buy 2 corys and get 3 neons free in the bag as they swam in and they cant be bothered to remove them.
I also went in and 3 albino b?n where £15 for 3, whereas 3 brown B/N where £10 for 3 I got 2 albino and 1 brown for the price of 3 brown. They also let known customers lay away items, my marine tank is put away so I am paying it when I can so not a big chunk of money in one go.
Although saying that our old LFS that shut down, reopened badly overpriced bad fish, shut down again, and has now reopen as a chain of maidenhead aqutics, a big chain growing here, is doing a loyalty scheeme where if you spend £10 you get a stamp, fill in the card of 10 stamps I think and you get a £15 pound voucher, so deciding do I get my live rock from there at £14.99 a kilo but get stamps, or from my LFS where its £11.99 a kilo but I may be able to get them to do a deal.mmmm decisions
Liz
BTW... it never hurts to "politely" haggle over price...ya never know 'till ya try!
Mvjnz
09-27-2009, 08:08 AM
Nothing wrong with asking them to match a price, but if they won't they won't, it's up to them. Personally I think the store that had the lowest price is the one that deserves to make the sale, and I would only ask someone to price match if I just couldn't be bothered going to the other store.
jaysee
09-27-2009, 08:11 AM
Nothing wrong with asking them to match a price, but if they won't they won't, it's up to them. Personally I think the store that had the lowest price is the one that deserves to make the sale, and I would only ask someone to price match if I just couldn't be bothered going to the other store.
I think the store with the higher quality fish deserves to make the sale. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Ark6ie
09-27-2009, 10:23 AM
try to haggle to a point. there are two LFS where i live. one have the sicker fish, bad customer service (seriously the female staff there are totally rude. i walked out of there about 2 mths ago as i got told not to lift a box that the rabbits were hiding in. id agree that you dont want randoms walking in touching their stock but I have been known to the manager on a first name basis since i was 18, and he would let me pick up the rabbits before id buy them and such. this staff member had a dislike to me and thought she could be rude. well she cost that shop alot of money cause i wont go back lol). anyways i would haggle there before this incident and it would work as i was a regular. since switching stores ive become a regular to the 2nd one, which im finding is very benifecial, i have special ordered a couple of fish to be delivered next week and have previously ordered a female axolotl and she was very healthy. love the service :P definately the more you visit a place the more lee way you have in such things as haggling or orders. just remember you do get what you pay for, and if a fish costs a little more but is of better quality just be happy paying the difference knowing that. id rather pay for quality than quanity :hmm3grin2orange:
Deleted User
09-27-2009, 12:21 PM
Really, in buying just about anything other than dinner out, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "I'm interested in buying ___________. Can you do any better than the listed price?"
Jon-C
09-27-2009, 02:54 PM
I was actually wonder the same thing I actually went and bought my first three African cichlids yesterday from petco because there fish looked heathier and prices were cheaper but prices very so much last Tuesday they were mark 8.50 but when I went last night when I went to get them they had gone up to 12.50 but my LCD never seems to have aceis and really wanted them so I had to pay it I thought about calling up and complaining to the manager I have became freinds and see what she would say about it
my local lfs fish are all verydark and seems like a dirty place
and both petco by my house do quarintine sick fish
and I know a guy that works at one and gets his discount on everything except the fish
Jon-C
09-27-2009, 03:16 PM
Does that sound like a fair price if they are between 1"-1 1/2"?
Afk4Jfk
09-27-2009, 04:30 PM
That's what he said. I was in uniform so I'm assuming he was telling me the truth... LOL. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that someone lied to me... hehe
This, Mith, If he was lying, Is an example of "fishfarts":hmm3grin2orange:
wolf_eyes
09-27-2009, 10:59 PM
I think the store with the higher quality fish deserves to make the sale. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Agreed 100%. Cheaper does not always mean better.
This, Mith, If he was lying, Is an example of "fishfarts":hmm3grin2orange:
Everybody lies to me, except my mother and faather....and yes, I've pulled them BOTH over LOL. The first thing my mother said was, "Oh Curty, turn off those lights, you're embarrasing me! I replied, then Mumsy, quit breaking the law! (True story)
PS no ticket was issued
hari-goshi
09-28-2009, 02:10 PM
Really? I have a ton of lfs around me (which makes me very happy) and for the most part they are way better than the chains. Petco especially always has ich in at least a couple of tanks. Plus, the chain stores carry the more common stock and I've started to prefer fish that are a little different and that not everyone has. Plus, many of the mbuna at Petsmart are hybrids, especially the kenyi, with broken bars, etc.
The petsmart near me is the same. They have some decent fish for a good price , but their africans are garbage.Their mbuna tanks are always full of hybrids.
Northernguy
09-28-2009, 02:36 PM
Everybody lies to me, except my mother and faather....and yes, I've pulled them BOTH over LOL. The first thing my mother said was, "Oh Curty, turn off those lights, you're embarrasing me! I replied, then Mumsy, quit breaking the law! (True story)
PS no ticket was issued
I'll bet you still haven't been invited for dinner since!:hmm3grin2orange:
I can see you pulling her over on your Birthday and haveing her step out of the car so you can search for any hidden gifts!:19:
I do prefer to support the smaller lfs.At least if they are taking the time to have pristine tanks and healthy fish.I havent been to a petsmart or any other Mega store to buy fish,just supplies.
If I look at the fish and get disgusted I'll walk out without anything.
sandypants
09-28-2009, 03:56 PM
I think it depends. I too think that it is best to sometimes go out of the way and pay more at my LFS for things (fish esp.) because of the knowledge they have and are willing to share. BUT I have had "douh!" moments i.e. purchasing 3 $5 filters at LFS and finding the SAME ones at Petco for $2-4 each. For stuff like that I will go to Petco but I would say 80% of my stuff is from LFS. Plus some of the employees recognize me and give me a frequent customer diff.
Toomany Tanks
10-02-2009, 08:25 AM
My LFS.. Local Fish store is what that stands for right? I'm still a bit green.
Based on that...
My LFS just opened a couple months ago. It's a fish warehouse and prides itself on wholesale pricing to the public. It's not so wholesale....
Today I purchased a couple of Oscar's and wanted a price match with Petsmart. Needless to say the owner is very proud of his fish and got a little defensive about matching Petsmart. At the end of the day Petsmart is cheaper and has a warranty the LFS guy only gives a 24 hour warranty. I got him to match Petsmart so long as I bought a pair of Oscar's and all was well.
Was I in the wrong for trying to haggle?
I want to support small business and appreciate the knowledge the small business guys have. I understand you pay a little more but I think I've paid my share buying RO water at 30 cents a gallon on a weekly basis, buying overpriced water tests, etc. I think a little haggling was fair and due.
What do you think?
It isn't wrong to not want to get ripped off. I try to patron LFS but they are usually more expensive. I do my buying at which ever gives me the best DEAL (quality for price) -PLUS- I try to never leave a mom and pop fish store without buying SOMETHING (even if it is tiny and cheap) to support our area's LFS.
Crispy
10-02-2009, 11:19 AM
You should definitely haggle when you're buying a group, or multiple fish. More often than not, you'll get a better deal.
Lady Hobbs
10-02-2009, 12:53 PM
Flea markets and garage sales, yes, I might haggle. Stores no. I don't expect anything free from Walmart so why would I at fish store? I mean, if I bought 40 fish and the guy said he threw in 42, that 's different than me asking.
King Tut
10-02-2009, 04:33 PM
Not sure I would haggle either. I only have one LFS near me that is worth anything at all and he will cut you a break if you are a regular. Only problem is he is just starting on FW. Everything has always been SW. The other is just a joke. Nasty store, Nasty Tanks, Nasty people justt horrible. The Petsmart near me is good and we have never had any problems with the fish. They have some employees that need to go somewhere else for sure.
vegas2k
10-02-2009, 04:40 PM
It's kind funny that you bring this topic up. I was at a local small LFS, and I saw that they were selling the AquaClear 110 for 99 dollars!!! After getting a price from Amazon.com, Petsmart price matched it down to 135(from 235 lol). I felt good about that until I saw our small local store had it for 99...lol..I was dumbfounded...oh well, guess in the future I should call this store first and get their price as well for hardware =p
Wild Turkey
10-02-2009, 04:41 PM
A Locally owned store yea I will haggle. Chain stores you are wasting your breath.
Chain stores being cheaper is often not true! Especially in todays economy the small business man actually has a leg up over a company that is trying to figure out how to fire 10,000 just so it doesnt go bankrupt. Without turning this into an economic discussion hopefully, thats kinda how the economy works, big business gets too big and crushes itself in the recession, fires people and they start their own businesses and run the big guy back, down or out
Afk4Jfk
10-02-2009, 05:26 PM
A Locally owned store yea I will haggle. Chain stores you are wasting your breath.
Chain stores being cheaper is often not true! Especially in todays economy the small business man actually has a leg up over a company that is trying to figure out how to fire 10,000 just so it doesnt go bankrupt. Without turning this into an economic discussion hopefully, thats kinda how the economy works, big business gets too big and crushes itself in the recession, fires people and they start their own businesses and run the big guy back, down or out
Hey!!! lets all start a business!! Selling, trading, raising, building. Anything Tanks
Huh... Thats a good Name "ANYthing Tanks"
Lady Hobbs
10-02-2009, 07:03 PM
It's kind funny that you bring this topic up. I was at a local small LFS, and I saw that they were selling the AquaClear 110 for 99 dollars!!! After getting a price from Amazon.com, Petsmart price matched it down to 135(from 235 lol). I felt good about that until I saw our small local store had it for 99...lol..I was dumbfounded...oh well, guess in the future I should call this store first and get their price as well for hardware =p
The AC110 is everywhere online for $89. I found them for $63 on Ebay (brand new) so grabbed two of them. It doesn't cost $235 for a canister filter!
vegas2k
10-02-2009, 07:49 PM
The AC110 is everywhere online for $89. I found them for $63 on Ebay (brand new) so grabbed two of them. It doesn't cost $235 for a canister filter!
yah i wanted the main hardware local just in case something's wrong, easy to bring back to the store. 99 for local though is a good deal since it's cheap..and local :)
MonkeyPox
10-02-2009, 07:53 PM
The AC110 is everywhere online for $89. I found them for $63 on Ebay (brand new) so grabbed two of them. It doesn't cost $235 for a canister filter!
The last new pair I picked up from ebay were 100$ for 2.
There are a lot of good deals out there if you're willing to look around a bit.
cocoa_pleco
10-02-2009, 09:01 PM
Sometimes its alright to haggle, when i sell stuff on local ads im open to throwing stuff in, i remember a guy bought 58lbs of live rock off of me and i rounded it to 50. Another guy bought a couple hundred bucks of stuff and asked how much for the test kit and a few other things and just said take them
Small aquarium stores ive never been willing to barter with, they need the money to compete with large chain stores so i dont mind paying more.
Yeah...haggling is fine in some venues...auctions, flea markets, want ads, car dealerships...
...and occasionally you can ask for a 'damage discount' if you're willing to buy something that's been dinged...but then it's usually a final sale...
But some places you never haggle.
I've also listed stuff as 'price firm' when I'm not in the mood to haggle and have people STILL try to lower the price. I become quite affronted when that happens and I won't sell to them...:hmm3grin2orange:
Tetris
10-02-2009, 11:28 PM
If you know you can find a better deal somewhere else, then haggle...
Why buy something for more when you can buy it for less?
If the store owner isn't successful enough to provide a competitive price it has nothing to do with you. The store should be thankful that you're willing to haggle so they can still make the sale at all.
vegas2k
10-03-2009, 09:34 AM
The AC110 is everywhere online for $89. I found them for $63 on Ebay (brand new) so grabbed two of them. It doesn't cost $235 for a canister filter!
I just realized what I did. Yeah I got my AC110 from Petsmart for 89 actually. I was confused. It was my Rena XP3 that I got for 135(100 dollar price reduction via price matching @ petsmart) lol
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