Your Opinion Needed (Group Buy Related)

[CatfishAttack]

This post is not to knock on anybody nor I have received any complains. It is simply out of my personal curiosity.

Is there a particular reason why people would do group buys from an Internet source located few hundred miles away instead of getting it from a lfs ?

Local Fish Shop-

• Free shipping
• Better support, any questions, you can get the answer right off the forum or one visit away.
• Price is probably about the same if order in large quantity.
• LFS that share knowledge here on daily basis is probably also a lot more trustworthy don't you think? Compare to someone at xxxx.com you spoke with the first time and probably the last time.

I just don't see what those internet store can offer that our lfs can't.

Only benefit I see from a web store is probably no sales tax.

I used to buy computer parts online, but since tiger direct open a store at Raleigh, I never buy online again simply because return, refund is really a pain in the ass to deal with.

Please share your thoughts, our LFS can really use this to understand the consumer better and provide better service, product and support.

Thanks.

[carolinareefgrowers]

The group buy prices I put on our sales include sales tax, so the sales tax problem is eliminated.

Just to throw this out there, I was surprised at the posative response i got from our forum here. Thank you to everyone that participated and we will be announcing our next group buy for fish in the upcoming week.

Thank you again for your support.

[Blitzburggirl]

Great question

I will say this- there are certain things I tend to buy in a LFS- namely maintenance items, that I determine I need- now. And that can be a bit complicated as alot of them aren't open on Monday, or past 7 on some days.......... I guess I'd rather plan ahead for the most part and have things on hand (which allows me to take advantage of internet deals offering free shipping, discount... whatever.) LFS's are not really "local" for me. There is one about 20 minutes away that I don't buy livestock from... All the others are 30 plus minutes away. Mostly an hour.

As far livestock I greatly prefer to buy from a hobbiest, and I don't buy from internet sources. I did buy some coral from a company that was supposed to be at an event that was cancelled.....

I don't much trust the guidance of a LFS without even more research. I've been led astray too many times on generalities. And, I don't often walk into a store and see what I want. Perhaps I am the wrong person to offer up an opinion on your question. LOL

Joe posted while I was typing. I didn't consider a group buy with him as internet (hundreds of miles away.)

He's a store I could walk into almost as easily as another in the Raleigh area. But, it got me thinking, I did buy alot of LE and named coral from RC members in the last couple of months. Quite frankly, the stores around here tend to have the same stuff all the time. Maybe that's more what you are getting at?

[CatfishAttack]

Originally Posted by Blitzburggirl

Great question

Don't want to take credit, it was Cammie (Reeffreak) 's question.

[CatfishAttack]

Originally Posted by Blitzburggirl

He's a store I could walk into almost as easily as another in the Raleigh area. But, it got me thinking, I did buy alot of LE and named coral from RC members in the last couple of months. Quite frankly, the stores around here tend to have the same stuff all the time. Maybe that's more what you are getting at?

Not really getting at anything to be honest. It was just a general question someone brought up. I am not a reefer and I don't participate on the forum enough to know what's really going on.

It is simply a question we are hoping to find answer to better serve the community.

[CraigY]

I recently participated in a small group order from an online source...and here's why.

The items I wanted were not available at a LFS (I looked at several stores for several weeks). I have never had much luck special ordering livestock from a LFS, so I don't try these days.

I was able to get exactly what I wanted for a great price (one item was 50% less than the local price) and free shipping.

Edit: Just want to clarify that I have only participated in group orders when I cannot get things locally.

[gatorchem]

Well I have done a few "online" group buys with very mixed results, but mostly bad. Maybe that has burnt me enough so my opinion is a little bias...lol. I do like the fact that some of our LFS in the area are offering group buys with discounted prices/shipping and I would prefer this over a "online" far away dealer.

I know price can be a driver for many of us in this hobby, but the one thing I have learned is that there is also the other piece of the pie that I find myself forgetting sometimes which is quality & service.

Also, I think we should really try our best to support our LFS in NC.

[LobsterOfJustice]

1. selection
2. price

[redfishsc]

I have only participated in one group buy, and it was for trochus snails. I'd been trying to get them locally, and when Scooterblenny asked about a cleanup crew buy, I jumped on the chance.


Otherwise, I normally do not do online purchases for several reasons:

1) My LFS's have most of the selection I personally want/need. I don't generally seek out the exquisite and rare (ie, generally fad corals).

2) You guys here have a great selection of frags.

3) I don't trust any of the shipping methods for anything I'm spending $50+ on.

4) Hard to hand-select or WYSIWYG stuff on group buys. I can do that at the LFS albeit at a higher cost.

[carmiejo]

I have never bought fish via the internet but I have bought inverts that way. If you are stocking a tank and need a bunch they are really inexpensive even with shipping.

Corals I mostly get from other hobbyists at frag swaps. With Aquatica out of business I now patronize Reef Keepers or The Fish Room for fish and dry goods. I want to see the fish I am buying, know that it has been properly handled and is eating. You can't get that from the internet. They are a little more expensive than online for dry goods but I want to know that a good LFS is around if I have something fail and need a replacement now. I don't buy anything aquarium related at chain pet stores.