Why are good LFS hard to find?

I couldnt agree with you more.

The QC, & DM people should be thank full for what they have. I also like Pets Playhouse for fish.

ANd yes I have noticed the huge improvement at our Petco. I didn think their stuff would ever look that good.

 

I was at Aquatic Environments in Davenport for the first time yesterday. I was incredibly impressed with their store and the quality of the livestock for sale. I wish I lived closer!

 

if you think Des Moines is lucky, you need to see Omaha... AMAZING!!!

 

This topic makes me depressed....that said I might go check out PetCo.

 

u should see the coral some places grow...wait, is aptasia coral!?!? ahahahahaah

it's a cost/time thing as well as dedicated employees. hard to get "career" workers at pet stores.

owners have to put an emphasis on the tanks and also the training.

-Justin

 

All I have to say is go visit Cali /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif
But in all seriousness, I think it is easier to be crappy than good, especially if there isn't anything good around you. If your store is the only option, people will shop there regardless. I think that is why there are so many good ones in Cali. There are so many that they cannot afford not to compete.

 

Ya know, I have to admit, even tho Iowa City and the quad cities are both lucky that we have awesome FLFS, the petco in IC is actually pretty decent. The guy that runs the department is dedicated almost to the point of fanaticism, which I like in a fish guy myself. I'm hoping he gets a job at one of the locally owned places someday so I can feel better about spending my bucks there.

 

I think Marty has had a hand in the improvements at petco and last time I talked to him there were more to come. Hes a good guy and I know he will try to keep making it better!

 

They are hard to find sense no one has backed me on starting up a store! Could you imagine if a few people on here got together and started a store. I think the biggest thing with a fish store is that really most "fish" only stores have a hard time keeping up with the bills. If you could start a fish only store and be successful enough to make profits then we would have great stores. When they have to dip into other ventures to keep the store open things tend to slip in the maintenance department and livestock usually goes right along with it.

 

I have been to all the stores in my area, some are really good and locally owned, but are fresh water. we have 4 that sell salt water stuff, 2 arent even worth mentioning, 1 sometimes has some hidden gems and very resonable prices but you got to be cautios what else you may bring home, and the last one is top notch with superb customer service.

 

It's not as easy as it seems it would be.  There is just so much more that selling healthy fish and corals.  The business part and upkeep is a killer so you have to sell a HECK of a lot to make a store front worth while.  I have to think the fish and corals aren't huge profit makers and that's why you have to get into the product end.  You are still only selling to a select group of people so, as a hobby/pet store, you almost have to venture into other pet products.  THEN you have to factor in the internet and how easy it is to purchase online for much less than you can bring something into a local store front.

 

Posted By rockinsmall on 06/15/2010 02:23 PM
if you think Des Moines is lucky, you need to see Omaha... AMAZING!!!
+1       AE is amazing to its like omaha in 1 store

 

Are we talking about the same Petco?  I was just there, the only thing I really noticed different was the lack of dead things.  Which isn't much considering there are only 4 tanks of saltwater stuff.....
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i read somewhere that a few petcos got nailed by some pretty hefty fines recently because of their lack of care. things like not removing dead fish from tanks and such.

 

It has been about a month since I was there. It wasnt a full blown reef store, but at the time they did have a good selection of decent looking fish.

They even had a cool looking golden clam