Good LFS?

I am very lucky to have 2 "good" LFS's within couple of mile of me. One a bit cheaper for livestock, but other has better variety.
Neither very good about drygoods, but that is what the internet is for.
I do buy from each of them now and then just to show support.
Both doing very well as this is a Navy town and sailors love anything saltwater and have loads of $ to spend.
Makes for really good deals for used equipment in area when ship/sub deploys...

Good LFS​

Tanks look healthy and clean.
Friendly and knowledgeable staff, good livestock selection and healthy fish/corals/inverts.
A staff that is not just try to sell you stuff but actually providing helpful advice (like you find here at 3Reef)
Good prices...compare against big retail sellers on web...should be less in most cases.
Adequate staff, so you are not standing around long time waiting while they bag other's purchases and having time to spend with you answering questions about livestock.
A big plus for me is if a store will hold a livestock after purchase for pickup later. this tells me they're confident in their own abilities and that they're also confident that the livestock in question is healthy.
Close by a big plus.
Does staff bother to learn your name and what kind of system you have if you are a freqent customer.
Compare, compare, compare if you have a choice. & be critical.
Employee's ALWAYS ask new customer, "How long have you had your tank set up?" - then strongly discourage them from making inappropriate purchases.
A good LFS in area is a valuable asset. Once you come upon a good one, support them all you can, even if prices are a bit more then found on web. They have allot of overhead to carry and has to charge what it takes to support shop and live off of.
Lastly, employee's also reef keepers besides work.
Mine:

The Shark Reef​

(Silverdale, WA)​

Ocean Reef Aquatics​

(Poulsbo, WA)​

8)​

 

in my opinion there is no such thing as a good LFS. but if i had to go to one in the area its about 20 miles away.

 

I'm with you Reef Guru. I've yet to find an all around good LFS in Vegas. I don't even ask for advice anymore, and I just hope they would drop the price of their corals, fish and products so I could support these places..

 

I have one decent LFS within 15 miles of my house, the biggest problem is their prices, they are atleast 5x higher than anything i can buy online including shipping

For my livestock I've been driving from tulsa-houston and going to the fish ranch there

Sad when you'd rather drive 8hrs than support a local business, I've seriously debated just opening my own place since I'm sure i could get the financial backing but i dont feel 100% confident in my abilities to run the place

 

I support 2 LFS 1 is about 5 minute from my house while the other is about 45 minutes. Yes they are good LFS. Because they carry good product and healthy fish and corals. But they are there to make money not keep fish and corals alive for months on end

J

 

Mine is something fishy in Northampton PA. Its a small shop, but always stocked with desirable corals, and even some cheap uglies to get feet wet. Have awesome $10 frag tanks too . All employee's are avid hobbyists. Have a sale on a different category (fish, coral, shrimp, etc.) or equipment each weekend to encourage weekend visits. They ship most products for $5 (not living stuff of course), which costs $35 to ship if you live near by) if your not willing to drive. tanks are cleaned with toothbrushes DAILY. every tank has appropriate cleaner crew. sells ONLY reef safe creatures (other than the large fish, which all get a 75 gal or larger tank for holding). They have beautiful displays, and a piece of aussie acans that makes your eyes want to shatter for $600! But sad part is, they are 45 mins away and with price of gas and my dads car being a V8 for work, trips are usually limited to 0nce a month or two :-/

 

The LFS I frequent is right in the middle of my daily commute between work and home.

Prices for livestock is a little bit high but not too bad. Equipment and other supplies are a bit expensive, so although I originally bought my equipment from them, now I mostly stick to online.

I think it is bad for me that they are so close, when I was setting up the tank I was there every day on the way home to pick up "just one more thing..."

 

I have more then you can poke a stick at with in 15min of my dongga I have to say thou good ones do exist their just few and far between.
My G/F always laughs about how the boss at my faverite LFS who doesnt speak english is always the first to come and say Bonjour to me and shake my hand and make sure my tanks running good, he always calls over one of the young staff to interpret lol its great to have that kind of service.

 

Myself, I have found one some 45 minutes away. It is a Big Al's affiliate, but this store and staff are very conscious of the customer. They will give advice and see you to the door. That is a LFS. They may not have what you need but will try their best to steer you to what you need.
They are in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, for the Canadians' on this forum. Thanks to all of you south of our border. Appreciate what you all do.
some call me frank

 

I have 5 LFS within a mile radius, two of them are walking distance and are my favorites. I know what RG is talking about but these two LFS really go out of their way to help you and never push anything down my throat. You have to remember that no one goes into business not to make money. The closet one to my house is the one I've been going to since 1987. The other 3, I go once in a while, but rarely buy anything b/c they dont look like they know what they're doing and/or they're store doesnt look well kept or organized