How much extra would you pay to have your water pumped?

This is what I was thinking about when I made my comment.

As for water testing, I think it makes sense for customers to get a set amount of tests done for free. After that they should be charged a certain amount per test. It's only fair. Test kits aren't free after all and just because they get their water tested there doesn't mean that they're buying anything from the store.

 

Yet another lost leader that IMO is needed. I can't count the amount of times someone came in for testing and either purchased something because results came out good or purchased something to help solve a problem when the tests came out bad.

The lost leaders of a fish store really are not that bad. when I helped run a dive shop we had a $15k compressor that took so much juice it dimmer the lights for a block when it kicked on. We charged about $5 for a 3000psi fill that surely cost us much much more.

When you look at the costs and benefits of lost leaders, you really have to stop looking at them as a product or a service. You have to look at them as a form of advertising. They should be compared to the returns your other modes of advertising generate, and then adjusted if needed. Get your numbers together and compare them to those of your website. You may be surprised to find that your other advertising is not bringing people in on a regular schedule like water. You may even find that your returns on water are so much bigger that you can lower the prices, and your returns may even grow from that!

 

I buy RO/DI water and have the employees pump the water into the bucket. I am college educated and know how to do it, but I wouldn't want them to tell me I broke something and then have to pay for it. How could I be sure it wasn't an employee that broke it, but they will just blame the next person that uses the pump and that next person happens to be me. I'll just stick with the employees doing it.

I also know how to move a frag from a display tank to a bag of water when I want to purchase, would you like me to do that too?

 

Haha! ;D

 

Scenario that happened last Friday (and MANY, MANY OTHER TIMES).

I'm talking to a customer on a phone held to the ear with my shoulder, while I'm bagging a fish for another customer, answering questions to a 3rd customer in between the questions of the person on the phone. 4th customer walks in and says, "I need 5 gallons of salt" and drops a gas can at my feet. I nodded and acknowledged her presence and continue bagging and Oxing the fish. She waits 20 seconds and says, "I need 5 gallons of salt". I said, "Yes, maam I know but it's going to be a minute or two. Everyone is tied up right now". She got all indignant and made a fool of herself. Luckily, most of my customers are completely opposite of her. I've been busy like this before and found notes on the register that say, "Curt, add 10 gallons of salt and 5 gallons of RO to my account, signed XYZ"

 

I really like the idea of a sign. I would definitely pay the extra cents if I understand the reason. Let people know you don't make any money on it, and that you're covering costs. I came to believe, after talking to my friend at the LFS and then reading your post, than the water is in most cases a non-profit thing. I believe that if you manage it well, and the sign is well explained you won't have any problems. Let them know the salt you use, let them know the quality. Most people just throw money at their tanks, I don't think the 10 cents would make a difference to them, as it would not make a difference to me, providing I'm informed of what the situation is with the product I'm about to buy, before hand.

I'm voting then... 10 cents is alright. I wouldn't mind, since your water makes my reef look gorgeous. You know what I'm saying?

 

You're talking about people that can't spend money to save money - i.e. buy their own RO/DI. I don't think they're going to spend an extra ten cents to save gas money... It doesn't follow in my mind.

Which leads me to, raise the price and put all your RO/DI equipment that's for sale right next to it with a chart describing how they can save money buy buying own equipment...

After that, they go elsewhere.

 

By the way... when I went to my LFS to buy water (some timea go, now I have my own RO unit) and saw they were busy, I filled up myself. And mind you, I was told by the manager, they don't have a problem "with me" doing that, because they know me. What I got from that is that people in general could or does make a mess. Call them clumsy or it could be that they don't care... since they don't have to clean it up. Unfortunately some people will think this way.
Again, go with the 10 cent increase, but make a sign and have everyone keep an eye on what people is filling up on.

EDIT: Yet, one more thing I forgot to say! One of my LFS test pH, nitrates and ammonia for free, anything after that, you have to pay 2.50 per test.
The other LFS, charges 2 dollars per each of the mentioned tests above, and then stronium, calcium, alkalinity etc are 3 dollars each. And trust me, if your fish are dying for some unknown reason, you would pay the fee to find out what wrong and be told by a pro how to deal with it and fix it. This is such an interesting topic. It's good to be able to see both sides of the coin IMO.

 

I agree with this sentiment. It sounds like you might as well do this too.


It's like at a restaurant that has you pay before you get your food and they still put a 'tip' line on the credit card slip. Or a buffet that expects 15% gratuity...

You want me to clean up the water you spilled while bagging my fish? Should I start bringing my own bags for frags? I mean, you already make me provide my own water container

I think you're being petty... I would judge the whole store on it.

I'm sure you are very proud of the water parameters you're selling. I don't trust you. I would still test it. It's an expectation of mine you do it right. Just like I expect my fish to be healthy or my phyto to not be expired. But I won't trust you did. And I'll have to double check myself regardless.

Just saying I don't see any argument about your water being "better" as valid. It's like a kids argument. "But little johnny did". So what. Little Johnny is a brat. That doesn't make you better it only makes him worse.

 

Good point. I hereby retract my suggestion