Online suppliers

Mean Harri

Aye. My order is being processed by UPS as we speak. Two packages on its way from Ken's. I'm still floored by Ken's Rena XP3 filter price. $47 cheaper than most places. Crazy mad.

It's like my lfs. A light fixture that can be had online for $60 to $65 they want $117 for. I understand local small businesses being a bit more expensive than big retailers but come on. $40 plus for the exact same light? And I won't even get in to how much more the lfs wanted for a Marineland canister filter than everywhere else on line. Yeah I will... They were double the cost. Criminals I dare say. Where's Sherlock Holmes with these high crimes being committed?

HollyinWA

That is great news! I love getting packages delivered...not only for my candle business but now fish!

Regarding the pricing difference between the LFS's and online stores sometimes it is a catch 22. Especially, for the small independent stores with high rent cost in relation to their customer base. Since i have a small home candle business it is hard to compete with the bigger guys. They can buy in bigger bulk which makes the cost of the candles to make them is less, and they are able to reach more people, whereas, we little guys cannot buy in as big of bulk as they do because we can only produce so much and reach only so many people. My prices actually are comparable and actually cheaper than some of the big candle companies, but I do not make as much on each candle and cannot produce as much. Now, there is no way I can compete with Walmart candle prices...but mine are of better quality.

I think the problem with the small local stores is the high rent, any employee cost, and the fact they do not sell as much because they cannot reach as many people so in the end they have to make more on each product. Kinda like the small little feed store down the road....much more expensive then Big R ranch and feed. I want to support him when we can, but it is hard for us as well to pay out higher prices to keep our animals. We tend to end up going the less expensive route because we have to, especially in these times, even though we believe in local small businesses....catch 22.

Mean Harri

I hear ya there. I too would rather pay more and support the ma and pa shops. Most of the time though they aren't that much more expensive. A few bucks is no big deal. But as in the case with the canister filter that the lfs carries, double the cost over Drs. Foster and Smith and other online sources? paalease...

I considered the convenience factor of paying more and being able to get it when I wanted it. And should it quit working or something I can easily exchange it and not have to ship it. But $40 plus I have to drive 15 miles in to heavy traffic full of idiot drivers to get it. Not so much worth the extra.

Yet some of their other stuff is priced what would be normal. I will buy my fish from the lfs. Their tanks are nicely maintained, they have a huge selection, and the prices seem really good. Their plants selection sucks tbh.