Stores that don't display prices.
 

Who else hates this?

I was in Calgary over the weekend and decides to go to a couple fish stores. Went into one of them, and there wasn't a single price tag for any of the live stock. And when I asked the guy a price on something, it seemed like he was making it up on the spot.(40 bucks for a cleaner shrimp? yeah right)

I'm sure everyone hates this. The "uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh $50" really makes you think that he's just coming up with a number to guage your reaction to it. If you don't like it.... "well I could go $25 for you" LOL. Everyone hates feeling like that.

Yup, no prices and when you ask it's $$ but for you I will sell for $. Helps to know the pricing in other stores esp for fish. Annoying regardless.

Yeah it's like shopping in Mexico, the first price is usually high and you have to barter your way down to reasonable or cheap if you're good at it.

Yeah I'd expect to barter in Mexico. But wouldn't expect to barter at a fish store in Calgary.

After he said 40 dollars for a cleaner shrimp, I left and ill never be back. What the heck kind of business strategy is that?

One thing I've learned from my fresh water days just because a LFS sells fish doesn't mean they know anything about fish and will often make up prices on the go without knowing how rare or common a fish might be.

Personally I love to haggle over price. If the price is posted, that indicates to me it's absolute, with no room to barter. I know what I want to pay for something, and if I can't get that price, I don't buy.

this is a hot topic lately:P

http://visiting-uganda.com/skills/images/brian.jpg
What do you mean you don't like to haggle?

In my experience with them, they just simply want to make up prices on the fly. Prices depend upon who is buying, how slow or brisk business has been, their mood, etc. In a way it is kind of like going to some of the electronic stores. They have MSRPs but you would never pay that. It is always assumed that you will immediately knock down the price even though the price is right there in front of you! And for the few people who do walk into Soundsaround and actually do pay MSRP, well then the store gets a little extra money out of you for not bartering.

I've walked out of quite a few stores as of late partially for the same reason. Although my biggest pet peeve as of late, and really it makes me want to loose my marbles with some employees is the attitude you get when you ask these employees for said prices.

I have had employees eyeroll me to my face when I ask them to come over and provide me pricing on their livestock or drygoods.

Also, just 'cause you come into the store with sweats and no make up is not a valid reason to discriminate against your customers. Its sad that you have to dress up to get service at some shops. I stood around somewhere for 45 minutes without the fainest acknowledgement from a store the weekend before last while I tried to spent a few hundred dollars on drygoods. Went back the Sunday dressed up and wow, people were dropping what they were doing to ask if I need help.

There's alway room to barter. Price tag or not. You knôw how much your willing to pay. And if no price they may say less than u expect. My generall under standing is ussually landed cost x3. So there always play room

On more than one occasion I've walked into a store ( any store ) and turned right around when there is no pricing listed; there is nothing I hate more than my time being wasted.

I agree with you 100%, no customer should ever have to ask for a price; if it's for sale then it should be clearly marked.

100% agreed:)

I don't like not seeing a price. I like to browse the selection without having to find someone everytime I would like a price. It's either you can't find anyone to ask.. Or they are hanging with you constantly as you browse..

The very worst thing is if only one person in the store is the price giver.. And they are out.. So then I guess you come back later if you want a price???
Ummm not.

What burns me most is that you try to support your LFS, but they don't even have the decency to return your call

I call my LFS about 3 weeks ago look for a gate valve for my Reef Octopus skimmer, he hmm and haw about looking for a price for me, and said he would get back to me. No return call

Walked into the LFS last week, inquired about a price for a Reef Octopus Water Blaster WB-7000, their price was $350.00 and told them Goreef and Royal Aquariums was 260.00, on their website, it states they match prices.
Left my name and number, inquiring about the gate valve and price matching the WB-7000. One week later, no return call. They don't need my business.
Won't be shopping there or ever stepping foot in their door.
Waste of my time and gas. They are the only supplier for Reef Octopus in the city.

Called Ray at Reef Supplies and ordered a WB3000, WB7000, ROP-50 GATE Valve

I know what store your talking about and no they don't price match. I was told if its cheaper at anther store then go buy it. Just the attitude of the employ there made me mad. Ill never set foot in there again and won't refer it to anyone.

Coupons man. Coupons, they gotta go. My daughter is a coupon collector but to me it's a huge waste of time & paper. Clubs too. Although I have to admit, I'm a Costco member. But every freakin store these days including grocers ask me if I'm a 'club' member & circle how much money (printed on the receipt) I would have saved by being in the 'club'. Just gimme the best price & don't bug me about clubs man, I'll choose what club I wish to belong to & don't need to be reminded every time I buy a pound of butter. I'd rather haggle than be a club member at some of these places. It's all a great marketing strategy since once you're in the club, they have your personal info & can profile you to 'better serve you'.

But I digress & rant. I'm not a fan of having to ask for a price in a store that doesn't mark stuff, but hey, it's their business & I'm sure it will survive or fail based on how they run it. If I have to wait too long to find someone to ask, I'll move on. Same goes if the price is out of whack. But not going to get my shorts in a knot over it. But coupons & clubs, lookout.... they ruffle my feathers...

I'm the type of person where price matters to me. I know what most things cost at each store in Edmonton and I'll go to where the price is best. Peppermint shrimp cost anywhere between 13 dollars to. 26 dollars each. When buying 10 it makes a difference.

I have no loyalty to any specific store. My loyalty is to my wallet.

It seems like those that don't post prices are gonna try and rip you off and hope you say " ok ill get it"

Yung,
I am curious on what store that was. PM me if you like.

Bad service and overpriced. How do they even stay in business?

I agree. I was told to shop somewhere else as well just because I didn't buy an item from him but from another store. To me, there's a difference between $800 and $700. If you can buy the same item for a cheaper price, why wouldn't you?
PS. Thanks for the PM.

Its likely they are able to stay in business bc 9/10 ppl will walk out but the 1 person that buys their products, the "DISPLAY ONLY" tank. Yah, that will keep funding the business. Ever notice that seems to change every other week...someone is buying it! No need for price tags or to provide service to us little peasants lol

What people are gonna say is "you should support your LFS"

I do. I have bought things from every single LFS in Edmonton. But since I was told to shop somewhere else, I haven't been back.

I think we all want to support our LFS. And we like stores that give good advice. And it sounds like that store gave great advice, and you should consider taking that great advice. :) Me, I would just shop somewhere else. Easy peasy.

Curious Marko, what did you think of our stores overall besides the pricing issue? There was another thread recently about what Calgary reefers wanted in an LFS and displayed pricing came up along with a myriad of other thoughts.

Edmonton stores seem to be very active here, posting pics and have developed good relationships both on CR for out of towners and with their local customers. What do you see Edmonton stores doing better/different?

I'm heading to Edmonton this weekend and hoping to see for myself, if time permits.

I don't really know what the difference is.

Most stores have prices here clearly listed. Red coral even has a picture of the livestock beside the price.

There's stores here that seem to be out too lunch of their prices. There is zero competitiveness among stores in Edmonton, they just seem to stick to their own prices.

Main 2 stores I shop at are red coral and big Al's (they always have everything in stock)

Marko
I know you don't like aquagiant, but David does have very good pricing and he does carry even stock some tunze and deltec skimmers and can order stuff
Deltec 2060sc skimmer $1299.00 at J&L it's $1349.00
I purchased my deltec 2060 from there

At least you have choices of LFS we have only one that sells salt water and its not well stocked nor decently priced and almost all my live orders have come from Vancouver and that has risks all of its own

What you don't like TP's 14 tank aptasia farm? *laughs*

Life of Brian lol

:lol::lol:

I agree :twised:

I have 2 Black and White clowns, 1 scooter blenny, 2 purple firefish, 1 firefish (1 carpet surfed) 1 bicolor angle, 1 Coral beauty, 2 cleaner schrimp, 1 pepermint schrimp, and a huge long tentacle anemome, all healthy since May from Aquagiant, David has been getting into Saltwater big time now.

plus a couple of chromis, another type of perpermint schrimp, star shifting starfish, plus cuc from other LFS

My 20 gallon Long Nano tank is slightly overstocked:)

My 187 gallon is almost ready for water

Honestly, prices would be nice to see in stores but I have never had any issue with rude employees, rediculas prices given when I ask or any of that sort of thing. I also have no problem telling employee that the price is whacked or there being a d***. There is one store in edmonton I will NEVER EVER walk through there door again simply because they ripped me off.

If I don't like a price I don't buy simple as that.

I stopped at one on my way home and even though the pricing wasn't noted, I got great service, 3 frags and a fish. Could have got more, frags are going in the 180 and a bit nervous, but for the price, thought it was worth a shot. The service is what keeps me going back!

I really didn't have a problem with no prices being marked when Red Coral was open, it allowed for grinding on my side. For some reason the additional store in Calgary seemed to keep prices in check, I have since seen a dramatic increase in the asking price of most pieces since Red Corals closure.

LFS in Calgary please stop trying to defend your high prices by telling me its rarer stuff from a different location, ITS THE SAME STUFF... Just 20-30 dollars more expensive than last time.

I, as well like to see pricing displayed on glass that you can see through! The store I "shop" at has each fish priced clearly, each coral frag priced clearly and the glass is clean...there is a lot to say for that in my opinion...I HATE asking prices, as it makes me uncomfortable, so appreciate the stores that clearly list them!

I think we need to start a new thread similar to the Random thoughts thread but call it 'That really grinds my gears'

noticed this the other day , i guess your back eh:P


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/a...nk/IMG3390.jpg

they also spelled your name wrong ..........does it get any worse than that:P