The Puffer Forum

Just my two pence worth...... I have to agree with all of you but in the same sentence disagree.

If a certain specie has been bought by an LFS and has not sold it for a long while, the fish is getting skinny and poorly and someone comes along and offers to either buy the fish at a knock down price, or gets it for free so they can bring it back to health, the LFS (well most, please remember we don't have wall marts) arn't going to restock that specie as it is not profitable, so on ths occasion it wouldn't be supply and demand.

Secondly, it is our loving human nature that can't bear to see a dying fish, we feel like we have to buy it to stop its suffering, so if it's a popular specie like a GSP then the LFS won't care and buy more.

Recently I went to a LFS (not my usual ones) and there was a valintini Toby with awful IPs, I told the staff and they said oh not to worry, some one will buy it then they can treat it, I was disgusted, I couldn't buy it, even though it broke my heart as A, I had no space and B, I didn't want to give them my business, but it was so hard as its in my nature to help any creature. So I've contradicted myself.

Luckily over here you can't buy dogs and cats in pet shops, but we do have a problem with puppy farmers that advertise in the ad mag, and stupid owners will buy from them because they are cheap, not realising that in the long run it will cost them more in vet bills unlike if they had gone to a reputable breeder that charges more but you get a healthy pet that only needs to go to the vets for its vaccinations, my parents breed CKCS properly, all in doors, all tested before breed from, all KC registered etc etc and if a possible new owner asks the question "how much" early on before asking about health etc they will not sell them a puppy.

I rescued an old CKCS a few years back as the owners didn't want it anymore as it cost them to much money in meds as he was epileptic and they wanted a new puppy that was cute, he only lasted a year with me, but his last year was proberly the happiest in his whole life.

I could go on but I'll be waffling and bore you all, like I am probs already.

A LFS near me will only sell you a fish once they have checked your water over a few weeks and they keep track of what you've bought and ask what is in your tank before they will agree to sell you anything if at all. I know some people will lie about what they have and can always go to different LFS and over do there stocking list. also pets at home near us, are very careful about who they sell little creatures to like hamsters and bunnys, I've heard a few people being told NO they can't have them, and you have to sign a contract and they take in pets (not dogs or cats) and rehome them which is lovely, but if people just did things correctly in the first place and researched this would never be a problem, when I worked at battersea dogs home I use to go to bed every night in tears,

sorry of subject, told you I waffle and bore people. J-P have I made you want waffles even more now..........

Kiamose wrote:Just my two pence worth...... I have to agree with all of you but in the same sentence disagree.

If a certain specie has been bought by an LFS and has not sold it for a long while, the fish is getting skinny and poorly and someone comes along and offers to either buy the fish at a knock down price, or gets it for free so they can bring it back to health, the LFS (well most, please remember we don't have wall marts) arn't going to restock that specie as it is not profitable, so on ths occasion it wouldn't be supply and demand.

+1 thats what im trying to express

Well then I have to agree with you as like I and you have said, if it's a rare/not popular specie and I had the facilities to help the poor creature then yes I would do it, as it wouldnt be profitable for the LFS to re stock, but in the case of the valintini Toby, they are so popular that the LFS wouldn't care about that one as with every few that pass, they sell a dozen more.
Also by helping that poor fish, and bringing back to health, I'd feel such pride and happiness.

I have been working on this first with my dogface then with my recently aquired S&S. One thing I learned is at petco for instance. You go in throw a fit, tell them they are doing it wrong. Then buy it for half price therefore they are not making a profit. Then save the fish. I got my 5 inch dogface and 4 inch stars and stripes for $20 each. And to Fire Clowns for $5 each.

Typically markup on fish is 4x (at least it is around here). Buying it for 50% still results in 100% profit for the store. Now, you do have to factor in water, electricity, food, and labor on that fish which will eat into some of the profits. Ideally there would not be enough profit for them to reorder that fish. I think that buying the fish at a greatly reduced cost would probably be worth it for the current fish and hopefully any future fish

Anothernewb wrote:I have been working on this first with my dogface then with my recently aquired S&S. One thing I learned is at petco for instance. You go in throw a fit, tell them they are doing it wrong. Then buy it for half price therefore they are not making a profit. Then save the fish. I got my 5 inch dogface and 4 inch stars and stripes for $20 each. And to Fire Clowns for $5 each.

That's akin to scratching a demo sofa, showing it to the sales rep and demanding a discount. It works but it is dishonest.

How is it dishonest when you're gambling that the fish will even live and definately would not have lived in its home at the time. The S&S I got had lockjaw, ich and was extremely skinny. I paid for a dead fish essentially. Enlighten me Obi-wan.

The dogface's beak was so evergrown he could not close his mouth and also had ich. Not like I'm buying a product that is 100% so why pay 100%. If they were healthy fish I would certainly pay 100%. When I say I saved the fish I mean they were in certain death if not intervened.

What would those fish go for normally around you?

J-P wrote:

Anothernewb wrote:I have been working on this first with my dogface then with my recently aquired S&S. One thing I learned is at petco for instance. You go in throw a fit, tell them they are doing it wrong. Then buy it for half price therefore they are not making a profit. Then save the fish. I got my 5 inch dogface and 4 inch stars and stripes for $20 each. And to Fire Clowns for $5 each.

That's akin to scratching a demo sofa, showing it to the sales rep and demanding a discount. It works but it is dishonest.

I think this only applies if you make the fish sick in the first place. Given that the store has made the fish sick and not the customer I don't see how it is dishonest. The fish is sick, you make an offer, and it is up to the store whether or not they want to make the sale.

Thank you for the response flutter. I was trying to figure out how when I learned my values in the military and live life very strongly according to them it is dishonest. I not only save the fish but educate the aquarium manager and employees. They all know me by first and last name. They have also started using this forum as a tool to learn. I have learned alot from this forum and share that as much as possible. Like them having a 8" porcy in a 20g tank full of brittle stars.........

All true and valid replies. Read the quote again. It mentions nothing about sick fish, and ALL LFS' especially chains house their fish improperly in the first place. They are just temporary housing until someone buys them and gives them a proper home.

I'm not saying you can't start negotiations, but according to what I quoted, it seemed like throwing a fit is the way to get a discount.

As some know and some not, I work in pricing. I know what goes for what, and stuff that is picked over and left by other customers goes for a discount (even a loss).

Anothernewb wrote:
I have been working on this first with my dogface then with my recently aquired S&S. One thing I learned is at petco for instance. You go in throw a fit, tell them they are doing it wrong. Then buy it for half price therefore they are not making a profit. Then save the fish. I got my 5 inch dogface and 4 inch stars and stripes for $20 each. And to Fire Clowns for $5 each.

Please re-read your own quote. This is your first post in this thread and it mentions nothing about the fish being sick or ill at all.

Except for you replied to my hospital thread about the S&S about a week ago I'm pretty sure.

That I did. Please forgive me as with this many members and forums, I can't always associate each individual with each thread post. We'll chalk it up to information overload. I reply to the thread "as is". Cross thread information is absolutely lost on me. Lets suppose the reference were worded differently:

"I have been working on this first with my dogface then with my recently aquired S&S both of which were very ill at the LFS. One thing I learned is at petco for instance. You go in throw a fit, tell them you will take the sick fish for a discount. Then buy it for half price therefore they are not making a profit. Then save the fish. I got my 5 inch dogface and 4 inch stars and stripes for $20 each."

It is not that I disagree with you it is a matter of being on a forum and wording it correctly. aka verbal judo. Say what you want, but say it in a way that avoids confusion.

p.s:

I tend to knit-pic about these things. The only member here I haven't is RTR.

I do appologize and maybe next time rather than making comments about things you are not sure. For instance making comments that refer to the other member as a thief more or less. Ask a question. They go a long ways. Don't want to make enemies but don't take kindly to being called a thief.