LFS Pricing systems

[TorPeteO]

Here's one question about LFS' pricing systems; namely, their method of offering price cuts. Most LFS' (at least in my experience) offer special prices if you buy a certain amount of fish.

Now, I understand why they would offer this type of incentive for shoaling/schooling or community fish, such as corydoras'. My LFS offers Delfax Spotted Corys for $5.99 each, or 3/$15.99 or something like that.

What I don't understand, however, is why they would do it with non-community fish. For instance, today when I was buying my dwarf puffers, it was $6.99 each or 3/$18.99 (-ish, I don't remember exactly). Now, I was tempted to buy a third dwarf because it means I would get a deal, but I didn't because I didn't have room in my tank for 3 of them. They are territorial, and wouldn't get along in groups. So why the price cut? It seems an LFS which seriously cares what happens to the fish once they leave the store would think of something like this, and refrain from encouraging people buying large groups of non-community fish.

Just a rant. Feel free to post agreements, disagreements, or similar experiences/arguments. Thanks for listening.

 

[vdan]

it is a way for them to make more money from you.

 

[canarsie11]

 

[TorPeteO]

vdan - I know it means you spend more money, I guess I'm just an optimist. I like to think that at least some LFS' have respect for the lives of those they sell. I guess that may just be too much too ask from some stores.

canarsie11 - Sorry, sometimes I ramble, and sometimes I tangent. If there's something I didn't say clearly, just let me know and I'll try to clarify.

 

[fishdudein]

Just a business move--if they can sell you one extra fish that you weren't planning on buying, they can afford to make a little less money on it. If it moves out of their tank and into yours, they don't have to feed it, you have taken on that responsibility; hopefully you will need to buy extra food too, that means extra $ for them. If they do this enough times, you will need to buy more tanks....$$$...more filters..$$$...possibly some meds...$$$....multiple tank syndrome is great stuff for the LFS!!!

 

[Puffer_freak]

How big is your tank, could be big enough for three DPs, but I have never kept them but I do know that they need plants, rocks and the like, you can also keep plecs and/or ottos with them.

 

[TorPeteO]

My tank's a 5 gallon. It probably COULD be big enough for 3 DPs, but I don't want to push it, just in case.

I might be getting some otos, but the space concerns are still nagging. Otos like groups, and 5 gallons isn't really big enough for a group of 4. I think most plecos would get too big for the 5 gallon tank, though, so I'd have to get otos (not that I'm complaining, I like otos).

 

[Inchworm]

Hi TorPeteO

You raise a very good question here.

Most of the lfs I've seen seem to do the same thing, so I never thought about it before. You are right; sometimes one fish more or less could make a difference in someone's balanced tank.

Hummm......... I've often wondered why anyone would buy 3 gouramis; it just seems like an odd thing to set out to do. This is the reason, I guess.

 

[CFC]

Just because you cant fit 3 DPs in your tank it doesnt mean someone else couldnt buy 3 or more for their tank. The deals are there for everyone and someone with a 30g tank may come along and want to buy 12 dwarf puffers for it thus taking full advantage of the special offer.

 

[plecoperson]

what is worse is when they offer a deal when you buy 10 or more neons... and sell them to someone with a brand new tank...

 

[MrMashashin]

quite simple, if they offer them at an expencive single rate and or offer the "deal" like you said then their selling the fish for atleast 1.5-2.5 more than what it's worth. For example, in the closer lfs in my town there are neon tetras for 1.50 a peice or buy 6 for 1.00 a peice. Neons are anly worth maybe 50-75 cents. Not to mention his corys are 5.00 a peice!