| I have read many blogs, forum posts (including | | | | companies that make some good products (more so |
| Yahoo answers), and infomerial articles that trash | | | | Hagen), but also some 'dogs' too. |
| local fish (pet) stores as a source of Aquarium | | | | I personally have never tried to be everything to |
| information and help. This in my opinion is unfair as | | | | everyone in my previous LFS and Aquarium |
| there are many dedicated stores and employees | | | | Maintenance company or my current Online Aquarium |
| who love the hobby and really want to see the best | | | | Products store, I have always tried to sell what I |
| for your aquarium (or pond). | | | | personally use and believe in and have often |
| Even stores such as PetsMart or PetsCo which are | | | | suggested DIY filters, lighting and similar. In my |
| often noted for poor quality advice often will have an | | | | Aquarium information and help article I often make |
| employee who really knows his or hers 'stuff' | | | | many suggestions such as for marine applications of |
| (although these good employees will often not stay | | | | products or methods of I have nothing to sell. There |
| long). This said, if you have recieved good service | | | | are many good LFS that are just the same and will |
| and advice, your local aquarium store is worth | | | | honestly tell you when they cannot help your and |
| supporting over the large chains (especially Walmart) | | | | send you in the right direction to those who can. |
| One should ask around when seeking a good store, | | | | Many larger metropolitan areas have many good |
| get to know the owners and/or the employees. Also | | | | stores to choose from, while unfortunately many |
| keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes and just | | | | smaller communities (such as Grants Pass where I |
| because you may have gotten one bad fish or some | | | | now live) often may have just one or two stores |
| bad advice does not mean you should right off that | | | | and in my community they are both very poor |
| particular store. | | | | Aquarium stores with poor advice and out of date |
| You want to look for a store that is open minded | | | | low quality supplies. |
| and not dogmatic on everything they say, always | | | | Back in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County |
| open to new ideas. Also be careful of stores that | | | | (where I was in business for 28 years) there are |
| may push only one manufacturer's line of product | | | | more choices (such as Pasadena Tropical Fish). I am |
| rather than carrying the best of all manufacturers. | | | | sure many other larger communities are the same |
| This of coarse does not prove a bad store either as | | | | and maybe some smaller ones where the 'old boy |
| they may have purchasing restrictions or other | | | | network' is not quite so strong have excellent |
| factors that go into this. However I have personally | | | | Aquarium Stores as well. |
| tried to resist purchasing an entire manufacturers line | | | | If any reader knows of a good LFS in their area, |
| just to get better discounts (many companies from | | | | PLEASE post it in the comment section along with an |
| Hagen to Tetra offer these discounts either direct or | | | | address. To keep this section from growing too large |
| through distributors such as Central Garden and Pet). | | | | I will have to restrict this to one store per general |
| I mentioned Hagen and Tetra as two expamples of | | | | community. |