Saving money. This is a difficult topic to breach, and I'm sure I'll offend some people in the process but I've been moved to speak up on this very important subject more than once. Not only to improve how others perceive you, but also for the sake hobbyists everywhere and the hobby itself.
When each of us first became interested in this hobby, we were forewarned that it would be very expensive. We knew that, and felt it was worth the hit we took in our wallets, because the payoff was a stunning aquarium that we could proudly share with family and friends. We made the necessary purchases, rushed home and started cycling our shiny new tank. Excitement brought us back to our nearest fish store for more and more goods and soon after we bought livestock of every size, shape and color. And it was good.
Then one day, someone mentioned that you could save all kinds of money buying things online. Others suggested we try to build various items instead of paying top dollar for the commercial version. Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we began to grin with delight: Not only could you get more stuff, but you could get it cheaper than you ever dreamt possible.
At this point, something transforms the common hobbyist into a Super Saver. Suddenly prices seem much too high at your fish store, and you scoff at the thought that others would ever pay that price. "What are those people thinking?!" You've seen the light! Not only do you want to warn others about the peril they are in, you also desire -- no, crave -- rock bottom prices. And now you are on a dangerous slope, and it can be hard to see the bigger picture.
Before I proceed any further, I do want to state that I love to save money whenever I can. However, we should be reasonable. I'd even go so far as to say that we should consider what the seller is thinking. If you can do that while making purchases, this article is really not for you. Congratulations. You are excused, and can go enjoy your tank or do that much-needed water change.
The rest of you, read on: As various items become necessary purchases, seeking out a good deal seems almost as important as the actual acquisition itself. Some vendors are willing to price-match, while others are not. Finding out what their standards are is a good idea, but berating those that don't participate in such business practices is a bad idea. It not only makes you look cheap, but it also affects how the vendor will view similar customers in the future. If you go back to the principle of putting yourself in the vendor's shoes, how would you like it if someone was asking you to sell them something for nothing? Their family, like your family, needs food on the table too, right? Will your actions affect others? You should care about this.
Rather than sharing example after example of various incidents I've been privy to, I'd really like to encourage everyone to take a step back and look at what we as a group are doing to the hobby itself. Is there any surprise that brick and mortar stores are not impressed with etailers selling the same products for less? Online vendors have overhead, but not nearly the amount that a typical fish store has to meet on a monthly basis. Those of us that have discovered online communities and have learned about those potential savings are often unwanted as customers because of the mentality that we've come to embrace. By trying to save money, we've begun to lose the very stores that we originally sought out on a regular basis. And as we lose those stores one by one, we as a group begin to insulate ourselves from having local vendors to turn to when our tanks are in trouble. Don't forget how you used to enjoy going to the LFS to check out the latest livestock arrivals, and hanging out to just talk about tank stuff. That time can't be replaced with online forums, I assure you. Nor should it be.
If you are a member of a local club, odds are that 'group buys' occur from time to time. A group buy is designed to save money as a group by ordering everything from one place and avoiding the hefty shipping fee we incur individually. Some clubs turn to their local stores when they desire a group buy for a particular item. This is a good idea, as it improves relations between the two. Money trading hands locally helps the local economy, right?
What I'm seeing more and more is a shift in how some are seeking that savings, and if it continues our hobby will suffer more than just a simple black eye. When shopping at the LFS (local fish store), I've observed some that act like the store is a pawn shop where bartering is to be expected. Or if they buy a few items, they press the shop owner for an additional discount as if they deserved it. Here's where I'd like to stop and pause, to consider why the buyer wants that particular savings. Do they do this because they want to 'score' the best deal in town? Are they on such a tight budget that the only way to get what they need requires that they demand it cheaper? Will they ever give back to the hobby from the savings they received? Additionally, this hobby has people from virtually all walks of life, from students to retirees, from those with tons of money to those with very little, and everyone in-between. Each person has to decide for themselves what is appropriate, but all of us should be considerate when doing business with others.
When possible, it would be good if we could think about how we've saved 'x' amount of dollars on these few items and now we have a surplus to buy that coral or fish at the price marked. That would be the balancing effect, not unlike karma points. Let's tip those scales back to the median point, so that we can save and yet not be cheapskates. If you bought light bulbs and salt in a group buy and saved lots of money, you have the extra on hand to get that item you've wanted for some time. Unfortunately, some are unable to stem that need or inclination to save-save-save, and even when they know they are getting a great deal on some livestock will stop to ask if they can now also apply their club member's discount as well. Whoops! Not only did you push too far, now the store owner feels reluctant to offer such savings to others because it seems like there is a lack of gratitude on your part.
As I stated before, I love to save money too. I'll ask for the price of the items I'm interested in, and then decide if it seems fair or not. I keep in mind that the store not only had to sit on that inventory, but they've also paid for the needs of the animals, suffered losses along the way, and had to pay other things often overlooked by us: transaction fees. A customer walks in and decides they want to buy a brand new tank, feel they've gotten a good price, and then they pull out a credit card. Depending on the type of card, the vendor has to eat that loss. 3% can be significant on bigger purchases (3% of a $6000 setup is $180 that the store won't get). If the store was trying to help save you money to guarantee the sale, they may have chosen to undercut their pricing in hopes of getting you as a regular customer. In theory, this is a good plan but if that same customer decides from now on to purchase all their goods online, the store loses the future business they'd banked on cultivating. Did you know that when we use a debit card to make that purchase, stores don't have to pay as much in fees? Hence, I try to use my debit card or cash whenever possible. Every little bit helps, right?
I buy goods in group buys a few times a year, and livestock from my local stores. I look at various essential pieces of equipment on the market, and decide which ones are well-built and which ones are cheaply assembled. I would rather pay for something reliable than just buy something to get by for now -- and I've always been that way. When I was young (and before I could get stuff now and pay later {cough}) I would save up for the better item and resist the urge to buy something cheap right now. My friends never understood that part, but did love it when I'd have something really cool that we could all enjoy.
Buying from online vendors is a good way to save, but be aware that some items are cheaper for a reason. Quality come into question, as well as if the product will even work as promised. Seeing the product locally at your LFS allows you to decide if you feel it is worth purchasing, which is another good reason to have fish stores open and in your area. If you need help with that product and you bought it at your LFS, they will be happy to assist you. If you bought it online, what's their motivation to help you? Has your club developed a poor reputation with the LFSs in the area? Do you care enough to help fix it?
It is time for some of us to bite the bullet and quit trying to be the ultimate cheapskate. If you are offended by that label and feel that your are totally justified in what you're doing, let me ask what is it that you are doing for the hobby itself? How are you helping it (and us) get to the next level? Should all of us be like you, and if we all did follow your example, do you still believe there would be research and development of newer products for us to use? Would the hobby continue to advance? Would a bunch of thrifty hobbyists be able to overcome the hurdles that continue to impede our reefkeeping efforts? I think not. Part of our expenditures do make a difference. The catch is who should get that money, I suppose.
You do not need to buy the best or most-expensive equipment and livestock-du-jour. If you can, that's awesome and you can bet those vendors are happy that you did. Some are doing well to afford the next batch of salt just to maintain their livestock for another few months. But the majority of us really do need to work on repairing our reputation as a whole, encouraging each hobbyist to be balanced in their goals of saving money and providing proper husbandry for the animals we've come to love. Score a few good deals, but don't forget to feed the kitty. And by kitty, I mean local fish store.
Happy reefing!
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