How to get a deal from an LFS

Some people complain about LFS don’t have pricing visible.  It’s seen as unfair.  A multi-tiered system that, depending who you are, you get quoted a different price.  It’s easy to see why people complain.  It’s unfair at best and shady at the worst.

However, I don’t see it as unfair anymore.  Where some people see unfair, I see an opportunity.  Even if your LFS posts prices (and I believe that every single one should) you should still use some of these tips.

1) Haggle for (almost) everything

Haggling has been going on for thousands of years.  For some reason people, especially in North America, have stopped haggling.

“I’ll giveth you two copper pennies and my second born son for thine frag of Purple People Eaters“

I was in Egypt a few years ago and I learned the power of negotiation.  The light came on shortly after I bought some trinkets from a street vendor was carving them on the street.  He was charging 4 LE (Egyptian Pounds) each: about a dollar each.  A bit later, I decided I wanted another one and since I couldn’t find the same street vendor, I went into a shop and found something similar. “How much?”, I asked.  “75 LE each” was my reply.  I turned without saying another word and started walking out of the store.  I didn’t make it to the door, the shop keeper called me back and offered them to me at a significant discount.  I kept repeating that I paid 4 LE earlier in the day and I wouldn’t give him any more than that.  It took a while, but I left the store with a new insight and my trinket.

I do the same thing at my LFS.  If something isn’t labeled (and even if it is) I decide what it’s worth to me and what I’ll pay for it.  Then I’ll talk to the owner.  It’s amazing, but so many people are scared to ask for a better price.  This works best when you’re buying two or more things “$40 corals?  Hmm..I’m buying three, will you take $100 for all three?”

One of my favourite tricks is asking if taxes are included in the price.  In Ontario, we pay 15 13% sales tax – that’s almost a frag on a hundred dollar order!  Even if the store owner won’t give you the taxes off, he’ll likely throw in a frag as compensation.

A few pointers on negotiating;

• I typically don’t negotiate on dry goods unless there’s a big difference between stores.  I always have my iPhone with me so I can look up prices if something seems out of whack to me.  The margin on dry goods is razor thin.  Which brings me to my next point;
• Try and work towards a win-win situation with the store owner.  They need your business, but they shouldn’t lose money on the proposition.  They need to eat too.  The most I’ll try and negotiate is a 25-30% discount on posted prices on livestock and maybe 5-10% on dry goods and only if the price is high and I’m buying a bunch of stuff.

Other tips on haggling.

2) Have a favourite store…and use it as much as possible.

It makes negotiating prices a lot easier when the owner knows you.  At the stores I frequent, I’m known when I walk in.  They know what I’ve bought previously.  We have a history of pricing; he knows it and so do I.  “Well last time you gave me an acro colony for $60, but was pretty small.  How about you make it up by giving me a better price this time?”  Try it; it works.

I’ll also trust what my favourite LFS says.  If they recommend one pump over another, I’ll go with it.  The store knows you’ll be back and they don’t want to screw you over.  It’s harder for them to find a new customer than it is for them to keep existing ones.  Once they know you’re coming back, they’ll work hard to keep you.

3) Recommend people to your favourite LFS and let the owner know.

You want your favourite LFS to stay in business, right?  They need business!  Word of mouth is a powerful thing and will help your LFS stay afloat.

Don’t expect a reward for this, but he’ll look upon you favorably the next time your skimmer pump explodes and you need to borrow one until yours is repaired.

4) Don’t have an LFS you can trust?  Research. Research! RESEARCH!

Know what you’re buying.  This goes double for chain stores.  I once went to a chain store and asked how to lower my alkalinity.  The clerk recommended buffer.  Like the noob I was, I bought it.  Research!

What other tricks do you use to get a deal?