Garter Snake Forum - View Single Post

sschind · 02-14-2007, 08:01 PM

Personally, I don't see the problem being the big box stores. As much as they are lacking, from my perspective they bring more people into the hobby in a month than I could ever hope to in a year. Once these newbies get tired of not getting the answers they need at those stores they will search out the advice of those who do know what they are talking about (and I would like to think I am one of those) Once these people see that they are not getting the help they need from the box stores, and the prices at the small stores are just as competitive the serious ones will gravitate to the small specialty stores. In fact, to a well run store, having a petco or petsmart nearby can actually help. If the small store is struggling though, and a big box opens up nearby, the slowdown for the first 6-12 months could be enough to put them under.

In my opinion without a doubt, what has hurt the small stores most is the internet. There is no way that a small independent store can compete with the prices offered by place like LLL reptile, Big Apple Herp, Foster & Smith or Big Als. When an aquarium filter costs me $50.00 and F&S sells them to the public for $52.00 there is no way I can compete. Now with the ability to buy animals on line that area has taken a hit also. To make things worse, people can't get any help from these places so they come to the small store and get all the info they need then they go to the internet and buy everything that was suggested to them. Then, when something is wrong with what they bought on line they come back to the small store to have us fix the problem.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people buying on line to save money. Things are tough for everybody and we all have to make ends meet. Its another form of competition and the way it is, if you can't compete you go under. That's business and I am not bitter about it. What gets me is the way a lot of people will piss and moan that there are no good pet shops around any more when they didn't support them when they were around. I saw a thread on one of the other groups about a year ago complaining about this very thing. One woman complained that the only good shop within a few hours of her had closed up and now she doesn't have anyone (other than on line) with any knowledge to help her out. After a few more posts it turned out that even though she spent a lot of time in the store she very rarely bought anything because she could get everything online much cheaper.

I guess the moral to my story is, if there is a shop that you like, support it as much as you can.

02-14-2007, 08:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
sschind Juvenile snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 185 Country:	Re: Possibly selling my garters Personally, I don't see the problem being the big box stores. As much as they are lacking, from my perspective they bring more people into the hobby in a month than I could ever hope to in a year. Once these newbies get tired of not getting the answers they need at those stores they will search out the advice of those who do know what they are talking about (and I would like to think I am one of those) Once these people see that they are not getting the help they need from the box stores, and the prices at the small stores are just as competitive the serious ones will gravitate to the small specialty stores. In fact, to a well run store, having a petco or petsmart nearby can actually help. If the small store is struggling though, and a big box opens up nearby, the slowdown for the first 6-12 months could be enough to put them under. In my opinion without a doubt, what has hurt the small stores most is the internet. There is no way that a small independent store can compete with the prices offered by place like LLL reptile, Big Apple Herp, Foster & Smith or Big Als. When an aquarium filter costs me $50.00 and F&S sells them to the public for $52.00 there is no way I can compete. Now with the ability to buy animals on line that area has taken a hit also. To make things worse, people can't get any help from these places so they come to the small store and get all the info they need then they go to the internet and buy everything that was suggested to them. Then, when something is wrong with what they bought on line they come back to the small store to have us fix the problem. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people buying on line to save money. Things are tough for everybody and we all have to make ends meet. Its another form of competition and the way it is, if you can't compete you go under. That's business and I am not bitter about it. What gets me is the way a lot of people will piss and moan that there are no good pet shops around any more when they didn't support them when they were around. I saw a thread on one of the other groups about a year ago complaining about this very thing. One woman complained that the only good shop within a few hours of her had closed up and now she doesn't have anyone (other than on line) with any knowledge to help her out. After a few more posts it turned out that even though she spent a lot of time in the store she very rarely bought anything because she could get everything online much cheaper. I guess the moral to my story is, if there is a shop that you like, support it as much as you can.