Retail aquatic mediocrity

IanB

Member
Jul 21, 2011
370
0
16
Mid_Suffolk, UK
www.oldschoolmtb.co.uk
After littluns hospital appointment this morning, found a couple of aquatic retailers close-ish so paid a visit..

One was part of a garden centre but trading pet/aquatic in its own building.. sizeable affair, mostly pet..

Fish were healthy, tanks looked well maintained..

But £45 for a 10" Commom Pleco.. £15 for Pim Pictus.. ouch!!..

And a Gold Spotted Gibbiceps ( ? ).. 8" £55

Next stop, lovely shop.. not a great stock of fish but a few L's in there, only 1 labelled.. L091, looked to be about 3", for £57
One member of staff out the front, busy on the phone for the half hour we were there, a tank full of white spot and a couple of dead fish..

What happened to retailers that actually gave a stuff?

It used to be a bit of an adventure trawling retailers.. now they are few and far between and it's just a bit deflating.
 

IanB

Member
Jul 21, 2011
370
0
16
Mid_Suffolk, UK
www.oldschoolmtb.co.uk
We are still around Ian :yes: just becoming a bit sparse on the ground. :thumbup:
That is good to hear (the 'still around' thing.. not the 'thin on the ground' thing).. wish I could find someone locally.. :yes:

Even as a retailer I used to take days out visiting everyone within about 20 miles of my place.. for sure seeing what the competition was up to but, more than that, seeing how different folk looked at things, what stock these others had available (and buying something, at full retail price, quite often), chewing the fat with people who were genuinely interested in the livestock..

Think I need to start doing the lottery again, get the 6 numbers up and open a proper shop round here...
 

scatz

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
5,379
2
38
48
Devon, UK
Worth considering for sure... not sure many could handle my driving though, I stick to 60mph as a max. speed ... :yes:
i do too mate, but 60 is hard to maintain around sharp corners and built up areas, but i do my best:D

def worth asking if anyone is able to share lifts, its a real eye opener to see what a fish shop should be like.
there are still some around, but like you i find the majority are all about the money and couldn't care less about the fish, and know even less about them:wb:
 

matubula

Retired Staff
May 7, 2009
1,047
0
36
Chester, UK
If it's good shops you want, then the PP meet is for you. Both shops, Pier and Rare Aquatics are excellent. I spent the best part of 4.5 hours at Rare today, some pics will follow.

A nice L330 they have atm.

 

Sambo

Member
Aug 21, 2011
39
0
6
uk
Wow we in Nottingham England have a lfs just like it the mansfield road one sherwood, I'm sure it's well known here, unfortunately it's accompanied by rudeness from the owner of the shop has no time for a polite word about the dead fish and white spot just shouts at customers.
Shouldn't be allowed