LFS: Absolutely Fish - Clifton, NJ

[Robert H]

What plant were you looking fort Maverick? I sell them plants, so if I know what it is, perhaps I can make sure they have it, if its available

[maverick2402]

Your going to laugh at this but all it was is java moss.They had this tank of it but it wasn't for sale after I called them and asked if they had it.

[jhoetzl]

Ahhh, you saw that Java moss "grow-out" tank...

Well, last we were there, we were told they can't get it from their source anymore...so they were trying to grow it.

[JerseyScape]

I will never go back there due to their prices. I just don't understand how something can be double or triple the price that I can get anywhere else.

[Momotaro]

I just don't understand how something can be double or triple the price that I can get anywhere else

I am in no way defending the prices at AF. However, there are some things you do need to take into consideration.

The store is in a busy area on a major North Jersey highway. The value of that piece of property is very, very high.

The fellow who owns the shop does not own the building, he pays rent. The rent in that shop is a huge nut to crack each month.

They need to sell product in order to pay the rent. Since they can't really make it up in volume (there are a few major pet chains in the area surrounding them without mentioning the internet), they have to charge more. They also offer products, livestock, and plants no other shop in the North Jersey area offers.

This is an extremely expensive area of the country to live in, it is also a very expensive area of the country to do business in, unfortunately. You are not going to find anything "on the cheap" around here.


Mike

[JerseyScape]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

I am in no way defending the prices at AF. However, there are some things you do need to take into consideration.

The store is in a busy area on a major North Jersey highway. The value of that piece of property is very, very high.

The fellow who owns the shop does not own the building, he pays rent. The rent in that shop is a huge nut to crack each month.

They need to sell product in order to pay the rent. Since they can't really make it up in volume (there are a few major pet chains in the area surrounding them without mentioning the internet), they have to charge more. They also offer products, livestock, and plants no other shop in the North Jersey area offers.

This is an extremely expensive area of the country to live in, it is also a very expensive area of the country to do business in, unfortunately. You are not going to find anything "on the cheap" around here.


Mike

Just because their rent is high does not mean that they have to charge extremely high prices. I've read numerous feedback about AF and everybody says the same thing -- "prices are too high and I will not shop there anymore."
Now, if prices were a bit lower then more business would walk through their door.

As far as living in the most expensive part of the country goes......I lived here all my life so I am comparing their prices to other North Jersey stores (I'm not comparing them to prices in other states).

I used to be a frequent buyer at AF but changed my mind when I bought a test kit for 70 dollars which I saw selling for 19.99 on the internet. My local pet store charges 1.99 for Cardinal Tetras while AF charges 4 bucks. I do agree that they do have a large selection of fish and plants but I will take my money somewhere else to get the same product for cheaper. When you are a college kid like myself, it is hard to stay in a hobby like this when school prohibits you from working.

[Momotaro]

It is not just the rent, it is the whole cost of living and doing business in North Jersey. I don't think you are getting it.

......I lived here all my life so I am comparing their prices to other North Jersey stores (I'm not comparing them to prices in other states).

I have lived here all my life as well, which has probably been a bit longer than you (I am getting old ). Who are you comparing them to? Petco? Petsmart? Point I am trying to make is many of the LFS in North Jersey have gone belly up or are on the verge of going under. Again, it is the cost of doing business in the area as well as competition with the internet and the big chains that has driven or is driving many of the smaller LFS in North Jersey out of business. AF has found a way to stay in business, albeit a way none of us are very happy with, but they remain in business. Like I said earlier:

I am in no way defending the prices at AF. However, there are some things you do need to take into consideration.

The store is in a busy area on a major North Jersey highway. The value of that piece of property is very, very high.

The fellow who owns the shop does not own the building, he pays rent. The rent in that shop is a huge nut to crack each month.

They need to sell product in order to pay the rent. Since they can't really make it up in volume (there are a few major pet chains in the area surrounding them without mentioning the internet), they have to charge more. They also offer products, livestock, and plants no other shop in the North Jersey area offers.

This is an extremely expensive area of the country to live in, it is also a very expensive area of the country to do business in, unfortunately. You are not going to find anything "on the cheap" around here.

Add the cost of insurance, utilities (gas, electric, water) as well as taxes, salaries and the possibility of some sort of employee benefits (they have a large staff of full time employees) to all of the above mentioned as well. I think AF has one of the highest overheads of all the LFS in the area. The owner of the shop has to cover all of his overhead in order to remain in business and (*very important*) turn a profit to make maintaining the business worthwhile. Thats why the prices are high.

If you don't want to shop there, thats fine with me, I don't care. I don't own the place and I have no vested interest in the shop. However, you said you can't understand how "something can be double or triple the price that I can get anywhere else", and I am telling you. If you don't agree that high overhead shouldn't translate to higher prices, then you'll need to sit in on a business economics course. I will tell you this much, when the rest of their customers finally get fed up with the same high prices that have you annoyed, and stop shopping there as you did, the shop won't lower those prices. The shop will go out of business.

Mike

[JerseyScape]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

If you don't want to shop there, thats fine with me, I don't care. I don't own the place and I have no vested interest in the shop. However, you said you can't understand how "something can be double or triple the price that I can get anywhere else", and I am telling you. If you don't agree that high overhead shouldn't translate to higher prices, then you'll need to sit in on a business economics course. I will tell you this much, when the rest of their customers finally get fed up with the same high prices that have you annoyed, and stop shopping there as you did, the shop won't lower those prices. The shop will go out of business.

Mike

My business economics courses also taught me that higher overhead does NOT always mean higher prices. Overhead is sort of a "fixed" cost that will not change no matter how much business you are doing (not always though). The high overhead can be spread out over a larger amount of people, so if prices are a bit lower then more people would come to the store. It's sort of like buying Shrimp from Germany.....if you buy 1 or 20 you will pay the same shipping but the total cost gets spread out more so the shrimp become cheaper the more you buy. Lowering prices would bring many more people into the store, me included. Hence, the overhead would be spread out over more people in turn lowering prices. I would say that I have spent close to a 1000 dollars in the last two months setting up my two tanks from scratch and it all could have went to AF but it was spent in other Fish Stores.

If AF gets 100 customers a day and makes 20 dollars off each one then their revenue would be 2000 dollars per day.
If they lowered prices and only made 10 dollars from each person but now 300 customers came in they made 3000 dollars.

Since we are basically arguing economics there really isn't a right answer. If you take 10 economists and stick them in the same room you will get 10 different answers. I am currently dual-majoring in Accounting and Finance so I have learned to be weary of economists because they all have different answers.

[JerseyScape]

Maybe we can chat at the NJAS meeting if I make it this week....

[tazcrash69]

While I do agree that AF has high prices, I will say this:
1) I've seen more different types of fish, and plants there in 1 visit than I have in many of the LFS I've been to in the past.
2) In the reefer community, they are THE place to go for Corals.

JerseyScape, hope you can make the NJAS meeting.

Walter

[JerseyScape]

How does the NJAS meeting work? I am not officially a member but would like to attend this week if possible....

[kotoeloncat]

I go to this store alot, IMO they are rather pricey even in the plants and fishes

but this is the only store so far that ever have been able to supply me with the "legendary" HC (Hemianthus Callitricoides "Cuba").

The HC came in 2 x 2 inchies patches, on special order, expensive but worth it

[JerseyScape]

I was there the other day and was surprised that a 29 gallon cost the same as if I bought it somewhere else. Since my girlfriend wanted to set up a tank , I went there and got a good deal on it. Was very surprised that I bought something there for a change.

[Momotaro]

but this is the only store so far that ever have been able to supply me with the "legendary" HC

AH! So you were the purchaser! Jim told me about that deal!

AF is pricey, but it is good. I have been bringing plants there for store credit for quite some time now.

Since Kamil says the aquarium prices are good, I think I may cash in my credit for another glass box!

Mike

[kotoeloncat]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

AH! So you were the purchaser! Jim told me about that deal!

AF is pricey, but it is good. I have been bringing plants there for store credit for quite some time now.

Since Kamil says the aquarium prices are good, I think I may cash in my credit for another glass box!

Mike

yeah i was the crazy guy who ordered the HC

2 x 2 patch for $18 each

i ordered 3, jim gave me 4 but 1 was in terrible shape, it went kaput
so i really only got 3