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I'll tell you the truth, I work in a local fish store, and I've been working in small pet stores for all of my adult life. I take offense to people telling me about something they purchased in a different shop. I think it shows that the employees care about where they work and what they do if they offense to something like that.
I know I get pretty annoyed when people tell me about other shops.
I just want to say that I never "try" to tell any LFS that I go to somewhere else, it just comes up, or they want to order me something I know I can find elsewhere. When they want me to order, and I say I can find it without waiting, they tend to ask where. I am totally loyal to some stores that are close enough to drive to, they just are not my LFS. So, I do support my LFS instead of taking a long drive. I don't feel that is a bad thing.
Also, one of the two true LFS always tells me to call but puts me on hold for up to 20 min. I rarely stay on the phone that long but if they do that, I will only go if I will be out that way. The other tells me when they are restocking when they don't have something in stock, I go back, they didn't restock more than a few things they said they would.
I am not trying to complain about my LFS's, I am just saying, I will go elsewhere if I need to. I will also go elsewhere if they don't carry what I need. If I come in, make me feel valued, not outcast because you haven't seen me in a bit and ask why, I tell you, and get a guilt trip. Keeps me from coming back. One, in particular, tells me they "are still in business for now". As if me alone is the reason you are not surviving.
I do help all the LFS's in my area and have spent more there than any chain or store that isn't particularly local to me, I rarely buy online either. I am just saying.