| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SaltyTurtle |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 23:59:11
I'll make my personal opinion clear, I buy a LOT of stuff online. I've just got into snakes, and have bought a mixture of things from a mixture of places. The bulky substrate I'll buy from a shop, chuck in the car, the frozen food, I'll buy from a shop, the snake itself, I bought from a shop.
But the vivarium, 2 x dimmer/pulse thermostats, various lamp holders, lamps, ceramic heaters, etc etc, all bought from online discounters, and why not? They were all items I got way cheaper than the local shops tired to sell them to me for!
Let's explore this argument from a less self-centric point of view:
I have a degree of sympathy for the small high street retailer/specialist.
They don't have lots of money.
They don't have 1000's of customers per week buying from them.
They don't have huge volume discounts from the wholesalers, because hey can't but '1000 of everything'.
They have to pay business rates, high electricity bills to keep the shop warm enough for racks and mats, with customers wafting in & out leaving the door open.
They can get lumbered with stock, and end up having to reduce that sun-faded old Lucky Reptile Pro Controller after 2 years of people ignoring it.
They suffer occasional theft, vandalism, and have to tolerate the public using them as a 'showroom' to have a look, cop a feel, ask all the relevent questions, and then go and order the same thing online.
This is why they (the high street) are struggling, and gradually dying out.
No, THIS is why the high street is dying out:
Internet/Mail Order companies (like the ones I have mentioned, and buy most of my stuff from)
Get incredible supply discounts for bulk ordering.
Are cash rich.
Have dedicated online/telesales staff to handle enquiries / orders.
Have good deals from the couriers/delivery companies.
Have vast warehouses full of current stock.
ARE CHEAPER AS A RESULT!
It's a vicious circle. The more slick these big boys get, the easier it is to use them, and way cheaper. The problem is, when Boomer's local shop had sold him a load of overpriced gear, they were probably looking to make a huge margin, because he might have been the best customer of the day. When it came to the Thermostat, he was hoping to make maybe £30 profit on that item, whereas Swell or Surrey or 888 might make £7, but they sell 30 a day, you see?
It'll be sad if the smaller places die out, and I can see why they try to be 'greedy', because each sale is a rarity and an opportunity to cover wages/overheads etc.
But think about it, if we all keep buying from online retailers while politely telling Mr Shopkeeper that "we'll think about it", then they won't know what they're doing wrong.
I say we need these shops, I wouldn't have a snake, or be on here if it wasn't for walking into a reptile shop by chance one lunch time and being casually handed a Boa to hold. I took a photo of it coiled around my wrist, and couldn't get the idea of owning one out of my mind, it was a life changing moment.
Looking at pictures of snakes on the internet, or watching videos on YouTube just wouldn't have snared me in like the 'hands on' experience in that shop gave me.
We need these shops, but we need to save our pennies too, so we should ALWAYS give these people/small businesses a CHANCE to compete for the business. Maybe they CAN get within a few quid of www.cheapreptilestuff.com IF YOU ASK and EXPLAIN what you are able to get it for online.
Don't be apologetic, ask them if they can match it, if they (most likely can't) ask them what their best price would be, and then make a decision whether to pay a fraction more with the peace of mind that buying locally has its advantages too:
You get to walk away with the product there & then.
You don't have to try to be in when they deliver or go to a depot to collect it when you're not.
You get to take it back without incurring Returns Forms and Postage Charges (not to mention the red tape and delay) if it's broken, or not fit for purpose.
You can see the actual thing you're buying (useful if you don't know how big a certain thing is, in the flesh, so to speak).
You can get a demonstration of how to use it, both when you buy, and when you go back scratching your head because you've made a basic mistake.
You build a relationship which means in future, maybe after not too long, you have a friend, who's an expert, who can help you, give advice, 'take a look at this for me' and all the other one to one help you can't get from a call centre.
I'm not saying I'm prepared to pay more for stuff just to help some small shopkeeper buy a new car every year. I am however prepared to sacrifice a few percent here & there to have a relationship with an expert who KNOWS who you are, and knows your snake/s.
These are the people that you can turn to for advice in a crisis, because you're a CUSTOMER.
If you never spend any money in their shop, why would they go the extra mile to help you out?
I wouldn't!  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 19:20:23
Ah yes, the freezer space is a big factor - atm I have a small corn on pinkies, a larger corn on hoppers, one corn on medium mice, a few corns on large mice, and a gopher and 3 royals on varying size rats ...
AND larger sizes for them to grow into/that the others have left behind - bit chaotic tbh! And not a lot of freezer space for me!
It will calm down eventually.
One thing about A&N - with them breeding their own, even though they list 'pack quantities' - if you're ordering a boxful and just want say twenty pinks instead of the usual pack of 50, they're happy to provide this. I might order several sizes and say 'can you fill up the box with small rats' and they'll do this. Hope this helps. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 19:03:05
quote:
Originally posted by Lotabob
I can't believe i've never checked this out before, though i don't have enough mouths to feed to make it worth while it just shows the mark up in shops0. I dont have a massive freezer and they dont go big enough for Duke and Sanke will be getting up in that realm soon too but for the owner with lots of corn snakes this sort of thing would save them a fortune.
Thats why i was looking into it,small weaner rats near me are £1.20 or something,and the size of rabbits LOL.Large mice are tiny and ex large are large and most deformed in the bags.
60/70p for a pinkie  its not even funny when you think about it..Anyway to make ordering online worth it,id have to order like 100 of each,and i just won't use that many.Then theres the space to put them,Which i don't have :( |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 18:30:32
I can't believe i've never checked this out before, though i don't have enough mouths to feed to make it worth while it just shows the mark up in shops0. I dont have a massive freezer and they dont go big enough for Duke and Sanke will be getting up in that realm soon too but for the owner with lots of corn snakes this sort of thing would save them a fortune. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 18:17:58
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
Ah, lol, thanks Bob!
Yup - home of micicles and mice lollies!
Thanks I will check if its worth me doing. |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 17:54:08
Ah, lol, thanks Bob!
Yup - home of micicles and mice lollies! |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 17:52:27
Hi, it's A&N Frozen foods in Suffolk - I'm useless at posting links but you can easily find them via google.
Can't speak highly enough of them for price, reliability, quality.
Only thing is, you may see some items marked out of stock, but try ringing - the mobile gets answered more readily than the landline. If you're prepared to wait a few days, they'll tell you when they have, say, small rats available (they breed their own) and give you priority. And they're very helpful about advising how to fill a polybox to maximum so you get best value. And if you click on the 'what we do' heading, there's a table of approximate weights.
Someone did a price breakdown a while back on the online delivered frozen foods and found these the cheapest. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 17:50:27
http://anfrozenfoods.co.uk/
Thats a link to M-Iceland, because Mums know best. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 17:45:03
quote:
If you can order in bulk and have the freezer space or share an order/delivery costs with friends, frozen food online does work out cheaper.
Where do you buy them from bats,can you share the link please?
About the shop thing,they might have overheads,But they make huge profits on each item..The only thing where they don't is cigarettes stuff like that (I no not reptile)
Cork bark for example.My local shop is selling each bit for like £10 to £20..Now they buy that for £20 a pallet.or £20 per whatever kg it is.Now etc pallet might only have 5 bits..but sometimes its like 30 plus bits.
Cost to them:£20
lets say theres 10 bits that cost them £20.and they sell each for £12,thats £100 profit.
Lets talk about stats,if surrey pet supplies can sell a pulse stat for £31.08,how much do you think they purchased it for?
Then a shop £55,you can see what im getting at |
| SaltyTurtle |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:52:46
I can see I'll get no support from anyone on this. You're a bunch of close pals, and I am the outsider, as you've made it quite clear.
Since you're all rounding on me, and I can see the 'get the boot in' mentality begin, I'll slip off now and spend some time looking at my snake, (or at least play 'guess which hide he's under, lol)
Have fun! |
| Laws |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:50:12
LOL! well im in brum and ur in ireland , so i take ur word :P |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:49:17
That the shops are shut lol, glad you agree Muhahahaha |
| Laws |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:45:30
agree with what u put bob |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:44:46
On subject though, i needed crickets, went to 2 different reptile shops an BOTH were closed today, now the road was dug up outside one of them so its understandable but the other just appears to not open on a Sunday. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:42:34
quote:
Originally posted by SaltyTurtle
Seriously, seek help. I can see why his girlfriend dumped him to be honest.
A totally uncalled for response Saltly. You have to realise that Kelf is a very well respected member of this forum and your responses to his initial post annoyed me too. I'm sure that Kelf's angry response is only due to the way you questioned his motives without the foggiest idea of the background, not condoning his response but I know its been a very tough decsion to let his baby Boa's go the way he had to so i can understand his reaction to your comments.
This is normally a drama free, fun forum, we have enough drama keeping Royals to drag it over to the forum too. We aren't just on here for snakes, its a common interest but its the people on here too that make it what it is.
Please consider that you are talking to actual people which can sometimes be forgotten in a forum environment. |
| Laws |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:33:19
wow heated thread , this forum isnt just about snakes, we all have spent a good deal of time following peoples new additions , the the mile stones and problems achievements that follow with keeping snakes and in turn all become good friends, theres lots of regulars on here , and u get to kno the people as well as their snakes . lets get back to the original thread title about reptile shops vs online , kelf did a fab job with the boas he had , alot of time effort and money went into bringing those babies up , and 8 quid each is really low for how gorgeous they are but at the end of the day when situations come up and change things sometimes u have to do what u have to do .
i buy most of my stuff from a rep shop by me , i dont tend to get them off line as im not home much to be there for the day they get posted etc . |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:27:49
I love the way you went back to edit that post 5 minutes later just to include the personal insult. |
| SaltyTurtle |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:06:19
quote:
Originally posted by Kelfezond
The forum is a place I have a lot of friends.
I gave my opinion of shop keepers, you didn't like it and decided to make a bunch of stupid assumptions hence why I called you stupid.
I dont give a flying **** what you think about me but I dont like my name being slandered when it comes to how I acted with my boas by some ****ing **** like you. I didn't post here to bring any drama to anybody I posted on my own experiences of reptile shops, if you look in the forum section about reptile shops you'll see i've given favourable views to some in the past as well, and if you bother to look at any of my previous posts you'll see the only post in over a thousand that has been about me and not snake keeping was the one aimed at my friends explaining my abcense from the forum
Thanks for listening now go **** yourself.
See what I mean? ^^^^
Seriously, seek help. I can see why his girlfriend dumped him to be honest. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:04:11
The forum is a place I have a lot of friends.
I gave my opinion of shop keepers, you didn't like it and decided to make a bunch of stupid assumptions hence why I called you stupid.
I dont give a flying **** what you think about me but I dont like my name being slandered when it comes to how I acted with my boas by some ****ing **** like you. I didn't post here to bring any drama to anybody I posted on my own experiences of reptile shops, if you look in the forum section about reptile shops you'll see i've given favourable views to some in the past as well, and if you bother to look at any of my previous posts you'll see the only post in over a thousand that has been about me and not snake keeping was the one aimed at my friends explaining my abcense from the forum
Thanks for listening now go **** yourself. |
| SaltyTurtle |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 16:02:59
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
No, not trying to cast you as the villain - or to mediate either.
But I think we have all got the right to our own viewpoint - we all had our say and it was all different and that adds to the interest. Let's leave it at that maybe?
I'm sorry to hear you too have had mental health problems - and I mean that because I have too. Sometimes personal details do slip out, even when they may not be relevant to the forum subject. Often forums like this are an important part of a person's social life - especially when life in the world is going badly for them. Again I speak from my own experience. For me, and I suspect others too, this forum is a 'warm place' with friends we can trust. It's a friendly place and I think that I can safely say that none of us want it to be otherwise.
And I hope you will stay here and find it a friendly place too.
Just for the record, I said "I've been through some bad times in my life". By this I meant some tough breaks and some bad situations.
I haven't thankfully had any mental health problems, and am very grateful of the fact. I am truly supportive of those who do suffer, in the right context of course.
Aaaaahhhhh (deep breath). |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 15:51:39
No, not trying to cast you as the villain - or to mediate either.
But I think we have all got the right to our own viewpoint - we all had our say and it was all different and that adds to the interest. Let's leave it at that maybe?
I'm sorry to hear you too have had mental health problems - and I mean that because I have too. Sometimes personal details do slip out, even when they may not be relevant to the forum subject. Often forums like this are an important part of a person's social life - especially when life in the world is going badly for them. Again I speak from my own experience. For me, and I suspect others too, this forum is a 'warm place' with friends we can trust. It's a friendly place and I think that I can safely say that none of us want it to be otherwise.
And I hope you will stay here and find it a friendly place too. |
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