How companies can help us with high Live Goods shiping...

vijaym85 · 09/19/2006, 12:40 PM

First if you think that the prices for shipping live goods is cheap then stop reading right now.
If I still have your attention then might I suggest to you all my opinion on how some of the larger companies can help reduce the burden of high shipping costs.
As some of you Liveaquaria customers may know, the company has just removed its free shipping promo on orders over $225 dollars due to gas prices. I personally enjoyed using this offer and found it to be very convenient for me as the total price would then average lower or at least be comparable to my local sore. Tack on the new $40 dollar shipping charge and I can no longer see buying reguarly as being cost efficent. And buying all at once is near impssible as adding that much to a tank at once would shock your system. Also how often is evrything you want available at the same time.
My resolution
How about if you spend X amount of money you get a free live specimen which you could choose from a category of items so that you can choose and not feel forced to get something you don't wnat or cant keep. Myabe something relatively simple and universal like a pack of crabs or a cleaner shrimp, or afrag. Other suggestions are store credit, or say a percentage off on your current order, like 5% for so a _ order or 10% off for a _ order and make it incremental. Also maybe selling the live goods at a reduced cost.

These ideas to me would at least help defray the higher shipping cost until gas prices come down. Most of these bigger places do get their live goods for relatively cheap so giving a free live good item does not seem impossible to me but it does have some negs. like compatability with what you own already plus it probobaly won't be very fancy of a specimen either. But with a moderately large category to choose from one might alleviate this.

This is Just a thought and I still love Liveaquaria by the way. I do understand the dificulty high gas prices have caused them, us and many other retailors. I would like to hear anyone else who has a plan to suggest on how companies can help alleviate these costs. also I am not trying to single Liveaquaria out but felt most would be familliar with them. There are many stores which don't offer free shipping ever regardless of order price, like Marinedepot. So the issue is widepsread I feel.

Hal · 09/19/2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vijaym85
As some of you Liveaquaria customers may know, the company has just removed its free shipping promo on orders over $225 dollars due to gas prices. . .These ideas to me would at least help defray the higher shipping cost until gas prices come down.

Well, in case anybody missed it

gas prices have come down. Let's see if the promo gets reinstated.

MCary · 09/19/2006, 12:52 PM

You need to be careful also when shipping costs are figured into the cost of the livestock. It may not be a good deal. I like ReeferMadness but I'm going to use them as an example anyway. The price of their corals includes shipping. That's great if you want to buy one item. But if your buying 2 or three then you are paying shipping on all three items even though the cost of shipping them is probably the same as a single item.

Mike

RichConley · 09/19/2006, 01:13 PM

That right MCary, and why their fragpacks are a great deal, and their individual frags are expensive.

As to livestock costs offsetting shipping costs, the cost of animals at live aquaria seems to be roughly 30-40% of what they are localy, so once I break that $100 mark, I've more than made up the shipping cost in livestock savings.

vijaym85 · 09/19/2006, 01:36 PM

For me the fish at Liveaquaria are more expensive than LFS and even more so with shipping. Also they tend to be smaller. But I still prefer them due to the quality. all their stuff is well packed and generally very healthy so I really appreciate them in that regard. The corals are however cheaper than my LFS or about the same. Buying a single fish or coral is impossible for me online. If I were to buy a $60 coral and spend $40 on shipping I really be in the red. So I always used to do the $225 plus orders to get the free shipping. But gas is cheaper now than in months so we need to hope they are going to reinstate the program. I just think the above ideas can be a means of help us ,the consumer until such action is implemented.

SDguy · 09/19/2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
As to livestock costs offsetting shipping costs, the cost of animals at live aquaria seems to be roughly 30-40% of what they are localy, .

Wow

I'd say they are about that much MORE than local prices here.

kravi · 09/19/2006, 01:45 PM

Just remember, folks, the stores sending you stuff aren't the one's buying the gasoline. They can't lower prices until the USPS, UPS, FedEx et al lower shipping prices. And, well, most companies don't lower prices once they are raised.

--Me

RichConley · 09/19/2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Wow I'd say they are about that much MORE than local prices here.

I wish it was like that.

Leopard wrasses are like $25 online, theyre $75+ here. Flame angels are $30 online, theyre $50-60 locally, etc. Everything is cheaper on LA.

As to the person who made a comment of things being small from LA, I disagree. All of the fish I've ordered have been much larger than expected, including the "small" melanurus wrasse ($25, vs $50 local) that came in at just over 5"

vijaym85 · 09/19/2006, 07:55 PM

the animals I have recived were turely very small. i recall receiveing a flame angel that as maybe less than an inch for about $38. I have purchased 4inch flames for 29.99 at my LFS when on sale. Their flames are not $30 online to the person who said they were. Same goes for every fish I buy with them All very small. My LFS is the cheapest but not always healthy. I always get them to feed them now. Since doing that I have been fine. i dont go crazy with buying fish from them. Live aquaria. I really prefer to buy corals. My LFS imports stuff themselves so They have the cheapest prices anywhere just not always perfect healthy since they dont quarantine like how LA has. Plus LA has an awesome gaurntee. Best anywhere.

Hal · 09/19/2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kravi
And, well, most companies don't lower prices once they are raised.

--Me

Yeah, that was my point.

09/19/2006, 12:40 PM	#1
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	How companies can help us with high Live Goods shiping... First if you think that the prices for shipping live goods is cheap then stop reading right now. If I still have your attention then might I suggest to you all my opinion on how some of the larger companies can help reduce the burden of high shipping costs. As some of you Liveaquaria customers may know, the company has just removed its free shipping promo on orders over $225 dollars due to gas prices. I personally enjoyed using this offer and found it to be very convenient for me as the total price would then average lower or at least be comparable to my local sore. Tack on the new $40 dollar shipping charge and I can no longer see buying reguarly as being cost efficent. And buying all at once is near impssible as adding that much to a tank at once would shock your system. Also how often is evrything you want available at the same time. My resolution How about if you spend X amount of money you get a free live specimen which you could choose from a category of items so that you can choose and not feel forced to get something you don't wnat or cant keep. Myabe something relatively simple and universal like a pack of crabs or a cleaner shrimp, or afrag. Other suggestions are store credit, or say a percentage off on your current order, like 5% for so a _ order or 10% off for a _ order and make it incremental. Also maybe selling the live goods at a reduced cost. These ideas to me would at least help defray the higher shipping cost until gas prices come down. Most of these bigger places do get their live goods for relatively cheap so giving a free live good item does not seem impossible to me but it does have some negs. like compatability with what you own already plus it probobaly won't be very fancy of a specimen either. But with a moderately large category to choose from one might alleviate this. This is Just a thought and I still love Liveaquaria by the way. I do understand the dificulty high gas prices have caused them, us and many other retailors. I would like to hear anyone else who has a plan to suggest on how companies can help alleviate these costs. also I am not trying to single Liveaquaria out but felt most would be familliar with them. There are many stores which don't offer free shipping ever regardless of order price, like Marinedepot. So the issue is widepsread I feel.

09/19/2006, 01:13 PM	#4
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	That right MCary, and why their fragpacks are a great deal, and their individual frags are expensive. As to livestock costs offsetting shipping costs, the cost of animals at live aquaria seems to be roughly 30-40% of what they are localy, so once I break that $100 mark, I've more than made up the shipping cost in livestock savings. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

09/19/2006, 12:52 PM	#3
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	You need to be careful also when shipping costs are figured into the cost of the livestock. It may not be a good deal. I like ReeferMadness but I'm going to use them as an example anyway. The price of their corals includes shipping. That's great if you want to buy one item. But if your buying 2 or three then you are paying shipping on all three items even though the cost of shipping them is probably the same as a single item. Mike

09/19/2006, 01:36 PM	#5
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	For me the fish at Liveaquaria are more expensive than LFS and even more so with shipping. Also they tend to be smaller. But I still prefer them due to the quality. all their stuff is well packed and generally very healthy so I really appreciate them in that regard. The corals are however cheaper than my LFS or about the same. Buying a single fish or coral is impossible for me online. If I were to buy a $60 coral and spend $40 on shipping I really be in the red. So I always used to do the $225 plus orders to get the free shipping. But gas is cheaper now than in months so we need to hope they are going to reinstate the program. I just think the above ideas can be a means of help us ,the consumer until such action is implemented.

09/19/2006, 01:45 PM	#7
kravi Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 114	Just remember, folks, the stores sending you stuff aren't the one's buying the gasoline. They can't lower prices until the USPS, UPS, FedEx et al lower shipping prices. And, well, most companies don't lower prices once they are raised. --Me

09/19/2006, 07:55 PM	#9
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	the animals I have recived were turely very small. i recall receiveing a flame angel that as maybe less than an inch for about $38. I have purchased 4inch flames for 29.99 at my LFS when on sale. Their flames are not $30 online to the person who said they were. Same goes for every fish I buy with them All very small. My LFS is the cheapest but not always healthy. I always get them to feed them now. Since doing that I have been fine. i dont go crazy with buying fish from them. Live aquaria. I really prefer to buy corals. My LFS imports stuff themselves so They have the cheapest prices anywhere just not always perfect healthy since they dont quarantine like how LA has. Plus LA has an awesome gaurntee. Best anywhere.