33 replies to this topic

[Mr_docfish]

I just did this same operation (took 10 seconds) and the Vet in this article charged $200 to do exactly the same.....

removing a tumour from a goldfish's eye by removing the eye

So more proof that LFS and persons like myself are not remunerated for the knowledge and abilities when you compare us to "learned" Veterinarians.... so to those that think LFS are expensive - *coughs profanities*.


hehehehehehe had my rant.....

[Cawdor]

Vets have to pay off their degree loans

[Kieran]

So does Oliver I believe

[Mr_docfish]

I had to pay my HECS fees too for my BSc degree...... and I did not get Austudy during that time - I had to work part time, which forced me to extend the length of study time by studying part time in between working..... so my 3 year degree took me 5 years.... I could not afford it otherwise..... I have never ever received financial handouts from the government during my study years.....

Now I own a small business, and all the government is interested in is how much they can suck out of me via AQIS fees & charges and taxes.....

Are there any other self employed people out there that feel they are not being paid what they are worth - when you combine academic knowledge, age and experience?

[Cawdor]

Well my comment was a little tongue in cheek, but $135k is nothing to take lightly.

As a serious point though, the same can be said about electricians and any other trade. Yes I can do the job myself (to a point), but law requires that a licensed electrician does all electrical work on my house. So I have to pay for someone's expertise and time.
Same can be said for vets, you are paying them for a professional service. In this case it may have been a simple operation, but in other cases it may not be as straight forward and that's when a vet's experience and education may come in. At the end of the day there are professions where you pay for a professional service. Lawyers, doctors, vets etc. My lawyer charged $220 for half an hour just to listen and go over basic stuff. They charge god knows how much just to write a basic letter, or to take a phone call!

So on first glance it may seem unfair that he gets to charge that much when you can do the same thing, but that's the way it is with higher educations and professional services. Personally I would trust people like yourself more than a vet when it comes to fish, simply because you deal with it every day. A vet may only see a fish once a year unless he's a specialist

Edit: I didn't watch the video so I don't know the vet's level of skill.

[Mr_docfish]

Did not mean to bite Tim..... I knew you were jj......

but what I did was exactly the same, and I did it for nothing.... with my $10 dissecting kit from my Uni days.....

I give heaps of advice and spend hours of my time to talk to people, and yet I always hear that quite a number of people prefer to buy from online stores or do group buys from over seas cause LFS are too expensive...... what they do not understand is that we live on the sales of our products to cover the time for the advice given.....

In all my years, I can count on two hands, how often I got a good tip or a kickback while working (now owning my own shop, I get kickbacks in favour of big discounts). And yet, while I was in Sydney - working in hospitality in a restaurant and a hotel, I got tipped regularly.... like it was expected... and I had very little experience in that field.... this industry is very under-rated in that sense.

I think, if staff were rewarded more often, we would get better, more educated staff in this industry.....

[Kieran]

I think, if staff were rewarded more often, we would get better, more educated staff in this industry.....

I think that goes for many industries. Like I used to get tipped as a pizza delivery boy (not worth it if anyone is considering doing it), but my current employer can terminate my employment if I take kickbacks or rewards or supplier gifts or anything.

And now I'm halfway through my 3rd year of my 4 year degree, stretched out to 6 years because I have to pay the rent and put food on my table (and in my fish ) so I understand a little.

[Cawdor]

Absolutely agree Oliver, online stores do not have to listen to customers and give free advice only to watch the customer walk out the door without having bought anything.
Maybe you should put a tip jar on the counter

[Ivan Sng]

Oliver is doing it out of love and compassion for both the fish and the owner... $200 is a lot to pay for an operation on a pet goldfish... I don't really like to visit vet because it always feels like I have entered the vampire lair... every little thing I will need to bleed to pay for it... and they know you don't really have much of a choice, because you love your pet...

[Leaf Fish]

Hi Oliver,
I will come down and see you on the weekend and bring you a cheese platter, I heard that cheese is great to go with a good whine!

[werdna]

A vet would probably have to pay alot in malpractice insurance that they would have to cover.
People like to sue vets if they stuff up and kill a racing horse/show dog etc

I saved someone $14,000 in penalties that I managed to get reversed. Took me about 6 hours all up. I felt sorry for the position they were in, so instead of charging the normal hourly rate I only charged him $220.
He complained that I charged him, he wanted the work done for free. But if I hadnt done it, he would have been slugged with the extra penalties.

Everyone wants everything done for free, and then complain that you dont get the service you used to.
Everyone complains about jobs going overseas, but then refuse to buy australian made cos it is too expensive.

I work on a commission system, I only get paid when my invoices are. Everyday I listen to people coming up with reasons why they cant afford to pay the bill right now.
If I call them and say I cant afford my bills, how about you pay yours they threaten to use someone else.

[Salpon]

I think a lot of people will regularly shop at LFSs which give good advice. There are so many that don't.

I don't think LFSs are expensive, but the hobby sure is!

[Warby]

Some LFS are expensive (one, not too far from Vebas, in particular always seems far more expensive than the others)... and some products are much more expensive here vs overseas, with little obvious reason for this. From what I've seen though there is little difference in price here in aus between LFS & OLFS.

When an item can be sourced from overseas for 1/2-2/3 of the price though, possibly saving hundreds of dollars, I do not think it is at all unreasonable for people to take this route - LFS owners and employees have to put food on their tables, but so do we as customers and it's natural that we will go to where we get the best value for money.

I personally make most of my purchases from LFS, because the price difference on the items that I purchase is negligble. In situations where I either cannot find the exact product I want at a LFS or the product can be had much cheaper from an OLFS or o/s, I won't hesitate going there.

-Dave

[OrangeBemba]

"(one, not too far from Vebas, in particular always seems far more expensive than the others)"

I haven't found this at all.
To be honest I would have to say the total opposite regarding prices

Strange isn’t it.

Guess it just depends on what you’re looking for.

[Oscar Love]

Excuse my ignorance....
What is LFS & OLFS?

[golden_dase]

LFS = Local Fish Shop / Aquarium store
OLFS = Online Local (to some) Fish Shop

[Cawdor]

We have a list of abbreviations and their meaning here too:

http://www.perthcich...showtopic=25572

[Oscar Love]

OH ok, cheers guys

Does anyone specialize in HITH for Oscars?

[Mr_docfish]

OH ok, cheers guys

Does anyone specialize in HITH for Oscars?

Aquotix Aquariums can help - but they are SOR (South of the River)

HTH (Hope this Helps)

Cheers,
Oliver

[bigjohnnofish]

if people dont support their local fishop they will eventually go under... and then where would you go and look at buying new fish... ???

who cares if it costs you an extra couple bucks for your dry goods.... $2 bucks dont even buy you a beer at the pub... but that $2 will go a long way to supporting your LFS...