Support you local Supplier
July 11, 2008
Matilda is away in Sweden at the moment and having some problems getting on the internet. So I thought I might write something.
I have read a number of articles saying you should support your local suppler, they all make a lot of sense. We were always going to do this anyway… I’m the opposite of a lot of people, rather than go and look in the shops and then buy things cheaper online, I tend to look online and then go and get them from a real person in a shop, even if I have to pay a bit more. I think this is especially important when buying something like fish!
And besides, these are Matilda’s fish, she will buy them with her pocket money. As they don’t let 6 year olds drive, we needed to find a good retailer within walking distance.
We actually got the idea about getting her an aquarium while in a local pet shop and I though I could take her to a large aquatic centre in the next town where I used to spend my lunch hours many years ago. Un be known to me, there was a tropical fish dealer just a few doors down from the pet shop – Fishy Friends. This is a superb shop with fantastic staff who are really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. This is definitely a tropical fish supplier that installs trust.
During the last few weeks we have popped in and visited other local stores, including a very large one and somehow, the fish there don’t look as healthy and content as they do in Fishy Friends.
Anyway, now I’ll get to the point. Yesterday I was out and about visiting garden centres looking for some natural slate for Matilda’s Aquarium, when I found myself in Pitsea, and I remembered there is a place there called Pets at Home where Matilda’s Mum and I went many years ago not long after it opened. I remember her looking at the tropical fish then and saying she would like some… so I decided to pop in.
Now I realize why so many people say that you should find a trusted local supplier. The state of some of the fish tanks was a disgrace. Some had cloudy water, a couple were thick with algae… I can’t believe they got this way overnight. I know these are common problems, but they are basic problems and if anybody can sort them out, you would think a pet shop can.
Obviously I think it’s a great idea to get tropical fish for children, but they are not toys. Nor should they be treated as a commodity by a franchise store.
Entry Filed under: Dad Says. Tags: Aquatics, Basildon, Essex, Fishy Friends, Supplier, supplies, tropical fish.
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed