Canadian LFS shops

[Mr31415]

It is a factor - not major but certainly not negligible. It is one of the very few things (bar photography) that allows me to take my mind off my work from time to time.

It sounds like you guys have it much better than over here. To give you an idea - AFAIK this is our biggest shop in the country:

Exotic Aquaroums

The store

And I am not aware of one online vendor.

[DogfoodEnforcer]

my LFS is J&L Aquatics www.jlaquatics.com just outside of Vancouver. the quality there (at least IMO) is pretty good and the prices are good as well. it's the best in the area i would say.

[dendro982]

Equipment is cheaper in US - I ordered my skimmers, pumps, lights, ozone generator with controller, and Nano-Cubes from US. Even with shipping, customs and waiting it is a much better deal.

Customers service depends on category, customer is classified into by the stuff of any store, and of shift too.

I'll talk about chain stores:
Had problem with negative treatment first half of year too, and even now, after spending thousands by me, they greet a newcomer (family member) as a preferred customer. Good for converting into reefing, but hurts.
Saturday/Monday shift, after changing personnel more, that year ago, is competent and not hostile. Sunday - higher prices and downward treatment.

You will choose your own poison and vote by your wallet

Could be better. Mississauga stores are too far, together with their lines, and no mail order with corals of interest. Still with masses, after shopping once in a cheaper specialty shop

[Rosseau]

These links may be of interest.

They are boards sponsored by Canadian reef related businesses.


http://frags.ca/

http://aquariacanada.com/

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/

There are a few mail/delivery services for coral frags. 2 that I have used.

http://fragalot.ca/

http://wickedfrags.com/

I haven't used...

http://fragfactory.ca/


These guys are pretty big for ordering dry goods. You can browse some pricing here. http://mops.ca/

http://oceanaquatics.com/store/go/about-us/

http://oceanaquatics.com/store/go/about-us/

I'm a Canadian who was fortunate enough to spend around a month touring South Africa. I wished I could have stayed longer, yet I was there long enough to know that South Africans fit in nicely here in Canada - come on over !

[Mr31415]

Rosseau - thanks

[dendro982]

OOT (moderators, sorry - I will never do that again):

Mr31415, if you are serious about immigration, consider to find the job first, unless it is a matter of physical survival, or you can start the own business and live an year without salary.

The unemployment at speciality is high between specialists with university degrees, and new and new Canadian specialists are graduating each year, with no qualified jobs to accept them all. Canadian experience is usually required too.

I know PhD, working in physical labor - all day long on the feet (I'm serious), 2 hrs to the job one-way.
Software engineering, Canadian graduate - the same, and when people leave this job, the amount of work is distributed between those, who is still there, without thank you or increase of pay.
M.Sc. biologist - only temporary physical work with toxic materials without protection is available, and even this - rarely. There are always somebody younger, not overqualified (this is bad, as I learned), with better Canadian customer service skills, or plainly more fit for a physical labor or servicing at all.
Beware.

[Mr31415]

Thanks for the heads up. I am not planning on going there without having a solid job offer. Am working on that as we speak. Starting my own business is what I'd like to do eventually, but I am not sure it is a good idea if I have not made any contacts yet.