i find they have the most knowledgeable staff. also some of the people that work at SOG really know their shit. some just are there to unload pallets of FFOF. i usually go to the best deal because i do all my research prior to buying a product. i find SOG has the best prices on nutrients especially with added discounts and such. equipment is a little harder. all the big established stores will rape you on lights, fans, etc. if you go to the smaller shops they are usually willing to deal. i bought a 600 hps for the same price i saw online because i asked the guy if he would price match and he said yeah. there are also certain products that can only be found with certain stores. homegrown for instance is the main dealer of hydrofarm equipment and canna nutrients. SOG distributes sunsystem and CAP products and the shop on 24th and thomas is the only place i have found cyco nutrients. above all though i woul stick with one store and show them your loyalty. growers are returning customers who are always buying more nutrients, equippment, soil, etc. the stores know this and want to keep you as a regular. i go to SOG mostly and i have developed relationships with a few guys that worked there. i was in there the other day picking up some hygrozyme or something and i started asking about a new line of nutes coming out from advanced (jungle juice). i was talking to the guy about it for a while. he said they just got some in stock and brought out 3-1 liter bottles of the grow, bloom and micro. in the end i go to pay and he does not charge me for the 3 bottles, says they have not come out yet and they are not in his system so he wont charge me. hooks it up for nothing, i did not even ask or hint at all. this kind of customer service makes me wanna go and buy my next bottle of nutes from them rather than anyone else.