Fish store owners

FlyinBryan

FlyinBryan

New member
Ive met 6 fish store owners through out the Chicago area and ALL of them are people i would never want to associate myself with let alone di business at their stores. I talk to alot of arrogant people but these guys take the cake. Inhelpful, flippant, arrogant, and rude. With no concept of customer service whatsoever!! It litterally is shocking.

Ive got one guy in the Chicago area i do business with. He's made $1,000's off of me, seriously. I refuse to do business with any of these other guys because of their horrid attitudes.

Just had to vent because it really is disappointing that the fish industry is filled with these guys.

No wonder more people do not get in to this hobby. I have no idea how these guys stay open. $.02
 
I didnt want to give names..the point was that it seems endemic in the fish world. Why are names important? It seems to be an overall pervasive attitude.
 
I think you've had some bad luck not visiting the right places. The folks at the places I shop at are really grounded and the opposite of everything you described. If I ran across the people you're describing, I'd feel the same way.
 
I've been dealing with the 3 brothers at Coral Reef for over 25 years. Really nice bunch of guys! I don't even want to fathom how much $$$ they've made off me, yet they still cut deals, take back old fish, even replace things they usually won't guarantee.
 
Id feel the same but when someone is like that with me at a shop I just won't go back. Before I used to go back and forth between two shops because of this and because they where the closest. Now I take my business to another place that opened up and even tho I drive a bit further I don't mind because from day one they where nice and remember me everytime I walk in even if it's not by name but they remember me.


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Don't worry, places like that eventually run their customers away, lose business, and have to close up shop. Keep your head up, all of them aren't like that.
 
while I would never condone any store owner treating you (or anyone for that matter) in the way you described above OP, it is also unfortunate that a lot of reefers act the very same way and sometimes owners and employees alter their selling habits based on their own bad experiences.
Again, this is not to condone their actions, but rather to understand that hobbyists are at times no better themselves, and since we are all "just human", we all react differently to one another.

May we ask which store you DO like? I can understand you not wanting to cast negative comments at a specific store(s) but see no reason you would not want to praise a good one :)
 
I actually really like aquarium adventure, i dont mind paying a bit more. Plus the guy is now a friend of mine we txt back and forth all the time.
 
Most LFS in Chicago area in my experience are doing good job and their owners are very friendly and knowledgeable. There are only two stores that will never get my business and unfortunately the one you like is on this list. They are horrible in keeping livestock ( most of their aquariums are overrun with cyano ,and fish don't look good at all) and way too expensive. I too don't mind paying more, but only for a healthy livestock and great service. I had totally opposite experience in Aquarium Adventure than you.
 
I second Mark's negative experience on AA...at least the on in schaumburg...always overrun with cyano and fish never look good. Their big display tanks have cardinals with their tails completely missing. Unreal...but maybe you go to a different one
 
I'll hit up AA when I know they have the half off sale. Their fish will usually be just a bit better in price than LiveAquaria, without the shipping charge. The trick is buying a healthy looking fish. I got a fat 4" long golden Midas for $30 on the sale, still doing just fine! My currently longest kept fish, a fancy Occelaris, also came from them on a half off sale for $10. Some of the people there may not be most knowledgable in saltwater since when they get busy, the freshies help out in the salt aisle, but if you NEED an answer they will get someone that can help. I have never met an unfriendly employee/manager there.

I've got a very short list of local places that will not get my business, but I am not going to "out" those places publicly as I may have just had a bad experience at an otherwise great establishment. On the other hand, I will never hesitate to promote or defend a place that I feel is worth my time and money.
 
Best Fish in Milwaukee has awesome owners. They just had a customer appreciation barbecue with free food and $2800 in prizes. How many places do that? I also think Midwest Coral Farm is an excellent establishment. Those are my two places.
 
I have to say I have eaten crow in my snap judgments on at least 2 stores. So far, when I have given a second chance I was very pleased by my second visit. I think so often boutique retail owners are primarily aficinados of the hobby/industry the sell to and are maybe not sales/business people by nature. Hopefully some of the less pleasing experiences can be redeemed by an additional visit. (unless they chase you out of their parking lot).
 
We are all flawed people. I have had a lot of great experiences with my LFS. The owner of my LFS is a quiet guy. If you didn't know that about him you could mistake his quietness for aloofness. He's a great guy though. You might want to make sure your perceptions aren't misperceptions.
 
poidog said:
Names/LSF or this thread is useless.
Click to expand...

I agree with Eric. Without names this thread has no weight.

I've been to most of the Chicagoland stores and the majority of them are run by awesome folks. There are 3 I will not visit because of prices, which include Aquatica, Old Orchard and Old Town and 2 that I think need to work on their customer service skills (Coral Reef and Oak Park Natural Fish). I've never had problems at Gold Aquarium, MCF, Reefwise, AquaPros, Reefcity, Best Fish, Living Sea, Global Aquatics or Premium Aquatics.

I'm not scared to put a shop on blast if it will help my fellow reefers from making a mistake or avoid trouble. All of the shops in the latter list know me by name and face (or Daisy). And I only go back to Aquatica to browse, need something specific to his shop or to look at Mario's arms. That is it!
 
lol. Mario is a great guy. He is a bit higher priced but he will drop prices if your willing to spend money. Although his store is busy he still remembers tanks and names. My favorite store is Aquapros. Dave is a humble, knowledgeable young guy, who is simply awesome. I think sometimes we look way too hard for the best deal. When we should be supporting our LFS. A store that I absolutely cannot stand is the Chicago Reptile House. Both owners dont have time for anybody unless your spending big money. They also cherry pick every good item from shipments and take it home. Dont tell them any problems or whatever going on with your tank. He will turn around and try and sell you something. when you reply im good on that he just walks off. I get the feeling that im annoying or something when i go there. Why is talking about what your store is for annoying? Every once in a while i get a couple hundred to blow and I will choose Aquatica over any other store. Mario has so much in stock all the time. you cant leave disappointed.

It 2006 I brought them a clutch of ball pythons. Pretty fancy stuff back then. I had more then 30 snakes and animal plastic cages mostly from them. over ten thousand dollars. I take home a snake he gives me. after all the warning signs and vet bills I lost thousands in livestock. I had givin them clutches of eggs to incubate for me. I never saw a picture, profit, or pick of litter. I was absolutely scammed. He told me my eggs were not viable. I told him that i flashlight every egg before coming by and that i wanted the non viable eggs back. After hanging around for a while. I eventually learned he sold my snakes the day after they hatched to a breeder in OH. Turns out he made 5 thousand. 3 Bumblebee pythons. at the time went for $2000 each. not to mention the other morphs that prolly came with the litter. I have been back a handful of times and when i see Brian i want to puke!
 
m.miller1547 said:
lol. Mario is a great guy. He is a bit higher priced but he will drop prices if your willing to spend money. Although his store is busy he still remembers tanks and names. My favorite store is Aquapros. Dave is a humble, knowledgeable young guy, who is simply awesome. I think sometimes we look way too hard for the best deal. When we should be supporting our LFS. A store that I absolutely cannot stand is the Chicago Reptile House. Both owners dont have time for anybody unless your spending big money. They also cherry pick every good item from shipments and take it home. Dont tell them any problems or whatever going on with your tank. He will turn around and try and sell you something. when you reply im good on that he just walks off. I get the feeling that im annoying or something when i go there. Why is talking about what your store is for annoying? Every once in a while i get a couple hundred to blow and I will choose Aquatica over any other store. Mario has so much in stock all the time. you cant leave disappointed.

It 2006 I brought them a clutch of ball pythons. Pretty fancy stuff back then. I had more then 30 snakes and animal plastic cages mostly from them. over ten thousand dollars. I take home a snake he gives me. after all the warning signs and vet bills I lost thousands in livestock. I had givin them clutches of eggs to incubate for me. I never saw a picture, profit, or pick of litter. I was absolutely scammed. He told me my eggs were not viable. I told him that i flashlight every egg before coming by and that i wanted the non viable eggs back. After hanging around for a while. I eventually learned he sold my snakes the day after they hatched to a breeder in OH. Turns out he made 5 thousand. 3 Bumblebee pythons. at the time went for $2000 each. not to mention the other morphs that prolly came with the litter. I have been back a handful of times and when i see Brian i want to puke!
Click to expand...

WOW. I go in occasionally but I have never bought anything out of there except for Saltwater. they just never have anything I want and their prices can be a little steep for what they are selling.
 
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