Philip Root
Premium Member
after reading the PM agian I think it might be his wife. I was called Honey several times.
Aquarium Designs going under???
- Thread starter futureeyedoc
- Start date
DracoFalcon
Member
wow. I was an avid supporter of AD when Philip was there, but after following this thread I don't feel that there is any place for them in this hobby in a business sense. I am thankful for Jim and his great staff at Aquarium Fantasies.
sdouglass79
New member
After seeing all the rumors on here and a couple other forums... as well as hearing AD had gone out of business from some customers at another LFS, I decided to call and find out. The lady on the other end of the phone was not very happy when I told her I had heard they were out of business! I explained that I have been out of the hobby for about 5 years and was looking to get back into it and had seen/heard many rumors and was disappointed because AD is where I used to buy all my stuff. To explain how far out of the loop I was, I thought Tien still owned the place and they were still by the Galleria. I drove over to the new location and met Sean and his wife. They were both extremely nice and took all the time in the world catching me up on some changes in the hobby and the changes at AD. I thought there was a good selection of fish and coral, and Sean told me that if there was anything I wanted he didn't have, he could probably order it for me. This bothers some people, but to me it is completely understandable because why would you want to put money in rare inventory that may not sell only to have it die or sit for several months until someone else buys it? The LR he had was some of the best I've seen (minus the small anemone outbreak 
), and he had a lot of really nice show pieces. Prices were also quite reasonable compared to some of the other LFS in the bham/mgm area. It looks like they are doing the right thing and growing at a slow, reasonable pace that is not more than the local economy can support. They are also not chasing customers out of the store like Tien did on a regular basis towards the end of his AD, and most importantly, ALL livestock is for sale (interesting concept compared to the old days!). I'm really excited about getting back into the hobby, joining the local reef groups, and supporting my new LFS. Everyone here should also check things out for themselves, and not believe every word posted here by some of the regulars.
), and he had a lot of really nice show pieces. Prices were also quite reasonable compared to some of the other LFS in the bham/mgm area. It looks like they are doing the right thing and growing at a slow, reasonable pace that is not more than the local economy can support. They are also not chasing customers out of the store like Tien did on a regular basis towards the end of his AD, and most importantly, ALL livestock is for sale (interesting concept compared to the old days!). I'm really excited about getting back into the hobby, joining the local reef groups, and supporting my new LFS. Everyone here should also check things out for themselves, and not believe every word posted here by some of the regulars.futureeyedoc
New member
no one ever said they were out of business
The name of the thread is Aquarium Designs going under???
That's a question, not a statement...
The name of the thread is Aquarium Designs going under???
That's a question, not a statement...
freddy4130
In Memoriam
I think it is the regulars who defended the place, not downed it. I have said from the beginning that Sean is a great guy and that he even had plans to remodel the place. I hope the place is there forever. It only helps. And whoever it is that comes on here calling people retards for criticizing only makes it worse for Sean. The last thing he needs is some doofus coming on here bashing the customer base.
sdouglass79
New member
The specific rumor that it had already closed was said by some customers at another LFS, and a guy that works for a LFS in Montgomery.
I understand the title of the thread is a question, and decided the only way to get a definitive answer was to find out myself. I took the rumors to be true, and called to find out... and I am very glad that it is still doing well. I would hate for potential customers like myself to be deterred from going there based on heresay on the internet and other word of mouth rumors. Had I not decided to call and find out, I would have never known.
I also have never called anyone here a retard, nor bashed AD's customer base. I'm just saying don't believe everything you see posted here about the status of ANY business, or the quality/quantity of its merchandise, without seeing for yourself.
I understand the title of the thread is a question, and decided the only way to get a definitive answer was to find out myself. I took the rumors to be true, and called to find out... and I am very glad that it is still doing well. I would hate for potential customers like myself to be deterred from going there based on heresay on the internet and other word of mouth rumors. Had I not decided to call and find out, I would have never known.
I also have never called anyone here a retard, nor bashed AD's customer base. I'm just saying don't believe everything you see posted here about the status of ANY business, or the quality/quantity of its merchandise, without seeing for yourself.
freddy4130
In Memoriam
I know you did not call anyone a tard. Your post was great. It was the other dude who came in guns a blazin. The guy who got banned. Once that happened everyone went into defensive mode. I thoght the store was closed forever. There was no indication to think otherwise. I mean. It was gone and all. It was not until a few months ago that a buddy of mine told me of a fish store in Pelham. When I wentot o check that out was the first I had heard that AD had moved. And it makes total sense to have heard they closed in another LFS. Hell, I told someone they had closed once. One day the store was there and one day it was gone. It closed.
wpecoul
New member
Sdouglass -
This thread makes even less sense than it used to, as the inflammatory posts that were made by someone trying to 'help' Sean have all been deleted. I don't think anyone was insinuating that you had called anyone those names, but I think some people are (understandably) still upset from the incident.
There is no denying that the brand name lost any goodwill it had a long time ago (because of the issues you made mention of) because of Tien's problems and mismanagement. The best way for Sean to make sure he stays open is to provide great customer service and have at least some appealing livestock on hand. It unfortunately sounds like both parts have been hit or miss recently.
I certainly want the store to stay open, and look forward to checking it out if I ever get unchained from this desk for more than a couple of hours.
This thread makes even less sense than it used to, as the inflammatory posts that were made by someone trying to 'help' Sean have all been deleted. I don't think anyone was insinuating that you had called anyone those names, but I think some people are (understandably) still upset from the incident.
There is no denying that the brand name lost any goodwill it had a long time ago (because of the issues you made mention of) because of Tien's problems and mismanagement. The best way for Sean to make sure he stays open is to provide great customer service and have at least some appealing livestock on hand. It unfortunately sounds like both parts have been hit or miss recently.
I certainly want the store to stay open, and look forward to checking it out if I ever get unchained from this desk for more than a couple of hours.
The0wn4g3
New member
I do not believe the "dude who came in guns a blazin" was part of the customer base. In fact, I'm near certain he/she wasn't after seeing that he/she contacted certain people with information only someone outside the customer base would know.
I can't see how any regular customer could think AD was closed. There were signs at the Patton Creek location posted for weeks, as well as a sign posted on top of the counter with the new address prior to the move. But, at the same time I know how easily rumors are spread...
Just a word of warning from experience, be wary of Sean. Yes, for the most part he is a nice guy, but only when it is advantageous for him to be so. I'm not here to praise or down him as a person, RC isn't the place for that, just keep your eyes open.
I can't see how any regular customer could think AD was closed. There were signs at the Patton Creek location posted for weeks, as well as a sign posted on top of the counter with the new address prior to the move. But, at the same time I know how easily rumors are spread...
Just a word of warning from experience, be wary of Sean. Yes, for the most part he is a nice guy, but only when it is advantageous for him to be so. I'm not here to praise or down him as a person, RC isn't the place for that, just keep your eyes open.
freddy4130
In Memoriam
It's still a cool place. Like I have said before, I would never expet perfect customer service from a hobby shop. It just does not make sense to expect that. You don't walk into a comic store expecing to be served drinks and have a massage while you wait for the manager to take your order and retreive your comic. Same as a fish store or a mini train store. These people are hobbyists just like us and not always (usually never) good business people BEFORE they were hobbyists. YOu don't see many Donald Trump lining the streets of America with fish stores for a reason. They don;t make a lot of money. It is not a business a smat business person would open. It is a business that would be opened by someone with a passion for fish. And so you get wht you get. And I am happy with that. It is the very reason that Waffle House is my favorite restaurant ever despite the fact that I often eat at really great places. The expectation of service is not there. SO I have never ever ever been disappointed by Waffle House. Now Ruth's Chris will **** me off in a heart beat if my glass gets half empty. See?
futureeyedoc
New member
Regardless of everyone's current opinion of Sean or AD itself, or business sense or whatever.....
Everyone should hope that they stay open.....
Not only because we shouldn't wish ill on anyone else, especially in a situation like this - but because if AD goes down, I can garauntee it won't spell good things for the hobby. Multiple LFS competitors is a good thing, no matter how good/bad any of the respective individual businesses may be...
I wish them all the best... For our sake as consumers in the B'ham area, and for their sake as individuals with their livelihood....
now as for whether or not they'll ever see my business again, that will take much longer consideration...Especially after insults slung toward myself and others by a suspicious ( booted) individual.... we shall see
Everyone should hope that they stay open.....
Not only because we shouldn't wish ill on anyone else, especially in a situation like this - but because if AD goes down, I can garauntee it won't spell good things for the hobby. Multiple LFS competitors is a good thing, no matter how good/bad any of the respective individual businesses may be...
I wish them all the best... For our sake as consumers in the B'ham area, and for their sake as individuals with their livelihood....
now as for whether or not they'll ever see my business again, that will take much longer consideration...Especially after insults slung toward myself and others by a suspicious ( booted) individual.... we shall see
freddy4130
In Memoriam
Dang. I almost went there today. That would have sucked.
Philip Root
Premium Member
Are they gone? I recived 2 phone calls on Monday, people asking me if I could help because AD was gone. AD was closed on Monday, I called today to talk to them and the number has been disconnected. 205-444-9952.
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