Aquatic Tech is bad

[t11t5]

I went to Aquatic Tech yesterday and was amazed at the changes. The only thing is, is that Greg is an A**hole. He was very rude to me. He would not give any answer except one word answers. He walked away from me as I was asking about things. He lost my business. What a jerk. I dont have to deal with that. I have never had anyone treat me that bad at a store. Salty critter here I come. I will drive the extra 25 minutes.

 

[Ohiomom]

Been there, done that and have to agree..

 

[Futurecanadian]

Greg can be a bit crass at times, but I am sure he doesnt realize how much so. I have had the same experiences with him, but I try to remind myself that some individuals are not "skilled" in the art of social grace. I do believe he is passionate about the hobby and does provide an excellent venue for retail. There are so many social disorders out there, that I find it hard to hold a strong judgment on someone just because they are not "friendly" or overly helpful.

I am not saying that Greg shouldnt work on his customer service skills, I would agree that he should. I am stating that Aquatic Tech is still a wealth to our area and that some people have social disorders.

 

[1628mna]

my motto treat people the way they treat you. he gave me an attitude the one time i was in there and i just gave it back, ever since he has been cool.

 

[Murphs205]

its hit and skip with him ,,i was in there this past weekend to get a bulkhead and a zoa frag, he wouldnt leave my side !!!!! , talked about everything , hes not that bad of a person ,,, just could have been having one of those days ( or weeks)... the first few times i talked to him he was that way to me too , but as he saw me more and more hes been ok to deal with .....
As a boss of 70 employees i have a crappy day now and then and seem to **** everyone off . everyone is entitled to a bad day or week ....chances are the next time you go in there he will be in a different mood . use him for what he has in the tanks !!! not his people skills and saltwater knowledge . get that from somewhere else .

 

[Ohiomom]

I have gone in there no less than 5-6 times in the past few years and seriously not once has anyone in the store been even polite to me. Once he even went as far as telling me I couldn't afford something! How the heck would he know what I can and can not afford..why because I asked the price..only as a last resort place for me anymore..

 

[PhilipOSU]

I was at Aquatic tech last night and Greg was helpful as was the young guy working. As always they had a ton of livestock, and Greg also set me up with the DI Resin and GFO that I needed. While I was there I also picked up 2 nice frags while I was there. Good customer experience for me.

My personal opinion is a lot of people on here lack the appreciation for how much livestock that Aquatic Tech carries. This kind of amount of inventory is very expensive. I run a business builds stores for retailer's all over the country. While on my work trips I visit a bunch of LFS all over. Aquatic Tech's inventory of fish is the largest I have seen at a LFS, be grateful you live close to it. I appreciate and respect anyone who puts themselves to trials and tribulations of running a business.

 

[PhilipOSU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14478960#post14478960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Murphs205
its hit and skip with him ,,i was in there this past weekend to get a bulkhead and a zoa frag, he wouldnt leave my side !!!!! , talked about everything , hes not that bad of a person ,,, just could have been having one of those days ( or weeks)... the first few times i talked to him he was that way to me too , but as he saw me more and more hes been ok to deal with .....
As a boss of 70 employees i have a crappy day now and then and seem to **** everyone off . everyone is entitled to a bad day or week ....chances are the next time you go in there he will be in a different mood . use him for what he has in the tanks !!! not his people skills and saltwater knowledge . get that from somewhere else .

Well stated Murph.

 

[Ohiomom]

I find it funny that common courtesy is not playing into the equation of what a good store is. I have been self employed working in a public arena for the past 20+ years. And no I do not live by the motto the customer is always right..in fact I think that is ridiculous..but come on we are talking simple principles here of trying to get repeat business.

 

[slapshot16]

They have been open for a long time. He must be doing something right.

My first few experiences with his store were bad. Poor customer service. Minimal communication. I left the store with about $600 cash burning a hole in my pocket because nobody was around to help me with my light selection. So I left and spent my money at Salty instead.


My last several trips have been great. Greg is responsive to e-mail questions. The store has a ton of live stock. It is not as clean and crisp as Salty Critter, but the live stock - especially fish selection - - is excellent.

The store is an asset to the area.

 

[raynist]

You guys are lucky to have a store with so much livestock.

I would love to have a place like that here.

 

[Murphs205]

i agree mom ,,, could not have said it better

but him being so close to alot of us , sometime its a necessary evil to go there ,,,i could have gone to salty for my bulkhead and zoas , but its 25 mins away , with gas and time its soooooo much easier to go out the AT. like i said ,,dont use them for their service , i use them for their products . so i am a repeat consumer there ,,its not like we are going out after a gallon of milk or some yellow pop that you can pick and choose where you want to go ,, if you need a bulk head and its 4 pm on sunday ?? AT it is even is Charles Manson is the cashier if you ask me. if there were some thing closer i would go there ,,but there's not ,,and Greg knows that. plus i am never in a hurry when im in a saltwater store ,,,i could look at it all day long !!

 

[Wolfgang]

I've Known Greg since before he had his Store. He Used to sell out of his House. The way he is is the way he is, you can take him or Leave him.
He's allways been like that, nothing has changed.
I took a Really Nice New in the Box Hang on the back Overflow to him to sell on Consignment, some of you that have been around the Reef Block a few times may remember John and Patty Burleson From Sea Klear Reefs? John and Patty were The first to put a Article out in Marine Fish Monthy on the use of a Phillips 03 Bulbs on a Reef.
They were also the sole Tunze Distribitors back then.
Anywho, if anyone knows about there Quality, it was Really Top Notch, it was also the first overflow on the market that flowed 1000 + GPH, that sported the built in syphon, not a U Tube.
Cost back then was $150.00.
Quite awhile after I took it to him, i noticed that it was no longer on display and asked him about it. His reply? Someone must of stolen it! That's it! No offer for compensation at all.
As far as he was concerned, case closed I guess?
Oh Well. Hows that for Character ?
-Wolfgang

 

[pws]

I don't think Greg likes to argue. He seems to shy away from people that like to argue. I always liked Greg. He got me into reef tanks and I have spent a ton of money in his store. I guess people like different things from a store.

To me the people at Salty Critter don't let me look before they ask me if I need help. I don't like that. I like to look around the whole store and get ideas on what I want. I know enough I really don't need too much help. If I need help on something I don't mind asking.

At A.T I can look around the whole store and not be bothered. I don't need much help as I look into things before I go. Once I know what I want or have a question I ask. All the employees will drop what they are doing to help with no problem. Greg always greets me and I never had a problem.


In both stores we need to remember they are here to make a profit. They don't want to hear we can find it cheaper online or some other place. I hear people in AT trying to get a better deal all the time saying they can get it online. Well it is true sometimes you can get it online cheaper but they don't have the overhead costs that a retail store has.

People also complain about AT having better online prices than retail prices. You have to take in the shipping costs ect to online orders. Also the online orders gives more volume going out and I am sure you get a better price wholesale with more volume. So we in return see better retail prices over it. I bet Gregs overhead costs are HUGE.

So to each our own.

 

[Tonycip]

I was there last night ,I have no complaints he helped me out, he took something back I had bought and couldn't use, It wasn't crowded and he took the time to talk to me a bit My experiences have been improving so I commend him for that. Thanks.

 

[PirateFish52]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14479179#post14479179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slapshot16
They have been open for a long time. He must be doing something right.

What is being done right is that there is no competition to be noted of on the near West Side of Cleveland, thus they have been able to stay open for so long.

I would like to see how well they do if a store like Salty Critter, where being courteous, helpful, and nice to the customer is a priority, opened up in our area.

I have had issues with AT in the past. After Greg emailed me personally to apologize, I was about to give them a second chance.... that was until one of their workers made some snarky comments about me on this site and how he was "surprised that I didn't complain about AT" when he posted some thread in here.

Maybe, just maybe, it's not the customer who is at fault in all these bad experiences. The one common denominator is AT and their staff.

Call it like it is. They have poor service, and it isn't just a reoccuring case of Greg having a "bad day" either, as some suggest.

 

[PirateFish52]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14479759#post14479759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pws
To me the people at Salty Critter don't let me look before they ask me if I need help. I don't like that.

Although you don't personally like this, this is actually good customer service. Actually showing interest in a customer's needs, before they tell you, isn't a bad thing.

 

[Burgman]

Hi,

Greg has always treated me fair in his store. He is not a great conversationalist & yes he does grunt out one or two words answers most of the time. I like to wander and check out the livestock, if I need something I will go get one of the hire help. They have always gotten what I needed out of the tanks. Dan at Salty Critter will take more time talking with you and explaining things, which I like. But that being said, if you don't like the way a store treats you I would not go back. Greg probably already knows he lost several customers due his personality. But he is what he is(Popeye quote) & probably won't change. Oh by the way who ever said Greg's store has been cleaned up must have been in the wrong store. His place is a train wreck & probably always will be but love it or leave it. I still feel he is worth a visit on the way up to the Salty Critter.

Dave

 

[jh2pizza]

I never have issues with Greg but then I deal with different types of people everyday. I guess I just take people for who they are.

As far as customer service is concerned, The first time I stopped at his store I was new in the hobby, trying to get things up and running and needed a propeller for a Little Giant pump. He explained that he did not stock them and proceeded to dig though spare parts and bins for over an hour. He found what I was looking for and refused to except any cash for it. I will always support his business. As for "cleaning it up", why worry about it. The guy has more inventory than most around Ohio and they know where to find what you need.

I will take them just the way they are.

 

[pws]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14480010#post14480010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PirateFish52
Although you don't personally like this, this is actually good customer service. Actually showing interest in a customer's needs, before they tell you, isn't a bad thing.

Nothing worse than soon as you get into a store and you are already being bugged. I could even see being asked once and they tell you "well if you need anything let us know" but when being asked 4 more times in 30 min gets old. Dan isn't bad just some of the staff. I think the guys are trying to be nice and not pushy just not my cup of tea. I like to look around without feeling like I am being rushed or like I need to buy something because I stopped in to look.

Also I thought salty critter was always cheaper on everything before but I checked out salty critter a few months back and prices was right in line with AT or even higher on some things.

With that being said I think we are lucky to have both stores. Great things about both stores. Really these are the only two stores worth going to.