Bay Area: the Worst aquarium store experience

[flamehawkfish]

Radiolunatic,

Your comments are appreciated.

I also work in SF and live in Marin. I was totally open-minded and hopeful when I visited that place. With Nippon gone, they seemed like a viable high-end reef specialist.

Regardless of whether or not they take take care of their tanks, they didn't take care of me. Like others mentioned, I could've caught the guy on a bad day, but that doesn't excuse kicking a customer out for asking them to feed a fish. I'm still stunned.

My guess is that they won't be around for long. If you want high-end reef livestock, try Tropical Paradise in San Leandro. They're kind of expensive, but very mindful of their tanks AND customers.

Flamehawk

 

[Vincerama2]

I believe Tropical Paradise is long gone ...

V

 

[sfsuphysics]

I heard that new place on Duboce may be opening soon *chuckle*

 

[radiolunatic]

Flamehawkfish,

It might be just a missunderstanding, as I have been there many times and they treat people there very nicely. They took the time with their customer explaining about the fish. They even check in the book together when I was not sure the characteristic of certain fish. Again, I am not disputing your report, as I was not there. I just reporting my experience with them and my observation when I was there.

I know there are plenty of good LFS for high end livestock in Bay Area. Tropical Paradise was one of it, but unfortunately they are not in biz anymore. Still there are plenty out there that you can visit.

Good luck!

 

[andyman]

I've had the similar experience with this store. Stay away from it. I mean there are plenty other places around. Brand new store in the Marina district, with an attitude like that I suspect they'll be out of business in 6 months. I don't think they're rent is very cheap and with attitude like that, it ain't gonna help them. I know for a FACT that they do read this forum and they ain't getting another penny out of me. I'll see to it that none of my friends spends a dime there either.

 

[dannieboiz]

I say find the owner's email and give him this link as well as all of the other link having to do this your experience. At least they'll understand why they are going out of business.

Even those guys at Six Ave are more informative than that and their water quality suck. :rolleye1:

 

[MorandiWine]

This is the kind of "store" that gives good stores bad names!

I will say no more,

tyler

 

[radiolunatic]

In my opinion there are always 2 sides of a story. I do not think it is fair to just jump to the gun and boycotting a store without hearing the other side of the story. Not trying to say that flamehawk are not telling the truth, but there should be other context and circumstance of the situation that only flamehawk & FF&MF know and not for all of us to judge based on 1 side of the story.

Just my opinion.

 

[smellyfish]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience, that is no way to treat a customer.

 

[iceemn360]

There is an awesome store in San Mateo called the Ultimate Aquarium!

 

[Psionicdragon]

lol, I thought about dropping by there just to check it out.

But after hearing different stories from different people, I rather save my gas and buy some stuff at 6th.

Probably the store does maintenance and may keep afloat serving high end clients..but then again most of those are already booked.

 

[jwisson]

I would not blackball this store over one bad experience. I am in there at least 3 times a month and have never had a bad experience. This place is 100 times better than 6th ave will ever be. I would just mark it up as somebody had a bad day

 

[sfsuphysics]

Maybe so, but comparing to 6th Avenue as the "Average" SF fish store isn't fair either.

 

[Elite]

Having a bad day is a really bad excuse..
If you are having a bad day, stay home and close the store that day. You don't tell customer to get out when they're only asking a simple request.

 

[Kinetic]

wow he told you to get out of his store? that's pretty nuts.

 

[Elite]

SA: We don't need your business. Get out.

 

[GrayWhale]

You're expierience was certainly awful. Please contact the owner so the they can take corrective action with that employee. You cannot always know what your employees are doing (good or bad) if noone reports the problem.

 

[andyman]

Was it an employee or the owner that said that?

 

[flamehawkfish]

To everyone

Thank you for your thoughts and feedback.

Somebody asked me to report this to the owner. I believe that the individual who kicked me out was, in fact, the co-owner. I'm not exactly eager to contact him directly. However, for for those of you who swear by 'Fish, Fish, & More Fish', tell the owner about this blog and encourage a response. I welcome it.

I've worked with reef aquariums for over 15 years, and met all types in the industry. While elite stores often feature elitist sales reps, there's no excuse for literally kicking somebody out of the store. I had no background with that place, nor any reason to create conflict. I just wanted to see a fish eat.

I don't care how much you know, how clean your tanks are, how good the prices, how quality the products, or how vast the selection... if you don't treat your customers with decency and respect, your business will fail.


Thanks again for everyone's support and response.

Flamehawkfish

P.S. Previously, I suggested that place in San Leandro, but I guess they're gone. For those of us in the North Bay, a decent place is Northbay Aquatics in Cotati.

 

[dochou]

Is this place still in business?
I looked at yahoo yellow pages and could not find it.
I want to check it out for myself and form my own opinion.