Big Al's - Now a BIG RIP OFF?

[Speckled Grouper]

Went there this evening to get some calibration fluid for my new PH probe. I usually check their website and print out the item(s) I'm planning to buy for price matching.

This was listed @ $ .99 on the website, I figured it wouldn't be a big difference, but I printed it out anyways.

Well, it was a whooping $ 5.49 at the store.... And I was told that there is no more price matching, they have nothing more to do with the Big Al's website and blah blah blah. I would probably have bought it for $ 2.99 but more than 500% mark up? That's insane! Other than that, I have noticed their prices slowly creeping up, except some stuff that's on sale and some loss leaders.

Needless to say, I am still in need of # 10 and # 7 calibration fluid...

 

[ek9vboi]

Rogger might have some.... or Reef Life? Sucks that they didn't include it with the pH probe huh? Hopefully I have mine calibrated tomorrow... having a friend help me out with it.

 

[thesaent14]

hey andrea i have 10 an 7 and 5 if you need some of it let me know

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Cool Manny, I'll let you know. I would have gone straight to Reef Life, but by the time I crawled out of my sick bed it was too late to go there.

Oh, another kicker is that Petsmart pricematches Big Al's, but Big Al's doesn't match Big Al's! I bought a small filter for my nano there last week and they cheerfully gave it to me for Big Al's online price. Go figure....

 

[ek9vboi]

lol.... PetCo sucks too. I'm going to bash them while I am at it too.

I need some instant ocean salt badddd. Ran out of it getting ready to mix my weekly waterchange. So I remembed a friend told me the "hussle" with PetCo. I went on the site and behold...

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=3917&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=instant+ocean&sku=77771&familyID=5694&

THE BUCKET FOR $31.97! So I print that out and bring it in... NOPE, they won't take it. I've been to the same PetCo a few times and everytime the same salk bucket is there... who knows how old it is. lol... anyways they still said no... "get it online." So I leave

Their fishes were looking so bad, nothing was clean... algae every where. Just sad.

OH! Thanks for the idea Andrea... I'm going to check to see if Petsmart carries the salt and buy from them with my print out. lol

 

[ek9vboi]

N/M, Petsmart has it for $31.XX as well. Looks like I will be stopping by soon.

 

[Rogger Castells]

I have 7ph calibration fluid, in a bottle, let me know if you wish to p/u some

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Thanks Rogger, I'll be in touch

Eric, call PetsMart before you go, their saltwater selection varies greatly from store to store, the one at Sawgrass has very little SW stuff.

 

[thesaent14]

ek9boy i have sal i just did my water change today after 3 1/2 months of not doing one if you need some ill give inoff for a water chage

 

[Ryanqk]

Beverly's pet center has the facilities to have a nice salt section if they could only get someone who knows what the heck they are doing. I go there sometimes but livestock isnt very healthy and no one there knows jack when you ask them.
Ryan

 

[bawla47]

damn that sucks that they dont pricematch anymore if thats the case.

ive been buying my powerheads, pumps, and filters pricematched to them because of there instore warranty. there retail prices i think are rediculous.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Jaymie, I even went to the manager because I couldn't believe my ears and sure enough, that's what he said.

Since I don't buy livestock there anyways, now there is really no need to go back.

 

[Kogo]

they still pricematch other retail stores, just not online stores.

however, the bigal's corperation is very respronsive to customer coments, so if enough of us e-mail corperate maybee they will change back the policy... couldnt hurt to try.

 

[don954]

I quit going down to Big Als due to a rude lazy manager, and employees. I needed some sugar-sized calcium sand, about 300lbs. They only had one bag up front, and i asked that they check the back and warehouse. Now, Ive had to have them bring sand from the warehouse before and the "back" so i know they store it back there sometimes. The manager said they have no warehouse and no "back" and he didn't "feel" like checking around. Add to this that EVERY fish i have got from them, no matter how careful i am, has something wrong with it.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8069083#post8069083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kogo
they still pricematch other retail stores, just not online stores.

however, the bigal's corperation is very respronsive to customer coments, so if enough of us e-mail corperate maybee they will change back the policy... couldnt hurt to try.

This is true, I have talked to them before and they have been very responsive, I will try again and tell them we need to have the discount continued, if anybode else is interested here is their email address:

info@bigalsonline.com

 

[Husky_1]

Well, looks like I have not reason to go to big als again. The price match is what kept me going back. Well, I guess its better off, Barrier Reefs people are nicer anyway.

 

[Bret61081]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8070775#post8070775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
Well, looks like I have not reason to go to big als again. The price match is what kept me going back. Well, I guess its better off, Barrier Reefs people are nicer anyway.

is that a joke! Ive NEVER gotten good service when I went in tehre! NEVER!! Ive always had to ask for stuff and they always act like I am interupting something!!

 

[ek9vboi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8067143#post8067143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thesaent14
ek9boy i have sal i just did my water change today after 3 1/2 months of not doing one if you need some ill give inoff for a water chage

Thanks for the offer Manny, but I will skip this weeks water change. Might do a 5 or 10g waterchange next week if any.

 

[LawnTodd]

Well, looks like I have not reason to go to big als again. The price match is what kept me going back. Well, I guess its better off, Barrier Reefs people are nicer anyway.

You are probably the only person I've ever heard of that had good customer service at BR. The only time I went there they tried to charge me $59.99 for an Ice Cap 660 wire harnes. Most places sell them for $29.99. I was also told not to have more then 5x/ hour turn over in a sps reef tank. At the time I had about 15X/ hour. I was told thats too much and I'm going to kill everything. I haven't been back since.
LT

 

[The Beaut]

Hey guys from what i understand,this Big Als is privately owned and has very little to do with Big Als Online. Like a franchise. Prices are very similar to the the rest of our smaller stores now.