Great Reef store in St Louis

[no hater clubs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8856251#post8856251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
LOL, you are too funny, please point me in the direction of a local store that has a big selection of SPS (and can keep them alive ) AND has anything resembling decent prices.



here is a picture of my frag tank,the mothers are in my main.i got most of my acro from lfs and and club members.keeping them alive is too easy.anyway,you can't show up at a lfs once in a blue moon or whenever you saved up $35 and exspect them to have something cool and cheap for you.all that poop you talked on our lfs,no wonder everything cost too much....for you.you should apreciate all the lfs that support the club,not just take their support and talk poop on them.but people like you are entertaining and helps kill time,something like watching my dog chase his tail.lol

 

[no hater clubs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8856251#post8856251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
LOL, you are too funny, please point me in the direction of a local store that has a big selection of SPS (and can keep them alive ) AND has anything resembling decent prices.



here is a picture of my frag tank,the mothers are in my main.i got most of my acro from lfs and club members.keeping them alive is too easy.anyway,you can't show up at a lfs once in a blue moon or whenever you saved up $35 and exspect them to have something cool and cheap for you.all that poop you talked on our lfs,no wonder everything cost too much....for you.you should apreciate all the lfs that support the club,not just take their support and talk poop on them.but people like you are entertaining and helps kill time,something like watching my dog chase his tail.lol

 

[raynist]

The pictures didn't work (either time )

Trust me, I spend WAY too much time and way too much money at the LFS in Pittsburgh, many of them know be by name and unfortunatly by voice!!!! I don't just 'pop' in with $35 once in a while.

So far, the guys in the club have been the best resource for me as far as corals go (mainly SPS). I ended up buying just about one of everything from holinone1974 LOL!!

It is just aggrevating that we don't have the same caliber shops as other cities.

I know from your other posts that you have been to Salty Critter and Phishy Business, there is no way that you can say that we have places like that here. There are a couple that have potential, but nothing in that league yet.

 

[no hater clubs]

every time i've been to either places they are always packed.thats because their people show them support so that they can get to that point.thats what our lfs need to get to that point too.show alittle more support and in a few years as the hobby get more popular,a store like that might pop up,or one of our lfs upgrades to your standard.have you ever been to a lfs in calli?belive me they blow any store on the eastcoast far,far,far away.but you don't hear me talking down on our lfs and how they should be more like them ,blah,blah......be a positive member.tell that to your yesman rickyfins too.

 

[raynist]

If I showed any more support I would be in the poor house....

You really seem to have a vested interest in defending the area stores.

 

[no hater clubs]

i do.thats the name "no hater clubs". i know a few of the owners and people that works in them and they alway threat me good and give me good deals,but how did you think our friendship came to that point.the first time i stepped into their store,they taxed me too.but as time goes on the discount became bigger and bigger to the point that i can walk out of their store and only paid $50 for a whole 4" acro all day.alot of the club members got it like that too,and some even better.have some faith.happy new year to you and yours.

 

[no hater clubs]

raynist

i put pictures of my frag tank in my gallery.do check it out.

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8864866#post8864866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by no hater clubs
raynist

i put pictures of my frag tank in my gallery.do check it out.

Looks like a lot of nice stuff there.

Can you upload bigger pictures?

I think you can upload up to 125k per picture or can you email them to me at rnist@adelphia.net ?

So you are selling some stuff?

--Ray

 

[vr697getta]

i am not talking down on any lfs but the store ray is talking about and pics he put up that store does look awesome

 

[rickyfins]

I will put them down, think about it, they are just mediocre at best. Yea they get nice pieces in every now and again, but if interested customers are not there to buy it right away while it looks good, the premo stuff just DIES or turns a crappy shade of BROWN.

They stink.

thanks,

Rick

 

[vr697getta]

yeah i understand that i guess i don't really see it that way cause i don't even think about buying from an lfs (for corals) cause every coral i have was through pmas and my lr who really can afford 6 to 7 bucks a pound
the biggest problem is that most of there staff makes like 6 to 7 bucks an hour would you REALLY care for that much

 

[rickyfins]

Well I must be weird, because when I have a job, regardless of what the pay is I REALLY care. I do my job, I learn the job, but I also know that when I have one of those $6-$7 dollar an hour job that I worked with a lot of people that DON't Care!

I do see your point. I also know that some of the smaller shops, like in my area, could potentially be good. All they would have to do is fire 2 of the 3 people that work there and hire one good one who could do the job. I know this couldn't be done in a bigger city like Pittsburgh but its just not right how this area is. Its not fair to any animal that they sell coral, fish, dog, or cat, even the darn mice!

There should be something we can do about it, but then again, they offer discounts to PMAS. So are we to turn a blind eye?

thanks,

Rick

 

[vr697getta]

trust me i understand i was a dishwasher makin 6 bucks and hour but i did care and about 3 years later i was a manager of that store
and as a manager i can tell you that it is VERY hard to find someone that does care for that amount of money and as far as lfs needing more money to get better that is crazy cause if you do a great job no matter what you will get the amount of money you need to be as great as the store in this post

 

[stewie24]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8856964#post8856964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acer
I think "Under the sea" will get there eventually- he is new and small now, the service is great so far and his selection will improve as he can afford to carry more in stock.

I couldn't agree with you more about the service. If i buy crabs or snails either there's a few extra in there or they end up being 1.00 each. He's a good guy, however a few things to note:

The large reef display in the back - the fish are not for sale. Although these are the healthiest looking fish in the whole entire store. Whats the point of having them in there if you don't feel like trying to catch them?

The fish (been there 3 times since fall) have always seemed in very poor shape. The tangs seem to always have ich or be severely malnutritioned. Other fish have flesh rot, etc. I think it would be a better practice for him to setup a QT tank in the backroom. If there's one there already, put it to use.

I was there around thanksgiving to try and pick out a flame angel, and out of the 3 that were there 2 of them had ich and the other one wasn't looking too hot.

There's always at least one dead fish in one of the saltwater tanks.

Carry less damsels. Seems like all he ever has in stock are damsels. Of course I don't make it there every weekend, but when I do go there, 80-85% of the livestock seems to be various damsels.

He does have some nice corals, however the price seems a little to be desired. I really like some of the brains he has in stock now, but for 85.00 a pop, I think i'll order 2 for that price somewhere online.

I can also remember shortly after he first opened the zoo frags were 10.00. (decent colors, etc). Now they are 20.00 in the big display in the back of the tank. Seems like you get less polpys and they aren't as colorful.

I really hate to go against the grain with you here, but having a store with some really high priced corals and fish that seem to be sick or not in very good health won't get you great business. I understand the whole point on how lfs's have to raise prices to pay for rent/electric, etc etc., but I really don't see that store being in business too terribly long. Its a shame, because when he first opened it wasn't too bad of a place. My guess would be either business isn't good or else greed is becoming a factor due to the current prices. I don't mind spending 27 bucks on a yellow tang knowing I can see what I'm getting, but when you can't even find a healthy yellow tang in the store, I choose to take business elsewhere. I think Under The Sea will be a place for me to go once every 6 months and replenish my crabs/snails if need be. Perhaps he'll see the light and carry a wide variety of corals at a little better price (wouldn't mind spending even 50 bucks on a brain considering the online price is 25-35 depending on color) that would be 100% markup/profit while still having a somewhat competitive pricing. Hopefully the fish will start looking a little better as well. I know you can't carry every fish possible out there, but it would be nice to be able to go to a LFS and pick up some fish you need. (gobies/blennies, etc).

Does anyone think i'm being crazy here?
Sorry for the thread jack (well its semi related to what acer said).

 

[no hater clubs]

when was the last time you were up there?you have no idea what you're talking about.i think your eyes have ich.uts is one of a few lfs that do not run copper in there tanks and the prices are one of the cheapest around.they also carry stuff no other lfs carries.they told me everything in the store is for sale,at the right price.the only lfs you have up there in the country are bait stores.what do you have up there to compare prices?so your remark made you sound so uneducate(dumb).did you ask your daddy if you could post this thread?you said uts always gave you a few extra hermits or crabs,so this is what they get for hooking you up?ALL LFS,BEWARE OF THIS BACK STABBER!if he ever step into your store,make sure you charge the heck out of him.help keep our club clean and free of bottom feeders like this one.what?

 

[no hater clubs]

raynist,
p.m sended

 

[acer]

I think it is funny to see people who have never run a business, any business, much less a business as complicated as a salt water reef store is ( the products you order can arrive dead/diseased or will die from no fault of your own- assuming that you actually get the product you ordered in the first place) believe that they could do this or do that and set a price of xx. If you look at the numbers for any small business the failure rate within the first 2 years is very high. Lets face it- in Pa we have some of the worse tax laws, etc. for small business in the country. I dont wonder why some of the new pet stores around here dont even carry salt water live products. THey cant take the hit on the possible loss of income if fish or corals die, even if they get credit from the wholesaler it ties up $$$ for weeks to months. Cash flow is the hardest thing to manage in any business- much less a small , new one that is usually underfunded due to hidden costs of starting a business that the townships, state, county, municipality, etc. all contribute to. That puts a strain on all revenues,etc. Just my two cents since my one comment on this thread was quoted. AND I think everyone knows I do not have any vested interest in any store around here.

 

[rickyfins]

Acer I have looked into opening a store extensively. I still have the business plan, but no funding or funding sources to open even the smallest store in my area.

One thing I have noticed on my journeys today.

I did stop at Under the Sea, it is a nice setup. It does have a lot of potential but because I have voiced my opinion here the one owner treated me very poorly. I will probably not visit that store again because of the treatment I received.

Don't get me wrong they did give me a deal on the merchandise I purchased but to keep me coming back you basically have to BE NICE, PROFESSIONAL and Courteous.

The other owner, if I remember correctly, Jason took the time and chatted with me and even showed me a behind the scenes tour of the setup they have going there.

It was just kind of hard for me to drop $100.00 bucks on the Solenoid I needed with the treatment I received. The one owner even went as far as talking "CRAP" on my Momma.

How is a business like this supposed to keep customers coming back when they don't seem as though they want return visits.

You can stock the shelves with lots of high end merchandise and tie up a lot of resources or you can keep it small, keep the tanks stocked, and do special orders for High Priced merchandise, which seems more logical to me.

You can even stock those shelves till you are blue in the face, but if people are not coming through the doors its a waste of capital.

With such treatment I am now going to look online where I do not have to deal with such treatment.

JMO,

and I am sure I will have to hear about it somewhere along the line!!!

 

[billsreef]

[flamealert]

 

[no hater clubs]

rickfins,
so you were treated bad?so what?what goes around comes around.welcome to pittsburgh.now you know all lfs around here stick together.and you are from out of town too,you should of been nice and they would show you appreciation for comming all that way and gave you a better discount.i'm surprise they gave you a discount at all cosidering all the poop you talk.