LFS in decline?

[lacosta28]

Has anyone noticed a change in our LFS??? Clark's is the same as they have always been but I have noticed a big change in the other store (I won't say the name but you should know which one). Over the last month I have been there at least once a week just to check things out. Every single time I have seen at least 1 dead fish in one of the tanks. They didn't recently die either as they were decayed and being eaten by the other tank mates. This weekend I stopped by and saw a yellow tang that looks like it is about to die. His entire lower half is sunken in and looks like wrinkled shrink wrap. Not sure if he is starving or what is wrong with him but I felt so bad for the fish. If he hasn't died by now you can probably go in and see him. The corals don't look much better either. A lot of them don't look good and have parts that are dead and a bunch that don't have color to them.

I have also noticed a decline in the customer service (not like it was that great to begin with). I used to see Rob in there all the time but I haven't seen him in over a month. The two guys that have been working there the longest are also very rude now, especially the one that always wears a hat back wards. One time I was in there an elderly couple were shopping and after purchasing a fish they left the store. I then heard the two guys making fun of them and saying some pretty awful stuff.

I have not and will no longer purchase any livestock from them. As of late I have bought everything except my salt on line. If I can find a place on line that sells the Aqua Vitro salt at a reasonable price then I will no longer need to step foot in that store again.

 

[Ntvper]

wow really? every time i call or go in i feel like i get special treatment from the 'old timers' and the owner. everything i need the order and call me when its in. there are new faces that started around the same time as the owner opening another store. but only one kid made it this long and is helpful....maybe i go in there too much. I have seen dead livestock but they usually are taking it out or after i say something they get it out and take stock of the other tanks. on the coral I have seen declining coral both from frags of other customers and the stock they order in. but nothing highly unusual or to worry about other coral in same tank. though I am upset with the frags they take from other customers or private people that come in that clearly have bad n evil hitchikers or even the bubble algae that is clearly prominent. which i have told the owner and the other employees to which they know I will not buy from that tank so it wont travel to my tank and I think they need to clean or dip or something instead of just taking n dropping in to harm the other coral in the tank

 

[2Addicted]

I have not and will no longer purchase any livestock from them.

I stopped going in there about three months ago. I dont see any reason to purchase from them.

 

[lacosta28]

I stopped going in there about three months ago. I dont see any reason to purchase from them.

Especially with online stores having a bigger selection, cheaper prices, healthy fish, and 14 day guarantee.

 

[Ntvper]

i hate paying shipping on livestock too damn expensive with my recent order from the LFS vs liveaquaria i saved 50 bucks by buying from LFS instead of online. But there is times where its cheaper even with shipping to order online vs LFS. Especially with group buys lol

 

[Gomer]

Last online order I had with Live Aquaria, was through the Divers Den and I qualified for free shipping :-D

 

[lacosta28]

I don't mind paying the shipping for a higher quality product.I have only had to pay shipping once in the last 4 orders. The other 3 qualified for free shipping.

 

[Ntvper]

unfortunately i havent spent enough on one order to qualify for free shipping in a while. i seem to buy one or two items here n there. and i seem to order in between group buys as well. oh well.

 

[lacosta28]

Has anyone been in the store this week? I am wondering how that yellow tang is doing. He is in a tank in the back corner near the tank with the eel and lionfish.

 

[BlueCorn]

I do know that the LFS I think we're talking about had a power issue a couple weeks ago then caused them big temperature problems.

I was in Clark's yesterday and it looks like they had some sort of issue as well. Most of the corals were gone from the tanks on the South wall of the SW section.

 

[vitodog]

Has anyone been in the store this week? I am wondering how that yellow tang is doing. He is in a tank in the back corner near the tank with the eel and lionfish.

I saw that tang yesterday. I don't know if its the same tang your referring to, but, it was the only tang in that particular tank and it looked ok to me. A little on the thin side but it did not look sick.

I would also like to comment in defense of this particular LFS. Firstly, I'm sure that the on-line vendors lose livestock also, the exception being, you the consumer don't get to see the dead or dying livestock. Secondly, when you have an emergency, it sure is convenient that your LFS is just a few minutes away. As far as those two employees being rude, I'm sure you witnessed what you did, but, I have been patronizing this store for just about 2 years now and I have to say that I have never seen these two individuals conduct themselves in anything other than a courteous, helpful and professional manner. Anyone can have bad day. And yes, I too have seen some corals that seem to be declining, but, and don't take this personally, you don't have to purchase those corals. For every declining coral in this store, there are at least 10 great looking corals. I would like to see better maintenance on some their tanks too, especially in regards to algae issues. So, maybe Rob needs to hire more help, unfortunately however, most LFS are barely keeping their heads above water. I shop the on-line vendors and I support my LFS. If we don't also support our LFS, they will all be gone. I don't necessarily disagree with everything said in this post, just getting my 2 cents worth.

 

[Ntvper]

when in i didnt see any dead fish but i was in last friday. dont get me started on Clark's.....I hate that place. one they dont know nothing and try to pass it off that they do. High priced crap that I wouldnt pay 30 buck on ebay for. I was treated like dirt last time I was in by all the employees. I kid u not. one girl told me to 'F off, i dont know anything about saltwater' one guy pointed me to a cichlid when I asked to see a chromis. when i told him a chromis fish is a saltwater fish he told me "dude theres saltwater in africa" so i asked about some coral from a guy who supposedly knew about saltwater tanks and noticed an outbreak of aiptasia in the coral tank and said 'no thanks dont wanna import a pest anemone.' he said 'shows what u know, its not a pest' and i should be sooo lucky to get a free hitchhiker. but i digress, I should open my own fishy store then i can sit here n complain about my own service lmao

 

[Ntvper]

I saw that tang yesterday. I don't know if its the same tang your referring to, but, it was the only tang in that particular tank and it looked ok to me. A little on the thin side but it did not look sick.

I would also like to comment in defense of this particular LFS. Firstly, I'm sure that the on-line vendors lose livestock also, the exception being, you the consumer don't get to see the dead or dying livestock. Secondly, when you have an emergency, it sure is convenient that your LFS is just a few minutes away. As far as those two employees being rude, I'm sure you witnessed what you did, but, I have been patronizing this store for just about 2 years now and I have to say that I have never seen these two individuals conduct themselves in anything other than a courteous, helpful and professional manner. Anyone can have bad day. And yes, I too have seen some corals that seem to be declining, but, and don't take this personally, you don't have to purchase those corals. For every declining coral in this store, there are at least 10 great looking corals. I would like to see better maintenance on some their tanks too, especially in regards to algae issues. So, maybe Rob needs to hire more help, unfortunately however, most LFS are barely keeping their heads above water. I shop the on-line vendors and I support my LFS. If we don't also support our LFS, they will all be gone. I don't necessarily disagree with everything said in this post, just getting my 2 cents worth.

bro u said your 2 cents better then i did. nice work :deadhorse: lol i just like posting the dead horse too

 

[sgallant04]

Both stores here in town have their pro's and con's. Generally I like going to swreef. Sometimes the equipment they stock is a bit..stale. I'd personally like to see more variety of skimmers, meters and stuff like that. But i bet to keep much of it is costly. They have offered me good sound advice and I appreciate the expertise. Certainly that store does draw the pro-grade customers to it and that's a big part of the appeal. I rarely come across that at Clarks. I do pick up loose filter floss are clarks for a few bucks a bag. I love that stuff!

two of the stores i've been less then impressed with in the past is westside pets off coors ( it stinks, like nose offending to me at least ) and Fin's and Critters ( same odor trouble ).

I have found local stores very willing to earn your business. So much so that when your ready to buy a large amount of equipment or livestock and can find it online for a better price they will generally match that price to keep the money in the local economy. I think that's a great thing.

 

[lacosta28]

I saw that tang yesterday. I don't know if its the same tang your referring to, but, it was the only tang in that particular tank and it looked ok to me. A little on the thin side but it did not look sick.

I would also like to comment in defense of this particular LFS. Firstly, I'm sure that the on-line vendors lose livestock also, the exception being, you the consumer don't get to see the dead or dying livestock. Secondly, when you have an emergency, it sure is convenient that your LFS is just a few minutes away. As far as those two employees being rude, I'm sure you witnessed what you did, but, I have been patronizing this store for just about 2 years now and I have to say that I have never seen these two individuals conduct themselves in anything other than a courteous, helpful and professional manner. Anyone can have bad day. And yes, I too have seen some corals that seem to be declining, but, and don't take this personally, you don't have to purchase those corals. For every declining coral in this store, there are at least 10 great looking corals. I would like to see better maintenance on some their tanks too, especially in regards to algae issues. So, maybe Rob needs to hire more help, unfortunately however, most LFS are barely keeping their heads above water. I shop the on-line vendors and I support my LFS. If we don't also support our LFS, they will all be gone. I don't necessarily disagree with everything said in this post, just getting my 2 cents worth.

I couldn't tell you if it was the same tang. Chances are it is since this was the only yellow tang in the store. I wouldn't say the fish is ok or even a little on the thin side. The sides of his stomach were concaved. Perhaps when you saw him he is getting healthier which I hope is the case here.

There is no doubt in my mind that on line vendors or all vendors for that matter experience some deaths. I don't have a problem with that and I know it is going to happen from time to time. I do however expect the fish to be taken out of the tank in a reasonable time frame. It is pretty disgusting seeing a fish that is mostly decayed and rotting in the tank. There is no way these fish died that same day. I also understand people do have bad days but that isn't the first time I heard them talk about customers.

I also noticed a lot of their tanks have a lot of aptasia in them as well as bubble algae. This is the reason why I started to order my corals on line. I have placed 4 orders in the last 6 weeks and I couldn't be happier with what I have received. I understand it is extremely hard for Rob to keep up with these vendors. I am collecting a lot of high end zoa's and Rob never has them in stock, probably because they would sit in his store for too long.

Here is what helped me in making my final decision to not support them anymore. I was having a discussion with one of his employees. I was asking if they carried the materials I needed to make my own carbon filter. I explained it was for my quarantine tank. He gave me a puzzled look and I explained that I was taking all precautions and didn't want to get ich in my DT. He let out a little laugh and told me, and I quote "Every tank in the world has ich. You can have a tank for 3 years with only some rock in it and the minute you put a fish in, it will get ich. In fact all fish have ich, you just have to feed them right so they can build up their immune system. I wouldn't waste my time with a quarantine tank but if you want to go ahead".

I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't even care to argue because I am sure they feel as if they know more because they work in a fish store. I was so shocked I just went about my business and drove to Pets Mart to get the stuff I needed. I am not a marine biologist but I have done countless hours of research and I have talked to biologist regarding ich and other SW related stuff.

It's a shame because I really like Rob and he treats me great. He just needs to hire some better employees. As I pointed out before all of this is just recent and I think it's going downhill because Rob isn't at the store as much as he used to be. I hope he turns things around because I would like to support him again. I looked at my bank statements and I have spent over 4000 dollars this year in his store. I still have a 150g tank to build and I would prefer that money stays in New Mexico's economy. We'll see what happens.

 

[vitodog]

Yesterday was the first time I posted on this particular forum and I have to say, I like this forum. I have read through a few of the posts and I'm impressed with the civility and friendly atmosphere here. I'll definitely be visiting this forum more often.

 

[Ntvper]

Yesterday was the first time I posted on this particular forum and I have to say, I like this forum. I have read through a few of the posts and I'm impressed with the civility and friendly atmosphere here. I'll definitely be visiting this forum more often.

you sure u read this forum? lmao kidding would be glad to have ya

 

[reign]

WIthout saying too much yes in some ways the LFS are declining in service and mostly knowledge wise..SWR is still the best store in town and cleanest by far but their are always cons to any store..I know Rob is going to try to spend more time in the store since he changed his other store to a pet supply only not an aquarium store..I think the main thing is a lot of people pass themselves off as experts because they work in a LFS..Unfortunately this does not a expert make..one can be doing aquariums for years but if you do not keep up with the new methods and technologies you become obsolete..On the other hand I have heard these complaints coming from more than a dozen people that are regulars there..To tell someone they cannot make a diy stand because a tank is too heavy is ludacris since it it the same methods that keep up your roof.. Also to tell someone that to drill a glass aquarium would take "a day or two" is ridiculous ..Bottom line if you know nothing or little about a subject you probably should not being giving someone advice on it until you do some research..
My $.02 on the matter..

 

[Ntvper]

lol i like that .02 cents. though ive heard the complaints but i have never been steered wrong by my LFS. And one main reason I keep going back is I have heard from the employees "I dont know" many times, and never a BS answer. Oh once an employee has but he worked hard n long to make it right by me. So I keep going. But by far the number one source of information I get and keep learning from is from my local club which needs to meet more dangit.

 

[Osteopth]

I don't know if anyone else asked, but Rob's been sick. He just spent a week in the ICU with pneumonia. I don't know if he had insurance but we might want to check because a bill like that could close our LFS and leave us with few options in a pinch. The staff could be concerned for their jobs. If anyone has more info I'd appreciate it. We could do a frag sale fundraiser if it's bad.