LFS question

[sufunk]

I understand time and driving costs, for the record, i live in Forest Ridge. You guys should now that is at most a 10 minute drive from his store.
As i said, i didnt have a problem paying the $75 as some sort of startup fee. He needs to make money like everyone else. But to take my money,agree to service my tank and then leave me hanging with no call back despite repeated messages...... There is no way that any of you would accept that happening to you and not be upset. people keep bringing up personality conflict, even assuming that is true he still needed to call and say they wouldnt service the tank.
I dont have any axes to grind. Check my posts here on any other board. I didnt badmouth Jawz, i specifically said i like them i just cant understand their hours. I also said that coralseas had nice corals but i thought they were rude and wouldnt shop there but anyone else can. Lastly, i said numerous times that Reefs edge has GREAT corals but i still feel he ripped me off but at the very least had INCREDIBLY poor customer service. I understand there is a cost to corals but good business would be to make it right. Whatever he lost on that deal he would have made up times 10 when i stock my 180.
Jeffbrig, i agree there are 2 sides to a story. As ive said numerous times, Marc will remember this and every word is true so ask him about it.
p.s.- i dont care what issues prevented him from calling back, there is nojustification for that other than going out of business. Is that how you run your business? Take money from people, agree to do a job and then never call them back despite repeated message? That is acceptable business practice?

 

[Kewlworm]

I have never been to reef's edge and don't know Sufunk, but reading up his story and this thread (with posters flavoring reef's edge), I have to say that I think Sufunk did got ripped off. The $75 shouldn't be a individual sale. It was needed to estimate a monthly cost of services and Sufunk did told her it's only a 36 gal tank, but she said he HAVE to go and look at it. You can't just charge for an inspection and not do the job that you are capable of doing...well, you could, but that's bad business.

Good business motto is "Customers are always right", although you can't do that all the time, you have to at least try and not run away from the situation. A business is a business, what prevented reef's edge from calling back does not matter here...the fact is that they didn't call him back and didn't even apologize for it.
Just my 2 cents.

A LFS's motto should be like "Treat other's fish tanks like your own fish tank."

That being said I am going to check out reef's edge for their livestocks.

 

[Anthozoa]

I agree I would certainly feel ripped off. I live further south but have never been impressed with the service in any LFS here, I guess business must be good for them to where they can afford poor customer service.

 

[Ludwigia73]

kewl, you won't be disappointed in his livestock.

Su, you state you like Jawz. Shows where your loyalties lie. Ich on some of the fish, bryopsis in almost every tank, bulbs constantly burned out, Jawz is a low quality store.

Su, you continually bash Reef's Edge and then you bash someone else... Let me refresh your memory (read back from the transcript ;-) )
"Wow, obviously you are having a bad day, lol.
What are you an infant???"

Maybe I'm starting to see why they didn't call back. You'd have been one of the people I send to the competition. Don't get me wrong, you may even be a nice guy. But your way of dealing with people needs to change. I get everything I want, simply by treating people like I want to be treated. When you called and stressed how important it was they come quick, you should have left it at that. Remembering back, I remember at least 3 times maybe more (I'm done with this, and won't waste my time re reading your post). A little patience goes a long way. As someone who can afford to pay $80 to have a (what we consider) small tank serviced each month, if it were me I would have gone elsewhere as soon as you sensed something out of the ordinary (like being late, or not returning the first call). Did you get ripped off, NO. He provided the one service you paid for. Should you feel bad, I probably would as well. One problem, heck, it happens. When you went in and asked for the corals half price, heck no, I wouldn't have done it either. (Remember, I've been in customer service a long time, too.) These corals cost a lot of money, and when you factor in all the costs, profit on them is probably around 15%. That's why I don't ask him for discounts, even though I'm in there every week. But on occasion, he does hook me up. I also refer ALOT of business to him. Plain and simple, don't bash him for this anymore. If you hear someone about to use his service, maybe mention something. But be the better man. Also, you may want to read the rules on this board. You bashed, then you name-called. Go about it a little more diplomatically. Had you been a friend of mine, I've got a very good repoir with Mark and may have been able to help you a little further. After this thread, good luck on your own, buddy.

 

[sufunk]

1)My loyalties do not lie with Jawz. I originally started this to wonder about their hours. I have stated many times that reefs edge has GREAT corals so i am not bashing the store just the owner(obviously your FRIEND!)
2)i bashed someone else? I said what are you an infant because he said it was acceptable to treat me the way he marc did since he might have had a bad customer before me. Only a kid would think it is acceptable business to be rude to a customer because the previous customer upset you. He made numerous personal attacks on me and my personality being the problem.
3) you are clearly the owners friend and have an agenda to help his reputation unlike me as you PROFIT from him as you've stated in your last post. I have no agenda except to tell the truth. If hes such a great friend, im sure you have shown him this and im waiting for him to refute even ONE word that i have said.
4) seems very clear from the responses on the thread and the pms i have received that: If you are on a 1st name basis with the owner then im a rude jerk with a personality problem; if you arent on a 1st name basis with the owner then i was ripped off.
p.s.- ihave read the user agreement and have no problem at all with you alerting any mods to any of my posts. I was the one who was bashed byseas3to5 for telling the truth.

 

[Bret61081]

Not to start anything but I tell me one store that only marks up 15%?!! I've seen the cost on most corals and fish...even including shipping, stores make 30-70%! Its a risky business and some things are marked up higher then others to make up for losses...but the only things I've seen makred up 15% are sick sick or corals!

On a different note, I too would be mad if that were me and I would have been on the phone everyday till they came to do my service! But thats just me. I too work in Customer service...sadly discount retail! its not a nice guest! If I had a dolelr for everytime someone comes and Bi***es about someone,something or even myself, I'd be RICH! Personally Ive had decent experinces with Reefs Edge. Katie is always VERY nice, but Mark on the other had IMO is usually rude. But thats just my experince. They have great fish and decent prices..the corals too are very nice but IMO overpriced...

 

[Treeman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7959294#post7959294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bret61081
Not to start anything but I tell me one store that only marks up 15%?!! I've seen the cost on most corals and fish...even including shipping, stores make 30-70%! Its a risky business and some things are marked up higher then others to make up for losses...but the only things I've seen makred up 15% are sick sick or corals!

I don't believe Chris meant that they marked it up 15%. He stated that after ALL cost's they might! make 15%. Stores don't make 30-70%, thay may be marked up that much, but they sure don't make that.

Also I have never been in the store(reefs edge).

But I think you got what you paid for. Maybe the customer service was bad, but I think that is it. Asking for free corals doesn't get it either. Maybe a discount.

What I don't understand is, If you thought they were so bad after your ordeal, why would you go to them after that in the first place?

Nuff said on this topic as far as I am concerned.

 

[sufunk]

I already said that i went there against my better judgement but i did because i actually think they have the best corals in broward. Despite how annoyed i was i figured i would give him a chance to make it right. Why cut off my nose to spite my face? But he didnt make it right and thats not goos business. Its his loss, he lost $80 a month to do nothing and all the money ive spent since then. That $75 discount he would have made back and then some, the few things i had in my tank then were almost all bought in his store.
I find it odd Treeman that you are self-employed yet dont think anything is wrong with his actions. I guarantee that you do not treat your customers the way i was treated.

 

[Ryanqk]

Anyone familiar with All Sea Life on pembroke rd.? I've been going there since i moved here, they treat me good....
Anyone else have good experience or bad with them....?

 

[Ryanqk]

The only place i refuse to go to anymore is animal mania over near riverland rd. the owners were extremly rude to us. They only sell dry goods for saltwater though. not livestock.

 

[Treeman]

I didn't say, nothing was wrong with his actions. But it isn't being ripped off. But it is bad customer service. Just don't go back that is how you show your disatisfaction.

I am self employed... have been over 25 years... but you can't make everybody happy all the time. I am sure there are some people out there b****ing about me too.

 

[sufunk]

I agree but taking someones money, promising to provide a service and then never calling that person back wont make anyone happy anytime. I am self employed as well and as i said before i bend over backwards to make every client happy(many times never receiving at least half my fee) so that they will spread good word of mouth and repeat. To do otherwise is bad business. To intentionally or negligently ignore a customer who has paid you and you have promised to provide a service to is beyond bad customer service, imo. He may be a great guy and he obviously has alot of supporters here but he did me wrong.

 

[Ludwigia73]

Thanks Treeman, I said what I meant, but could have elaborated a little. I too have seen what they pay for corals, and markup is anywhere from 100% to 150%. Then figure in the 5-10% dieoff, then figure in lights, salaries, rent, etc etc etc... and they really don't make much. How much does it cost to run those 1000w metal halides? I can't put an exact number on it, but it's roughly twice the cost that it was 3 or 4 years ago when he opened the shop. As an example, when I took over the Radio Shack I managed, it was making around 20k per month, with an operating loss of around 10%. Within 6 months, it was doing 50k per month, with a profit of around 30%. That's including my sending problematic customers on their way, and making my staff happier in the process, and they in turn treated customers better.
Treeman is one of the most professional guys in the club, and has given of himself and his time very generously. Rogger is simply one of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet. Zoltetov is a sterling individual, and I've had him over my house a few times. Yes, we're all friends, and I'd say I have at least 20-30 friends (and I don't use that term loosely) within the community and club that I would have never met had it not been for the aquarium hobby. I value greatly the friendships I've made. I challenge you to come to the meeting. Get to know a few people. You'd be surprised how many people would simply bend over backwards to help you out. I see it at least once a month. Someone's tank crashes, within a month it's up and running again, with a couple of people donating a few frags to get 'em going again. Someone rushing over in the middle of the night because they have some saltwater in reserve, because someone did a water change with straight fresh water. Or my favorite one, someone needed a 100 gallon water change because a possum had crawled in his sump in the garage and died. We try to keep a positive air about the club. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Mark, hopefully you'll be able to move past it. I also hope it doesn't sour you on the hobby. It's definitely very rewarding.

 

[sufunk]

I'm certainly not soured on it, if anything its a little funny. He cost himself a ton of money(and me, lol). If it wasnt for him i may never have gotten as involved in my tank as i am now(and saved myself alot of money!). I certainly wouldnt have gotten myself a new 180g. Because of him pretty much, i have a new hobby. All that being said, he still did me wrong and that was all i wanted to state.
Just for the record, despite the numerous statements about my supposed personality problems, i actually am a very nice person and would do anything for a friend. If anyone here in Davie ever needs help with a tank, moving it , whatever, feel free to pm me and i will gladly help if i can. Unless its Mark, lol.

 

[seas3to5]

I surely did not bash you, all I did was tell you to grow up. Take him to small claims court, if you didn't get what you paid for. I ran my own business, both retail and wholesale., and never had a bad customer . I had the belief, that they didn't need me, that I needed them, and would do anything to make them happy if reasonable. But being a buusiness man I would not give something away, if I was right, and would talk to the customer about it if there was any problem. Maybe I was lucky , and never did run into anybody like you with your problem. I always told all my coustomers that if there was reincarantion , I planed to come back as a toilet paper manufacture , use it once and throw it away with no complaints. Do yourself a favor take him to court if you are right, you win!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ludwigia73]

Okeedokee... it's gotten a little out of hand, and I think Su's last statement put it to bed. Welcome to the hobby, you'll find it really rewarding. Su, once you get started, might I suggest you post about what you'd like in your tank, and what your total setup is as far as hardware, and you'll find lots of people willing to help out.

Seas, that was funny about the toilet paper. Never heard that one, although it's all true. I needed every customer, but there were some I didn't want. I made bonuses based on profit, and WITH them I'd have made more money. My philosophy has changed over the years from make all the money that you can, to make less money if you can be happy doing it. I'm tired of working my butt off just to make more money. I'm 33 and it's time to enjoy life a little.

 

[nyvp]

"You'd be surprised how many people would simply bend over backwards to help you out "

Hey Ludwigia73

Or worse getting a call HELLLLLLP my 1000pound tank is being deliver in a 1/2 hr anyone able to come : )

 

[Ludwigia73]

glad to help... just keep me in mind when frag swap time comes around... about a year, and you'll have frags coming out of the, er, uh, aquarium... yeah, that's what I meant!