local fish store closed?

[aquaph8]

I want to support them all. Its nice to be able to go to different stores and have a variety. My problem was that I went to the same store 2 days and a row and I dont think its too much to ask that if there not going to be there for a whole weekend they put a note on the door or something. I was fine with it the first day, but gas prices are too crappy to get burned twice. I guess I could call ahead, but as the consumer I dont feel I should have to. If your gonna run a store you should be open during regular bussiness hours. I want to be clear in this thread that I have never had any problem with southwest and now that the store is closer to my house, my business will go there. I dont want to order on line, but sometimes I have to, due to price and availability. Like you said in these time everyones trying to save a buck. Did you read my other thread, Im trying to get people together. We'll see, thanks for the input.

 

[outcastjra]

Hello to all,
I just read through all of your posts and I have to DISAGREE on what most people are saying here! I have bought online, and I have been to the all the Tucson LFS. Now some shops are better than others, but I have gotten a lot of great corals, support, from most of them!!! For me to be honest it comes down to 3 stores when it comes to corals, and 2 stores when it comes to coral and customer support! They are Petland on Wetmore (Sometimes good corals and good prices, but finding someone not selling puppies to ask a question or sell u coral is a real pain in the ***!). So they are the bottom of my list! Then comes Hector off Oracle. Depending on what you are after he has prices that matches the internet! There is no doubt about that! If anyone is on his sells list will tell you that his sells are great! Not to mention you start talking coral with him you will learn a thing or two I promise. So the customer support is Great, and the corals are Great too! I just wish he did military discounts like all the others do (Hint as to why I buy more from the next store I‘m about to talk about)... The next store I go to and enjoy is SWAquatics! Robert that works there is Kick ***. A nice guy that has forgot more than I will know about corals and reef keeping. He's new store on Oracle is very nice and coming together! He cares for his customers as well. If you ask him to let you know when some corals that you are looking for to come in, He Will! It did take me some time to gets some light bulbs from him once, but in return he gave me one hell of a deal on them the internet could not beat! I think he took a loss to keep me happy on that deal! Not to mention when I feel in love with Acans, he was right there to answer my questions and get my stock in! Now that Robert and Hector are so close together its easy for me to go bs with both of them and buy some nice corals! Hector if you are reading this- Robert gives me a military discount no matter what! Also Robert if you are reading this- Hector is more willing to work out better prices and deals at times for me! So there you go. Did anyone also note that I have no clue what the name of a petland store worker name is? There you go... Before people start crying about this and that, go to the stores regular, talk with the guys and get to know them. Let them know what you are interested in, and 9 out or 10 times they will HELP you with advice for free, and corals and supplies at a good price! If you are still upset about some higher prices, you must not know how expensive it is to keep a reef!
So I'm backing up Robert and Hector here... My 2 Reef Tanks looks awesome because of these two guys. Also a few people I have meet off here has hooked me up nicely too!!! SUPPORT YOUR LFS!!! I do!
Please Tucson we need to meet up and hook each other up with some cool coral frags!!!
BTW- this is my 100th post on here! Not a bad way to break 100...

 

[adamsky27]

Damn, I sure don't miss the Tucson LFS drama!

 

[dcantucson]

I'm sorry to disagree again! The truth is that all the stores speak for themselves. They are a product of their on creation and honestly they are embarrassing. Anyone who has gone into any of them knows this unless your blind. Look around; they are hole in the wall shops that only get business because there is no where else to go! That's why a lot of us shop online! We have to, period. If you don't have it how can I buy it. Oh also if you're not friendly enough and tell me you can order it, how do I know; and why would in the hell would I want you to order it for me when I can order it for myself, wait the same time and pay less. Duh! Business now days is aggressive. You want my business EARN IT. Or at least try to.

 

[aquaph8]

outcastjra you totally missed the issue. I like hector and Robert. I have talked with them both. I started this thread cause I was not happy about driving to the store two days in a row, during normal business hours and it was closed both times. I will admit that I like both stores and the owners, but that was a real pain. I wrote this hoping hector would explain his practices. Agree or disagree I dont care, but live up to your store rules.
thanks for the reply
aquaph8

 

[Fitchguy]

Man for once I agree with all of you! LOL There are good points in every post! I think the best thing that could have happened is Southwest and Oasis being right next to each other, to compete and push each other to get the best stuff in and give us all the best service and price. In no way would I ever tell someone not to look at online stores. Especially places like Cherry CORALS and Atlantis. THey have amazing corals you cant get anywhere else!

AquaPH-- Totally agree with you on burning gas! I live in Rancho Sahuarita and have no choice but to go in to town. I would be pretty ****ed off as well if they were closed.

And I am getting a BBQ together, just tweaking my tank right now to have everyone see it. Plus I could use some frags desperately since I lost all my sps during the new tank build.

 

[Sir Romey]

dcantucson, I'm assuming you have you have been to a few stores outside of Arizona? which stores are you comparing our LFS's to? I lived in Ca for a while and even some of the big online stores you see are run out of people's garage's and most of their dry goods are drop shipped. I think Rob and Hector have put a lot of hard work and money into their outfits and I think they are both great stores, also I don't know about the rest of my fellow reefers but I don't want to go to a LFS and see 17 empty aquariums and 5 chillers and 4 high end skimmers just sitting there collecting dust, taking up valuable real estate where a few more coral flats can fit.

 

[dcantucson]

Frankly the debate is not really about wether on-line shopping is run out of a garage or a warehouse! I know when I order from petsolutions, marinedepot, or drfostersandsmith and numerous others I get supplied with products I want and need and they arrive in less than a week. I have been to all of the shops here in Tucson and they do not offer 10% of what I've been looking for. Basics supplies i.e. skimmers, heaters, pumps, etc. I'm not wanting to see 17 empty tanks either, but come on this thread wouldn't exist if this wasn't an issue. You want us to support LFS and we want to too. The truth will be wether or not they can remain in business or not. How many LFS owners have been around over 5 years? Any? And how many will build their businesses and survive and be around in 5 years? Oh and I too, have twice been to Hector's and been disappointed that he was closed when clearly his hours stated he should be open. I for one will not return.
Rob and Hector are both nice enough. Yes they have put money into their shops. But I'm afraid it is too little and too late. Rest in peace.

 

[pesco]

Like I said, it's not the people. I like all the guys that work at the lfs but the amount and pricing of the products/livestock is no where reasonable. I can't spend $90 on a bucket of salt when i can get one shipped for $60 from dr f&s.


Also, i heard this a while back is it true? Someone said that their can only be 3 prominent saltwater stores in tucson. Majestic, oasis, and swsw/aquatics. Some law because of saving water or something? Anyone heard of that...

 

[Tucson Reef]

get out your "Tin Foil" and start making your hats. I heard the water company limits them to 1,000 gal. a day too!

 

[Fitchguy]

that can't be true because there are already more fish stores than that. Those are just the big 3, and frankly the only ones worth going to for us hobbyists on this forum.

 

[pesco]

Only saltwater though.... the person said that tropical kingdom and others that have both don't count. I doubt he was right though.

 

[jjk_reef00]

There is no way that was correct. There would be a monopoly between the 3 stores. If that were true, anyone who wanted to open another store would definitely be able to sue the city.

 

[Tucson Reef]

I was at SouthWest today and a bucket of Tropic Marin Reef was $75. Ithink thats the best salt so the rest had to be less then $90

 

[Fubaga]

I have to drive up from Sierra Vista. I like both Oasis and the new Southwest. I would be irritated to say the least if I drove up during regular business hours and they were closed. The only complaint I have had with Oasis is they told me ORA stopped breeding Naked Clowns and the 2 they had were 120 bucks apiece, I did not purchase. Since then I have seen many online stores with these fish and even bought a pair from premiumaquatics, they said they have heard nothing of ORA not breeding anymore. So, in my mind I was either blatantly lied to by Oasis or they didnt know what they were talking about. Either way I still think both stores are nice and offer as much as could be expected of any local specialty store.