New LFS where Aquaworld used to be?

[duec22]

no, I think people get irritated about that because instead of getting the total discount that the group buying power is enableing, they guy took part of that buying power and poketed it. If he had been honest about it, I don't think people would have gotten mad.
I'll still stop by the store and check it out, but to be honest they guy is going to have to do some serious impressing. As it stands right now, I'm perfectly happy with my new store in Roseville and have no reason to start buying things elsewhere.

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7296838#post7296838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdy22
Now everyone is mad because he got the better end of the stick.

Not likely. The situation happened on more than one occasion and club members were deceived. People don't usually take being lied to and used very well. I really don't have an opinion about the way things went down with his purchase of the new store, that makes good business sense; it's the owner's ethics that I don't care for, which are pretty clear by the way he conducted his self initially.

 

[Nu2SW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7297082#post7297082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mothra
Not likely. The situation happened on more than one occasion and club members were deceived. People don't usually take being lied to and used very well. I really don't have an opinion about the way things went down with his purchase of the new store, that makes good business sense; it's the owner's ethics that I don't care for, which are pretty clear by the way he conducted his self initially.

well put...

 

[Pico1]

Yesterday I was by aquaworld and the doors of the shop were open so I decided to walk in and tank to the guy that was working in there. He was cleaning up the place and it looks SO much better! They pressue-washed all the walls, replaced all the dead lights, painted the walls, and polished the floors ect. and it looks like a whole different shop. The guy working was not the guy who had bought it he was just a hired worker. He was painting all the racks for the aquariums. The store has really made a change for the better and its starting to look almost as clean and nice as John's store.

 

[hiepatitis]

I don't advocate dishonest business but I don't like how people get fried on RC. It seems like there are a lot of politics involved and people take sides. We should support all LFS to expand the hobby and to keep prices affordable. I don't blame people for being upset about past experiences but let's not destroy a business before it even opens.

 

[bettaman]

hieppatis, very well put

 

[Marc Daniels]

Since my name came up....
The only contact/experience I have had with our newest LFS owner is through the deals he ran here in our club forum. Every deal that he ran/offered here in our forum had something questionable about it. His never ending live rock supply, his shrimp group buy, his father's RO/DI units. They all stank of questionable ethics, not because he was making a profit on the deals, but rather because he was intentionally misleading people in order to make a profit.

Then we had his reappearance here in our forum. He once again tried to defend his actions...until everyone pointed out that he was wrong. Then he started his "aw shucks" routine and that he really didn't think what he was doing was a big deal, but with everyone's response obviously it was...and that he was sorry. This isn't a kid that just made an immature decision, this is a an adult, that has been in the business world and runs his own business. He certainly should have known better, and in my opinion clealry shows how he does business. People just don't change their behavior overnight, and I think that sooner or later there will be issues with his new endeavor. I hope and pray that I am proven wrong.

Time will tell.....

 

[kward@msn.com]

Business ethics

Business ethics

May 7, 2006

Hello

I am Kenneth Ward, Co-owner of CORAL REEF SHOP. We will be occupying the space in Carmichael where AquaWorld previously was. I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t usually respond to accusations and innuendoes (itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a never ending cycle and everyone is entitled to their opinions).

I would respond, however, to the gentlemen questioning my business ethics with respect to (not) purchasing the assets of Aquaworld. The owners of Aquaworld had no serious offers after several months and we thought the asking price was out of line. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s all a matter of what both parties feel is a fair and negotiable price. . . . itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s as simple as that! Nobody reading this post would pay, for example, $50,000 for a 1999 Ford SUV with 100,000 miles on it.

I graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Chemistry (Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll omit the year), have been in Commercial & Industrial Water treatment for 25 years, have been in the retail business for 10 years and operate a successful business in Elk Grove (Water Warehouse). I have built a reputation by being responsive, technically competent and fair to my customers while offering competitive pricing AND quality equipment and supplies. I intend to follow this same model at Coral Reef Shop.

We open our doors in June 2006 and we look forward to becoming a part of the Aquarist community.

Regards to all,


Ken

 

[Nu2SW]

From that post it doesnt seem anything like the person you guys are thinking of.

 

[Pico1]

I believe ken ward was the man I met when I saw him clening up/painting the shop. He was a pleasure to talk to and happily answered my questions concening the new shop.

 

[Marc Daniels]

Edwin-

We were not talking about Ken Ward, but rather his son Brian.

Mr. Ward...Ken-

You sound like an upstanding, ethical businessman and I have no reason to believe that you are anything but that. I am happy to hear that you are going into this venture with your son and hope that it is successful for the both of you.

I completely agree with your arrangements surrounding the acquisition of the Aqua World space. It's somewhat absurd to think that your taking the space but not buying Aqua World out is unethical.

In regards to your "donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t usually respond to accusations and innuendoes" comment. I really wish that the original problem had not occurred, nor the follow up commentary just a few weeks ago. But the bottom line is that Brian ran several
"questionable" threads where he was selling things and intentionally misleading people as to the arrangements surrounding the sale. He was, I assume, banned from RC for these transgression since they were in violation of the RC Users Agreement. There is no "accusations and innuendoes" involved...Brian already admitted to the fact that what we thought he was doing, was what he was doing. The only thing at issue was how big of a transgression was it. For a new business looking for my retail dollar, it was huge. I will chose to shop elsewhere, but I would implore the readers of this thread to make up their own minds. Give your new store a chance and let the store speak for itself.

Best wishes in your new endeavor.
Marc Daniels