Poll, Which Saltwater Stores do you buy from and why?

[owsi]

Ok, the other thread was interesting but lets see why people go where they go.

 

[Bifferwine]

Okay, by a process of elimination... Petco? Ha. Now that's funny. I only shop there if I want to give everything in my tank ich. Desert Pets and Tropical Kingdom don't have enough of a selection to draw me into the stores in the first place. I've been to Oasis and Majestic several times, but every time I go in there, it's slim pickings -- most of the tanks seem to be empty. And if they do have good stuff, there's always "Not For Sale" written on the glass. I go to Southwest every week. If you get there on a good day, they usually have a nice selection of livestock, and their stuff is always healthy looking. Rob and Bill are always helpful and knowledgeable and you can tell they're not just trying to sell you stuff, which is the feeling I've gotten in other stores around here. Plus Southwest has awesome sales every few weeks.

 

[owsi]

I think I listed all Tucson stores that carry SW livestock? And in alphabetical order to be fair. I buy most things from SouthWest, better selection, health and competitive with Phoenix. I used to make the trip to Phoenix monthly because of the Tucson "Special Price" $55 Skunk Cleaners when Phoenix was getting $16.99. And of course the flatworms that don't bother anything. I check Tropical Kingdom and Desert Pets since I buy my FW stuff there (only bought a Shaving Brush once at TK). Of coarse after what Hector at Oasis did, I'll never go there again. PetCo crams the fish in, always find something dead or really sick there. Haven't been to Majestic since I got rid of the Flatworms that don't hurt anything(about 3 years).

 

[lovelylinda]

I've built a relationship with Rob (and Bill) @ Southwest, and they haven't steered me wrong. If I need something they don't have, they order it. If I have a question, and Rob doesn't know, he finds out. I've even borrowed stuff from Rob- BTW, I'll get those lights back to you, Rob!

 

[Satori]

I guess I've only heard of Southwest, Oasis, and Majestic. Didn't know about the others. I'm not really looking for answers from an LFS, so I haven't really talked to any of them about anything. On this point, Majestic and Southwest have never given me bad information. Mostly because I've never asked, lol. I've been to Oasis a few times, but I don't know about the advice. One time that I can remember off the top of my head, Hector struck up a conversation about my tank, which is cool. But he asked me if I run CO2 on my calcium reactor. Of course I said yes, and he said that he doesn't; that you don't need to.

Anyway, I go to Southwest the most because it's near UMC and I think Rob is cool. I stop in to Majestic sometimes now that the cancer center has moved up that way, and don't have anything bad to say about the place.

 

[owsi]

didn't know about PetLand carring SW

 

[Faviaphile]

Yeah- they do (I went in for the first time the other day) and their prices are pretty low- tanks look a little rough- cyano etc. and the selection wasn't great but I might order some cool looking green Yumas that they apparently get regularly- for cheap (someone else had already bought the ones on display.) staff was friendly (not very knowledgable- I became suspicious when I pointed out some aptasia bugging a GSP and the guy told me he kept a 30gal reef and he didn't mind having aptasia in it!)
They claim to match any local shop's price- on livestock and tanks etc. figure I'll give them a whirl if they order those yumas for me.....

 

[McCrary]

I probably go to TK the most, but thats because I can just order straight from their wholesale list and get whatever I want. SW is a close second, just because he gets in some neat fish and SPS from time to time.

 

[buckeyenewbie]

I go to SW. They have always been more than fair with me. I really like Rob and Bill. They are great people. They have a constant flow of new things in the shop.

Sondra

 

[ADVRESOURCE]

I CONSISTENTLY BUY FROM SW. Ever since John was owner, the store has been very good to me. I purchase most of my equipment and livestock from them, at good deals. Rob is a very fair person and I like the way he is continuously looking for ways of improving his store. They're prices are very reasonable and they seem to have a good selection of fish and coral.

 

[superman1013]

When I buy stuff locally, I always check Southwest as well. I like their clearly marked and reasonable prices. They also have variety of species that you can choose, I almost never walk out of there not buying anything.

From my experience I also agree with what was said about Majestic, their stuff are not clearly marked, every time I ask about prices, they have to either call or track down the "boss" to find out for me. Also I have witnessed the Flatworm species tank, it is just outrageous(not sure if its been taken care of or not).

YMMV, just my experiences.

 

[Zach Franck]

From my experience in town any store other than Southwest is a waste of time. Sometimes I will find it entertaining to run through majestic or I will check stuff out at TK or DPC if I am shopping for reptail supplies, but I pretty much only buy fish and corals from Rob. He usually has fair prices and is one of the few fish people that I can stand talking to for more than a couple minutes.

 

[owsi]

I just heard Rob went to LA for Livestock, tomorrow should be a good day to check SouthWest for cool stuff. If He brought back a Red Acro its mine, lol.

 

[BigDaddy]

I buy from Oasis.

Hector gives very fair prices and has high quality livestock.

He also has a decent selection of dry goods.

 

[Satori]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9812907#post9812907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by owsi
I just heard Rob went to LA for Livestock, tomorrow should be a good day to check SouthWest for cool stuff. If He brought back a Red Acro its mine, lol.

I'll trade you for a frag!

 

[SahuaritaMike]

I buy from Southwest, Rob always seems to have the best variety of livestock...

WOW I didnt know that many people preferred Oasis to Majestic, How come you guys arent posting why you like Oasis and what makes you shop there???

Michael

 

[newimage]

I gave an abbreviated post as to why I prefer Oasis on a previous thread but,
If you would like more ENTERTAINMENT, :jester:

I guess I could give you my in-depth store-specific reason, complete with personal experiences both negative and positive at each store ending with my reasons for choosing Oasis. You must remember that these are not direct attacks on any store, but simply sharing true experiences that have actually happened to me.
Who would like story time boys and girls??? :reading:

 

[owsi]

Southwest has some great ORA stuff right now, got a beautiful blue Milli at a great price. Another thing about SW is if you want something, they'll get it for you. I wanted a super small Bi-Color Angel and they kept getting them in till till I found one I liked. I still keep prodding Rob to go Internet, When Roger Bull was doing mail order way back, the volume kept prices down and brought in items you would never see in Arizona stores. Just having Rob go to LA and hand pick is great now and he's not afraid to try something new.

 

[cerreta]

I go to Phoenix. Several stores up there offer a better selection at better prices. The stores are clean, friendly, and put prices and dates of the fish or coral when added to the tanks. Aquatouch quarentines. About the Reef has the best selection of exotics, Aquarium Arts has the best value, and Pets Inc has a great variety with lots of colorful zoo colonies. Not frags with 5-10 polyps, but colonies of 200+ with color, like whamin watermelons.

It is worth the price I pay in gas to buy from those stores.