Reef Life

[newreefbishop]

Frankly speaking.....I love Reef Life....and I have been to every LFS in the area....The fact of the matter is the live stock is great and the people flat out know what they are doing. I mean have you ever seen Zurcs stuff geez......

Anyway I actually got put on to the store by another great store all the way in Orlando, Sea in the City. The problem here is that it seems, that some people dont know common sense or dont have it rather, but its a free country (at least thats what we are taught to believe). Its seems as though people see the thread and attempt to discourage a person from supporting a local family owned business, versus another. Plain old stupid, I live five min from a rather large store, and actually would drive all the way to Davie, to purchase a coral beauty, which by the way is is one of the most attactive things in my tank, simply because I prefer quality and people who would honestly say no dont buy that, because your setup isnt right. How many stores would sacrifice the bottom line, MONEY, to conserve the life of an animal. Not many. Like I said before Im not saying its the only great store in south florida, but it ranks up there with the best.

Pat keep doing what your doing.......and dont let haters spoil the show. As soon as I get the rest of my lights....lets just say my wife is gonna be real ticked off.

 

[brian29]

Good afternoon all, I was at reef life earlier this morning and saw the new shipment of acros. Simply beautiful!!! I must say that I appreciate the way Pat does business. His pricing is fair and honest. The trend that other stores are taking are rediculous. Pretty soon we are all gonna have to walk around with "coral price guides". Thank you once again Pat for your help, and Everyone should definately go check out the new shipment. I brought home my first sps today! A tri color acro!!! Will post pics when I can.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[The Beaut]

Wow this nonsence must stop. Everyone, just remember the Golden Rule.

 

[pdavies]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8186290#post8186290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Emperorsnapper
I've never been big on posting on Reef Central or online for that matter at all regarding this hobby. But, and after reading this post and several other posts since Pat has opened his new store, I felt it necessary to respond.

E.S.

Can you please explain to me how it is that you've followed this thread since I opened the store? Because, I remember when I first came to RC and tried to look around in the forums I couldn't get in without registering. So, before today what was your handle? You did just join today right?

In close proximity (within 8 miles) there are 8 stores, Reef's Edge, Age of Aquarium, Pet World, and the store that recently changed it's name again located on Taft near Douglas, Coral Reef Farm, All Sea Life, Pet Paradise and Beverly's. If you don't think that's close just ask the tank owners that drive to all of them looking for a real find.

I have a loyal following because I care about my customers and my animals. Yes MY animals, because until they are sold the creatures in my store are mine and it is my job to look out for their welfare and keep them healthy and marketable and at the same time keep my customer happy. While new customers interview me to see if they want to spend money at the shop, I interview them to find out as much about their tanks as I can so that I can assist them in their choices for compatable and sustainable species for their tanks. I stock a lot of livestock because I'm not afraid to hold on to it until it finds the right home. So you may understand the why my so-called "staff" of supporters supports this store, because this store supports them and helps them make rational sensible decisions with respect to purchases.

I'm not a manipulator, certainly not a Godfather and I don't shy from criticism, so long as the criticism is at least loosely based on facts, which was not the case with respect to D2D's "observation" of the store. Did you go back in time and read all the negative posts written about our store? There aren't very many but this one comes to mind....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=468424

and my reply

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/private.php?s=&action=show&privatemessageid=1970783

As for my opinion on gouging it is just that, my opinion. If you bothered to carefully scrutinize the thread you would have seen that someone thought it was a totally different store which is also in close proximity to us.

It's like this, zoos are zoos, and everyday someone finds a new color mix, once it gets "named" it gets pricey. I was criticising a practice where shop owners use the internet auction outcomes of other sales of similarly colored pieces to hike the price, chop the piece and make a killing. I'm told there's a shop somewhere in Palm Beach that let's customers take nippers to their acros and take frags for $5.00!! Is it wrong? Probably not, there's all kinds of creative ways to price things and that one has me thinking, I digress so back to the topic. My point for clarity was this, if you want to sell something at auction prices then take the chance and sell it in an auction. I would have been more impressed if for the sake of arguement a shop listed several of it's better pieces for sale in an online auction and tagged each piece Ebay item number 8282828, 29, 30 etc... for customers to see upon entering the shop, Bidding ends at .... and take their chances that they get the price they are looking for. I mean, how many times do you get the chance to preview in person the items you are about to bid on? Perhaps even setup a computer or handheld for customers to enter in bids. Let the customer become involved in the pricing process, see exactly what they are getting no Photoshoping and in my own apparently very twisted opinion I will bet that there will be more success and higher profits for the shop. Ever watch what happens to the bid price 2 minutes to bid closing? It's gambling, but remember the house ALWAYS ends up winning. Because occasionally when that one lowball bid wins a prize piece, the news of it will drive more bidders in to attempt to snag the next one.

I don't have anything against Reefs Edge we are two very different stores with some crossover which is to be expected. Mark and Katey have their clientele and I have mine and quite often that crosses over too. It's a practice that is becoming all too commonplace that I dislike, not the proprietors, so I hope we have clarity on my position?

 

[jessp]

i was in reef life, the store looks gorgeous and they have lots of nice pieces. one thing that i did not like was that none of the corals are priced. all the times is visited the old store everything was priced. In addition what i think may or may not work would be to categorize the corals, lps on one side of the square, sps on one side, zoas on another you get the idea.

If you know what most of the corals are and know there care, i feel that awkward asking the prices of everything, because you may just think i'm bargain hunting.

The corals do look cool and in and i like the display tank. It is cool because you can get a sense of what it may look like in your tank among the rockwork. I don't think it would be real ugly though to tag a few prices, IMO. It may be a little extra work maintaing these prices to make sure they are correct but a little effort goes a long way.

I think that this whole thing is silly and should be locked by mods, a good store speaks for itself not in the forums, your customer base and sales are what will show this not what people say here.

overall 3 out of 4 stars

thanks,
jess
P.S. I will be at the meeting tuesday, so please don't kill me for my opinion, i really am looking forward to meeting everyone

 

[pdavies]

Jess, I've been waiting for nearly 3 mos for the Acro/Clam tank to be built. They aren't supposed to be in that tank. The inner area is designed for LPS and the outer with higher flow for Softies. As soon as it's built they will be moved. Then it will be a lot easier to price things. Right now there's so much crammed in the middle I don't know how I'd even attempt fill in prices on the side of the tank. But for the sake of simplicity, all of the acros in the outer ring are 1 price and all the acros in the middle are another. And 2 prices for all the zoos too. This reduces the number of questions on prices greatly since presently they take up 2/3 of the tank.

I would hope you would be looking for bargains when shopping for your tank.

 

[jessp]

I don't want you to think i'm hating or anything, just my feelings.

the store does look great and as you said just cramped. when you get the new tank i'm sure it will be real sweet.

i really liked the few echinophyllia frags that i saw when i was there and there where some real nice blastos in the middle tank.
red w/ green centers, i was not sure if they where for sale because they where in the middle. overall real nice pieces and if i lived closer i'd shop there more often.

 

[Diver7atms]

Why would you want to go to that cranky old bastard anyway>?

 

[stevem650]

Why would you want to go to that cranky old bastard anyway>?

Your a big a--hole. You have one post and thats what you have to say...Get a life...

 

[jessp]

that was uncalled for and childish.

 

[Ludwigia73]

Look at his name... Diver7atms... that's 7 atmospheres. that's 198 feet. No wonder he's acting stupid, he's got nitrogen narcosis.

Either that, or he's been diving headfirst into 7 ATM's. That won't get you any more cash, buddy!

Trying to lighten the atmosphere(s) around here... ;-)

 

[Diver7atms]

I guess his customers are cranky to

 

[Diver7atms]

Great math skills Ludwig.
You need to check your work. I only spoke out because everyone was sooo kiss *** about the shop. He was a rude guy in the last location. Now he is rude and desperate. His help seems to be following in his foot steps. They would'nt even off to carry water out for my wife. Nice service.

 

[kimbertent]

tonite on MTV, the new dramatic reality tv show!
"FMAS BEACH the real orange county"

 

[ek9vboi]

Back from the dead... again I see. It was alomst a month old dead (10 days away).

 

[scubasteve247]

man people get so angry, its 229.66 ft to be exact, lol......

 

[Speckled Grouper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8314771#post8314771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Diver7atms
They would'nt even off to carry water out for my wife. Nice service.

NOT TRUE! I have shopped at Reef Life for almost 3 years now. And no matter who was at the shop at the time, Patrick, Dave, Jeff, Mike, Robert, I NEVER had to carry water myself.

Last time I checked the poll, Reef Life was the favorite Broward LFS. Hmmm, I wonder who really is the cranky ol' bastard ?:blown:

 

[CraigG]

They offered to help me carry my LR out.

 

[pdavies]

None of the staff that worked at the old place work at the new place. If we are unable to carry water out to someones car, we have 2 flatbed carts that customers use to take water out to their car. I got rid of people that weren't nice to customers and if you think I'm rude, then you obviously don't know me. Sometimes I may be distracted by other things and miss something someone says to me, but it's not intentional. If you feel that you were slighted in any way by me or my staff then I appologize for them and myself.

 

[newreefbishop]

GEEZ, ALL I WANTED WAS STORE LOCATION!!! LOL

The point is if you look at the vote we already voted it one of our top 5 stores in the area. Secondly, before Diver before you jump on people kike Ludwigia or Pdavies, that are honest, and great reefers you need to learn more about them and stop being ignorant. For one I have personally seen that no one here judges anyone period. Thats the way it should be. THis thread isnt to flame this store, because flat out its one of the best. If you have a problem with it thats cool, but the fact still remains its one of the best. If you dont like what Im saying, you can speak on that too. Never been one to argue, but that doesnt mean I run away from it either.

The fact remains the store gives great service, has great stock and is improving everyday. I suggest you take a closer look, and get to know people, and even if you dont like the man dont judge him because its a family store and i for one prefer honesty vesus a thief if you know what i mean. If you dont like what Im saying I'll be there Saturday Look me up......