Reef life's new store, two thumbs up!

As Rogger stated, we are all entitled to our opinions be it devindman, rogger, patrick, etc... My opinion is that there is a slew of people lately bashing a particular store, each of those people has chosen (or to be fair, had that store chosen for them) a store to bash, based on a single incident. These choices (bashes) are nothing more than an opinion, and while definitely entitled to them, bring a negativity to the club that I for one don't like. That's my opinion. How about we all (read, a few in particular, no names here) stop bashing one store, and start promoting a store that has done you right? Talking negatively about a particular store does nothing more than put their name more. I'm reminded of the "Blimpie" commercial where the bald knucklehead stated matter of factly how a repetition of the name, no matter what context, is good marketing. He then proceded to simply cut meat, covering and uncovering the "Blimpie" sign from view over and over again. Simple. Most of us are set in our ways about how a store appeals to us. If you were really wronged by a store, that's what BBB is for. If you were really taken care of by a store with exceptional service, that's what this forum is for. Take the nastiness elsewhere.

Pat lost alot in the hurricane, and I got news for you, that kind of stuff is not insurable. All this in the midst of fighting for the new location. And having a new child (back then). And trying to have the best quality around. And getting screwed with by Cooper City, and costing a heck of a lot more than expected to move. And losing 2 employees just before the move. And with it all, taking personal loss to open one of the nicest looking, most inviting stores I've seen yet. Sometimes someone has an attitude, I'm guilty of it myself on occasion, where someone just rubs me the wrong way. Do a search, you'd be hard pressed to find complaints about him on this forum. Go in and check him out. Even if you don't buy anything, see how his store has changed. He's got some really innovative ideas for decor and power savings. He's even got a little room set aside with toys for the little ones! Tell me any store you've ever been to with that! That's what I thought. How many reef stores have an orchid shop inside? None that I know of. Yet, how many houses have you been to that keep reefs that also keep orchids? A surprising percentage. Ideas are what it's all about. Give him another chance. Don't tell him who you are when you go in. I'd venture to say you'll be treated with respect.

Chris
 
i secund rogger in evryting he say and in my opinion i tink pat is doing a grate JOB with his new store and he helps alot of people incluting me wich i just met pat and i can tell you for what i see the we all have somting to say about the club but this is not about the fmas is about reef live so don't mix the sky with the sea because you see them look like one they are not the same

btw
i have a good Q??? in my bad spelling how many times have you being to a fmas metings and how long have you being in love with the club because theres lots of people who belong to the club and have not complaing about none of that

thanks

manny
 
Every time I hear this tale it get's better. So, for all readers of this thread let's get the record straight.

I assume that since you had just moved to town that you had not ever been to a prior FMAS annual show? As such you don't have a clue as to whether my opinion of THAT show had any merit.

You question my support of the club, well did you know that I signed up over 200 new members for the club my first year in business, or that for 3 years every single month I donated 9 to 12 corals (good stuff not just junk I'm looking to unload) for the club raffle, and sold fish to the club at cost, and on top of that gave members 10% off on livestock and chemicals?

Now let's assess who's bad-mouthing has hurt the club most shall we?

You see I heard that you were so livid over my opinion that you couldn't wait to tell the members at the very next meeting about this conversation and started a virtual feeding frenzy. As a result of your bad-mouthing me and my shop, for over a year now and until recently I have not been asked to contribute or participate in any club activities which ultimately cost the club any additional revenues they could have gained from my potential donations.

So, which do you think hurt the club most my low opinion of a show, or your vigor to get in on the club's good side and report the evil LFS owner?
 
Well said. The people that hurt the club most are exampled above (Is that good grammar?) Opinions don't hurt the club, voicing them the WRONG WAY hurt the club.
 
Rogger, I don’t want to sound offensive to your intelligence, but this forum gives me the right to tell people who read this link about my one and only visit to Reef Life, after all if the monitors feel that my comments should not be posted they have the right not to post them. First off I had no loyalty to the club as I had just moved into the area, but I find it odd even by your standards that a local shop would not show more respect or support for their local aquarium club. As to whom I give my dollars to depend on several things, one of them is getting negative comments from a shop owner who should go out of his way to show support, even if he does not like the club, what else is he saying to other new possible customers that visit his store about the club or any other shop.

As to what I was told in a private, I just asked this person if Reef Life had done any support for the club recently as I had been told by others that before last years show he was a BIG SUPPORTER of the club and learning that no he had not just tells me that Pat no longer wants to support the club or for the club to support him and yes he has that right. It is obvious to me that something happened between Pat and the club around the time of last years show, I guess if that is the case then we will have to wait and hear from those in the club who would know more of the politics surrounding club affairs.

Anyone opening a business is going to be out on a limb financially, and I wish him success, personally his comments to me last year were enough for me to not support his shop and that is just my opinion and like you said we all have the right to our own opinion. I am not sure of your comment that my statement would and I quote “by doing this bashing you are just trying to hurt his business and ultimately all of us including your self” I believe it was his decision to spend all this money not mine and why would this be hurting myself, the word around town is that Pat is not the best businessman around, it is his responsibility to do what is required to make his business successful. Personally I have been in business for myself for more years then I want to say but one thing I learned early on about running a business is to keep my own opinions about other businesses to myself as they have a tendency of being repeated at some point and time. It is also my responsibility ALONE to make sure my business is successful no matter what anyone has to say.

Rogger I do respect what you or anyone else have to say just like you should respect what I have to say without getting bent out of shape.

Oh, for your information I am aware of 3 other shops that will be glad to give you a 10% discount on anything in their shop, one of those shops will do so even if you are a member of any aquarium club in the USA.

You enjoy your hobby as you wish, after all that is your right!
 
"Oh, for your information I am aware of 3 other shops that will be glad to give you a 10% discount on anything in their shop, one of those shops will do so even if you are a member of any aquarium club in the USA."

Notice no names given when the feedback is positive.

Notice no information in his avatar.

Too many times someone does not want to be known when giving comments, so they set up another screen name. This may or may not be the case, but it happens more often than any of us would like.
 
Devinemen,
Yes, you do have rights, on the other hand we also have choices and your choice to write your one bad experience about this store in a thread that I clearly started to welcome this nice new store is inadequate and visibly unwelcome to say the least.
In any case do feel free to open your own thread to let us (the Club) know the stores that according to you have voice to you that they will give us a discount, I would like to visit them too and support them as well.
 
"Personally I have been in business for myself for more years then I want to say but one thing I learned early on about running a business is to keep my own opinions about other businesses to myself as they have a tendency of being repeated at some point and time."

I like this one since this is all about Devin sharing someone else's opinion with others which he says he doesn't do. But it wasn't about another business, or a club for that matter it was about a show that I felt lacked member participation, and the great stuff previous shows had.

And what a kick in the pants the:

"the word around town is that Pat is not the best businessman around"

was to see , sniff. Devin, here's my challenge to you, come into the shop look around keep your money in your pocket and then tell me I'm a bad businessman.
 
hey he only have like 20 difrent post and his accound have being set up sice 05/06 i smell goes some where around here
 
Anyway, Pat, if he actually said those things, may have been taken out of context, since I too believe the show had a severe lack of member participation. I'd say (except for the officers of the club, of course, who worked extremely hard to get the show to where it was) only about 20-25 people really put forth some good effort. Not to take away from the single tank entries, of course they also made the show possible, but alot of them set up a tank and left, not to be seen again till the end of the show. Alot of tanks were promised to be set up, and never showed up. Eddie, Matt, Robert, Dean, and myself, to name a few, set up a tank (or in Eddie's case, about 5 or 6) and helped out whereever we could. I challenge Devineman to be first in line to sign up to set up a tank at the show. Then he can take offense when someone doesn't feel the club has lack of member participation (not a personal attack on Devine, I know he wasn't here long enough to be a participant then.) I for one can't wait till the next show. I put in one single 18 gallon tank, got Exhibitor's choice award, won a trip to Grand Cayman, and won a slew of awesome prizes at the raffle, then when the show was over, had a picnic for the people who entered tanks, and my eyes bugged further out still when they started giving away some really awesome prizes there too! I got so much from that show, that next time there's a show even if there's half as much to give away I'll enter at least 2 tanks. Heck, I had 4 tanks ready to go for the next one.

I'm agreeing with Pat that there was a lack of member participation. I think that alot of the vendor displays were very nice, with Reef's Edge and Boyd's enterprises and ORA being the 3 best ones. I think that Dean's "touch tank" was a nice addition for the kiddies. I think that the educational setup that Eddie brought was very hard work and went over great with the kids. I worked one day of the show, and heard good comments. And Dean's GIANT hermit crab was the show stealer, I thought. Here's to hoping for a show next year, and my early pledge of support, in tanks and labor. And my store will be donating any rental equipment needed for setup (working on a forklift, also, if needed.)
 
Iwas at the shop yesterday. I must say it is shaping up beautifully. The orchids and wall displays are gorgeous. The coral selection as always is one of the best in town. I got a nice acro and my wife got a beautiful orchid. She went back today and got another.

As for the above discussion. Member participation in last years show was thin at best. Those of us who did participate were scrambling to fill in the empty spaces for those who didn't show up. We all worked hard, pulled together and had a great time anyway.

While I've only been a member for four years, I've been to many of the shows in years past. Some years are better than others but i've found every one to be entertaining and informative. To have the chance to listen and learn from the best in the hobby is reason enough to attend. Names like Martin Moe, Julian Sprung, Sanjay Joshi, and Tony Vargas to name a few.It's our own mini MACNA. I can only hope that the next show will be better than the last and the next one better still. To make that happen we need more folks to show up.
 
There are so much negative vibes around here lately. :( It's giving me a headache...ouch! :)

Anyway, I went to Reef Life on Sat. and it's looking good. I love the corals holding tank. And the bamboo 'lounge' in the front of the store are nice, too. Although the store is not completely finish yet, I can see it's going to be very nice when they go into full swing. The best part is this location is alot closer to me than the old one. :)

Good luck, Reef Life.
Gary
 
I am not good with words, so I am going to say it and hopefully everyone understands, esspecially devindman.

I have been working for Reef Life/Pat for a little over three months, I had been shopping there a while before that. It was the only place I really shopped at, because I felt it was the one place that had everything I needed. Pat needed some help when his two other employees left, he gave me the opportunity to work there, so I did. Before, during and even now, I hear comments from people, usually the same people about Pat - I have noticed the comments are from people who haven't taken the time to understand and know pat. When I first started working there, I wanted to gain my own opinion of Pat (not what others have said, like you have). At first, I really didn't think Pat had the best attitude and maybe sometimes a little rude, but when I would see him deal with customers and see how honest he was to them, never selling to anyone unless knowing they were actually going to be able to keep a certain specimen alive. He always wanted the customer to leave happy, whether they did or didn't buy anything, if for some reason the customer wasn't happy he would always do what ever was possible to make the situation right. This man literally put his heart, soul, and every penny to his name and then some to open up this new store... do you know why? Not only because he was looking to become sucessful and able to feed his family everyday, but so when people would walk into the store they are "wowed" and comfortable shopping here. When he was in that last minute planning with the store, he was always thinking of how to make the customer appreciate the store, how to make the customer happy, how to make the customer truly enjoy being in the store. Alot of little things that I know no other LFS has even thought of incorporating into a store. For instance, the kids play room... What store has this? Where instead of worrying your kids are playing with something they shouldn't be, they are in another room enjoying themselves with other children, while on the other hand you are also enjoying yourself either in awe of the corals, orchids of the decorations and photography. Just so many little things that he thought of for YOU, your family, and your hobby. Now I can state my opinion, because I know him, you do not and I happen to think he is a very nice, honest, funny person and without a doubt one of the most trustworthy lfs owners in South Florida.

Now, for you to come here and try to bash his reputation, esspecially without even trying to get to know him, over a stupid comment he made, which was 100% his opinion about a certain event without thinking of the repercussions this could cause on his business aswell as on him personally and his family is totally irresponsible, immature and just plain arrogant.

Mevindman, I would definately suggest you think before you post anything like this again, or atleast get to know the person before you decide to slander him on a very popular, public web forum, get your facts straight.

-Mike C.
 
Yeah I was waiting on Mike to chime in. lol... I can't say much about Pat because I really don't know him... I've always dealed with Mike when I came there and he is cool in my book. I'm sure sooner or later I will come across Pat and we will get a long.

The new set up with Reef Life is 2nd best or maybe 1st aside from Big Als, but they have lots of money to spend on a fancy set up. I dont think they have a flower section or a kiddie play pen like Reef Life.

"well after telling him I then got this big talk about how bad the show was, how bad the club was and how bad the officers where who ran the club."

I have heard these exact comments before, but what can you say? People can express what they want, its normal life. Sometimes meets and shows are great and sometimes they suck! It all depends on who is there and so on... there are a lot of differents that effect it. Yeah, I've heard some of the officers are bad, but I've met a few of them and they seem to be outstanding individuals. The recent frag swap was great, my 1st and it won't be my last. It made me want to go to the regualr meetings they they hold monthly... why? because the people are so friendly and will to share information!

Anyways, I like Reef Life. I've bought a few times from them and enjoy them very much. So far nothing has died... yet. ;) I've gotten some great advice from them too. Plus the 1 thing I really like about Reef Life is that the tanks are clean and proper lighting is always used even if its for holding corals. They don't just throw the corals around and hope they get sold. When I walk into a LFS where there are dead corals or fishes... it makes me sick and I walk right out.

Oh yeah, how come no1 ever told me about the 10% off for being a member!?!!! Rogger? Mike?!!!
 
This whole Devin thing smells like a hatchet job. It's way the heck out of my way, but I'll find a way to go to Pat's store just on general principle.
 
This thread drama is great, sounds to me like dev had one bad experience with the owner and he couldnt get over it. Ive never been to the meetings id like the be an official club member. I lack the time though. I will how ever make an effort to visit this store this weekend before the frag swamp in palm beach or after.
 
Great shop nothing but good comments from me, to those that have never visited I encourage you to make an effort you won't be disappointed.
 
Mike, well said. Ive seen the new store it looks great. Cant waite till its done. Pat is just like all of us, he has his own opinions on things. If we did not have personal opinions the world would be a dull place. If you dont like someones opinion you let them know to there face, and give them a chance to explain. Not in a public forum like this as if you have another agenda. I go to as many LFS as i can, each is good in its own way. i try and not bash anyone, everyone is trying to make a living.
 
Thanks for all or your support. You have no idea how much this means to me and my family. I had no idea that so many of you thought so much of our place that you went out of your way to defend it and myself. A heartfelt thanks to all of you each and everyone.
 
I have been out of touch with the club and Reef Life for about two months, Its been pretty busy with my new job. I can't beleive I missed the grand opening. I'm going to stop in tommorow to check it out.

Davin, I don't no where you came up with the story that Pat hasn't supported the club in over a year. Are you on the FMAS board and know this first hand? I'm a FMAS board member and Pat has told me that he is more then willing to donate corals and fish, just give him a couple of days notice to get them ready.

"Personally I have been in business for myself for more years then I want to say but one thing I learned early on about running a business is to keep my own opinions about other businesses to myself as they have a tendency of being repeated at some point and time."
I like how you contradict yourself, It really gives your story merit.

Pat I'll see you tommorow
Todd
 
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