<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7368392#post7368392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
I like Len, and Leng. The name thing is confusing, but it's what I like.
My first experience there was after Seaside sold me a defective aquarium and played games with me for weeks about not honoring the warranty. Then the stress fracture started to grow a coulpe inches over night, so I decided to get a new tank that would fit my stand. I went into that store not expecting much. I talked to an employee Eric, told him my situation, he told me they didn't have it in stock but could get it. I was not in the mood to wait, but I asked how long. He made a phone call and told me 3 hours.
The also sold me the tank at there cost, because they didn't want to make a new customer like that. Well they made a customer for life.
Len has been the nicest and mot knowledgable person I have ever dealt with. He will talk with me for hous on end, even after closing the store. Great person. Ton of knowledge. Did you see the article on his store in Coral Magazine? the guy know his ish, and he does it differently then almost anyone else out there. His thoughts are genious and his results do the arguing for him.
Infact I trust him so much I sent my wife there to get my B-Day present and told her I wanted a 150 MH, I needed everything to make it work. No other instructions, and I didn't worry a bit. Len came through with a very nice setup for an unbelieveable price. Honestly it is better then what I would have picked out if I had done it myself.
When I wanted my Nova T5's no one had them in stock, he ordered them for me, and then charged me the lowest price advertised anywhere for them. When the lights came in deffective I returned them that night after he had gone home. He drove to the suppliers himself and got me a brand new unit the next morning when he opened his doors. It is easy to be a great LFS owner when things are great, but to me the mark of a Great LFS is how they respond when things go bad. I couldn't have asked for better customer service.
I also find it touching the way he tries so hard to medicate and save peoples sick fish. That is not a quality I have seen at other LFS's. He is so respected in the industry in this aspect that even Leng Sy brought him so rare angels to save.
If I ever want a fish he doesn't have he gets it for me. He sells his water at his cost. RODI is $.25.
I have seen him talk to several customers, I have been around a minute or two, and never heard him give anyone bad advice. I have seen him refuse to sell things to people if there system cannot handel it. I have seen him refuse to sell products to people because they would not be the solution they were looking for.
I have found Len to be thee most stand up honest person I have ever dealt with in this industry. I would recommend his store, or his knowledge to anyone. Like I said I sent my wife who knows nothing about anything in to buy me lights, he more then took care of me at a very reasonable price, lower then anywhere else around.
I do think his store needs some work as does he, being the type of person he is so many people gravitate towards him that he just doesn't have enough time to spend in the store and working on projects. Between keeping the stocking up and all of his home installs the guy is super busy. He's setting up a 1000g this week. Maybe soon he will start to post pics of his work in his store, it is quite incredible.
I know he has had some staffing issues, it is very unfortunate that people are turned off to his store by this, he is really one of the best people ever. I know it's easy to make a judgement based on the first time experience, I am really glad I did not. You have seen me on this site, I don't have many nice things to say, I can't say enough about Len.
I used to be the guy that went to every store, I mean every store to get what I need, now I'm a one stop shopper. I do look around once in awhile and get a cool coral if it's around, but 90% of all I get is through Window to the Sea.
I do like Ben alot as well the white balding guy that works there, Coral Oasis is nice but my favorite is Window to the Sea.
JME
you just have to ask since its in the back!!!
