The Reef Room-Dana Point
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Puff_the_Reefer
New member
No joke on the prices...
Last time I was there I was looking for peppermint shrimp... the owner tried to sell me 2 peps for $26 bucks *each*, then after I got over the shock he tried to convince me it was a good deal. They were fully grown peppermints but the most I've ever paid was $7.99. I told him the price was a little steep (understatement of the century!) and his response was that the shrimp I got before were probably camel shrimp and not the real deal...
Haven't been back since...
Last time I was there I was looking for peppermint shrimp... the owner tried to sell me 2 peps for $26 bucks *each*, then after I got over the shock he tried to convince me it was a good deal. They were fully grown peppermints but the most I've ever paid was $7.99. I told him the price was a little steep (understatement of the century!) and his response was that the shrimp I got before were probably camel shrimp and not the real deal...
Haven't been back since...
Puff_the_Reefer
New member
:smokin:
Puff_the_Reefer
New member
After reading this I looked up the *real* peppermints, Lysmata wurdemanni, and found that what was trying to be sold to me was indeed Camelback Shrimp, or Rhynchocienetes uritai.
There is a distinct difference between the two if you look at their markings...
Only shrimp I'd pay north of $10 bux for is sexy shrimp or a pistol. I wouldn't even consider a peppermint "ornamental" or cool to look at.. for $26 it better do underwater somersaults.
I wanted them for aptasia control.. imagine going in there with an aptasia problem and a big tank. "Gimme 10 peppermints, I got a problem!", "Sure, that'll be $260 dollars, please." Went to Tongs, got 2 shrimp for $13, (they ate my aptasia btw) and saved almost $40 bucks in the process.
Apparently their core business is servicing customer tanks. They should stick to that game as those customers can be mislead much easier than true hobbyists.
Isn't this the 2nd or 3rd grand opening/re-opening of this place?
Puff_the_Reefer
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8226917#post8226917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ®eefer
If I'm gonna spend $260 on 10 shrimp, it better come with valet, wine, filet mignon and a BJ.
...no kidding. Group buy anyone?! :smokin:
gemini aquarius(t)
Always Learning
I work from time to time at the Reef Room when I'm not in school and I know first hand that the peppermint shrimp are $14.99 a piece and $26 for two.
I hope you didn't misunderstand when you were told $26 for one.
I also know that The Reef Room was purchased by the new owner back in January that wanted to make it into a high end retail store unlike the stores up in north Orange county. It is amazing what the store has been transformed into to make it where it is today. The old owners really didn't have a clue in marketing.
I hope you didn't misunderstand when you were told $26 for one.
I also know that The Reef Room was purchased by the new owner back in January that wanted to make it into a high end retail store unlike the stores up in north Orange county. It is amazing what the store has been transformed into to make it where it is today. The old owners really didn't have a clue in marketing.
Puff_the_Reefer
New member
Sorry.. no misunderstanding. Atleast not on my part.
When I said I haven't paid more than $7.99 for a single pep (still too much, btw) he said that was *well* below his price at the wholesaler for a single shrimp. That's hard to swallow considering the outrageous markup in this business. He even looked up the price in the computer.. as if that added some credibility to the potential sale.
Maybe he slipped and tried to sell 1 at the price for 2 on accident, who knows. Don't care anymore, am over it.. it's just a shrimp.
BTW, I have had good experiences in dealing with the younger guy who manages the shop (or appeared to be when the owner wasn't around). He was very cool to deal with...
Are you a guy or gal? Last time I was in the shop there was a part-timer feeding the fish.. a younger gal.
Wrasse Gas
New member
Wow! I wonder if there has ever been such a discussion on shrimp in the history of REEF CENTRAL. All I know is that nobody has the selection of corals like the reef room without waiting for it to come in a box from online. I hope the SPS tank is still stocked at the grand opening, cause thats all I need.
TrojanScott
Active member
I visited the store last week. Nice place, kinda small, but nice. The SPS frags are really nice, but some of the prices are a bit up there. Not saying it's gouging or anything, but a bit higher than I'd pay for certain things.
®eefer
New member
Interesting "first post".
"History of reefcentral" about as far fetched as having the BEST selection of corals without having to order online. There are some really really great stores in north OC, not to mention frag farmer in the IE. Don’t get me wrong, The Reef Room is a great store, it's very nice and has a decent selection of fish and corals, it is also clean and the tanks all look healthy. I remember when their hours sucked (12-5pm m-f, 11-2pm sat, closed on Sundays) and the place didn’t look so hot. It's come a long way since that time. I really couldn’t ask for much more being close to me and not having to drive too far. It's just that the prices are bit high, but that is not too surprising being the nice PCH location and well kept store. Considering that I buy a lot of stuff for my tank, I prefer to make the drive to cheaper places. For instance I went to Global Aquatics this past weekend. They don’t have much of a store...just a warehouse and it's in an off location, but the prices are right and the selection is decent. I walked out of there spending $130 and got a 60+ head Acan colony, a 6x10" turquoise chalice, and a 7 head colony of Torch coral. I could have easily spent double or triple that at the reef room.
Wrasse Gas
New member
I see from this past weekend that the reef room is gearing up for the big weekend. It is so nice to have a store of tropical interests right next to the beach. Where else can I get some good fish & chips by the ocean and corals and a fat clam. If I ever had to drive out to the IE I think I'd forget why I left the beach by the time I got all the way out there. It is so hot and not a stitch of scenery in them parts.
gemini aquarius(t)
Always Learning
jjirsa what were u unipressed with?? i know the ad thingys but what else???
i thought yesterday was pretty good
sorry u felt that way
today is the last day u should come by and say hi (even if u dont want to buy something it would be noce to meet a couple members ill be the half black kid in a grey reef room T shirt
i thought yesterday was pretty good
sorry u felt that way
today is the last day u should come by and say hi (even if u dont want to buy something it would be noce to meet a couple members ill be the half black kid in a grey reef room T shirt
afelder
New member
I went yesterday and two things caused me to walk out. I won't be back unless I won something at the raffle.
1. No prices marked on the coral tanks. Any time I see this warning bells go off in my mind.
2. I saw an employee tell someone who was setting up a new aquarium that they should try a damsel. Then they pointed to the ones acclimating and the customer had to point out that the one that they were trying to sell them was missing a tail.
My tank is pretty well set up. I am letting my corals grow out and maybe adding a piece here or there. When I walk into a store I want to know how much the item I am looking for is going to cost. I don't mind paying a little more for an item that is doing well but I'm not going to just let a store pick a price based on how they are feeling that day. The tanks were healthy but I just wasn't impressed.
Ariel
1. No prices marked on the coral tanks. Any time I see this warning bells go off in my mind.
2. I saw an employee tell someone who was setting up a new aquarium that they should try a damsel. Then they pointed to the ones acclimating and the customer had to point out that the one that they were trying to sell them was missing a tail.
My tank is pretty well set up. I am letting my corals grow out and maybe adding a piece here or there. When I walk into a store I want to know how much the item I am looking for is going to cost. I don't mind paying a little more for an item that is doing well but I'm not going to just let a store pick a price based on how they are feeling that day. The tanks were healthy but I just wasn't impressed.
Ariel
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