Uncle Bill's

[Jova]

I'm reading a lot about Uncle Bill's being a "chain" store... In fact, I don't really think that UB's is a "chain" store, in the normal idea of a chain store like Petco or Petsmart. Uncle Bill's is a family owned business based entirely out of Indianapolis, if my memory serves me right. So really, it's just your normal mom and pop store, they just have a few locations throughout the city... I'm posting this because I don't feel that it's right for people to think of Uncle Bill's as just another Petco or Petsmart, because it's not the same thing at all.

 

[Scalare102079]

Not to argue your point, for I see it. But the family is also running a Pet Supply Wholesale business as well. If you see the trucks "Wilson Pet Supply" that is also part of their family business.

 

[Fireworm]

I agree that they are a mom and pop shop. I love that about them. IF they were a big chain store, I would hane never set foot in there. I always support the little guys first whenever I can. I knew that the family also had wilson pet supply as well. That is why it is ran more like a big business than a true mom and pop shop.

 

[clevengergl]

It's been around 9-10 months since I actually shopped at any local LFS (Moved and been trying to get everything prepared for my in-wall system), but I shopped at both the Greenwood and East Washington St. Uncle Bill's stores from time to time. The price on the $14.99 frags was nice if you managed to find a generously-sized piece, but quality and health of the coral, fish and invertebrates was never great.

One thing I will say; when purchasing coral from them, I always got more than I paid for......in the form of aiptasia!

 

[clevengergl]

I do have to give some credit out to the East Washington St. store, though. They had a beautiful Red Sea Sailfin Tang (z. desjardinii), probably around 7-8", in their largest saltwater display. If you've never been to this particular store, this tank is probably at least 5-6 feet tall, maybe 1000g...CRAZY tall....and they put all their largest fish in it. Obviously not very practical for netting fish from.

After speaking with a few employees who didn't know if it was even for sale, we finally spoke with a manager who said he'd sell it for $125, very reasonable price considering its size, coloration and apparent health, so we decide to purchase it. Then it got interesting....

The high school kid working there hops up on top of the tank and proceeds to lay on top of the tank bracing with two large 4' long nets on wooden poles trying to catch the fish. It took him 45 minutes of trial and error, but he finally caught it!!! And mind you, this tank's aquascaping consisted of 2 large landscaping boulders and a bubble bar! It was quite a thing to watch. By the time he finally caught it, most of the people in the store had migrated to the back fish area to watch and everyone cheered when he got it! Kid probably felt like a slightly damp Chuck Norris at an a$$-kicking contest when he finally caught it.

So props go out to that kid for his determination!

We also ended up talking the manager into throwing in a cleaner wrasse with the sailfin for the same price and the two became fast friends and were inseparable until I took my tank down last summer for the move. Sophie the Sailfin (wife named her ) was the best fish we've ever had thus far , and she came from Uncle Bill's.

 

[flatout4fish]

I was in the Fishers store this week and asked about the Wilson/UBills relationship. Wilson's is owned by the uncle of UBills so there is a relationship but seperate ownership. Mom and Pop with connections...
Also-
Must see fish is the show tank. They have a 6-7" Black Dogface puffer that is just COOL. To bad he would trash my reef or I would have brought him home. Might have to set up a FOWLR tank...
Nice selection of corals also. Dry goods and hardware a little pricey.
Thumbs up for the local guys.

 

[Fireworm]

It is the brother of the Uncle Bills that owns Wilsons from my understanding. Also Wilson will not give the LFSs up here any more discounts. Kind of funny that when Bills was not in town the LFSs could get discounts from Wilsons if they bought in volume. Nnow they claim that the profit margins are to low to give discounts. The whole sale price from wilson is just about as much if not higher than what some of the LFSs have the price marked at for retail.

Do many of your local club members support Bills in Indy if they are not getting any type of price break?

 

[JCR's Reef]

I was going to post that but didnt want to start an uproar. I think its all pathetic. Some of their prices are a joke and to think they are the only ones in the area getting the discount on their goods.
They have a nice looking store which I guess make people spend money on their goods. But whenever I compare their livestock to whats offered elsewhere, I shop elsewhere. Same fish are healthier and cheaper at other LFS. Sorry, bit my tongue long enough.

 

[Fireworm]

I agree JCR. I like the store. It is very nice and impressive. Some of the stuff is way out of line for price, some is closer to what we are used to, and a few of them are cheaper than I have seen in other stores.

I will say that everytime that I go in they are supper freindly and helpful. I like that at times. But it will be hard for them to compete with Petco out there or what ever the big chain store is. Over the years many of the mom and pop shops that have gone in on that side of town have not made it. Sad really

 

[coralfarm123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14758663#post14758663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fireworm

Do many of your local club members support Bills in Indy if they are not getting any type of price break?

I don't think we really get any special discounts from any local stores because of the club, but we did have a 10% off day at Premium when we had a meeting there.

 

[Fireworm]

Really, we get 10% at a couple of the shops, and a few bucks off at another after you spend so much. You would think that some of the LFSs would want to offer sometype of price break in order to draw more business in.