Your Opinions are Needed (AA)
- Thread starter wwildcats04
- Start date
I bought my first aquarium (FW) from AA, simply because it was the most visible store and I thought they were the only place to do so. Later on, when I became an informed consumer I realized what a rip-off that place was.
As everyone has mentioned, the prices at AA are RIDICULOUS!!- As an example, I was at the store yesterday and a simple veggie clip costed $4.79. I went over to Petsmart (a few blocks away) and they had the same clip for $2.29. Other dry goods are also priced at a very high premium to other LFS. I also remember pricing a Fluval FX-5 at AA early in the year, I finally bought it from Jack's as the same filter was $100 cheaper.
Those are just two examples of the inflated prices I have seen at AA, unless management brings the prices down and cleans up the store a little, how could you expect experienced hobbyists to support the store. I have seen fungus infested FW tanks at AA and have brought that to the attention of the store manager and he simply said that he does not want to move them to QT since it will stress the fish and he fungus will go away on it own in a day or two. At another occasion I was buying a large Java Fern and the tank in which the plant was had ich, the employee told me that the tank will be treated at night and the ich wil be gone in the morning.....I did not argue with him or try to correct him and simply left the store!. Ich is pretty rampant in many FW tanks at AA and I have had employees tell me that I can buy a fish from an ich tank cause those fish will not get infected by the parasite.
I will not mention the problems with the SW tanks as I think they have been covered pretty well by other members.
Maybe the experienced hobbyists (like he ones you find on RC) are not your niche market. As I mentioned earlier, I bought my first setup from AA (alongwith several fish in subsequent visits) and the reason I shopped at AA was that it was the most visible aquarium store in columbus. It has a large, conspicuous store front and for the amateur hobbyist, the big aquaria only store gives them the notion that 'yeah, these guys know what they are doing!'. On the same token the hobbyist is not aware that they are being charged a premium on almost every item when compared to other 'non-visible' LFS in town. Off-course, the amateur hobbyist does not know that and may not for a long time. Maybe that is the sort of customer the store should focus on for their niche market.
P.S. I buy all my livestock from Byerly's, I love the fact that they 'Hold' fish for the customers and at times have stopped me from buying fish if the fish had just arrived or were showing other signs of stress. I recently paid a visit to Phishy Business and was really impressed by that store....I think if you really want to improve AA, take all the employees on a field trip to Phishy. Another side note: blue legged hermit crabs at AA were $1.99 and at Phishy, $0.60...now that makes a difference when you pick up 20 crabs!
As everyone has mentioned, the prices at AA are RIDICULOUS!!- As an example, I was at the store yesterday and a simple veggie clip costed $4.79. I went over to Petsmart (a few blocks away) and they had the same clip for $2.29. Other dry goods are also priced at a very high premium to other LFS. I also remember pricing a Fluval FX-5 at AA early in the year, I finally bought it from Jack's as the same filter was $100 cheaper.
Those are just two examples of the inflated prices I have seen at AA, unless management brings the prices down and cleans up the store a little, how could you expect experienced hobbyists to support the store. I have seen fungus infested FW tanks at AA and have brought that to the attention of the store manager and he simply said that he does not want to move them to QT since it will stress the fish and he fungus will go away on it own in a day or two. At another occasion I was buying a large Java Fern and the tank in which the plant was had ich, the employee told me that the tank will be treated at night and the ich wil be gone in the morning.....I did not argue with him or try to correct him and simply left the store!. Ich is pretty rampant in many FW tanks at AA and I have had employees tell me that I can buy a fish from an ich tank cause those fish will not get infected by the parasite.
I will not mention the problems with the SW tanks as I think they have been covered pretty well by other members.
Maybe the experienced hobbyists (like he ones you find on RC) are not your niche market. As I mentioned earlier, I bought my first setup from AA (alongwith several fish in subsequent visits) and the reason I shopped at AA was that it was the most visible aquarium store in columbus. It has a large, conspicuous store front and for the amateur hobbyist, the big aquaria only store gives them the notion that 'yeah, these guys know what they are doing!'. On the same token the hobbyist is not aware that they are being charged a premium on almost every item when compared to other 'non-visible' LFS in town. Off-course, the amateur hobbyist does not know that and may not for a long time. Maybe that is the sort of customer the store should focus on for their niche market.
P.S. I buy all my livestock from Byerly's, I love the fact that they 'Hold' fish for the customers and at times have stopped me from buying fish if the fish had just arrived or were showing other signs of stress. I recently paid a visit to Phishy Business and was really impressed by that store....I think if you really want to improve AA, take all the employees on a field trip to Phishy. Another side note: blue legged hermit crabs at AA were $1.99 and at Phishy, $0.60...now that makes a difference when you pick up 20 crabs!
Bcollins111900
New member
I just stopped in AA and still over priced items. Please understand we are here to help but when you are trying to get $60-$70 for a small zoa rock that I can go to Jacks at Easton and get it for $15 is unreal. I understand there is overhead and all, I work for a major retailer. For instance in your section of drygoods for bettas, you are selling small containers of glass rocks, they were clearly purchased from Target and marked up in price. The package has there logo not to mention there website on them and I know they are alot cheaper at Target then what you are asking for them. I just feel that the owner of that store honestly does not care about the true hobbiests, just the people who wonder in, buy into the display tanks and drop a couple hundred dollars because they want one like it. AA is an affiliate of Petland, Petlands prices are alot cheaper??? I just don't understand the reasoning behind it. To me little to nothing has changed. For cyring out loud there is cut up black trash bags in the saltwater fish tanks to look like plants??? Close the doors on this place already. It is no fault of your own, it is soley the falt of the owner. To add to the matter, a kid was in there with him parents tonight and in the shark diplay they pointed out aptasia and thought it looked cool (LOL), an employee stated " we dont have any in stock right now but I know we can special order it for you, I think it runs like $30" You all about had to call 911, I was about to have a heart attack.
Eddie_Gilbert
New member
Someone should tell those folks about the guy on Aquabid, his aiptasia are only $15.
Eddie_Gilbert
New member
Hey, just trying to spread the laughter and have some fun. Call me a laughin' fool if you want.
