Let's get ready rumble

[Darth-Tater]

Before anyone starts bashing me this is my observation. I went to Alamo Aquatics to pick up a 20gal long tank for my newts at school. I asked the guy about MAAST discounts etc. He said the give a discount on some light bulbs but not much else. If these people are MAAST sponsers we are in trouble. The guy was rude and had nothing nice to say about the members of MAAST. He told don't me listen to the advice on the board. So he sells me the tank. He goes to get me the tank and take it out he tells me "oh we don't have any". I guess I will keep all of my business at Wolf Reef :) Alex has always answered my questions and never steered me in the wrong direction. This is just my observation and don't want to make anyone mad but I believe this isn't right.

[captexas]

I was there a couple weeks ago to buy some frozen foods and check things out after hearing good reviews suggesting Alamo was improving and that they were finally supporting MAAST. Everything in the store was good and when I went to check out I asked about the MAAST member discount the girl said yes and I thought things were cool. BUT, some guy who worked there that was standing at the counter at the time (I had never really seen him in the past) started making negative comments about the club and it's members. At first I thought he was just joking around, but he kept on ranting so I realized he was being serious. I didn't pay him much attention, but now that someone else has reported a similar experience it really makes me wonder about it.

Alamo, like any LFS, has there good and there bad times and I never thought anything negative about them in the past. But with attitudes like that from their employees, it makes it hard to want to support them, even if they are cheaper on a few things.

[::pete::]

Very interesting. :huh

[RobertG]

Very interesting. :huh

There is a store here in Austin really hurting from being so negative. They told me that in one month the fish sales went from 3K+ to 300$ in a month. I would watch what you say Mr. negative. You might not have a job. We are people, we make mistakes. I would not shop there if that is the case.

You will never gain anything by dogging out someone you know nothing about. One will tell ten others. In this case all the SA reefers that are in touch with something good.

Did you get the discount from them Chris?

[JimD]

Can you give us an idea of what he was saying about the club? I wonder where he got his information.... Pretty bold if you ask me. Im thinkin its Guido time! lol

[Darth-Tater]

He was saying that everybody in the club has an opinon...... :o you think? I know everyone has an opinon. Also said they were a bunch of unreliable people and to not listen to any of their information. He did say that there are a few people online that know what they are doing so I assumed he meant me :lol :lol :lol . I guess not. Oh well I just talked to Alex about ordering new lights for my 100 gal and he will order them as soon as Pete makes the stand and canopy ;)


that a hint Pete 8)

[captexas]

Robert - Yeah, I got my discount, which I appreciated, by the girl that rang up my purchase.

The guy was just bad mouthing the club, saying we shouldn't get a discount, that the club was a waste, and that no one on the site knows what they are talking about, that kind of junk.

Overall, before running into this guy, I have never had a negative experience at Alamo and have made many purchases there over the years. Hopefully this is just the one guy's bad attitude, not the store's, although he does represent them.

[::pete::]

Please explain the person in question so I will know.

[captexas]

For me, it was a month or so ago so I don't remember too well what he looked like, but he was young, maybe early 20's, under 6ft. tall, and had dark hair. Does that help? lol :blink

[alexwolf]

Chris Morales is who hes talking about. The young kid comes in my place all the time. Always pretty nice though. Shaggy, dark hair. Really skinny.

[~TG~]

WOW.... Thats really surprising to me. I have been going there since i got my first tank well over a year now. I'm there 3 times a week faithfully for my ghostshrimp and frozen food or anything else I need so I'm pretty much a "regular" there... "the lady with the 12 dozen ghostshrimp".. :roll lmao

I have never had a bad expierence. I have been helped by Chris, Gabe, but mostly Jason and they have always been very helpfull even when they are busy. I've never heard them say anything bad about the MAAST site or the members. I have actually overheard them telling some of their customers that there is a website they can go to for advice. Thats to bad you had such a bad expierence there... Since i'm there so often ~ I'll make sure I mention it next time.. not that it would make a difference but rather make them aware that it only takes 1 to spoil the bunch...
~Thelma

[GaryP]

Pete and I will talk to the owner on Monday. Just for the record, the owner, Eddie, is very much interested in developing a good relationship with MAAST. I handled the sponsorship and Eddie was very supportive of MAAST and what we are trying to do. The actions of this employee should NOT reflect on the ownership or the policy of Alamo Aquatic towards MAAST or its members in any way.

Eddie definitely wants to cooperate with MAAST in achieving our goals. I'm sure he is not aware of the actions of this single employee. While we do not want to see anything happen to anyone there, we do feel that Eddie needs to be made aware of it and will make sure that corrective action is taken. Pete and I will be informing Eddie that we support his business, as we do all of our sponsors, and we urgently hope that similar unfortunate incidents are not repeated in the future so we can continue to develop a long lasting sponsorship relationship with Alamo Aquatics.

I have known Eddie on a personal level since he and his brother Jeff first opened their first small shop on West Ave. He has developed a very successful business over the years. He obviously understands the importance of bad publicity and customer service to have not only survived but grown over the years to the point of being the largest LFS in SA.

[dan]

i'm also in the store two or three times a week, but everyone knows better than to say anything negative about maast around me. i will also ask chris if there is a problem or bad feeling. maybe it's a new guy who need an index finger pointed at him. :angry :angry

[captexas]

Gary - I completely agree with you. I was happy to hear that Alamo was getting involved with the club again after not talking to us for awhile. I don't look down on the store so much for this, but more so on the employee that seems to need an attitude adjustment.

[Wolf316]

I think the guy that Darth-tater is talking about is Jason I was in there about a week ago and he was like telling a customer that MAAST wasnt quite up to par like when had formed his old fish club. I dont think Chris would have been the one I see him more as their freshwater expert and he has always been cool with me.



Chris

[NaCl_H2O]

FWIW, I have done business with AA for as long as they opened the doors (I don't recall the year?). Eddie and almost all employees have always been very helpful and friendly. Their employees come & go, but the long-timers are all great folks. Hopefully this is an isolated problem and it will be cleared up soon. Eddie is VERY supportive of MAAST and I always get my MAAST discount (often even if I don't ask), except on bulk discount items like buckets of salt.

Anyway, just my $0.02 worth, I consider AA one of the top LFS in SA.

Note to Darth - Everyone on these Boards and in LFSs have "Opinions", even me ;) You will receive LOTS of conflicting "facts" and in this hobby you need to find what works for you!

[Darth-Tater]

I think the guy that Darth-tater is talking about is Jason I was in there about a week ago and he was like telling a customer that MAAST wasnt quite up to par like when had formed his old fish club. I dont think Chris would have been the one I see him more as their freshwater expert and he has always been cool with me.



Chris

No jason has always been very helpful. This guy was not Jason. Jason is the one who told me about this wonderful group. I wish I had thought to get his name. This guy wasn't too interested in selling anything to anybody but good looking young women....Of being an old man that limps I don't qualify. If Chris is skinny it is not him. This guy was a pretty good size.

[gjuarez]

I was there once but the guys were pretty cool. One of them did mention that he didnt support maast because maast members would never purchase anything in their store and instead purchased stuff online. He also mentioned that Maast always used to bash them and say bad things about them, that is what the guy said.

[Wolf316]

Every time I go in Jason has been very helpful asks how im doing need any help if so let him know. So must be a new guy or one the ones i havent had the pleasure of asking for help. I like to make my rounds then get help from one of the regulars not the new guys :)


Chris

[Chris]

I was there once but the guys were pretty cool. One of them did mention that he didnt support maast because maast members would never purchase anything in their store and instead purchased stuff online. He also mentioned that Maast always used to bash them and say bad things about them, that is what the guy said.

Just FYI, for anyone who thinks this (and you can do a search).

In the history of MAAST (3 years now), there have probably been 2 threads regarding Alamo Aquatics started by persons on the site who have felt the need to express their negative experiences.

MAAST as an organization has never "bashed" any storefront or said bad thing towards anyone.

As with any business, you can't please everyone and an unhappy customer will find a venue to vent. Whether that venue is our forum, or at another fish store - what's stated by people is their own opinion and not a reflection of the feeling or expressions of our club.

~Chris ;)

[Darth-Tater]

Chris is absolutely right. Everyone has a good and bad story about everyone. I spent 20 years as a meat cutter for H.E.B. There was always someone unhappy with something we did or something Albertson or another store did. Each time they would switch stores until the other store made them mad. I did not mean for this to get into a battle. I think that this horse has been beat to death and should be left alone to die. I was not trying to start a war. MAAST memebrs have been very helpful to my adventure into salt. Also, AA has been very helpful. Heck I spent most of my income tax in there (with Jason's help) getting setup for this hobby. My concern was the bad information being given out to so many people in the store when I have found MAAST to be most helpful. As always this was my opinion and I expressed it. If anyone's feeling were hurt I am truly sorry.

[GaryP]

I'd like to address one other point in this matter as well. Can any single person on MAAST truly say they buy 100% of their supplies or livestock online. To do so would be rediculous. The reality is that online purchases are a reality in our hobby in today's marketplace. Some LFS have come to terms with the presence of the internet in our hobby and learned to change their business plan to address this fact, other's, and I am NOT pointing a finger at Alamo, have put their head in the sand and wished it would go away. I think most serious aquarists have done some purchasing online at some point. The reasons they do so may be for product or livestock selection as well as price on major items. The fact that MAAST members do group orders in a public forum to take advantage of volume pricing or free shipping just makes us more visible and leads to the type of attitude that was voiced by this individual. The fact that the ownership at Alamo has chosen to become a sponsor of MAAST shows that they recognize that MAAST has become a factor in the marketplace as well and they choose to work with us cooperatively to achieve both of our goals.

I would have encourged this particular individual to recognize the fact that MAAST is not a buyers club. We are a group of indivduals. Some of our members may do things that we as an organization do not sanction but we are not the aquarium police either. I would have also explained that we do encourage our members to support our sponsors, both online and at LFS for the simple reason that our sponsors have chosen to support us in the pursuit of MAAST's goals. However, the goals and purpose of MAAST are only oriented towards education and support of aquarists. I think I can make a pretty good argument that we are pretty helpful to all LFS, even non-sponsors, because we have helped encourage and keep people in the hobby when they may have thrown their hands up in frustration in the past. How many people have you known that said they had a SW aquarium in the past but found it to difficult? These individuals probably did so because they just didn't have the type of support that an organization like MAAST can provide. Such ex-aquarists aren't going to spend any money at an LFS and nor is he/she going to encourage their friends and acquaintances to get into the hobby.

Yes, the LFS do provide a valuable service to many aquarists in providing valuable information. Unfortunately, they do not have the luxury of taking the time to ask all the quastions or get the follow-up that we often do online. Additionally, an LFS owner may not have the direct experience that one of our members may have concerning a specific issue. They can't be an expert on everything. Also, our hobby is going through many changes as the result of scientific research and technological innovation. Because some of our members are so devoted to the hobby we may be aware of information that is more up to date than is an LFS employee. I have often heard this at an LFS where an employee is telling someone that is perfectly good advice, or rather would have been 5-10 years ago. I'm sure some of you have had similar experiences. Again, its not the LFS employee's fault that he can't be an expert on every facet of the hobby. That's where an organization such as MAAST, or dare I say RC, has a role.

OK, I am off my soapbox.

[christerrell2k3]

Dizamn, nice post and well said.

[falcondob]

You go Gary! Nice post.

To be honest my experience with the LFS in San Antonio have all been very positive.
Alamo is where I got started and Jason held my hand through the first tense weeks. Jason is a really nice guy and has always been willing to help.

Louis and Alex and Felipe have all been very helpful and courteous. I have never heard anything bad about MAAST (unless you include MAAST members, go figure that one :huh).

I think MAAST is a really great group of people. I think the membership should give itself a pat on the back. You people really do rock. Thanks to everyone for their help!

[GaryP]

I think MAAST is a really great group of people. I think the membership should give itself a pat on the back. You people really do rock. Thanks to everyone for their help!

You're just saying that because it took half of MAAST to move that behemoth of a tank into your living room. :)

[Alamo]

In no way shape or form could "Chris" be called skinny :roll
I have always gotten VERY good service and help from Alamo , CHRIS GABE AND JASON are always helpfull.

[falcondob]

I think MAAST is a really great group of people. I think the membership should give itself a pat on the back. You people really do rock. Thanks to everyone for their help!

You're just saying that because it took half of MAAST to move that behemoth of a tank into your living room. :)

That had nothing to do with it. ^_^ No, really it didn't! :huh Ok, well maybe a little.... ;) OK! OK! I had some to do with! Jeez, Gary you just don't let up!!! Hey, where else could you get 10 or more people to lift a 900 pound empty box? Yep, great people! :D