Austin Aquariums chapter 11

[eric]

The Austin Business Journal reports Austin Aquariums has filed chapter 11 bankruptcy.

[Jimnorris]

That is sad!

[hammondegge]

that is just a reorganization of debt. if this is true it may simply make things easier for them. i think i'll go buy something.

[GaryP]

Unfortunately, I think they tried to take a business model that worked for them in north Dallas and squeeze it into the Austin market. All markets are different and marketing approaches need to be tailored to the individual markets. I am dealing with that now in my own business. We have some new folks that are coming into SA and trying to do business the way they were successful in the Austin and northern Virginia markets. I've given up trying to tell them its a different market. I'll just let them find out for themselves.

Besides, Chapter 11 is simply reorganization, not liquidation (Chapter 7). This doesn't mean they are going out of business, just that they are reorganizing their debts.


Chapter 11 is designed for the reorganization of a business but is also available to consumer debtors.

[PeeperKeeper]

Well, since they are hidden back there behind the mall where no one will find them unless they are specifically looking for them (and even when I was, I had to stop and ask in another store where they were - and that was when I already KNEW they were somewhere on Northcross Blvd) and since they don't really do much advertising, I'm not too surprised that they're struggling. I would never have known about them if it weren't for MAAST and I've been keeping SW tanks in Austin for over 10 years. I thought I had been to every fish store in town! I was shocked to find out they'd been there for several years and I'd never heard of them.

It's a beautiful store and I've been impressed with several of the employees I've spoken with there. I was especially surprised to learn that they have a live guarantee, although it's just for 3 days, that's better than any other stores offer. The only way it would pay to have a live guarantee is if you use it to bring new business into the store, and the only way to do that is to advertise it.

[Jynxgirl]

Yikes. This is by far my favorite store to go into. I find the people there very nice and pleasant and not high pressure but not the not caring attitude either which I seem to find at the other stores here in austin. I am not in the know and find that alot of the people at the other stores will readily talk to those that they seem to know, but kind of just say ok you want that fish, let me get it. No questions or concerns. I have bought pretty much one item from every store in austin, just to see what questions they will ask and so forth. I had the best interaction with this store. I have been back now twice since the frag swap. They are there for a reason and its to sell stuff but they are not pushy. I really like this store. Prices are good, seems to always have a pretty decent selection of stuff, don't really see many sick things... The only negative is their location. I too had a DIFFICULT time finding it.

Hum.. I feel like I need to go buy something from them... weekly, just to help them out :P (Can they please get another one of those pretty green anemone's they had at the time of the frag swap ? )

Jill

[jroescher]

I found it through MAAST also. The sponsership/advertising works!!! Great store, always have to stop there when I'm in Austin.

[scuba_steveo]

The sponsership/advertising works!!!

Too bad they are not a sponsor :(

[jroescher]

Ok, then:
I found it through MAAST also. Posting on MAAST works!!! Great store, always have to stop there when I'm in Austin. If only they were a sponser/advertiser!!!

Or put another way, advertising on MAAST, even if you aren't a sponser, works!!!

Maybe more fodder for the great debates on who gets to do what depending on your status.

I just presumed they were a sponser because I always see them on here. I also thought I got a MAAST discount for some things I bought there at the frag swap, but maybe I remembered wrong. Either way, they made plenty money off of me just by hosting the frag swap.

[thedude]

AA still does offer a charter membership discount to those a part of MAAST. Unfortunately, the posts you've seen were probably mine and I'm not the owner of the store.

Haha I also sort of pressured them into the frag swap but hey, it worked!

[Chris]

AA used to be a Sponsor during their first year(s) of operations. I thought it was great that Charley (now back in Dallas) took an active role here on the forums. Sad to see this, but the fact that they're still around is a good thing.

[auSS/Tin]

I am in there at least twice a week. He is still getting orders in and is planning a big sale coming up in May. Go give them a shot, between them and Aquatek, you can get some good fish shopping done in a hurry.

Bill

[PeeperKeeper]

Too bad they are not a sponsor :(

Yeah, I had noticed that already, which is why I tend to gravitate towards River City and Aquatek for purchases. That and the fact that the owner has really rubbed me the wrong way when I've been in there. The sales staff is terrific though. Denton was the first one I talked to in there, and he was just full of information and very happy to share it. At least he knows how to hire good people.

[GaryP]

AA was a sponsor our first year. They have since chosen to not renew as a sponsor but still offer a MAAST discount for charter members.

[reeferRob]

I am new to MAAST and live in Kempner (near Copperas Cove, Killeen, FT Hood). I used to frequent Amazonia and Pet Solutions in Leander when I was keeping Cichlids. Now that I am into SW who in Austin carries a good selection of SW livestock and where are they located. I really don't know Austin too well but I can usually find my way around.

Never heard of Austin Aquariums, behind what Mall? Lakline?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[thedude]

www.austinaquariums.com

[caferacermike]

Good.

Mike ripped me off of hours of time and hundreds of dollars on two occasions. The store itself is great, but Mike seriously performed criminal acts during his so called 50% of sales and also stuck me with a prepaid triggerfish sump that I paid $500 for and looked like crap when it arrived, scratches from the tooling at manufacter, misplaced holes, seams that didn't line up so there was melted acrylic as a filler, broken overflow slots.. He told me that's what happens when you order custom equipment, any problems had to be taken up with the manufacturer and that he had nothing to do with it (except a wad of my cash). Many of the members here will know of me as the guy that spent the night in front of the store before a 50% off sale with $2,000 in my pockets only to find out that the night before he jacked his prices up so high that even 50% off they were still 20% more expensive than the night before the sale. For example blue zoo rock Friday night at closing, $45 (Mike spent an hour with me writing my shopping list and HE wrote the prices and descriptions.), day of sale $120. That's $60 at half price. Criminal. He refused to honor his own handwritten list and told me to get out of the store as the first 5 other customers realized the same thing and he wanted us all gone before anyone else caught on. Loads of folks were ****ed and we all hung out until Aquatek opened. I got in trouble with my work as I was told I had to work that Saturday overtime but I did a no show just to make it to the sale. So I ended up sitting out in the cold on the night of the "hurricane" for 12 hours in a sleeping bag, constantly harrased by the cops, only to leave empty handed and to almost lose my job.

He has recieved many letters from irrated folks that have written the BBS to complain. They do not handle complaints about stores that are not members of the BBS, but they have written to him to tell him about the negative complaints before. They told me this on the phone when I mistakenly called them to ask about what I could do. They told me I had an easy lawsuit for price gouging with the bait and switch price tactic he used.

Oh and he fired a guy that had been working on Friday evening showing me corals. The guy got irritated Saturday when I realized what was going on and he confronted Mike in front of the customers. Mike walked him right out the door and fired him on the spot. This would all sound like me being a hot winded customer had it not been for the fact that I had a long handwritten list from Mike himself for about a hundred pieces I was to pick up on Saturday and he chose to screw me instead of honoring himself during the sale. If there are any doubters as to my story hopefully one of the 20 or so folks that witnessed this happen on that Sat morning might add to this.

Instead of a lawsuit I just decided to never set foot in the store again.

I realize i do not have much credit on this particular forum yet. My experience is mine alone and I wish to express that other forum members may not have had the troubles I have. But I will never shop there again.

Gary and Hunter at the Dome have been very kind. Aaron at the Tek is a stand up guy. Randy, Jay, and Carlos at Rivercity are all the greatest. Kyle in Kyle has wonderful prices.

I've been hovering over the submit button for five minutes for fear of the backlash and flaming I may get over this post, but I have decided that since I did indeed have these experiences then I should post what happened as this could very well pertain to why his business and plan is failing him.

[rohnds]

Eric, What issue of the Austin Business Journal was this article on on. I have tried it on online and couldn't. I like to verify this and what Mike said. I think all aquarist in Austin that frequent that store need to know the truth.

Rohn

[blueboy]

i agree wholeheartedly with mike(caferacer). mike from AA has been pulling this same bait and switch for some time now. and , to boot, he has been outright rude and condescending towards me on more than one occasion, the last of which will be his last opportunity, i will not go back. i don't think there's anything wrong with posting your experiences here, as long as the story is truthfull. from my experiences, i find your story to be entirely believeable. that is one of the many benefits of this club, as i see it, stores that treat us well get praises( how many possitive threads have you seen about FA, or RCA?) and those who screw people, or have shady business practices will get called out in a public forum. i hope mike(AA) reads this!, but somehow i don't think it would change anything.

[ratboy]

Ditto. Those "sales" were thinly veiled bait and switch scams. A 4" colt leather for 90$ - but half off! thanks but no thanks... Might as well start charging bagging fees too?

[rohnds]

I aggree with all three of you. I was one of those that got up early that Sunday (during hurricane Rita) for the sale. Price of many of the items were higher than usual. For example, LR that they normally sell or $8.99 were $9.99. On top of that prices marked on the tank were not what they charge when you check out. They always have some rediculous reason, which angered my wife. We end up not buying anything on that day. My wife, my son and I walked out leaving the stuff we were going to buy on the counter.

One time I wanted to a specially designed hood for my tank. So I talked to one of the saleperson and he informed that all their hoods were designed by a guy from Dallas. So I requested the name of the person and contact number. The saleperson was about to give me the person's business card when Mike came and told me that he couldn't do that. But if I wanted a hood designed for my tank that I should tell him and he would have the hood designed through the person in Dallas. He had an attitude with me when I asked him why I couldn't contact the person directly.

The only reason that I go to his store is to buy cold steriled water. Once I asked him for the difference between cold steriled water and DI water. He simply brushed me off. It was later that I got the info from another salesperson that work there.

But I would still like to know the exact journal number where AA has filed chapter 11. There are many people here is Austin that religously frequent AA. I think they should know what is really happening.

Rohn

[Sawbones]

I think it's a good store, and they were in business when I was there today. I think Mike has friendly and knowledgeable people (John, Lucy, Denton, and others) who are willing to explain in detail when I have questions. He does stand behind his hardware and livestock better than most. I do frequent all of the stores in Austin, and I certainly shop for the best critters and best prices. I would agree with those above that the 50% off prices are taken after some adjustment, but if I don't want an item for what he's asking, I don't buy it. I have found him to be much more careful in advice regarding compatability of a fish or coral - never suggesting I buy something that won't mix well - unlike other places in town where they may "not be sure - but why don't you buy it and see how it does" He has the only livestock guarantee in town, and he's willing to special order a fish that he will keep til it eats - taking the risk financially if it doesn't ship well. I shop everywhere, but I go to AA the most.