NEW STORE

[beareef19]

Hey all you MAASTARDS and MAASTETTS there is a new store open in town and it is GREAT you have got to check it out. AQUARIUM DESIGNS is located at 15223 SanPedro 495-7333 Tues-- Sun 1:00-8:00 closed Mon They have corals Fish shipment coming in a couple of days Food, lighting, salt, PH meters, tanks, bulkhead fittings you name they have just about everything .Very friendly and they know what they are talking about. I dont give very many recomendations but this place will definately have you going back more then once. 281 north or south exit Brookhollow the store is on the west side of the freeway in the shopping center next to the bank. Barry

[C.Mydas]

sounds like a great store!

post was moved to appropriate forum.

[SGTDirk]

We stopped in and checked out the store, They don't have alot in stock right now, but the potential is there. They are still setting up and said that they have a huge shipment coming in tomorrow. It will mostly be livestock, with a few corals. The prices seemed a little steep. But overall seamed like a nice shop.

[so-smrt]

anytone know if they have a web page

[Jeff]

this has got to be jasons shop, i waas glad to hear that he was opening one.

[beareef19]

No web page yet it will be coming soon. Yes it is Jasons shop.

[Jeff]

we just came back from there and it has a lot of potential. right now there is not a lot of things there but he is getting a large shipment of fish in tonight for sale tomorrow.there is no maast discount for now and he will be setting up more tanks for live rock, quarantine, inverts, and sps.this will be a great store in the future.

[GaryP]

The prices seemed a little steep. But overall seamed like a nice shop.
Compared to what? I checked out his prices on livestock last night and they seemed competitive to most shops in SA. I like the fact that his shop seems to be heading towards a full service shop that has fish, corals, equipment, books, etc. He seems to be stocking some of the harder to find things as well, such as ballasts and specialty plumbing parts. There are always going to be a few shops that are going to be the "cost leaders." They will use cost as their main market advatage. I think there is a need for that, but I also think there is a need for shops that are a "one stop" shop. Jason seems to be heading in that direction and I compliment him for it. Most new shops are not like that. They seem to only focus on livestock in order to get customers in the door and devlop customer loyalty. Jason is also taking a very intelligent approach to bringing in livestock. He's not starting off with more tempermental species such as angels and butterflies. Jason is giving his systems time to mature before going to those species. He's starting off with hardier species. He pointed that out to me when I asked him why he had ordered so many triggers. I totally commend him for that and for the intelligent manner in which he is developing his business.

I did suggest that he try to research and find some suppliers that are closer to the source on some of his specialty drygoods in order to cut out the middle men. I can completely understand that he needed to order the majority of his inventory through one of the wholesalers in order to get products in place for his opening. As time goes on, I'm sure he will move up the food chain with his suppliers and be able to not only increase his profit on these items, but also pass along some savings to his customers.

I support all the LFS in SA. The more the better in my opinion. They all have strengths that add to product selection and competition that ultimately is a benefit to the hobbyist. While I, like all hobbyists, have my favorite LFS, I can honestly say that I have shopped and purchased goods in almost all of them. Why? That's obvious. As I said before, they all have strengths in terms of price, location and product availability. Besides, I would like to see all of them succeed and prosper. For them to do so is an advantage to me personally and the hobby in general. I have been a stranger in most of the LFS in SA for a while. That has more to do with my financial condition of late, starting a new business, and the fact that my tanks are pretty fully stocked. I have been selling frags in order to keep my tanks up and running. My finances are turning around now and I have a larger tank in the works. I plan on do a "shop till I drop" trip in the very near future and hit all the LFS.

In many ways we are spoiled in San Antonio. I have participated in the hobby in several cities across the US and can say that the prices we see in SA are lower then anywhere else I have lived. That is partly because we have a lower cost of living here (as well as slaries) and some of the costs of an LFS are lower here, such as rent and electricity. Try comparing our prices here to the shops just up the road in Austin. Why do you think that reefers from Austin come to SA to shop? If you really want a shock, try Dallas. When was the last time you spent $50, or more, for a medium yellow tang in SA?

OK, someone just pulled my soapbox out from under me. I'm going back to sleep now.

[SGTDirk]

As I sit here drinking my coffee, trying to understand why I feel like I have a hangover even though I didn't go drinking last night, I have to agree with you Gary. I moved from DC area and we only had 2 LFS that sold saltwater fish and corals. other than that it was a hour and a half drive to the next nearest.
Maybe I've gotten spoiled since I moved down here. Maybe I've forgotten about DC. Actually I'm trying to forget about that soiled spot on the rug of our country. But I just thought some of his prices where abit steep. Is that not understandable, no. As my father and I owned our own business at one time, I know what he is going through. I agree that he has the potental to become a great store.
As I too am not wealthy, I am a very price watching person. I support my LFS as much as I can and even pay extra to buy locally than buy online at a much cheaper price sometimes. But every now and then I don't have a choice, because of selection, or price I do have to buy online. Does that make me a jerk?
I hope Jason the best of luck and will gladdly return to check out his store and selection at a later date. I'm not saying don't stop in and check it out, I think that everyone here should and will be happy with his store and you will see the potential that I saw. I hope Jason lives up to that potential thats all.

[GaryP]

No, not a jerk at all. I too have been known to participate in a group order when selection or a huge difference in price is involved. Clean up crews are a perfect example. No LFS can come close to competing with some of the online clean up crew suppliers such as Reeftopia. Pumps re another example. No LFS can afford to stock 25-30 different external pumps to meet the needs of their clientele.

However, in many cases we have been able to get LFS to organize group orders at prices far lower then what is availble to us. I can recall one group order for MaxiJets through AW. I think my cost was about $15 ea. That is a lot cheaper then what I could have gotten them for through the cheapest online vendor. I would like to see more of this type of thing going on. Sometimes we just need to ask the LFS owners to get them to work on these kind of orders. These types of order are good for both the LFS and the hobbyist. I'm not saying this is possible in every case, or that all LFS may want to participate, but I feel its worth exploring.

[demodiki]

/hijack on
I wish more would open up in Austin.
/hijack off

[i_love_pez]

im glad more shops are opening up on this side of town. looks like aquatic warehouse has some competition :P

[Ross]

Theres a million shops on the north side lol. Fin-Addict, pet of the sea, forever pets, fishy pets, aquatic warehouse, just to name a few, i'm sure theres more.

[i_love_pez]

pet of the sea and forever pets ive never heard of. fishy business and fin addict are on the northeast side and thats a good 20 minute drive for me. aquatic warehouse, texas tropicals and pets r us are within 5-10 minutes of me, and so will this store :)

[TexasTodd]

Is this store affiliated with stores from Dallas or Houston?

Gary, did you get them signed up as a sponsor yet. :)

Todd

[GaryP]

No, it's owned by Jason, formerly at Alamo, and his father. Let's just say that discussions are underway concerning his sponsorship status and leave it at that for now. Jason has had his own service business for quite a while and this is an extension of that.

[TexasTodd]

Ah, o.k., I know Jason.

Thanks Gary.

Todd

[urban79]

AQUARIUM DESIGNS and Jason have been wonderful everytime we have gone in there. Jason has been very helpful in finding coral and fish that we can not find in other stores, he has spent a few hours hunting down fish that I have requested. Not only that, but Jason is very knowledgeable. I too have been in all of the stores listed above, and I suppose I am a little a littly picky but I do not like to ask questions and have them answered with a question. Jason definitely knows his stuff and is willing to take the time to explain the why's for those first timer's. I will continue to support him. I myself love walking into a store that is CLEAN, and friendly. Jason is now getting 2 shipments in a week, but a lot of his stock goes very quickly, so I suggest going in on the days he gets his shipments.