aquarium designs

[urban79]

I went there today and just look at prices. They where kinda high. Just seem like loius closed down and aquarium designs prices go up. 99.00 for mushroom rock. May I add it only had like 5 green mushrooms..
Same thing like this for 30 on saltwater
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=966&parent_category=4 &category_search=62&root_parent_id=4

[SACoastie]

I have had issues in the past with this store.
Not only is it not shocking for him to raise the price when a store goes under, but he also walks into other stores to check their prices/goods that the other stores have in order to check the competition, just ask Aquatic Warehouse (Louis on MAAST since he unfourtunatly had to "change" ) and Fin Addict. Also check out some of the old photos of MAAST and you will probably notice someone familiar sitting off to the side ( http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=album08&id=Dsc00480&op=m odload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo. php ) <--- this pic will not show up for some reason. Someone which does not support us and our site, but yet still used our info... (think back in 04 or 05 or so to look up the photo ) I used to be a strong supporter of aquarium designs untill they put me in a pinch with my 240, then they drilled me the next time I went in with why I posted the conflict here on MAAST. Nice guys ... yes, but business ethics .... Kinda "iffy" in my opinion.


Louis , you were good to us here @ MAATS..... wish you didn't have to change.

[urban79]

Ya I use to think they where great.and Yes at the begining they where. But now you better off walking in to petmart. I feel better going to some other store and seeing if they can get it.

[FireWater]

Luckily everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have and always will give Jason an opportunity at my business. He has been asked several times to bring in a better selection and harder to find coral; he did and he gets slammed for his prices. He is in business to make money doing what he enjoys to do. The joy of shopping is you don't have to buy there. Aquarium Designs has the best in store selection of additives, foods and dry goods and at a better price than most. Anytime you walk in the store everyone does their best to help out with a smile on their face. Whatever I have needed they have bent over backwards to help me, but I also return that respect to them. Has anyone asked him why he is not a sponsor? And using the information on here? Is that not what this site is for? What about all the web members that will not pay up to support this site? Do you heckle them or ask why they are using the info and not supporting this site? I remember reading a gripe from a charter member that a local store did not give them a 10% discount like they were entitled to. It is up to the store if they want to give you anything at all- it is their store after all. We as SW enthusiasts are blessed with several good stores in the area to choose from and we still gripe about they give us.

[don-n-sa]

Luckily everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have and always will give Jason an opportunity at my business. He has been asked several times to bring in a better selection and harder to find coral; he did and he gets slammed for his prices. He is in business to make money doing what he enjoys to do. The joy of shopping is you don't have to buy there. Aquarium Designs has the best in store selection of additives, foods and dry goods and at a better price than most. Anytime you walk in the store everyone does their best to help out with a smile on their face. Whatever I have needed they have bent over backwards to help me, but I also return that respect to them. Has anyone asked him why he is not a sponsor? And using the information on here? Is that not what this site is for? What about all the web members that will not pay up to support this site? Do you heckle them or ask why they are using the info and not supporting this site? I remember reading a gripe from a charter member that a local store did not give them a 10% discount like they were entitled to. It is up to the store if they want to give you anything at all- it is their store after all. We as SW enthusiasts are blessed with several good stores in the area to choose from and we still gripe about they give us.




Very well said...I agree with you 110%

People need to realize that LFS's will NEVER be able to compete with most online stores. When you buy locally you a pay more, but WYSIWYG and thats worth it MOST of the time.

I have been in the hobby for about 10 years now and I have tried to support every LFS store here in SA. I have seen them come and go...guess which ones survive long term? The ones with higher prices. I also buy online now and then , but not too much.

Jason and his Dad run a top notch store IMO, good looking livestock and great service. The staff there is very friendly and willing to help anyone with questions. Their prices...hmm...some stuff looks a little high, but I dont mind paying more for good quality.

Every store here in SA has their pros and cons, but overall my favorites are FA, CB, WR, AW and Aquarium designs. What they all have in commmon is great people...and they are all in the hobby as well so they understand what they are selling and have the knowledge to answer questions honestly. Howevewr, none of them can compete with online prices...and never will IMO...just ask Richard from CB, he will tell you.

We can't expect for LFS to be here to just provide a service to us MAASTARDS with a place with prices that don't make money.

[Richard]

just ask Richard from CB, he will tell you.


I really couldn't say at the moment. I just spent 20 minutes listening to a guy's well thought out plan to divide his 55 gallon and keep large mouth bass on one side and black drum on the other side. It's hard for me to think when my head is about to explode LOL.

[urban79]

Well I wasnt talking about no discount. I can care less. But when you walk in to a store that is made for just fish stuff. You would like to know that you cant go to a huge pet line of stores and get the same price. I was just seeing if anyone was knowing of the price differnces. Yes i know he carrys more of the bigger stuff. BUt still when you just want to go to a store and get a small fish. And you drive all the way over there and you see that you could gone down the road and got it cheaper. Its kinda Disappointing.


CB ROCKS!!!!!!! LOL

[BIGBIRD123]

If it were me and I had the choice of paying $40 for a fish at either AD or Petco...AD would get it every time. I would rather pay a little more from someone that KNOWS what they're doing than pay less for someone that was the dog food guy last week. If we don't support the LFS, then we'll be paying shipping from now on. When the online vendors find out that we have no choice locally, then they will raise their prices, too.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISH STORES!

Steve

[alteredego]

You must also factor in the rising cost of transport and air conditioning dur to the early summer months. If his store is anything like my house, all the bills went up, the electricity bill almost three times as much. Of coarse the prices went up. just my $0.02......

[erikharrison]

I'd like to see some better selection of zoos and palys. exotics. It would be nice to see someone with a zoo/paly prop tank so we could get some of the exotics in town and passed around!

[Texreefer]

I am gonna back Jason 100% on this one.. if you don't like him personally and don't want to go there that is fine, i have no problem with that.. but i don't think his business ethics should be questioned... how can you run an effective competitive business if you are not checking the competition out. that just makes good business sense,, he has never misrepresented himself or try to hide what he does.. every time i go in there he is consulting me on prices, drygoods he should carry, equipment,etc. because he wants to have what we need. he always offers to special order anything i need. or start carrying it if he doesnt have it.. higher than on line prices,, absolutely!, but pay for shipping and wait or get what you want today and continue to have a local choice.

[BIGBIRD123]

^^^

[cpreefguy]

vvv

[Texreefer]

<<<

[BIGBIRD123]

so now that we've gone full circle....Jason, I will be there soon ....


Steve

[urban79]

I dont see what the big deal is. I was just asking about the prices. It not like the ppl that have not heard of the place. Are not going to look it up and go. the place is not talk much about here. So really in all points I am Advertising him. So around I go.

[NaCl_H2O]

@@@

[SACoastie]

Luckily everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have and always will give Jason an opportunity at my business. He has been asked several times to bring in a better selection and harder to find coral; he did and he gets slammed for his prices. He is in business to make money doing what he enjoys to do. The joy of shopping is you don't have to buy there. Aquarium Designs has the best in store selection of additives, foods and dry goods and at a better price than most. Anytime you walk in the store everyone does their best to help out with a smile on their face. Whatever I have needed they have bent over backwards to help me, but I also return that respect to them. Has anyone asked him why he is not a sponsor? And using the information on here? Is that not what this site is for? What about all the web members that will not pay up to support this site? Do you heckle them or ask why they are using the info and not supporting this site? I remember reading a gripe from a charter member that a local store did not give them a 10% discount like they were entitled to. It is up to the store if they want to give you anything at all- it is their store after all. We as SW enthusiasts are blessed with several good stores in the area to choose from and we still gripe about they give us.

When I still went in there I DID ask him why didn't he support MAAST, he said quote: "I can't support a site that kills THAT much SPS". Now for someone to use the info provided here (and everyone under the sun is entitled to it of course) and then make a comment like that is not very respectable in my book, but hey everyone has their own opinion. Look I'm not trying to make people stop shopping there, honestly I don't really care. All I was doing was speaking in my mind, something I thought this site was all about, people speaking their opinions without backlash.

[urban79]

Luckily everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have and always will give Jason an opportunity at my business. He has been asked several times to bring in a better selection and harder to find coral; he did and he gets slammed for his prices. He is in business to make money doing what he enjoys to do. The joy of shopping is you don't have to buy there. Aquarium Designs has the best in store selection of additives, foods and dry goods and at a better price than most. Anytime you walk in the store everyone does their best to help out with a smile on their face. Whatever I have needed they have bent over backwards to help me, but I also return that respect to them. Has anyone asked him why he is not a sponsor? And using the information on here? Is that not what this site is for? What about all the web members that will not pay up to support this site? Do you heckle them or ask why they are using the info and not supporting this site? I remember reading a gripe from a charter member that a local store did not give them a 10% discount like they were entitled to. It is up to the store if they want to give you anything at all- it is their store after all. We as SW enthusiasts are blessed with several good stores in the area to choose from and we still gripe about they give us.

When I still went in there I DID ask him why didn't he support MAAST, he said quote: "I can't support a site that kills THAT much SPS". Now for someone to use the info provided here (and everyone under the sun is entitled to it of course) and then make a comment like that is not very respectable in my book, but hey everyone has their own opinion. Look I'm not trying to make people stop shopping there, honestly I don't really care. All I was doing was speaking in my mind, something I thought this site was all about, people speaking their opinions without backlash.

[Bill S]

Um. Jason has a bit of a dry sense of humor...

[erikharrison]

Um. Jason has a bit of a dry sense of humor...

Agreed, very dry. Like I said alot of people perceive him differently than what he wants. I just don't think that people get him. He is very nice, very friendly, and very busy. Yes James, you can express yourself all over the place here, but there will be backlash because EVERYONE has an opinion. Either way, y'all are all good in my book. These retailers are just like you and I. Wouldn't you hate it if everyone wanted a discount, or tried to be overly buddy-buddy with you just to try to get the hook-up?

[cpreefguy]

I believe that this thread has made its point and run its course. Locked by me.