CC Stores

[signal_4]

What is the address ???? I would like to see the store... I sure hope that they will have awesome prices like aquarium designs in san antonio and force the local competition to bring down theirs as well, instead of being equal or more expensive

[signal_4]

Well if its anything like aquarium designs then it will force Tropical Fish Haven and Aquarium Masters to rethink their strategy or close up shop..... For far to long have the reefers in Corpus been subjected to overpay for saltwater livestock.

[subsailor]

Well if its anything like aquarium designs then it will force Tropical Fish Haven and Aquarium Masters to rethink their strategy or close up shop..... For far to long have the reefers in Corpus been subjected to overpay for saltwater livestock.


I can honestly say that I have bought livestock from both Aquarium designs and Aquarium Masters. You have the choice not to be "subjected" to their prices, its simple just don't go, However (this is not a bash on Aquarium Designs) you get what you pay for in a lot of instances. Aquarium masters has great quality fish and inverts IMHO.

[signal_4]

And in my honest opinion the 2 stores cannot be compared as equal or even close to being equal.... Im not bashing Aquarium Masters....to each their own and they run their stores as they wish....Aquarium Master does indeed carry alot of stuff that no one else around here does...... Im just stating that here in Corpus there is a monopoly here controlled by TFH and AM. Hopefully GC Reef will bring some competitive pricing to Corpus.....

[subsailor]

Im just stating that here in Corpus there is a monopoly here controlled by TFH and AM.

How is two stores a Monopoly?

[signal_4]

When you have just 2 stores dedicated to selling aquarium products.... and those stores are about equal in pricing on things... Then you go else where (other cities) and see the same things at 1/4 to 1/2 that... one feels like they are being over charged..... I should not have to explain this to you but I will.... More aquarium stores means more competition..... fewer stores means less competition and therefore the opportunity to charge higher prices... its really simple economics...... As being that you do not even live in Corpus, I feel like you should not even be involved in this topic... Im sure that your just backing up one of your fellow sponsors and are quick to challenge any one who is not a sponsor....You should wait and see if other people who actually live in Corpus say how they feel.....before making anymore comments like ... well you if dont like it then dont shop there......

[subsailor]

Just because I don't live there does not mean I don't shop there.

[subsailor]

BTW have you accounted for the fact that there is a Distributor in SA that the SA stores can pickup from where the Corpus stores have to get it shipped? Have you taken into account the fact that Airfreight flying fish into SA is almost half what Airfreight flying into Corpus is? BTW I know I don't live there, But I am pretty sure that you have three fish stores there right now fixing to be Four. Tropical fish haven, Jon the Fish guy, and Aquarium masters. Ever given Jon a try?

[Daniel]

Try living in the valley signal_4. All I have to say is capitalism is what it is, the only way to combat it is by creating more competition or giving them enough business that will drive their costs down and maybe in return pass them on to the consumer.

[recoiljpr]

signal_4, wow looks like this topic really has you steamed. I don't get it though, if your so angry about TFH and AM, why not buy your stuff online through sponsors (or other retailers if you so choose).

You have to remember, Corpus is a small market. So they may not sell as much as other stores in a bigger market like SA, Austin, etc. Even though CC has a fairly large population, Aquarium keeping is not high on peoples to do lists down there. I bet you their total sales are pretty low.

An no, I'm not defending anyone, but as someone who used to live in Corpus Christi for 20+ years, I know the city very well.

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

You have the right to shop at any store you wish, just as the establishment has a right to charge the price that they feel is justified. I have shopped numerous times at AM, and they have always given me a fair price. They also give a discount to MAAST Charter Members, may be something to think about.

[glennr1978]

So there is a new store opening up here in Corpus? Where at?

[FossilReef]

Yeah, where is this place?!

[Third Coast Tropical]

Hmmmm....to chime in or not to chime in.......The great thing about the country we live in is that we have the power to choose...we can choose what store we want to shop at, we can choose if we want to pay the prices offered (we arent forced into buying fish or aquarium supplies, it was a choice made by us when we started keeping aquariums as a hobby), just as that store has the right to choose what prices they want to sell their products at and what products they want to sell...All of the aforementioned stores seem to be doing fairly well..so whatever choices they have made seem to be working for them.....we should make the choices that work for us.....and not be concerned with or bash others for who/what/when/or where they want to spend their hard earned American dollars.....My choice for CC stores is TFH..that is my personal choice.....and it doesnt discredit either of the others...its just my choice, it is the closest and I have a good relationship with th people that work there....I believe i have in previous threads expressed my opinion about Petco here in town...i dont shop there....its my choice, but I have 2 friends that still do and dont have the issues with them that i had....AM is simply too far for e after coming from Port A...and i must say that I have never used Jon's services....although i do find his concept of home delivery to locals brilliant, i just never have ordered from him......Now for SA stores, I am going to one place and that is AD....if they dont have what I need or want, then I think about going to one of these other places......I have been in many a fish store in my time and have not been as impressed with many others as much as AD...It has 2 things really working for it.....livestock selection and pricing......I live in Port A, most of my purchases come via online, mainly from bluezoo, but lately when I have been to fish stores its been either TFH in CC or AD in SA...my past two purchases were from AD in SAtown.....anyways, i probably shouldnt have chimed in....it seems i went off on a small rant
I guess my whole point is, we all have our opinions and we all dont always agree nor do we have to, but we certainly dont have to bash others for their opinions or choices, especially regarding fish stores and on a site designed to help others out, it seems juvenile....

The new store in CC is near Saratoga and Crosstown I believe.....it was my understanding it would be online only, but this may have changed....a co-worker of mine is participating in this, perhaps he can elaborate or ill find out some more

[signal_4]

Thank you Thrid Coast Tropical...... I have shopped at all of the places.... I have shopped and bought stuff at TFH, AM,AD,Petco and done business with Jon.... So I do have the right to have an opinion.....

Simply I was making a statement that it would be nice to have a fish store in Corpus that has the same prices for the same stuff that Aquarium Designs has to offer.... I did not once single out Aquarium Masters nor make any negative comments on Eric himself.....

Jon the Fish Guy is an online store and by appt only guy.... 98% online (were you aware of that). This topic is about " dedicated fish stores" petco does have a great saltwater dept. with the biggest fish and coral selection that I have seen to date at a petco..... but they are not a dedicated fish store..... so yes.... there are only 2 of them.... and if GC reef is going to be the same as Jon the fish Guy then it will remain that way......

yall say that yall are not defending Aquarium Masters .... but that is all you have done..... not once did any of you (except Third Coast Tropical who is local) even mention Tropical Fish Haven which was mentioned from the get go as well...... is it because its not a MASST sponsor ?????

I can 100 % say that my dollar will go a longer way at Aquarium Designs then at Aquarium Masters and Tropical Fish Haven.... which is what I was trying to point out in the first place..... and it would be nice to have a fish store where my dollar would go the same distance and I wouldnt have to go to SA to get livestock......

As far as SA having its own distribution center that the SA fish stores can get from.... what is the name.... I know of Salt Water Inc by Dallas.... and if this is so why is it that everytime I have been to SA to the fish store that I go to up there.... they are unpacking a shipment via air freight..... southwest airlines to be exact from LAX. When I ordered a set up from Tampa Bay Saltwater in Florida it was shipped via southwest airlines airfreight... $50 flat rate for the 1st 100 lbs..... show me 2 shipping statements via air friegt from the same distributor, same airline, one to SA and one to Corpus so you can say that shipping is that much more expensive....

If this is going to be nothing but members doing nothing but debating about how dare someone make a statement that the fish stores in Corpus are expensive in thier opinion..... then just let the people who live in Corpus and the surrounding areas say that it isnt so.....

[Third Coast Tropical]

Hmmm...perhaps I shouldn't have chimed in....
I feel slightly misunderstood....not sure how to proceed....let me try this

Obviously we all have different opinions, let me sum this up by a quote i read on Corkygramma's page and a really great one at that....."Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance"...k...i am off this thread

[Jarob]

WHATS "GC REEF"?!?! New CC store?! :)

[DrMark]

now i would assume that you do know that cc does already have 3 stores that sell saltwater aquarium masters, tfh, and petco. Of course there is jon the fish guy but he does mostly internet sales and does not have a store front like the other 3. aquarium masters does have nice corals and fish but their prices dont make up for their terrible aquariums if u buy a fish from the tanks its good as dead. tfh is equal to aquarium designs in sa but not price wise.

hopefully this gc reef will bring something diffrent to corpus.

.........we (GCReef) will do that.....more to come.....

mark

[rz1a]

golf club reef? whats the GC stand for, didnt catch it... might have to go out to CC one day and check things out.


Ah, Gulf Coast... gotcha ;p

[OrionN]

The more the merrier that is for everybody but the fish store. Corpus is a small market.

[subsailor]

Thank you Thrid Coast Tropical...... I have shopped at all of the places.... I have shopped and bought stuff at TFH, AM,AD,Petco and done business with Jon.... So I do have the right to have an opinion.....

Simply I was making a statement that it would be nice to have a fish store in Corpus that has the same prices for the same stuff that Aquarium Designs has to offer.... I did not once single out Aquarium Masters nor make any negative comments on Eric himself.....

Jon the Fish Guy is an online store and by appt only guy.... 98% online (were you aware of that). This topic is about " dedicated fish stores" petco does have a great saltwater dept. with the biggest fish and coral selection that I have seen to date at a petco..... but they are not a dedicated fish store..... so yes.... there are only 2 of them.... and if GC reef is going to be the same as Jon the fish Guy then it will remain that way......

yall say that yall are not defending Aquarium Masters .... but that is all you have done..... not once did any of you (except Third Coast Tropical who is local) even mention Tropical Fish Haven which was mentioned from the get go as well...... is it because its not a MASST sponsor ?????

I can 100 % say that my dollar will go a longer way at Aquarium Designs then at Aquarium Masters and Tropical Fish Haven.... which is what I was trying to point out in the first place..... and it would be nice to have a fish store where my dollar would go the same distance and I wouldnt have to go to SA to get livestock......

As far as SA having its own distribution center that the SA fish stores can get from.... what is the name.... I know of Salt Water Inc by Dallas.... and if this is so why is it that everytime I have been to SA to the fish store that I go to up there.... they are unpacking a shipment via air freight..... southwest airlines to be exact from LAX. When I ordered a set up from Tampa Bay Saltwater in Florida it was shipped via southwest airlines airfreight... $50 flat rate for the 1st 100 lbs..... show me 2 shipping statements via air friegt from the same distributor, same airline, one to SA and one to Corpus so you can say that shipping is that much more expensive....

If this is going to be nothing but members doing nothing but debating about how dare someone make a statement that the fish stores in Corpus are expensive in thier opinion..... then just let the people who live in Corpus and the surrounding areas say that it isnt so.....

I said HARD GOOD DISTRIBUTOR LONE STAR PET SUPPLY LOCATED IN SA.
That is why I said AIR for FISH VIA SOUTHWEST. Let me ask you this LOOK UP A PLANE TICKET FROM LAX TO SA AND THEN LOOK UP LAX TO CORPUS, LOOK AT THE DIFF IN PRICE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. Then drive to AD and compute your time and your gas used followed by a 6 dollar savings on goods purchased.

[OrionN]

Additional stops, especially to smaller airports mean lots of delay and heat/cold exposure thus increase mortality of the shipment. Plus for equivalent cash flow, if you have 10 customers, you will have to make 10 times per customer to have the same income if you have 100 customers. San Antonio have many more reef tanks than Corpus, that for sure. Store owners got to make a living too so give them a break. If you have an emergency with your tank, I am sure the LFS is where you go.
If you want cheaper prices, drive to San Antonio. I look at stores there when I go there for something else, I just don't drive to San Antonio or Houston to look at fish stores.

[JTrott]

I think that the main thing that EVERYONE needs to remember/understand is that this is a hobby, not a necessity. If you don't like the prices of things, or can't afford the prices.........THEN QUIT. If you don't want to quit, then buy online, wait the time that you have, take what you get, and don't ask LFS for help if something is wrong. Call the place that gives you CHEAP prices, and try and get help from them.

I don't think that people think through things when they are looking for the cheapest prices or haggle prices with LFS. When was the last time you went to the grocery store or gas station and haggled a price. I have said it before and and will continue to say it. LFS owners do this for a LIVING. They own a business to pay BILLS, as some of you are business owners, I am sure you understand that. Now please respect that. Since you want cheaper merchandise/livestock maybe YOUR businesses should open their doors and offer CHEAPER prices to LFS owner and then I am sure they will consider doing the same eventually since they have been offering cheap prices for YEARS so YOU can enjoy your HOBBY.

[signal_4]

I said HARD GOOD DISTRIBUTOR LONE STAR PET SUPPLY LOCATED IN SA.
That is why I said AIR for FISH VIA SOUTHWEST. Let me ask you this LOOK UP A PLANE TICKET FROM LAX TO SA AND THEN LOOK UP LAX TO CORPUS, LOOK AT THE DIFF IN PRICE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. Then drive to AD and compute your time and your gas used followed by a 6 dollar savings on goods purchased.


Oh my god !!!! How in the world are these people going to help me in livestock as they dont even carry it in their aquatics section.... Ya sure the are probably good for dry goods.... also ...airfreight is not the same as a plane ticket....much much cheaper.... please next time you decide to post.... which Im sure you will cause arguing seems to be more of a hobby for you than reefing...... please dont use any excuse that you can think of .... and definately be able to back it up......

[subsailor]

OK I am done I will finish with saying a receive stuff from SOUTHWEST AIR CARGO once a week from LAX and I am very very very familiar with rate structuring. I will shut up on my rants now. If you don't like their prices stop complaining and shop some where else.

[BIGBIRD123]

This has run it's course and appears to be getting personal. It is now closed.