All About Fish (1 Viewer)

[txfatcat]

Well to state again since you failed to answer my question. Some stores already have a great reputation and great pricing. Advertising is and can be very costly for any company at sometimes no value and lost money. I am not saying that there is no value in Marsh Sponsorship. I am just pointing out a very valid point. If a fish store is already the cheapest in town with a good reputation then again what is the value.

As for in or non stock items. I havent found a store yet that wouldnt order for me at a reasonable comparable cost(planned purchases). The biggest thing is this is money that STAYS in and helps our own community not the east or west coast. Whats the value if Houston drys up and becomes a ghost town? Well you saved money and it went to california????come on. Then to top it off, people will pound the local store for help when they cant get that skimmer they just purchased from the East/West to work correctly.







"I personally prefer to buy fish from other members. I have had much better luck and a healthier/heartier specimens."


Well if you are buying fish from some store that doesnt know what is going on like Fishy Franks Fish Farm. Then of course buying from an individual is a better roll of the dice. Personally there is only one store I am comfortable with getting live stock from and just a handful of members here as secondary avenue.

 

[karlo]

If a fish store is already the cheapest in town with a good reputation then again what is the value.

This thread IS about All About Fish, correct? I would agree with reputation and quality of livestock after all he does have one of the nicest looking stores around and very clean and the closest to me but cheapest, hmm i would check again. I think it's just Kevin's personal decision and not a business decision in not sponsoring.

 

[txfatcat]

I was making that comment in general towards all LFS sorry. Did mean to side tract this thread.

 

[joedirte8]

I second Karlo. All About Fish is the most expensive LFS in Houston. I've been to the store several times, and I've seen several different corals that I want to purchase. He has some really nice stuff. However, when he tells me the price, its always 2 or 3 times what other stores around town charge. Each time I have walked out of the store thinking to myself.....how does this place stay in buisness.

 

[Guest]

I prefer to buy my livestock from the healthiest stores to avoid problems that you read about all day in the other sections.

AAF is one of the cleaner stores I would not hesistate to buy from and his prices are fairly priced for the quality and customer service you get in return.

 

[karlo]

I have bought many of my Zoa frags from him which I have not seen at any other LFS and with no hitchhikers with them also his SPS that he recently got are really nice and the prices are not bad and you know you will be getting a clean piece. I was even able to buy a small frag of orange monti from his NFS tank a little expensive but now that it has grown about 8" it was well worth it. Also, he has just set up a Red Sea Max in the entrance and has it very well stocked, go check it out.

 

[AquaNerd]

All About Fish is the most expensive LFS in Houston. He has some really nice stuff. However, when he tells me the price, its always 2 or 3 times what other stores around town charge.

He is not the most expensive lfs in houston. his prices are higher than say city pets, but his store is one of the cleanest stores in houston and his prices aren't that bad. i think 2-3x more than what others stores are charging is an exaggeration.

last time i went he had red sea desjardinii sailfin tangs for about $10 more than what i've seen other places. he had a chevron for about $15-20 more than other places. his store looks great and he pays attention to every detail.

kevin stays in business because he does things carefully and pays full attention to what he's doing. he doesn't rush into anything. his tanks are spotless, his acrylic work is amazing, and he has a loyal customer base...most of which don't get on marsh. there's a reason why things in his store are always sold when you get there. he can barely keep fish or higher end corals in stock.

 

[joedirte8]

I didn't mean to offend anyone who frequents this store. I’m also not trying to deter anyone from going to AAF. As I stated above, he has some really nice stuff. However, every time I have been into his store, he has quoted me coral prices that are outrageous. I'm not a fish person, so I don't know how much his fish are in relation to other stores. I'm strictly talking about coral.

Examples:

My very first trip to AAF, he quoted me a price for some kryptonite candy cane and his price was $20/head. I later bought an entire colony of about 50 heads from T&T for $100. Now I know that’s a great deal, because these normally sell for around $5/head.

He had a few Dendro frags he quoted me $90/head. I paid $200 for a 12 head colony at Fish Land and 3 months later it has over 20 heads.

He quoted me a price on his Duncan Frags and he was asking $40/head. If that’s not ridiculous, I don’t know what is. I bought an entire colony of over 20 heads from City Pets for $200.

I talked to another marsh member who told me that he had an “amazing” scoly for sale. I’m always looking for awesome high-end corals, so I went and checked it out. It was pretty good looking (not as good as some of the scoly’s that I have in my tank) and he quoted me $450 for it. I haven’t paid more than $150 for any of the scoly’s in my tank.

Maybe because I’m not a “regular” or because every time I’ve been there, I have gone after work and I’m dressed in my “business” attire, but in my experience, he is defiantly the highest coral store in the Houston area.

 

[i_am_poor]

Thats pricey

 

[Guest]

I have gotten pretty decent deals...

but I wait till my facial hair is scraggly before going to see Kevin.

 

[CBBSteve]

Are you guys suggesting that the business owner prices his merchandise based on the way a customer looks?

 

[Guest]

hellif I know, joedirt is implying that not me.

a LFS normally doesn't have a hard time taking my money.

 

[Guest]

AAF isn't the most expensive store in Houston. Of the four LFS that I actually go to though, it is the most expensive. Maybe the most expensive on the south side. You get what you pay for though. I think some of his prices (not all) are worth it. That's why I go there.

The most expensive aquarium store in houston award goes to Aquarium World, on the northside. The prices at that place crack me up. Even their super discount clearance no-returns section is above market average (think: $175 coralife skimmers).

 

[darrin]

i dunno... the only two corals i have bought from him rtn'ed within 48 hours...

one was a acro lokani and the other was a hydnopora

so i dont know if I will visit often..

d

 

[AquaNerd]

The most expensive aquarium store in houston award goes to Aquarium World, on the northside. The prices at that place crack me up. Even their super discount clearance no-returns section is above market average (think: $175 coralife skimmers).

agreed...

i heard they sold coralife t-shirts, you know the ones that you get for free in a bucket of coralife salt, for $20 each or something like that.

 

[RR-MAN]

Are you guys suggesting that the business owner prices his merchandise based on the way a customer looks?

Definitely. These days some LFS don't even have prices on their nice corals anymore, you have to ask. And that's when they increase/decrease their prices based on the customer. This trend started with Fish Land and now it's becoming more and more common.

 

[bcallahan]

I stop by AAF every couple weeks and occasionally buy something if the price is right. He has some quality items. But I'm definitely not a fan of Kevin's practice of not putting prices on his livestock. I constantly have to ask for prices and they're usually higher than what I think is fair.

 

[sbfuller]

i just got some nice zoa frags from him. he hooked me up on a couple of them so i will return the favor once they grow out some. i can apperciate a store that understands that

 

[Hanson77]

AAF is just about the only store that I visit outside of City Pets and occasionally Fish Ranch II. I live in League City and there aren't any other stores on my side of town that compare with knowledge and customer service. Heck sometimes I just go in for water and come out two hours later from all the conversations with either Kevin of customers coming through. I have talked with Kevin at length about becoming a sponsor here and it will never happen. Kevin get's plenty of advertisement from his loyal customer base just as Brandon mentioned that you will never see on here. Yes his prices are somewhat higher than some of the other stores in town but I have come to realize that you get what you pay for.

 

[aquashelle]

I have been to AAF several times now, my friend and I usually hit it on the way back from Aquarium World. I left today with a Square spot anthia, and my friend a Coral beauty. I agree that his prices may be higher, but all specimens I have seen from there are generally well worth it. His knowledge is endless, and he's really a nice guy. I absolutely love his store, for it is clean and welcoming.

Kudos to Kevin and AAF!