Aquatic World Experience (1 Viewer)

[HolyBanana]

Today I decided to spend the $50 Gift Certificate that my Sister-In-Law gave me for x-mas from Aquatic World. After arriving there, the place looked decent and I started to head right to the corals and fish. They had a 20% off all corals and fish today so I was a bit excited. However, I was extremely disappointed with their customer service (or lack thereof) because the people there where very curt and uninterested in helping. It almost seemed like I was a burden to them whenever I asked a question about the corals. Their prices were higher compared to the SW LFS and most corals where not that good looking. I figured if they wanted to get rid of them for a new shipment they would at least be more enthusiastic about selling them. However, the attitude I got was "If you don’t like it, go somewhere else". Glad that I was paying with a gift certificate, otherwise I would have walked right out. Needless to say I will never go there again, unless I get another Gift Certificate. However, I will let everyone know in my family to never buy GC from that place again.

 

[AggieBrandon]

Where is this place located....from your description almost sounds like aquarium world...sorry to hear about your experience.

Brandon

 

[HolyBanana]

AggieBrandon,
Its by Aquarium World. I went there today too and they seemed more interested in selling me stuff than this other place (not to mention they where polite). At least I got someone to help me and explain to me certain things about certain fish. From Aquatic World I didnt even get that. The person helping me didnt seem to care either way. What really erk me was that he was rude. I would figure he would want me to buy something,but his attitude showed different. Not very helpful.
I think im going to stick to the SW LFS. At least they are nicer and have better customer relations.

 

[AggieBrandon]

Ok Aquatic World is the store right off 290 at jones road right? If so the few times I have been there I was unable to get any help as well. All I ever see the empolyees doing there is smoking, eating, or watching tv.....lol. Oh well I will have to keep to my regular stores.

Brandon

 

[HolyBanana]

yep that is aquatic World. And you couldnt put it more beautifully. Smoke, eating and watching TV is what they where doing when I arrived. I didin think anything of it, until I asked one to help me. It was, "How dare you interrupt my happy time" attitude.

 

[AggieBrandon]

yeah I hear ya. The few times i have been there they did have a few nice things but I do agree the customer service is lacking.

Brandon

 

[Guest]

Where is this place located....from your description almost sounds like aquarium world...sorry to hear about your experience.

Brandon

Hahaha, so true. Aquarium World is cool to go browse around in. But their customer service is lacking, most of they're prices are ridiculous, and whats worse, they always have way to many sick/dying corals and fish. Sad, really.

 

[Cakepro]

Thanks for the warning about smoke. I take my children everywhere with me and two have asthma that cannot tolerate cigarette smoke. I think it's very rude to subject people to cigarette smoke (heh heh, the worst non-smoker is a reformed smoker ). I wonder if it's bad for the tank inhabitants as well.

~ Sherri

 

[Guest]

went their last week just to see what the hype is about....and get some water tested....

I had high nitrates/nitrites......they told me to buy a biowheel wetdry filter......????

I thought the wetdry filters just helped build up nitrates in your system.

offered no real helpppp. Seemed like a bunch of high school kids running the joint

 

[Guest]

You sure you're not thinking of Aquarium World? I would be suprised if you got anyone to help you at all at Aquatic World. Also, I know Aquarium World is still big on the wet/dry filters - they push them to everyone.

 

[HolyBanana]

I think some of you are getting confused with Aquarium World as Mikester has pointed out.
Im referring to Aquatic World off of Jones Rd by 290.
Aquatic World has horrible customer service and are very rude.
Aquarium world they where helpful, but their fish and corals didnt look too good. Most of them looked sick and covered with Ick. The girl at Aquarium World who sold me a white Hawaiian feather duster was helpful and to my surprise she knew her stuff. But most are high school kids and not very knowledgeable

 

[Guest]

Aquatic World is not a place I would recommend, unless of course they change some of their customer service. I have been there twice to browse, and neither time did I get any help, let alone offered any. And they were watching TV and eating when I went too!!! Not sure about the smoking thing, but still lacking in the service area.

At least at Aquarium World I was approached a few times to see if I needed help.

 

[HolyBanana]

And God forbid if you ask for any too. That is what really got me. Was the rudeness and the lack of interest of wanting to help me once I asked.

 

[Guest]

the guy looked at me funny when I asked for a water test.

one point....the must be in business for some reason, someone is shopping there.

 

[aqua-nut]

Sherri, Aquatic World staff people don't smoke inside the building... they smoke outside in front (really bad for business, huh?) and in the Koi area, which is a built out patio. The building used to be an old house I think.

I've had the same poor customer service from them, and what really ticks me off was that the lazy staff people are unwilling to sell you something in a tank that's clearly marked "19.99" on the glass. They say "oh, that's just in there because we don't have space. It's 39.99 less the 20% off." Well, if it's not the price marked on the glass, don't put it in there!!!

Let me offer a strong word of warning for anyone else who has or is considering buying DT's (live phytoplankton) from them... open the bottle and smell it before you plunk down your money. It's been in their little fridge for many, many months and stinks to high heavens. They've even gone so far as to rub off the expiration dates from the bottles. I've been lied to twice when I've asked how old it is. They tell me "If it smells a little, that's ok... it's not gone bad." But, when that stuff goes bad, it wreaks and you can tell. It hits you like a ton of bricks... which is how it smelled to me. Now I buy it elsewhere.

Truthfully, this thread can't go on for very much longer because that business will not stay in business the way its being staffed and run.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I learned not to buy anything with a shelf life from them. When I first setup my tank, I was having to dose Magnesium like mad to bring the levels up, and I ran out. They are the closest LFS to me, so I stopped by and bought a 1/2 gallon bottle of Kent Tech M.

The alarm should have gone off when I noticed that the bottom of the bottle had rust stains on it, and everything in their chemical section had a 1/2" thick layer of dust on it. I started using the stuff (of course I shook it like you are supposed to), and after 3-4 doses, my levels hadn't changed. Then one time, I was shaking it, and I could feel something start sloshing around and when I dosed the tank, it was very cloudy. Basically, all the Magnesium had settled in the bottom and solidified, and it was only when I had poured out enough to vigorously shake it that it broke loose. At this point, it was far too concentrated to use (you could see the particles floating around) and I had to ditch half the bottle. No telling how long it had been sitting on their shelves.

 

[AggieBrandon]

If what i heard is true the owner of aquatic world was given the store as a present from his wife. She supposedly owns a business of some sort and makes lots of money. If that is the case I don't think the store will ever go out of business if she is fronting the bills.

Brandon

 

[HolyBanana]

or it could be a front of some sort. 8O

 

[Guest]

they dont seem in the selling attitude..........espcecially pricing and display of fish/corals

 

[aqua-nut]

maybe it's a front for a covert training facility that teaches guys how to smoke cigarettes and keep a bad attitude working for days on end. Actual productivity is such a hard habit to break, you know!

If the owner's wife is footing the bill and she's as successful as I think she is, she won't let him continue to stay in business losing lots of her money for long. The rich and successful don't get that way and stay that way without being smart.