Irritated at city pet! (1 Viewer)

[Mike_Reefer]

So heres the deal. Today I went into city pet and was ready to buy some corals. As I was looking around I couldnt help but notice how expensive every thing was. I mean thier frags are rediculous. They did have some good looking 10 dollar acros and some not so good loking 4 dollar frags, but other than that every thing was horribly over priced. I asked the lady about being a marsh sponser and she said she was. So then I asked her what benifits did I have as a marsh member. She told me nothing! So how are you a sponser for marsh and then you dont do any thing for the members? She said that every thing was already as low as they could price it wich with the exception of a few items was totally not true. Now look people, understand that I'm not comlaining just because I'm cheap. Thats not the case at all. But as of today this club has 4474 members all paying yearly dues. Would it not make sense to be a little more selective as to who we allow to be called a sponsor and shouldnt they do some thing for the members of the club. I know they sure as hell didnt pay me for a spot on the web site so what good do they do me? personally I believe that if you want to sponsor marsh then there should be some incentive for members to shop there. Think about it and let me know what yall think.

Mike

 

[crvz]

While I won't comment on the business practices of City Pets (who certainly have had their share of stories like this), I will correct one thing; we have ~4500 online registered users, there are only a small fraction of those who are paid club members.

 

[DustinB]

You are a little mistaken on the 4474 dues paying members, I highly doubt the actual number is anywhere near that, not even in the same universe. I count 397, if the 2010 members are still current, 286 were 2010 members.

As I understand it member dues go towards things like the frag demos, swaps, picnics, etc... Renting locales and providing food/drinks. Then it goes towards the site hosting etc...

Being a sponsor really is actually pretty cheap.

As for city pets being expensive, you may want to try shopping at a few other place. While they are not the cheapest, they are VERY far from the most expensive. Not to mention they have a great selection and frags priced at everyone's budget. They are at or cheaper than online prices and they still have to pay overhead.

 

[fishboyt]

City Pets, as well as a couple others, aren't sponsors; they are contributors. They make a donation to MARSH in exchange for a 90 day banner on the site.

 

[rxonco]

I've been going to City Pets for about 10 years. I can tell you that their prices and selection are among the best throughout the city of Houston. If you think you can find a better selection at better prices, I'd love to hear where you usually shop.

 

[Guest]

+1!

CP is my main spot. I been to other lfs.

CP is above average.

Id like to here were you are going to fine cheaper stuff.

 

[rxonco]

Crickets...nothing irritates me more than to have someone say that a place is "overpriced." If you don't like it, go somewhere else. City Pets has been around for much longer than you've been in the hobby. And they've been able to do it, not by overcharging everyone for poor quality product.
I'm still open to hearing where you usually shop so I can get in on these super-fantastic deals.

On another note...City Pets is a "contributor". Get the facts straight before you start blasting a "sponsor." Sponsors and contributors aren't there for the sole purpose of giving you a 10% discount. They're helping out with MARSH by providing money for the website. They also routinely give livestock/hardware, etc...to be given away at events.

End of rant...

 

[RR-MAN]

I mean thier frags are rediculous. They did have some good looking 10 dollar acros and some not so good loking 4 dollar frags, but other than that every thing was horribly over priced.
Mike

You just started in the hobby and looking at the acro frags...you need to start with softies and zoas and then advance to SPS.

CP is a great store with a great selection of corals and good prices. If you think some of those frags are expensive then you are in the wrong hobby. I'm not joking, being literal. GL>.

 

[gabe_j]

yeah, coming from a SPONSOR on this forum. CP has great prices, heck i even stop by once in a while to pick up a frag or just to see what they have in from time to time. i picked up a lokani 3.5"diax 4" tall for $60. it was nice still alive acro crab and all. i'd hate to see what you'd have to say about some $100+ frags i sell from time to time.

this is by no means a hobby meant to conserve money. you've gotta be ok with droping some coin if you want nice stuff. there's just no way around that. you'll understand what i mean when you start looking at some high quality equipment upgrades... i.e. poweheads. sure a koralia works fine but if you want full programability of a vortech it's not going to cost you the same $40 per power head.

 

[inigomontoya]

There is usually a decent selection in the 15, 20, 25, 30 dollar tanks. All generic stuff, but for that price it would need to be. Is it possible that the sticker shock is from finally seeing a wider selection of more expensive corals, rather than the relative price of those corals compared to other places?

I looked this weekend at some bleeding apple scolys (can't quite commit to the $ but love 'em) for $165 there. That is $20-200 less than the online stores and the scoly were truly donut sized, not silver dollar sized like most online stores. Now is this a freaking expensive coral, yes. Is citypets price on it expensive, no.

Yea, I know some LE lovers are looking at their $1000 per eye chalice frags and saying "$160 isn't expensive..."

 

[karlo]

But as of today this club has 4474 members all paying yearly dues.

That would be nice....$130,000 a year

 

[rxonco]

Seeing as how the original poster did a virtual "drive-by" complaint, I'm still confused as to what his expectations were. If he's used to paying much lower prices for similar quality, please let us know where. I might be interested in stopping by. Otherwise, it looks to me like sticker shock to a newbie who hasn't shopped around very much.

 

[Gators27606]

You have been TKO Mike_Reefer.

 

[gabe_j]

lol

 

[Citypets]

I understand your frustration with no discount, but we signed up as contributors. My parents didn't want to give out discounts because are prices are pretty competitive. Thank you for the marshians that can attest to those pricing. We do try to offer pricing of all spectrums, from cheap frags/corals to expensive ones. If you were looking at the ORA frags, they are very competitively priced. They are usually pricier than the cheaper $10 sps frags because we buy them from ORA. You can compare and price them with other stores and online. As for service, we do have our good days and bad days, but we do try our best. I hope you don't think our prices are too high, I do strive for it to be competitive. No need to bicker, we can all learn from each other about our hobby. Thanks.

CP

 

[DMAX]

City Pets is a good store with very good prices. You might want to go to other stores and see whats overpriced.

Have to support your local stores as you will never know what kind of emergency or help you might need.

I called to get a price on a power supply for my vortech because I dropped mine in the tank. Donnie told me to head that way and he gave me the one off his tank to use until he could order me one (he was out of vortechs). I was leaving to go to louisiana the next day for work and didnt know when I was coming back.


Not very many places will do things like that.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[sbfuller]

it does seem that the prices on fish have gone up lately though. i was there looking at a clown tang and was told $60... and by someone that had supposedly talked to Donnie. those are usually a $29 fish. i was also told $80 each for a blue jaw trigger... those are usually $40. i think it would help if the prices of the current fish was written on the glass and updated so people aren't guessing like i think was happening. with that said, i do shop there quite a bit and have generally been happy with the coral prices.

 

[Mike_Reefer]

Sorry abought the long response time folks. I work off shore and haven't been able to reply. First of all lets clear a few things up. I am not new to the hobby as many of you guys seem to think. Secondly it was not sticker shock for a "newbie". I wont get into numbers, but I will say that since 07 the oil feild has been very good to me. I have no problem dropping a grand or more at any lfs (or acadamey or bass pro shop). It was more of a matter of principle. I had over 200 dollars in corals picked out and I would have paid that with or with out a discount. The point is that I thought I had one comming and it had just been one of those days and it pissed me off. I got home fixed a drink and got to typing. NOW .....While not new to the hobby I am new to this site. The member thing was an over site on my part. And some of you guys are kinda hostile. Rxonco, you need to calm down buddy. If your that easily worked up this might not be the hobby for you bud. So in closing let me just say that i did make a few rash calls there, and I should have taken the time to research more before making a post. I would like to apologize to city pet for being so quick to complain without researching first. So there it is folks. Im big enough to admit when I've been a jack *********. Now how many of you are?

Mike

 

[fishboyt]

Sorry abought the long response time folks. I work off shore and haven't been able to reply. First of all lets clear a few things up. I am not new to the hobby as many of you guys seem to think. Secondly it was not sticker shock for a "newbie". I wont get into numbers, but I will say that since 07 the oil feild has been very good to me. I have no problem dropping a grand or more at any lfs (or acadamey or bass pro shop). It was more of a matter of principle. I had over 200 dollars in corals picked out and I would have paid that with or with out a discount. The point is that I thought I had one comming and it had just been one of those days and it pissed me off. I got home fixed a drink and got to typing. NOW .....While not new to the hobby I am new to this site. The member thing was an over site on my part. And some of you guys are kinda hostile. Rxonco, you need to calm down buddy. If your that easily worked up this might not be the hobby for you bud. So in closing let me just say that i did make a few rash calls there, and I should have taken the time to research more before making a post. I would like to apologize to city pet for being so quick to complain without researching first. So there it is folks. Im big enough to admit when I've been a jack *damsel*. Now how many of you are?

Mike

I understand how you felt. I can also be one at times.

 

[gabe_j]

i see what your saying, i'm sure it would help if marsh attached a different logo thing under our screen names to identify if we are a sponsor or a contributor. but thats niether here nor there.

i'm actually impressed by your response not alot of folks have what it takes to step back and say "i was having a bad day." lol

anyways how do you keep the tank managed while your outta town?