|
|
|
#1
06-22-2003, 09:59 PM
|
||||
|
||||
LFS reviews? Which is the best?
Still a newbie and getting to know some of the LFS's. I know some people prefer to get dry goods and livestock online, but I think it would be a good idea to know the local alternatives.
Which places give good/bad advice...have good/bad prices on dry good and livestock? Some places claim to have the lowest prices, but in actuality they don't. 
|
|
#2
06-23-2003, 02:26 AM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
There was some concern awhile back, that we weren't allowed to "bash" an LFS we were unimpressed with. I think we are able to tell of our impressions of the retailers, just not say things like "Big Ed's sucks" for example.
With that in mind, I will say that I have been to Gold's Aquariums once, and saw nice corals (LPS mainly) at the best prices I've seen in Calgary. Came home with 3.  I am not impressed with Big Al's from my limited dealings with them, and I will avoid that store for the most part. The animals are not of the apparent quality I look for, and their prices seem high to me. I am not impressed with Pisces from my dealings with them, and will avoid that store for the most part. Their livestock appears for the most part on the verge, and the prices seem high to me. I am not impressed with Wai's from my years of dealings with them, and I will avoid that store for the most part. I have bought more than a few fish from Wai's over years, and have learned to be exceedingly careful when picking any animal from there, as the tanks seem to have as many sick and dying fish as healthy-looking. The prices are way out of my range for the most part. I am marginally impressed with Ocean Aquarium from my limited dealings there, but I will avoid that store for the most part. They do however have some reasonable prices on occasion, and some interesting corals. I have had excellent success in my limited dealings with J&L Aquatics and Saltwater Connection for mail orders. Their livestock seems to be of the high quality I expect, and their prices are reasonable. These are my opinions only, based on my impressions of the various stores - hardly enough to make a fair judgment. Take them with a grain of salt. And beware... 
__________________
---------------------- Alan
|
|
#4
06-23-2003, 03:49 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I will dito AJ with the exception that I find the Wai guy very knowledgable yet a little squeeky with the info. Yet he has some very nice sps which I cannot afford. Pieces, I haven't purchaced any corals with my opinion on how care should be taken will holding stock and the price tag associated. Bang for the buck Gold's is were I shop locally. Propably due to my very limited and partially wife controlled hobby budget. Just my opinions and others may find differant.
Kari
|
|
#8
06-23-2003, 06:05 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I went to Big Al's to look at prices on a particular pump. After shopping around, locally and online, I found that Big Al's prices were absurdly high. I'd understand if the prices were close, but this was not the case.
When I went back to Big Al's to ask if they would "price match" or beat, they just ended up saying something like: "You may pay more here but that's because we'll take care of you if anything goes wrong." Wow...never shopping there again. Hope my story doesn't constitute "bashing".
|
|
#9
06-23-2003, 11:10 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Big Al's will price match,but you have to push them to do it.I e-mailed their head office to get what I was after.
I have not purchased live stock from J&L or SWC,but have had fantastic service and support with their dry goods
|
|
#10
06-23-2003, 02:56 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Careful of Big Al's service. I bought a pump from them when I first started and it died shortly after (the ceramic rod busted in half and sand got into to the unit somehow. I went in to ask them about it and they said it was my fault that the sand got in there and the warranty was void. I will only buy dry goods from J&L aquatics now. Sometimes Saltwater Connection.
|
Linear Mode
