nynick
June 2nd, 2004, 12:16 PM
Since Aquarium Depot recieved a bit of critisism in a different thread I thought I'll tell about my experience there and maybe even out the scores a bit.
It was very positive! I am a newbie and kept attacking them with typical newbie questions but they answered every last one, even though they must have been very boring for an experiences reefer. The store was quite busy and one of the guys still took about 30 minutes showing me the ropes even though he knew that all I was going to buy was a few Lb's of live rock. He even told me not to buy some things.....always a good sign in my books. Even the people refered to as their "groopies" (hehehe) were very nice and helpful. They also answered any questions I had but that I expected. We aquarists are as a group very fond of giving advice. Maybe sometimes too fond, hehehe, but I am as guilty of that as the next person.
I think a lot of bad experiences in aquarium stores happen because some of the people who work there are passionate about aquariums and not public relations. Seriously....would anyone like it to be any other way? Some other times at least I go to a fish store and feel as giddy and light hearted as a 5 year old on his way to Disney World. I always try to remind my self not to expect the same level of entusiasm from an employee who is there 40h a week (usually with little to no success, hehehe).
Just for the record: Since this post is very positive I just wanted to say that I am in no way connected to Aquarium Depot nor have I been asked to post this by anyone who is. The store was recommended to me by the guy I buy Tanganyikas from and I believe he is good friends with some people there but I am not. I was there for 30 minutes a couple of weeks ago. I also tried to ask an AD guy for some advice at the swapmeet but he was too busy setting up the tanks and asked me (nicely) if I could come back later. Unfortunately I had to leave before that.
It was very positive! I am a newbie and kept attacking them with typical newbie questions but they answered every last one, even though they must have been very boring for an experiences reefer. The store was quite busy and one of the guys still took about 30 minutes showing me the ropes even though he knew that all I was going to buy was a few Lb's of live rock. He even told me not to buy some things.....always a good sign in my books. Even the people refered to as their "groopies" (hehehe) were very nice and helpful. They also answered any questions I had but that I expected. We aquarists are as a group very fond of giving advice. Maybe sometimes too fond, hehehe, but I am as guilty of that as the next person.
I think a lot of bad experiences in aquarium stores happen because some of the people who work there are passionate about aquariums and not public relations. Seriously....would anyone like it to be any other way? Some other times at least I go to a fish store and feel as giddy and light hearted as a 5 year old on his way to Disney World. I always try to remind my self not to expect the same level of entusiasm from an employee who is there 40h a week (usually with little to no success, hehehe).
Just for the record: Since this post is very positive I just wanted to say that I am in no way connected to Aquarium Depot nor have I been asked to post this by anyone who is. The store was recommended to me by the guy I buy Tanganyikas from and I believe he is good friends with some people there but I am not. I was there for 30 minutes a couple of weeks ago. I also tried to ask an AD guy for some advice at the swapmeet but he was too busy setting up the tanks and asked me (nicely) if I could come back later. Unfortunately I had to leave before that.