big al's aquarium super center

[outprowllin]

i saw that there is a big als aquarium center opening in tamerac...corner of Mcnab and commercial blvd.....is this somthing new? i thought they where just an online store?...i drive from vero to dade county line with my job. ive never seen another big al's.......and im always on the lookout for new stores....anyways , anyone else know about this store?

[Ludwigia73]

From what I understand, it's a canadian company. All I know is, they have a nice sized shark tank and advertise feedings. I've seen a video of this feeding, it is a feeding frenzy, and for that type of action it's way too small a tank for them. They're slamming into the side of the tank, trying to fly out of the water, etc. I'll be there.

[outprowllin]

the sign says dry goods and livestock....im courious as to what they will carry for saltwater...and no, i am not getting my hopes up.

[TimD]

Big Gay Al's Big Gay Fish Tank?

Sorry... can't pass up a South Park reference. :)

[KING OF THE REEF]

lol i too am wondering as i need a place to shop for mostof my goods hey south park rules kick arse

[bolobean]

Hi, Im from ft. laud, saw your post, lots of chatter on the fmas forum, supposedly will open in a few weeks, permits weathering, big als is a twenty chain super store

[outprowllin]

Originally posted by TimD
Big Gay Al's Big Gay Fish Tank?

Sorry... can't pass up a South Park reference. :)

Oh you big silly goose..........couldnt resist either......jaime

[KatBri]

The store in Tamarac is the first of the United States stores. They are all over Canada, and soon will be all over US. They are hoping to open 2 a year after this one. They are an online store but this is so much better then that. The dry goods room and the fish room are huge. Lots of large tanks to get ideas from and this store is the first Big Al's to have live coral.

[outprowllin]

well that sounds promising....thanks for the up date.....ill have to keep my eye on the store .....jaime

[acropora1981]

You guys will probably like Big Al's...they usually have a good selection of fresh and salt stuff, including corals. Nice clean tanks too

[Spearfish]

Wow something else to ruin the LFS guys I can't wait. I will try to pass. Can you imagine WalMart buying corals all over the south Pacific.

[KatBri]

Interesting... the way i thought of any LFS was that each has its own thing to offer. Some may have certain fish or corals that others don't get. Maybe just maybe all LFS will have an equal chance. While I respect the little business owner (because my boyfriend is one), each has a fair chance to do business. By all means, stick to your opinions and do what you believe is the best thing to do for your peace of mind. I think everyone has a right to his or her opinions. So please do what you believe is right.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Kat - when is the store going to open?

carl

[KatBri]

I don't have a Grand Opening Date yet but I start work in a week so should be a week or so after that. Once we get everything in the store would be what I am assuming. :D

[TimD]

Interesting... the way i thought of any LFS was that each has its own thing to offer.

Exactly. This is not a hobby where you can get by on shopping for the lowest price alone. I'd rather spend $50 on a piece of coral at a LFS if my experience with them is that the coral will survive and flourish, as opposed to buying a similar coral for $25 from a volume retailer that has no interest in maintaining an interest in me as a long-term consumer.

For example, I'll buy a lot of groceries from large chains, like Publix or Super-WalMart, but if I want quality meats or seafood, I'm going to a local butcher or seafood market. I know that I'm not getting a great piece of beef or the freshest seafood at those big chain places. So there is always a niche for the small, local store to fill. Sure, they may have a higher overhead, and have to charge higher prices, but they often more than make up for it by providing a much higher level of personal service - they'll take the time to get to know their clientele, and offer personalized advice based on what they know of you from previous visits. You won't get that kind of treatment at a large chain store.

And frankly, as fragile as the aquarium eco-system tends to be, it won't take more than one or two purchases from a place with crappy stuff to kill your tank and convince you not to shop there again. On the other hand, if they CAN provide high-quality product at low prices, that's capitalism in action... I'd be sorry to see anyone lose a livelihood like that, but if you can do it better AND cheaper, you're going to succeed. The question is whether or not you can do it on a large scale like that and really be better. Cheaper, certainly, but you'll only know if it's better once the place opens and you go there.

[shadowtek]

I got a sneak peek at the inside of the store, and let me tell you; it's friggin' incredible!!!

Remember back in the day before Best Buy came to town? It's like that, you will be amazed.

The size of the store is unbelievable. They have 2 display tanks in an archway leading from the retail section to the fish section, that are 3700 gallons each (one salt and one fresh), a massive Koi pond, the shark tank, and much more.

They offer to beat local shops by 5 percent and match internet prices.

I spoke to the Canadian rep, and he said out of all the LFS's he's been to in the states, Florida had the worst looking ones.

They say that they are not going to try and run the local shops into the ground, they just want them to clean up their act. I tend to think otherwise, but I can tell you, you've never seen anything like it.

I drive over there a couple of times a week, and I hope they'll open soon. If you have kids, it'll be like a trip to the Miami Seaquarium.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Let fair market capitalism run the market. I drive 15 minutes past the closest lfs to get RO from a nice guy in East Deerfield because he is a nice guy. I have bought fish and drygoods from him and would continue to do so.
That being said.
I hate being limited to what a small store chooses to stock and i am really tired of my business being taken for granted because there is only a handful of marine shops in dade broward and southern palm beach county. I would really like to walk in a marine shop and seem like the business owner actually acknowledged that i chose his store over the alternative.
Right now, most don't. If you go to a shop enough, you get to know people and after you have spent enough money and time you may get a friendly smile, some may even not talk to you in a condescending manner when you ask a question.
So if it takes the walmart of fish stores to make the lfs guys not act like they are being inconvenienced by my dropping by and wanting to spend money, so be it.
me: "Hello? Can I get some help over here? May I inquire if I could be lucky enough to purchase the one decent coral frag you have in your shop? Not for sale huh? btw, how do you pay the bills?"
I will be at the grand opening wearing bells.

Carl

[dgasmd]

Maybe I am jsut anive and got a completely different outlook on things. I ahven't been in FL too long and after being in LFS in at least 4-5 states I ahve lived in, I can tell you some of the LFS have nothing to envy anyone anywhere else. Sure, most are smaller in size, but clean and nice with good livestock. One things that is odd to me coming from another state is how wxpensive LR is here in FL and how almost not a single store carries the FL aquacultured rock. I was told some reasons for it, but it is still surprising to me. true, I have been to some stores in the area that ignored me the first time and I gave them the second chance only to find the same. I let my money talk, so I have not been there again and likely won't come back for a while.

FL is a weird market in that I thought that marine stores would be dime a dozen here givent he proximity to the sea and diving.snorkling places, but is is the opposite. Lots and lots of service companies and tons of fish only tanks. Very little reefing actually.

[outprowllin]

i have to agree with you alberto, when i came to fla, i expected to find the mother load of reef shops. i was surprised that they are few and far between. not saying that what are here are no good. we have some really good stores in the area and we also have some not so good stores. it is all what you make of them i guess. i have bought fish in some stores just because i felt sorry for the fish being in thier tank...some are run with the best intent and some are run by kids behind the counter. i have to tell you, i was in an area store a few weeks ago and the girl working in the fish dept was training the new guy. she was telling him, " if they say they have this problem, sell them this". "if they say this is thier problem,sell them this".....big stores certainly are not personal. but if thier fish depts are run by the right person(s),thereis no reson to think you will not be getting healthy specimans. most of us can tell by looking and that is what helps to keep shops in working order. (for the most part) in my opinion anyways. as in our group word of mouth is the biggest influance as to where we shop. the storesthat do deal with us the most are the shops that have become trusted byone and all. the store owners reallize this and strive to have a better shop for all....for the most part anyways....well im just rambling again......sorry.......jaime

[dgasmd]

There are some things that big stores will never be able to outdo the smaller stores and viceversa. Dry goods is one thing that come to mind. It is easier to negotiate a much lower price for a large store for salt or other drygoods because they order a few hundred at the same time when the little guy can't do that because they do not sale at that pace. Smaller stores ahve the personal touch, the advantage of calling you when they get something really nice they know you would want, they cator to the local buyers and care if you come back. Big stores for the most part think larger volumes, so the single individual does not matter too much. They cator to the people that come with kids looking to add a nemo to their oscar tank or to set up a 10g tank with 3 angels in it. Not to say some will ahve personel that will guide you, but the likelyhood is more not to.

It certainly will make it tougher for some stores to compete, but the stores that have been around for a while have been around for a while for a good reason. They ahve loyal customers that come time and time again for good service and livestock. They are going nowhere.

[outprowllin]

agreed!

[Spearfish]

Here is the problem as I see it. If anyone has been down to the wholesalers they already know........The prize corals are set aside for the largest customers i.e. Dr. Mac and sons Rm and the like. Now Big Al goes down there with his big wallet and cleans up. Leaving our friends at Oceans below and Costal Aquariums picking at left overs. I have been in this hobby long enought to know if the LFS don't have it, We will all go somewhere else. That being said I don't want to sound like a pinko commie. An example that strikes close to home is Farming. The superchain idea sounds great........low prices great selection but here is where the rub comes in....In order to get those prices they have to put pressure on the supply side wich = lower standards and wages. Much of our food supply is now grown out of this country. THese countries have NONE of our food saftey standards or wage requirements therefore they produce at much lower costs than we can here. The net benifit is lower food cost, but if you look more deeply you find pesticides banned here 30 years ago being used everyday, horrid human conditions, child labor and closet dictatorship all supported by our need to save .75 cent on a head of lettuce. Omg I am a pinko Commie, NOT... I am a firm believer in Capitalism ON A FAIR PLAYING FIELD.
I summit this example as food for thought with nothing invested simply for the conversation.

Did you know average wages actualy fall when a walmart comes to town?

Now how this relates to fish and corals I am not sure....still considering it..............?

[dgasmd]

OK, on that note............ You do have some very valid points here, but this could seriously be a never ending argument.

[Carl_in_Florida]

I called again today and they said they would open...guess when?

two to three weeks. I told the lady that they have been saying that since late January!

Oh well.

CArl

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by Carl_in_Florida
I called again today and they said they would open...guess when?

two to three weeks. I told the lady that they have been saying that since late January!

Oh well.

CArl

They told me that on Saturday as well, but they will let you have a look around when you show up, if you want to make the drive...

[Carl_in_Florida]

She said that too. I said that I want to buy stuff. I hate to mail order if this place is about to open.

carl

[DC321]

Any news on this?

I smell a road trip...

[shadowtek]

May 26th was the last I heard...

[Carl_in_Florida]

Time for someone to call and tell us when in June they are going to open.
:rolleyes:
Carl

[shadowtek]

I live down the street from them, I'll try and stop by there today or Thursday and get a definite answer. Their doors are open to the public, they just can't sell anything.

[Carl_in_Florida]

i just called them, they said they are gonna open tommorow.

Carl

:celeb1: :celeb2: :celeb3: :bounce3:
(i don't know what the bouncey guy is for. I just like it)

[dgasmd]

Can you post a number and address??

[Carl_in_Florida]

http://www.bigalsusa.com/store_locations/Florida/floridamain.htm


Lookin forward to seeing this
http://www.bigalsusa.com/IMAGES/Florpics051105/10lg.jpg

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by Carl_in_Florida
http://www.bigalsusa.com/store_locations/Florida/floridamain.htm


Lookin forward to seeing this
http://www.bigalsusa.com/IMAGES/Florpics051105/10lg.jpg

That's the shark tank...

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by dgasmd
Can you post a number and address??

http://www.bigalsusa.com/IMAGES/MAPS/Florida-Address.jpg

[Speckled Grouper]

They are open and the cash registers are ringing....
Went there tonight and it's beautiful. Didn't buy anything, because I was pouting...my boyfriend wouldn't let me buy the cylindrical tank that "started" at $ 25,900.00 :(

[Carl_in_Florida]

hmmmm. time to start looking for another man who understands your passion. jk

Carl

[dgasmd]

Originally posted by Speckled Grouper
Didn't buy anything, because I was pouting...my boyfriend wouldn't let me buy the cylindrical tank that "started" at $ 25,900.00 :(

The dude has got to go :lol: :lol: :lol:

[shadowtek]

I was there last night and bought some Scarlett Cleaners, turbos, blue legs, and a Porcelain Crab. Everything was 10% off for the grand opening, aside from the low prices already.

I saw several guys & girls from other LFSs that "jumped ship" to work there. Two of them I really trust, so it makes going there all the better.

They will be getting corals in a week or two after they do a lighting upgrade, then we'll see how the pieces match up with the local competition.

[bolobean]

Premium Member

Registered: Jan 2005
Location: ft. laud
Occupation: biologic sciences
Posts: 22




My two cents for what its worth, bought a few items in Big Als today, long drive for me; as follows. Everything 10 percent off except tanks....

I/O 160 gal salt $46 plus tax

Pinpoint ph meter sold at retail, i.e. $129

Mag glass cleaner at other stores $12-14, here about $11

filters, name brand stuff at about 10 percent less than retail

Very few opening day specials, some big als stuff but not like costco where you can sometimes find some really neat things at great prices.

Staff, mostly local, happy to be there and motivated, knowledable
Cashiers in a complete fog, they must have some weird canadian cash registers, compewters, that dont show your itemized purchase as they are scanning, so you have to check the receipt before you leave.

Did not have iwaki pumps in yet nor did they have spectrum fishfood

Did say that they would have a grand opening on june 25 with the miami dolphins and I guess mr. and mrs. big al's

BTW, livestock displays are spectacular, very pleasurable to wander through there and the fish seem to like it too.

__________________
Would you prefer global warming or another Ice age, don't worry you will get to pick both if you live 10,000 years...
Hobby Experience: 6 months saltwater but i always liked the ocean
Current Tanks: 100 gal soft coral, 100 fish and coral, 600 gal koi
Interests: anything with a motor, or fins or tentacles

[Carl_in_Florida]

went today. If you are into fress water this is paradise. Not so much so for salt. It is worth it though jsut to see the display tanks. I want to see them in a few months though and see how they maintain.

Got free RO though because they wern't setup to sell it.

Not really a reason for me to go back but it was worth stopping in.

Carl

[TimD]

Judging by the "shark feeding frenzy" video, I hope that isn't the tank they really keep that shark in... the shark looked about 4' long in a 6' tank. It could barely turn itself around. Not sure I want to patronize someone that exhibits such a flagrant disregard for animals. Could you imagine if pet stores kept dogs and cats in cages that they barely fit into, and could only move around in with great difficulty?

Like I said, maybe that tank was just a sectioned-off part of a larger tank for purposes of the feeding demonstration, or was just a temporary housing, but if that's where they keep a shark like that long-term, I'll forego the long drive to even see the place and stick to LFS that are closer and take better care of their stock.

[Carl_in_Florida]

The shark tank is massive and the sharks are really small. If you are in the area i would stop in. I definately would not make the drive from stuart. They have lots and lots and lots of freshwater fish. However many you think that is, they have more. It really is amazing. A quarter of the fish rome is marine and they have the same fish you would expect to find there. They have a fair amount of tanks, I don't know what tanks normally cost so i cannot comment on that.
The rest of the stuff seemed pretty much in line with costs elsewhere.
They had mostly kent additives. Prices seemed average. I wanted some cyclopese but they did not carry it.
One definate difference is the amount of staff. They have people everywhere. Hopefully in a few months they will be a little more comfortable with the stock and operation of the cash registers.

[TimD]

Well, that's a little more reassuring. It was quite uncomfortable watching the shark feeding video on their website, thinking that that was how they were keeping a shark.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Now that i look at this thread, the picture above is the shark tank. The sharks are so small you can't really make them out in the picture.

Carl

[reefkeeper59]

Shame I'm up here in Palm Bay. Like to see what they have. Like I need more stuff. Gotta get rid of some corals (zoo's) to make room for more sps.

Did anybody see sps frags and pricing?

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by reefkeeper59
Did anybody see sps frags and pricing?

They have to upgrade the lighting system on a couple of tanks before the corals come in. Should be the second week in June ...

[PB Juan]

I was talking to one of the reps...rumor has it next year they'll be opening up a store in Boynton Beach...interestingly, they had no metal halides installed over their coral tanks...how are you open a week and need an "upgrade" in lighting already?...poor planning maybe?...another rep argued that fish were way more interesting than corals...and therefore obsolete in a marine tank...hmmm...but the 5,000 gallon Blacktip Reef Shark tank was nice

[reefkeeper59]

he hasn't a clue.

why not have those interesting fish WITH CORALS. DUUUUUUH

[Carl_in_Florida]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

PB Juan


A Big Al's in Boynton would be nice.

Carl

[Bocaswim]

Oh NO did somebody say Boynton :) I need to take out a HELOC just to keep up with this hobby. I think we should have named our club reefers anonymous.

I refuse to go to Big Al's for at least a month, ok maybe two weeks wait I am headed that way Friday........................

[outprowllin]

Originally posted by Bocaswim
I think we should have named our club reefers anonymous.


HEYYYY....WAIT!!!! I DONT THINK SO!!!!! :bum: :smokin:

[KatBri]

The upgrade in lighting is not something that was able to be controlled. If you want to know why PM me and i will gladly tell you.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Originally posted by KatBri
The upgrade in lighting is not something that was able to be controlled.

huh?

[dgasmd]

yeah, PM me too

[saltwaterfishlover]

me too please

[DC321]

I am itchin' to get a fish...

[Carl_in_Florida]

Originally posted by DC321
I am itchin' to get a fish...

huh?

I heard they sell lots of fish there.


Carl

[reefkeeper59]

They like to sell frehwater fish because of the mark up. A serpea tetra,neon tetra,tiger barbs, corydorus cats, stuff like that cost them about .30-.60 cents ea. by the box load. They can sell for $2.50- $3.50. That's about 500-700% market. Dry goods probably only have 30-40% markup. Salt water corals and fish 100% markup.

Explains the fresh water fish. Basically another Jack's Aquarium store. Trouble with salt stuff is they probably don't have skilled people on the helm. All they do is check salinity. Sometimes.

Almost every salt fish I got from Jack's died. Hopefully won't be a repeat of that. I get them from LFS only now.

Ask them what the alk is on the tank and see. Calcium? Most people working in big chain stores don't even have a salt tank, maybe not even fresh. I asked a girl in a larger store in Melbourne if they sold reef ready tanks, she said "what's that". Tank with holes drilled in bottom with overflows. Her reply.

"Why would you want a fish tank with holes drilled in the bottom?The water would run out."
She was the fish department manager. So ask for the store manager. Her reply.

"All of our tanks will hold saltwater".

After a few more minutes of this garbage, I told her a bucket will hold saltwater. I realized I better get outta there. I did buy one fish there couple months later. Achillies tang. It's dead.

This is in no way an erroneous plot against Big Al's. Just my experience with chain stores. I'm sure they will do well with the fresh water.

I love to sell or trade a coral with someone knowing thats it's going to live. Makes the hobbie a little sweeter.

[Carl_in_Florida]

I got a call from someone i know who is going to work there this summer and he is a reef hobbiest. I don't know if he is the only one or not.

When i see large stores with marine species, it is never impressive. The small stores in the area still have nothing to worry about.

CArl

[reefkeeper59]

LFS in Palm Bay (Trident pet) has one of the biggest selection of salt fish I've seen anywhere. Not just the plain stuff either. Rare stuff and good pricing to. Allot of corals as well. Three employee's (owner,son, one emplyee (has 25+ tanks at his house)).

Nice to be waited on by someone that know's a wet/dry is a filter and not a floor scraper/cleaner. Pampers Pull up's. lol

I will stop in Big Al's if I get down there. Look around.

[zephoebu]

Visited Ft Lauderdale last week. IMHO Big Al's is head and shoulders above all the local competition. I can't wait to see what they are like when they work the bugs out. They really seem to have the right idea!

[acropora1981]

Big Al's fish room managers are generally hobbyists, or have degrees in zoology etc. At least all the Canadian ones are. Its a little difficult to care for 5-6ft sharks without some knowhow

[reefkeeper59]

Hopefully have some quality marine care. Can always use another coral source.

So no one's going to loose a arm in the tank?

[acropora1981]

hehehe I actually used to feed the sharks at one of the Ontario locations, the sharks were never a problem during the "feeding frenzy"... It was always the big 7ft green moray eel that you had to watch out for, he was mean, and he bit several employees during my time there. Never got me though

[bolobean]

Maybe Im just cranky, but I stopped at Al's again today, just to look around, and it seems alot of the glitz is gone. Sure, the 10 percent sale is over, so suddenly everything looks like retail price. For instance I priced one of those fancy new Coralife Super Skimmrs, and they quoted me $ 264.00 for it and said that was for the 125 gal unit and the 220 gal unit was more. I think they made a mistake, but who cares, it is almost $100 less online. Then I looked for some fish food, couldnt find spectrum, saw tetra goldfish flakes that I know are $2 bucks cheaper at walmarts. etc. Before you get the idea that I spend my life shopping, no, I just remember prices for things I use. Anyway, the fish are nice but are getting scarcer. I looked for a nice small naso tang, and only saw a six incher, So anyway, if al's wants my business, he is going to have to offer me something that will make me come back, and right now, I dont see it. They did have red sea salt in the 200 gal bucket for $46 with some sort of pump thrown in, Am I missing something here.

[DC321]

I agree. I went yesterday and the display tanks are nice, but most fish are too big for us regular people.

I did manage to get a 2" purple tang.

You know... I had to.

[zephoebu]

Give them a little time, they have only had a couple of fish shipments and will get a good feel for "what the people want". Thay should have a new shipment by the end of the week.

[Ludwigia73]

Just got back from big al's, not impressed. Neat store, good prices on aquariums, but the rest is ho-hum. Saltwater fish are pretty average with price and condition. Corals are poor to middle. Price on corals is pretty average to high. I did see a blasto, dark red to maroon, it was a blasto wellsi. It looked like someone had fragged off 10 polyps and just stuck them to the rock. It was only 69 bucks. It doesn't look like much now, but 6 months from now it'd be a spectacular piece. Anyone wanna go halves?

[Carl_in_Florida]

I think this place is sure to make a whole lot of money. Just not from me.

Carl

[reefkeeper59]

It's a chain store. Your not going to get that personal service like your favorite LFS.

Anybody want a good selection of fish, try trident pet in palm bay. I know thats a drive from Ft lauderdale but they have 200-300 marine fish at all times. Unusual stuff too. They have a pretty good selection of corals as well (100+ in stock at all times).

SPS SPS SPS

[DC321]

Originally posted by reefkeeper59
Anybody want a good selection of fish, try trident pet in palm bay. I know thats a drive from Ft lauderdale but ...

I get it, but it is 114 miles from my house.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Article in the sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zfish22jun22,0,4066864.story?coll=sfla-business-front

[trueperc]

Sorry I have to chim in, I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and let me tell you about the big al's around here, we have two of them, for fresh water they are great, saltwater they are scary, the prices here are sky high and everything is usually sick or not in good shape, the few corals that they do have look like something puked them up. and the shark tanks look are nothing but a jail cell for shark. The problem is that the staff is not that well educated and they don't really have the care as they are just kids with a minium wage job. Now I have heard stores to very, as in the ones in toronto are much better. They all seem to open with a bang and then just go down hill big time. Not sure if they stores down there will be different, a few things to note before buying anything, as for here check the salinty, here in these big al's I've seen it normal kept at 1.016 and the nitrates are really high, and you might want to check out the filter system, here all the salt tanks are contented, so if one tank is sick then all are. The only thing I happen to like is that they have a nack for bring in some very unusally fish and inverts, but most of the time know nothing about what they bring in.
Good luck.

[KatBri]

Yes, tanks are connected but we have the capability of closing down a tank from the system so that the entire system is not going to get what is in the one tank. We treat the entire system when one tank does get something (even after we close down the tank) because we want to make sure that the rest of the fish are okay. Just a precaution. I also don't know of any fish store that does not have connected systems. That would not be practical. It would call for many more pumps, probably sumps or wet/dry or hang on filters. That is not economical. We also will not sell a fish or coral if we don't think it will thrive. Yes one may slip by us because we do have staff that is working for minimum wage. Unfortunately, that does happen in life because people need to make money and I only know of one good way to make money - get a job. Everyone is trying to make a living and if that is something that bothers someone then I would like to make a suggestion - think back to when you were 17 and try and remember what jobs were available to you at that time.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Kat, this is a forum. Some people will say that big als is the best fish store ever and others will say they would never buy a fish there. You do not have to defend every negative comment. we all know how fish stores are set up. And nobady is mad beacuse you got a job at a lfs at 17. I am happy for you. sounds like a cool summer job.
some marine hobbiests want the folks who sell them aquatic life to have the knowledge of a phd candidate and the experience of marine biologist. Some of them actually do. And when they go i na store that has something like 5,000 gallons dedicated to gold fish they run.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
I personally did not see anything that would make me drive the 40 minutes it takes me to get there but if i was local, i would drop by from time to time.

Carl

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by KatBri
I would like to make a suggestion - think back to when you were 17 and try and remember what jobs were available to you at that time.

It's not the age, it's the education you give them. Make sure they are learning about what they sell.

Don't let them sell a Mandarin and a Damsel for someone's tank as a gift, just because they look pretty.

P.S. Unwise move getting rid of Don. I followed him from Beverly's, to Pets and Supply Warehouse, to Big Al's, and now back to Gary's. I heard the story, and it just goes to show you what a corporate chain will do to an valuable employee.

[KatBri]

Carl - thank you for your comment, I know this is a forum and I appreciate you letting me know that. With that said I thought a forum allowed all opinions. I am not trying to defend Big Al's because there are things about it that I don't like either. I just don't think it is fair to judge so harshly without all the facts. First of all I am not 17 and this is not a summer job. Most of our fish room staff right now is fresh water knowledgeable not salt, because we can't find people with enough knowledge to fill our saltwater staff. So all I was trying to get at with my opinions is that what you see right now is not what is always going to be. And if it is then I won't be defending it (as you say I am doing) because I will no longer be working there.

Shadowtek - the reason for Don's dismissal is of no one's concern but those involved. But just so you know there are certain things that an employer has to take into consideration and if the lines are crossed then something has to be done.

I don't want to **** anyone off and I am not trying to. I am just placing my opinions in a thread that has come to my attention. Just like everyone else with opinions, I just voiced mine as well.

[shadowtek]

Originally posted by KatBri
Shadowtek - the reason for Don's dismissal is of no one's concern but those involved. But just so you know there are certain things that an employer has to take into consideration and if the lines are crossed then something has to be done.

All I'm saying is that your CFS (Chain Fish Store) lost a knowledgeable fellow, that would have benefited your saltwater department as a whole. Does the home office intend on hiring a trainer for your current staff, or will you hire someone locally to teach them?

I'm asking, because I'm concerned for the fish and corals. I think it's a shame that they might be sent to their deaths, by an inexperienced staff, that has no marine compatibility experience.

(See Mandarin-Damsel example for a stocked Nano-Cube above)...

We just don't need another PETCO style staff in our area...