hcs3
04/28/2006, 03:29 PM
I recently had the chance to go back into TMR. As my company meetings are in Peoria, it gives me the chance to stop in every so often and have a look around while on my way home.
If you can remember back to my original thread, I was not impressed with what the store was, but I also noted that TMR had a good foundation to improve upon with the chance to become something special.
It looks to me like TMR is starting to turn the corner. Inventory was up. Way up. The fish selection was not as large as I'd like (I doubt that would ever happen! :p ) but what they had was eclectic. It was refreshing to not see 12 yellow tangs, schools of damsels, etc. Instead they had several types of flasher wrasses, frogfish, and dottybacks and many more interesting and unusual fish not normally seen at the average LFS.
The corals were also improved. Plenty of zoanthids can still be had, but the selection of LPS has grown exponentially. SPS seems limited to frags thus far (which is still an improvement) and I have noticed a few clams starting to appear.
Drygoods are still an afterthought, but the last time I was there there was none and this time they had various foods and additives. I wasn't terribly interested in that stuff so I paid little more attention to it than to note that something actually existed (as opposed to last time).
The fish seem to be priced reasonably, at least compared to other local places. Nothing jumped out at me as being over priced as was the case the first time I visited, but then again I can't recall thinking to myself "Hmmm, that's a good deal." More or less, they fell right in line with what was expected.
The coral pricing seemed different than the fish pricing. whereas the fish ar elikely a straight percentage markup, the corals, at least to me, seem more flexible. If TMR feels the piece they have is extra nice, it gets an extra high price. Certainly not out of the ordinary by any means. Yes, this makes it difficult to find that special piece at a decent price, but likewise, things that didn't seem to trip the trigger of TMR also seemed to have garnished a lower price.
So anyway, to recap, I am thrilled to see TMR making strides at becoming the LFS it showed the promise of becoming. Although I still don't see myself making the drive to B/N to simply shop TMR, it is definately worth the visit each month I'm passing through town.
If you can remember back to my original thread, I was not impressed with what the store was, but I also noted that TMR had a good foundation to improve upon with the chance to become something special.
It looks to me like TMR is starting to turn the corner. Inventory was up. Way up. The fish selection was not as large as I'd like (I doubt that would ever happen! :p ) but what they had was eclectic. It was refreshing to not see 12 yellow tangs, schools of damsels, etc. Instead they had several types of flasher wrasses, frogfish, and dottybacks and many more interesting and unusual fish not normally seen at the average LFS.
The corals were also improved. Plenty of zoanthids can still be had, but the selection of LPS has grown exponentially. SPS seems limited to frags thus far (which is still an improvement) and I have noticed a few clams starting to appear.
Drygoods are still an afterthought, but the last time I was there there was none and this time they had various foods and additives. I wasn't terribly interested in that stuff so I paid little more attention to it than to note that something actually existed (as opposed to last time).
The fish seem to be priced reasonably, at least compared to other local places. Nothing jumped out at me as being over priced as was the case the first time I visited, but then again I can't recall thinking to myself "Hmmm, that's a good deal." More or less, they fell right in line with what was expected.
The coral pricing seemed different than the fish pricing. whereas the fish ar elikely a straight percentage markup, the corals, at least to me, seem more flexible. If TMR feels the piece they have is extra nice, it gets an extra high price. Certainly not out of the ordinary by any means. Yes, this makes it difficult to find that special piece at a decent price, but likewise, things that didn't seem to trip the trigger of TMR also seemed to have garnished a lower price.
So anyway, to recap, I am thrilled to see TMR making strides at becoming the LFS it showed the promise of becoming. Although I still don't see myself making the drive to B/N to simply shop TMR, it is definately worth the visit each month I'm passing through town.