Tropic Isle aquarium - Framingham, MA

[montec24]

In addition to being a sponsor, I believe TropicIsle still provides a discount to card carrying BRS members on many items.

If you rank by quality and selection of livestock, they would have to be highly rated. Both of these come at a price.

Lots of retail stores could improve the friendliness and expertise of their hired help. Walmart included. I think it's fair to use this forum to (respectfully) remind them.

I agree. Most of my fish came from there. Definetly overpriced but I have always been happy with the fish selection and health. Corals and frags...... To expensive and not always looking great. Help.... Usually I find someone somewhat friendly and helpful in the fish aisles. The ladies behind the counter, seems liek I am bothering them.

 

[Xenia 468]

That's all well and good but I work hard for my money and just got into my marine aquarium. I made a huge mistake of going to Tropical Isle and trusting anyone who works there. I bought a canister filter there which I paid at least $60 too much for. I wanted a newer looking box but the guy there said don't worry about it. Brought it home. The filter almost flooded my apartment because it was cracked and I missed it. Brought it back. Got another one (like a fool). Now I'm doing more research on the internet about it. Looks like I got ripped off big time. I feel foolish for not walking out right away and not doing my homework first. Second I feel foolish for not purchasing it on my American Express card. At least they could have issue me a refund. I basically just pissed this money out of my pocket. Sponsor or what not, people should get it through their heads that not to support a shop that blatantly is rude to its customers and charges such outrageously unfair prices.

I hope not to step on anyone's feet as I'm new to this board. If you take offense of a newbie making this post I apologize if you feel I'm out of line. The fact of the matter is that my wallet got slashed in half and now my tank is definitely not going to benefit from it either.

 

[Greg Hiller]

FWIW, hang on to your canister filter. In the future, when you become experienced, there are times when a canister filter can come in handy. However, you are correct, IMO/IME for a reef tank they are essentially useless for normal day-to-day use.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Another great stores for fish not local for me. Many huge tanks filled with fish. I have never gotten a sick or bad fish from them. Great store.

 

[JohnK]

reference to another LFS removed

They are the closest LFS to me and I visit a lot, but I drive to CRA, AA, FB, or AG when I'm going to spend some $.

They do have Leo and the guy with the sideburns that are good to talk to on SW. Darcy at the rigister <edit: reference to other LFS removed> doesn't usually come off as friendly at first but so what.

I agree, Dry goods are way, way, way overpriced, I think it would be good buisness to lower the prices by 30% or so to make them LFS competetive but they don't (so I remain loyal to the other sponsor stores).

 

[JohnK]

I didn't mean to break any rules or put anyone down in my last post, sorry If I broke a rule by accident.

FWIW, I was just defending a store employee and relating them to another more respected LFS person for not making the best first impressions

(mods, if I'm breaking any rules or anything with this post, please just delette it all together, thanks JK)

 

[NateHanson]

No problem Jimmy. We're still hashing out how this forum will work best. One rule that's been added (see stickies at the top of the forum) is that only the store that's the subject of the thread should be discussed in posts in that thread. We want to avoid drawing direct comparisons or pitting one store against another.

Thanks everyone for understanding and doing your best to play along as we figure this new forum out.

Nate

 

[Richard]

Why don't someone inform Ellis and his staff let them defend themselfs here.

 

[loru1588]

Well, for starters, I am very dissappointed at the majority of the reactions posted here about Tropic Isle. I have printed out this entire thread and will pass in on to Leo this Sunday (the next day I see Leo). I am happy to say I was the "nice guy" in amallapaty's post. I wish he had said something to me at the time, I would have been happy to take him through the entire process with the mandarin as well as any other questions he may have had.

As for some of the comments, I won't try to defend something I was not privey to directly. However, I will state that we (the collective fishroom crew) have a great undertaking to try and maintain the over 20 seperate systems at Tropic Isle. It is a constant project in order to try and maintain a healthy livestock. We get anywhere from 2 to 5 fish/plant/invert/live food shipments per week besides. We can easily be putting fish away from the time we get in 'til long after closing. Not complaining, it is part of the job, just stating facts. Besides this we have assigned tasks for inventory and maintanance that have to be completed within out work day or week. All this and I know I try to help a customer the best I can. It can be very difficult during the shipment when the lives or health of dozens and sometimes hundreds of fish and critters can be jeopodized by a customer wanting to know "why they can't keep a Nemo with their guppies if they add a little extra salt?!?!" True story !! Now, don't think for one minute I am stupid enough NOT to know that the customer must be taken care of as best as possible and as quickly and courteously as possible !! However try as I do I still have not mastered the ability to read someones mind. I've been in retail for over 35 years and it's no secret, a little courtesy from a customer will get you alot farther than a pompous attitude. Again, absolutely no finger pointing, just facts.

As for the pricing of the frags, I personally don't know what was paid for them but you can't expect them to be sold at the prices you may be used to at swap meets. A store of Tropic Isle size does have a large overhead and that cost does have to be passed on to the consumer, just like a gas stations gasoline prices. Fuel costs happen to be one the main reasons fish prices in particular have skyrocketed. The initial cost of fish has not risen so much as the frieght costs have more than tripled in recent years.

Sometimes a shipment just comes in bad and the animals die or breakdown and unfortuntely can take down some animals that were there long before them. It's the nature of the business.

I would also like to state that, in my opinion, it is very unfair and un-ethical for an employee or owner of another aquarium/pet shop to post negative comments about another rival shop on this forum. There is no way it can come across as unbiased now is there?

Well, I'm getting off the soap box now. I will indeed pass this thread onto Leo and I'm sure he will address this with the crew.

Dan

 

[~Flighty~]

Thank you very much for your reply, Dan. I sincerely hope that in time there will be a number of threads praising the store.

I have only been to the store once and was a bit surprised at the consistency of the negative response. I bought a breed of fish that normally has a very low survival rate and it was eating and very healthy. At checkout I was laughed at when I showed my BRS card and told that I got a better discount with the generic online coupon, but otherwise I don't remember any issues with service.

As to the responses about pricing, the members here are pretty savvy about the realities of online vs LFS pricing and the advantages of each. The fish that I bought was more than double the cost of getting it online, but with a delicate species, more than half of them die or are in bad shape, so it is worth the extra cost in the long run.

In general we are also very familiar with the realities of shipments and livestock health, so you probably won't see posts of "gasp, I saw a fish there that was dead". But you may receive more substantive comments on pests and disease and livestock care. The comments about xenia in specific stem from the fact that many of us battle it as an invasive species in our tanks and throw fistfulls of the stinky stuff in the trash every day. Many of us think it is pretty, and know it sells very well, but it still is a shock to calculate that you just threw $700 worth of the stuff in the same bag that the kitty litter is in and will do the same next week.

As for owners of other pet stores posting here:

VENDORS:
Vendors are welcomed to reply to posts made about their shop, be it in defense to a negative comment or thank you for a positive comment.

Self promotion is not an acceptable use of this forum.

Because of conflict of interest concerns, vendors and their affiliates are asked to not post negative comments in threads regarding other vendors.

You can read the entire set of guidelines for this new section of the BRS forum here
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19839
Be aware that it is a brand new section and we are still working out minor details in the guidelines. Feedback from a store that received negative comments is very valuable to us. Please let us (the moderators) know if you feel that any specific post is breaking the guidelines.

 

[Duds]

one time when I went there I saw a yellow tang that had a fish hook in him, and for the over priced part $20 for a 50 gallon bag of IO (instant ocean) ~Edited other competing prices out~, whenever I go there I get service right away never had bad service, i've had bad fish and bad prices but never bad service
Duds

 

[smcnally]

...and for the over priced part $20 for a 50 gallon bag of IO (instant ocean) ~Edited pricing out~

This isn't a fair comparison at all. A 50lb bag of IO goes for ~$13.50-$17.00 online. $20 at a local store is a very fair price. I wouldn't keep your hopes up for 200gal boxes of IO for $35.

Please keep comments to the one store in the thread topic. thanks!

 

[smcnally]

I feel for the stores having to fight with online pricing, but it still isn't a reason to overprice to the extent that TI does. I've seen lighting setups at their store go for easily 50% more than other local stores. I'm surprised the aquarium industry hasn't got into "Protected Lines". We have protected lines in the AV world and that is the only thing that keeps us in business. The key to protected lines, though is that they have to be the "Best of the Best" and worth the extra money. We still sell other brands of plasmas, DVD players, etc. But the extra cost in the price (which ins't a whole lot more than Best Buy) is justified by our delivery, professionalism, and service. If you don't offer a VERY professional staff, some sort of service contract or very good return policy, then you can't justify the high prices. Customers don't care how high your electricity bill is. I really like the store, and have never had anyone be rude to me. I have had a long wait, but have had that at other stores. But, I will only go to browse or by a fish. I feel that the cost of most of their gear and corals are a little bit rediculous.

 

[Zedx6]

Well I have only been there once, was suggested by another LFS as I was looking for a certain substrate to set up my tank. Overall experience was good thought that they had a good selection of goods and live stock although I did pay a hefty price for substrate, but they had what I wanted. When checking out I asked if they had any more bags and they went upstairs and brought down a couple more for me.

 

[steevareno]

i think it's worth the drive if your looking to buy a fish. They have the biggest selection of healthy saltwater fish of anywhere i know. I would never buy drygoods because of the super high prices but most retail stores are pretty high. If you need equipment buy online or used here on the forums. If you want a sweet selection of fish shop at TI. I've mostly had good experiences there except for 1 young kid that always gives me an attitude and is grouchy, so i avoid him. I've got good advice from a couple of the older gentleman there and that's who i look for when buying a fish.

 

[sw300galma]

I was just in there last night....The young girl gave me attitude again...everytime.....

Ya i'm there till 9pm sometimes....but an "Are you done yet, we are closing" is not the nicest way...Ya i've been in retail alot and get aggrivated at customers who are there at closing... But there are nicer ways to say it...

It wounldn't have bothered me so much if this were the first time...or the second time...or the third she's giving me attitude...

I have over $5,000 in recepits from there in the past year...

Last night I brought my friend there as I started him with a tank and even he was like "man whats her problem?"

He owns 3 dealerships and a high performance shop, he could be a REALLY good customer....But not with dealings like that...

Like i've said before the fish guys are awsome...and that's why i'll keep comming back...I respect thier knowledge and love thier great attitudes and awsome customer service...

You guys deserve a raise....as for the cash register girl...I would like to see her removed...

 

[JohnK]

Loru;

After seeing your reply I wanted to add,
I don't think I've ever talked to you before, so any negative implication in my pervious post was in no way directed to you. (Am I right that you started not too too long ago?).

I've been a regular looker and occasionaly buyer at TI for at least 10 yrs. Over that time I probablly average 1.5-2 visits per week, but I haven't been in much in the last couple of months.

Any effort to address negative feedback IMO is very much appreciated, but it may not be up to Leo, Mr.L makes the decisions. (Pass along the feedback, but don't blame Leo if nothing happens).

TI has a lot of good stuff when something is not working when I get home from work and I need to fix it right away - they're close to me. They also have a LOT of tanks and fish, IME/IMO this makes for certain inherent risks along with a better than average selection of fish. I will get fish there from time to time, (but I use a QT protocol).

Everybody, give "register girl" a break, she puts off a bland vibe but is she really all that rude?

TI has it's ups and downs.

Again, Mr.L if you ever read this, cut the dry goods prices a good bit and you may get a better retrun overall. Nobody gets into saltwater without finding internet vendors before long. The mark up is aileniating people a lot. Customer service wise I'm not complaining personally.

 

[sw300galma]

Loru;

Everybody, give "register girl" a break, she puts off a bland vibe but is she really all that rude?

The high prices i can deal with...attitude after driving an hour each way to spend $500+ I cannot....

One time I had bought close to $1000 worth of Live stock and other assorted goodies....It was taking them a while to get all my stuff and it was near closing time...and I was bringing up a ton of bags and I was like "I got more stuff coming" and she was like "we are closing" I'm like duhh what do you want me to do...?? then she was huffing and puffing for the whole extra 2 mins it took...

I don't think i've ever seen her smile....I have nothing against her personally, professionally on the other hand...she treats me like a pea on...

Now I know why.......owners daughter.....

I'm going back there Wednesday....what can I say I love the place!!

 

[newfish]

they where rude the day i was there last weekend but had to get the zoas for 29.99 they were green

 

[sw300galma]

they where rude the day i was there last weekend but had to get the zoas for 29.99 they were green

When you say "they" who is "they" and how exaclty were "they" rude?

Generally speaking you can't please everyone all the time.
And some people are just impossible...

But there is what is defined as a "Normal" person (if they in fact do exist lol) that I go by when complaining....Meaning that most other people would agree.

That is why I asked the circumstances, so that people reading this can make thier own judgements on to whether or not the customer is being unreasonable or there was in fact a case of bad customer service...

*takes off managers hat*