Tropic Isle aquarium - Framingham, MA

[sleepy]

Ok, so ive been to Ti many a time. I really enjoyed TI when i came as a novice FW hobbyist. The selection was explosive and as a beginner i never thought twice before paying their high prices. There was one really nice fish person working there that took care of me, the rest never aproched to help me. Now that i think of it, ive always had to go looking for someone to help me, spending at least 5 minutes waiting around for an available fish person.
About the lady at the cash register- why is she so evil? I signed up for the membership 3 times and never got my card in the mail!!! roar. but seriously, anyway there is one fish person there that i really don't like. I must resort to having him help me when no one else is available. For the sake of animosity, i will call him "Bull". Bull always looks angry when i ask him for help, he is open to giving advice but will not explain his reasoning , even when specifically asked to do so, and has in the past been wrong about his advice. I'm not a hater, but i wont be going back to TI. The corals they carry are way too expensive, even the smaller frags (a small xenia costs like $40!) and the one good fish person is not enough to bring me back, especially because the prices are not very good.

 

[JohnK]

IME jason and leo have been quite helpful and polite, both have taken time to talk with me as long as I waited my turn. I haven't talked with Dan because I'm not sure who he is, but from this thread he sounds like he would be helpful also.

All other criticisms aside, IME if you find the right people at TI you can get good customer service.

Edit; my comment here applies to reccent experiences only, in the past it hasn't felt so friendly.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Edited. As an LFS employee, the rules say you cannot post in another store's thread - even if you are just quoting someone to make a point, you're still making a point about another store. Sorry.

 

[Paul K]

All other criticisms aside, IME if you find the right people at TI you can get good customer service.

IMHO you shouldn't have to cherry pick through the staff at a place like TI to seek out the "right" people to get treated with courtesy and appreciation for your business. Maybe that's just me.

I understand seeking out the more knowledgable employees if you have a question (though I'm many years past asking LFS store employees for opinions) but EVERY employee at a retail business should have basic personal skills in dealing with customers.

 

[Andy O]

I think it is like anywhere you shop. You can find good people and those that are not so helpful. As has been mentioned previously, it doesn't appear to seem like that big of a deal to management. They appear to be a high volume dealer and have not been around this long for lack of sales. You have to remember that people in this forum are a very, very small percentage of their customer base. I guess if they don't think the wheel is broken why fix it.

By no means am i saying that TI is a bad store, you just need to be prepared for what you may or may not be in for when you go there.

 

[Jeepman3sk]

I personally do not like TI however...I went there the other day for help with my ich and they were very helpful with everything. Showed me everything that I needed adn even said good luck let me know how it goes. Their price on the meds were good too compair to another LFS that I will not name. I went to the other place too to get as much info as I could plus the forums. Over all both LFS showed me great service ad information for treatments. Thanks TI.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Oops, sorry Moe. I didn't think about that.

 

[deadhermitwalkin]

Last word thread?

I never been there... Edited.

Edited, and attachment removed. First hand experiences only, and no bashing please. Check out the rules to this forum. Thanks.

 

[snick1734]

we went in there the other day just to look around. We have been in their several other times when it was busy but we were only browsing so it was not a big deal as far as getting help. But we decided to buy some livestock and had some questions about ro/di systems. No one will ask if you if you need help you need to approch them. I like it this way anyways. Overall staff memeber was pleasant, new their stuff and check out was half bad either. our purschases are doing great as well.

 

[reeffan]

the "evil lady at the cash register" LOL

I have been to TI too many times ... Usually if I want to see something first hand before ordering from somewhere else! the reason she is so evil is because she has total job security ... That is Ellis's wife! please refrain from hearsay. Thanks, Nate LOL. yes she can be a little on the "evil" but go and talk to her about buying a custom acrylic 3,500.00 and she becomes a very sweet lady. I think I saw her smile a few times!

But all kidding aside, they have a great store the help maybe lacking in personality at times, but for the market and location they are right on target with their pricing. I know where they are ordering Most of theie dry goods and live stock from and I have to tell its a tough business to be in. its those guys there that work they're are not making 60k a yr with pension. so I would really just take it as a store doing what it must to do to stay afloat!

I am not shilling for them ... I just understand because I have been there. also sometimes ppl do not realize they are rude and its hard to believe but yes its true.

Ok, so ive been to Ti many a time. I really enjoyed TI when i came as a novice FW hobbyist. The selection was explosive and as a beginner i never thought twice before paying their high prices. There was one really nice fish person working there that took care of me, the rest never aproched to help me. Now that i think of it, ive always had to go looking for someone to help me, spending at least 5 minutes waiting around for an available fish person.
About the lady at the cash register- why is she so evil? I signed up for the membership 3 times and never got my card in the mail!!! roar. but seriously, anyway there is one fish person there that i really don't like. I must resort to having him help me when no one else is available. For the sake of animosity, i will call him "Bull". Bull always looks angry when i ask him for help, he is open to giving advice but will not explain his reasoning , even when specifically asked to do so, and has in the past been wrong about his advice. I'm not a hater, but i wont be going back to TI. The corals they carry are way too expensive, even the smaller frags (a small xenia costs like $40!) and the one good fish person is not enough to bring me back, especially because the prices are not very good.

 

[dz6t]

TI had the 20% off coupon for BRS members attending the meeting today. It is very nice for them to support the club. I just want to give them a thumbs up.

 

[seahorse1]

i went in there after the meeting on the 29th and two guys walked by me and asked if I needed help. The place was very busy and it was nice to be acknowledged. I also had the 20% off coupon and bought a few pieces of dry rock and saved $8.00. I think they also have a very good selection of corals, a bit pricey but a good selection.

 

[FooManChoo]

I'll apologize about that secondhand info.... it was told to me by a former employee, and I did mention that I thought that policy had ended <though I can't mention which policy that is, since it's secondhand....> Trust me, I'm thrilled that Dan talked to you for at least an hour. That's how it should be.

- j
p.s. I have gotten good service from Jason, the young guy <about my age>. I suggest anybody seek him or Leo out for advice.

 

[FooManChoo]

Oh, and first-hand, it was Dan who recommended the Pro 2 for my 29g reef. Nitrate factory... again, this is all opinion, but is that really the best thing for a person trying to get started with a reef? Recommend something that stockpiles nitrates? Why?
- j

 

[loru1588]

Oh, and first-hand, it was Dan who recommended the Pro 2 for my 29g reef. Nitrate factory... again, this is all opinion, but is that really the best thing for a person trying to get started with a reef? Recommend something that stockpiles nitrates? Why?
- j


Trueth be told, any filter can become a Nitrate factory if not properly maintained. Even live rock if stacked too tightly can accumulate detritis and uneaten food if not allowed to have a good flow through it.

I don't remember the circumstances behind my suggestion, but a 29 is a small tank so maybe I was aiming to give you the most flow as well as biological reserve/additional water reserve. I honestly don'y remember. I do know I have several service clients who maintain low (less than 15 ppm) nitrate levels using a canister filter as their main filtration source.

Go figure!?

 

[sw300galma]

Trueth be told, any filter can become a Nitrate factory if not properly maintained. Even live rock if stacked too tightly can accumulate detritis and uneaten food if not allowed to have a good flow through it.

I don't remember the circumstances behind my suggestion, but a 29 is a small tank so maybe I was aiming to give you the most flow as well as biological reserve/additional water reserve. I honestly don'y remember. I do know I have several service clients who maintain low (less than 15 ppm) nitrate levels using a canister filter as their main filtration source.

Go figure!?

Without getting into a debate over canister filters...I would have to agree with Dan, I don't think that's "BAD" advice....I run canister filters on all my tanks and recommend them to everyone as well, for the above reason stated by Dan, Ease of use compared to a sump, extra biological filtration, no chance of over flowing and more flow. As long as it's stated that you must maintain it...like everything else...

Especially for a 29G and a beginner.

 

[dave601m]

Just thought i'd throw this out there, when I was at TI after the meeting, I got offered help from about 3 or 4 different people in a time of about 10 minutes. That impressed me. All of the fish were very healthy looking, and there was some neat stuff I don't usually see every day. Even the weird sizes of tanks I was looking for were in stock. On the whole, I thought this was a nice place.

 

[saltnut]

I got a CBS good price and some frozen cyclopeeze and then with my 20% off coupon walked out pretty happy. They had alot of corals as said already some seemed a little pricey but very nice looking stock. Helpful and nice staff

 

[RichConley]

They had alot of corals as said already some seemed a little pricey but very nice looking stock. Helpful and nice staff

Just wanted to put in that TI generally has a much larger coral stock than they've had the last few weeks. They had some tank heat issues (I think they lost an AC or Chiller) and lost a lot of coral.

Dan, I'm sure you can give a clearer picture than I can.

 

[Fitzy]

Ill second what rich said...

Went there yesterday, and was supprised at the lack of coral. Usually a lot better. Caint wait till it comes back