FosternSmith retail sucks!!

[Jordan55]

Yo for anyone that doesnt know just like me the Foster and Smith retail store is pathetic; lame. i went up there today to get everything i need to set up my new 55g, the service was ridiculous, they did not know anything about what i was asking and i wanted to see the material i was buying and they gave me a magazine to look through! I wish i would have known about this before i went, so im posting for all who plan on going in the future dont waste your time and just order online. For you who call to see there rock it is the same as you order online and they are huge chunks that look like huge round boulders.

Jordan

[Loverotties]

Online I have had great service!

[Jrmass]

I've personally never gone to the retail store at a time OTHER THAN the Frag Swap where the store stayed very stocked and had TONS of workers to help assist. Maybe you just caught them on a bad day or something but, on both weekends that I was there the service was outstanding and the attendants knew there stuff (or at least would be able to direct me to someone who did).

Sorry about your bad experience. Might be better when we go up there as a group (not to mention you'd also get to take a tour of the aquaculture facilty *which will blow your mind*)

Jason

[Jbottcher]

i mean. i was there and it was a total disappointment. There were about 3 employees on shift all of which were not exactly what you saltwater expert. They had plenty of dog toys and wild bird seed. but over all the corals they had were pretty bogus. and priced pretty high compared to frags ive bought in the past. Coon valley corals** beats out that place in a heart beat and i know they are just setting up a shop. They told us both to look at their magazine which ive looked at for the last 4 months, nothing new, of corse. i hoping to see what it was i i was buying before they actually sold it to me but they pretty much made me feel rude just asking to have them bring up a light fixture to see how it looked..everything they had to go find in the ware house. which i think is completely inconvenient. ha.

its too bad their arnt any dope fish stores in this area. Ive lived in MN and Wi and still have yet to find any outstanding tropical fish stores. Milwaukee had a couple and a few in MPLS, but beside that. live stock isnt kept how it should be and retailers are loosing mad business because they dont clean their shops and keep their stores looking attractive. honestly i feel like i could start a shop next week and blow out anything, if any competition. when i walk in a shop i expect it to be clean and orderly, little of which ive seen in this area.

someone aught to do it right, i mean im only a college student and i feel like little stands between me and being the best shop in the midwest.
....

i hate to hate, but it is was it is. and i gotta be real.


ps. i know foster has a nice coral pharming operation, which we were told we couldnt go into, b/c we weren't with a group. lame. maybe some other time.

but i DO NOT recommend going to their retail store unless you are trying to save on some shipping. even then .. if your buying live rock , your better off paying shipping and getting it for a better price than IN SHOP.

anywhoo.... enough about shitty reef stores. prove me wrong.

[schneijt]

Well, when a few of us were up there a few weeks ago, it was a great time. The staff who were woking when we were there really knew their stuff, and the prices were pretty good compared to other places I've been. I picked up several fish from them, and all were healthy and are still thriving today (well, except for six of my ten green chromis, which were bullied and killed by the four most aggressive chromis' that I have left).

So, I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience like we did, because I thought it was a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon. If you're looking for a really great place to try out, I highly suggest All-Reef in Stillwater, MN. Peggy, the owner, gives everything in her store the "high life" treatment while it's there. Never any sick fish or tanks that are "under observation" or anything like that. Her prices are on the high end of the retail fish spectrum, but at least you know that her profits are going toward the best possible care of her livestock there. It's hands-down the best retail fish store I've seen.

Anyway, as I said, I'm sorry you didn't have the same experience at DFS that we did, but hopefully you just went there on one of their "bad days." All stores have days when the good employees aren't scheduled to work... And, as Jason said, I hope you'll join us when we do a LARK visit for a tour of the aquaculture facility, because they'll be catering to us and us only on that day, so you know the service will be good!

-Joe

[firsthesitation]

So you went up to fosters to get everything for a 55 but didn't know what you wanted? Guess I don't feel too incredibly bad. Realistically yes, their store is not huge it's not all that incredible but they've got fair prices and if you're avoiding shipping on high cost items its a great solution for people who're willing to do the drive.

I went with Joe last time, and I've been there about 4 other times before that and every time the people are helpful and informative. The warehouse is not ideally convenient for someone who's just window shopping of course, but I have yet to ask for anything in the catalog or online that wasn't in stock when I went up there. No wait times or back orders.

And no they do not do open tours anytime of their coral facility they do not have the staffing available to do that at all times. We're in the process of planning a trip up there this summer with the LARK group and were graciously offered a raffle, hand selection of corals in the farming facility and the full tour.

Well that's my $0.02.

[Jrmass]

Seeing that we are talking about the tour... I think that we should start getting some dates planned... I know that my summers are typically crazy and really would like to get a date nailed down so that I do end up planning something on the date that ends up getting chosen.

Jason

[firsthesitation]

Totally agree with you Jason, I'll start a thread for that.

[Jbottcher]

well im pretty sure he was trying to say, it would be nice to see the actual lighting on display so you can see what your getting. as far as T5 bulbs, how they look on a tank.. When you go up there to save on shipping and cant see the unit your buying for 450+ bucks its a little annoying. dont you agree? i know id want to see it, at least plugged in or better yet over some corals.


ill def try and come up with you people to see the tour

[carym]

Your buying from a wholesale store that happens to have a small retail outlet, what you expect them to have every single product on display and in use so you can see it...NOT going to happen no place until you go Reef Emporium in the land of never never land...

Sorry but you are complain about something that will NEVER change... Can you go into Petsmart and see a specific light you want on a tank very unlikely, can you go to a local store and possible see a light you want on a tank more more likely when they deal in livestock and dry goods...

Drs Fosters never claimed to be the best Retail Fish Store, they are a Pet Supply Wholesaler...with a small retail store where you can buy anything from their catalog...

[Afish4u]

I'm going to give my .02 here. First off for anyone who doesn't know. Fosters is a huge company in a smaller town. Just about anything a person just needs to order it and they will pick it up at the warehouse. I don't believe they have stuff like live rock for sale except for the swap. I head over there many times a year and haven't had any problems. I have always found there staff to be more then willing to help. Their knowledge is top notch. If you are unsure about something before you head up you can call their 1800 number and talk to someone about the product if you didn't have enough information for some reason. As far as prices sometimes something might be onsale online and not at the store. Just let them know and they will adjust(online they sometimes have 2 week specials) However with that said Yes livestock sometimes will be higher then online because they do have to have it shipped their from California. sometimes and item might be a buck or so more. But you do get to see it in person. If I get corals from their I do always dip them, but I would also dip them from any other place I go. If you get a product from them and it is defective getting a replacement or service is Awsome. Honestly I can not say how great they are about this A++. If your looking for a road trip and have a pet, Dogs and cats are welcome in the store as long as they are on a leash. I know if might be fun to take a fish on the trip but I just see putting a tank in the trip for them

[Afish4u]

Originally Posted by Jbottcher

well im pretty sure he was trying to say, it would be nice to see the actual lighting on display so you can see what your getting. as far as T5 bulbs, how they look on a tank.. When you go up there to save on shipping and cant see the unit your buying for 450+ bucks its a little annoying. dont you agree? i know id want to see it, at least plugged in or better yet over some corals.


ill def try and come up with you people to see the tour

There are just so many options based on the lighting and on your tank to say what exactly they would look like. Also based off the number of differnet types of bulbs(brands, and combos) it wouldn't simply be cost effective to demo all of it. Plus not to mention once its been demo the mark down on the items. Your best bet in that case would probably be to look online to know what your reflectors going to be and maybe learn from others. I know I'm repeating my self here but part of the fun of this hobby is no two tanks are alike even if you have the same equipment something ALWAYs will be diffenent.

[Jrmass]

Originally Posted by carym

Your buying from a wholesale store that happens to have a small retail outlet, what you expect them to have every single product on display and in use so you can see it...NOT going to happen no place until you go Reef Emporium in the land of never never land...

Sorry but you are complain about something that will NEVER change... Can you go into Petsmart and see a specific light you want on a tank very unlikely, can you go to a local store and possible see a light you want on a tank more more likely when they deal in livestock and dry goods...

Drs Fosters never claimed to be the best Retail Fish Store, they are a Pet Supply Wholesaler...with a small retail store where you can buy anything from their catalog...

Very true Cary, they do not advertise to have everything in the "store" they do advertise to have everyone "on hand".

Originally Posted by Jbottcher

well im pretty sure he was trying to say, it would be nice to see the actual lighting on display so you can see what your getting. as far as T5 bulbs, how they look on a tank.. When you go up there to save on shipping and cant see the unit your buying for 450+ bucks its a little annoying. dont you agree? i know id want to see it, at least plugged in or better yet over some corals.

As far as lighting goes... Personally the only time I've actually gotten to see a fixture that I was buying setup was because a LOT of people already were using the Coralife Aqualight Pro (which is what I have) and I did a TON of research before I invested in one.

With my T-5 fixture the only thing I could do was research the heck out of it because there are so many different bulb configurations that you could have the same fixture as someone else but have a COMPLETELY different coloration then they.

I will say one more thing in F&S's defense they could make it so they are like most wholesalers where you can not come and pick and item up (even if you live right next door). No, they have the retail store open so that if people want to make the trip they can come and get the item from them FREE OF SHIPPING & HANDLING.

O.k. with that said I think I'll leave this topic be.

My $0.02.
Jason

[Jordan55]

I'm not saying to have everything on display that is unrealistic..... I'm just saying for having a retail store right next to their warehouse, i would think they would have some things to look at and want to encourage people to buy. And as far as petco goes i dont care about that store, and how many people go there and spend 500 dollars on a light or a oceanic RR tank. NO ONE because they dont sell that material or everyone would be there shopping. I was just really disappointed. I love their products they are amazing and very very well priced thats why i use them. Also i did go up there with a list of everything i wanted specifically.

[carym]

But foster doesn't claim to be a retail store at all, they are opening up there their store to the retail to buy from the catalog...nothing more than that... and they haven't claimed to be anything more than that...do shoot down retail if you don't know what they claim, I would bet if you asked Foster the question or complaint you had about them they woud say exactly the same thing they never claimed to be a retail store... my suggestion if you want to see a product working before you buy it, buy local...they use the product that they sell...they can buy more than what they have but they are probably the best bet for seeing the product in use...