GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

[Delock]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

True Heidi,

But...everything I typed here was spoken. Call it "constructive criticism"!

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

I didnt like the way the guy (i think the owner?) said we should support fish gallery and not the other stores in Houston. He said it in the saltwater section before he left to go somewhere. Im not the only one that heard it right?

If i am the only one then...

[rrocket2002]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

That was Rodger.  That's not exactly what he said.  He was saying consumers should support stores like Fish Gallery that put an effort in keeping up the store front, stock and keeping good and knowledgeable workers on staff.  Of course he is going to push for his store.   :)

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

I agree i might have misheard - but lets see if anyone else heard it first before we bash me. :)

[rrocket2002]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

LOL...No bashing going on.  He did say we ought to patronize his store.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

...and not the other stores.

I know your not bashing.

[armthehomeless]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

Roger said that "stores likes Fish Gallery are hard to come by. There are only a few good [fish] shops in the Houston area and we should support them".

[CichlidFan]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

OH OH OH>>>>ME ME ME>......my turn to bash......here we go......Report....FISH GALLERY.....

Beautiful store, Beautiful tanks, nice people, and nice to fantastic fish.

With that said, it will most likely be 6months to a year before I go there again.

I too, like rodger, and the store has really nice folks like Don and Xzavier, and the rest of the crew, but I can't see myself paying for one fish, when I can most likely go to another store and maybe get 3 of the same kind. Dry goods where priced even higher than the fish, when it comes to comparison to their competetion.

Final Report
Stores Appearance  A- (minus for the dead fish visible in tanks)
Stores Staff A-            (minus due to the dead fish in the tanks)
Stores Prices  F

CF

[rrocket2002]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

OH OH OH>>>>ME ME ME>......my turn to bash......here we go......Report....FISH GALLERY.....

Beautiful store, Beautiful tanks, nice people, and nice to fantastic fish.

With that said, it will most likely be 6months to a year before I go there again.

I too, like rodger, and the store has really nice folks like Don and Xzavier, and the rest of the crew, but I can't see myself paying for one fish, when I can most likely go to another store and maybe get 3 of the same kind. Dry goods where priced even higher than the fish, when it comes to comparison to their competetion.

Final Report
Stores Appearance  A- (minus for the dead fish visible in tanks)
Stores Staff A-            (minus due to the dead fish in the tanks)
Stores Prices  F

CF

You were suppose to bash Chris, not the store....LOL

I think most of us agree that FG prices are higher than other stores comparably.  Even Rodger stated that they are higher priced but it is a nice and pleasent place to visit.  They usually have fish you don't find just anywhere.  

By the way, I am working with FG to become a Sponsor for GHAC.

[CichlidFan]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

I wasn't serious about bashing, I am merely pointing out the obvious. The store is a nice store, and if you don't have any money worries, it would be my first choice to refer folks too.

CF

[roberte]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

xxx

[Buntbarsch1]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

Come on folks, I think we can do better than that...when somebody invites you to their "house" don't pick on them...I bet not all things are perfect at all times at your house either...

I thought the Fish Gallery was a very nice place with nice displays and lots of livestock...plus they are in the "ritzy area" of town where people have lots and lots of money to spend...mere mortals like us can only dream about tanks like the ones in their "living room"...all of that investment and variety naturally leads to somewhat higher prices than the mom and pop stores where many of us shop...but they do not have the variety...so it's "one stop shopping"...and at the prices of gas today...it may be a bargain...now if you live at the other end of the world from there...that's a different story...but I would definitely stop in if I was in the neighborhood...

And I would like to thank Roger for letting us visit and Raul for arranging the affair so that we all have a vision of the tank we are gonna have done "when we hit the lottery"...

I think that will be my last word for now...I am going to bed...     H

[rrocket2002]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

Having worked in great fish stores over the years and having been part of the crew at the old Village Tropical Fish that spawned FG when Mike owned it and Roger was the high school kid working there, I can tell you that several of the comments people made are why stores often prefer to avoid contacts with fish clubs and focus on the average customer. Fish clubs are famous among store owners -- for at least the last 50 years -- for expecting the world, criticizing the store and shopping elsewhere. Conflicts of interest often develop. Probably one of the great tragedies in the hobby -- particularly for clubs in the hobby -- is that they loose the support of local stores or never even get it as owners run when they see clubs coming. Having pulled many a dead fish in my day, in stores that have a 100 plus tanks, and having made several rounds a day to do just that, it is amazing how a dead fish always seems to turn up no matter how much you check. Cleaning tanks is a full time job and the other responsibilites of the job can sometimes get in the way. People are people. Who among us is 100% 40 hours a week at their job?! Stores aren't public aquariums and why would a store want to waste employees and time giving a tour to people who think the store is too expensive and state they intend to shop elsewhere? That would be rather idealistic in the extreme don't you think? Is that how anyone here runs their own business affairs? Prices in the hobby are going up and FG has quite a physical plant to support and they give their employees actual benefits -- which explains the quality staff. A one or two man family run store might be cheaper but as people said lacks the same selection of fish and depth of knowledge. If you want cheap, then keep big box purchasing habits and soon the big box stores will be all you see. Surprisingly enough, they are not so cheap now that they have chased all the small guys away and their selection is often just bread minus even the butter. Houston is lucky to have a number of good stores and a real showplace like FG. We never miss things until they are gone.

Thanks for the input Roberte.  

People are always going to have their own opinions of what they experienced.  I was reading back through this thread and I found that there was mostly positive feedback about FG.  Are we as a club not allowed to share what we felt about our experience from this event with each other.  That is what this board/thread is for.  I think FG can withstand some criticism from a handful of individuals.  I don't condone bashing a business or individual, only encourage sharing one's experiences.


No matter what business, it will not be able to satisfy 100% of its customers.  We live in the real world like you said.

PM sent.

[CichlidFan]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

Seriously, I too would like to thank Roger (Thank You Roger) for allowing the club access to the store, and all the time he himself, and the very freindly staff spent with us. And, Seriously, I would like to applaud the management/store for giving their employees benefits too, way to go. That's a big plus for the FG.

The whole place is gorgeous, people are fantastic, prices are thru the roof, what more can I say. To be fair, the Oceanic Cube in the lobby, now that was a decent price on just the cube itself at 89.00.  To be fair.

Dry goods room....660.00 for a Eheim 2260....Maybe I misread that?

roberte - points taken, and agree with most of your comments I do.  People are people.

I really have enjoyed each visit to the Fish Gallery. Both of them.  

CF

[Nickintex]

Re: GHAC Club Event - Fish Gallery Tour (15% Discount)

 I think FG can withstand some criticism from a handful of individuals.  I don't condone bashing a business or individual, only encourage sharing one's experiences.
No matter what business, it will not be able to satisfy 100% of its customers.  We live in the real world like you said.

Agreed. I don't think anyone should take these criticisms personally. Because of my income, I would rather buy, let's say, a khuli loach for 1.99-2.99 at a place like Fish Ranch, City Pets, or Fondren Fish'N'Pets, rather than FG's 3.99-4.99. HOWEVER, if I see rare fish at good prices at FG, like the Butterfly Goodeids and Hummingbird tetra, I will surely buy. Also, some of FG's dry goods are less expensive than  than City Pets. The dried shrimp and krill I purchased there on the day of the tours sells 12-99-15.99 at other stores. FG had it for 9.99, and that was before the discount! Just because I would not purchase some of the more common fish at FG at higher prices, does not mean I would not support their business nor recommend them. It means that I will support SEVERAL businesses to better suit my needs and budget. In fact, I regularly stop by FG, though I may not always make a purchase. When Charles Jones was at Fish Ranch at Larkin, I did spend more time at that store due to his excellent service and prices. But I still went to other stores. I even buy certain foods at Walmart. I'm not rich, but I enjoy my hobby. That's my 2 cents.