Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > Regional Forums > Alberta > Calgary

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 01-31-2016, 02:12 PM
MitchM's Avatar
MitchM MitchM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Water Valley, AB
Posts: 1,280
MitchM is on a distinguished road
Default

Wai's has always been my go to place for supplies equipment and livestock.
Daniel has been in business a very long time for a reason - he has a business model that can weather both the good and bad times. Prices can be expensive, but that's what it takes to stay in business. If not Wai's, do you really want to buy from someone that is here today, gone tomorrow?

I went to Big Al's a couple of weeks ago and they had very little sw livestock but a LOT of artificial salt available. People probably are a little burned from last year's salt "special sale" debacle.

I've never been to Concepts new place, can't offer a opinion.

Pisces is a great overall pet store. I get all my fw and pond supplies there.

Golds I've been to once, but they had a very limited sw offering.

Riverfront needs to be shut down.

I haven't been to any of the others mentioned.

Online stores for Calgarians are available, but it costs me $50 in fuel to drive to the airport for livestock, so that is a deterrent.
BRS is very expensive when you include shipping to the local post office (in my case)
.
__________________
Mitch

Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-31-2016, 04:33 PM
MitchM's Avatar
MitchM MitchM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Water Valley, AB
Posts: 1,280
MitchM is on a distinguished road
Default

Also, no one in Calgary has been able to offer the high quality of corals that Wai's has.
I've seen great pictures from some online vendors, and have read some favourable reviews, but have not ordered to see for myself.
__________________
Mitch

Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-31-2016, 08:36 PM
Beanz's Avatar
Beanz Beanz is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Calgary, Paliser
Posts: 168
Beanz is on a distinguished road
Default

Thanks for all the input guys! I'll for sure have to check out all these places when I'm ready for livestock! There's several listed that I didn't even know existed.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-31-2016, 09:41 PM
somafish somafish is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: calgary
Posts: 100
somafish is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchM View Post
Wai's has always been my go to place for supplies equipment and livestock.
Daniel has been in business a very long time for a reason - he has a business model that can weather both the good and bad times. Prices can be expensive, but that's what it takes to stay in business. If not Wai's, do you really want to buy from someone that is here today, gone tomorrow?

I went to Big Al's a couple of weeks ago and they had very little sw livestock but a LOT of artificial salt available. People probably are a little burned from last year's salt "special sale" debacle.

I've never been to Concepts new place, can't offer a opinion.

Pisces is a great overall pet store. I get all my fw and pond supplies there.

Golds I've been to once, but they had a very limited sw offering.

Riverfront needs to be shut down.

I haven't been to any of the others mentioned.

Online stores for Calgarians are available, but it costs me $50 in fuel to drive to the airport for livestock, so that is a deterrent.
BRS is very expensive when you include shipping to the local post office (in my case)
.
Pisces,Big Al's,Golds have all been open for a long time, I don't think that should be the main criteria for doing business there. Wai's was selling a 3" maxima for $300, cross the street go to Ocean Creations got a 5" with nicer pattern for $180. Regal tangs for $80 At Wai's, Golds $30. And even alot of wai's dry goods and equipment are over priced. Daniel can be very picky who he likes and who he doesn't like, it seems to me it's based on who's gonna spend the most money
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-31-2016, 10:40 PM
MitchM's Avatar
MitchM MitchM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Water Valley, AB
Posts: 1,280
MitchM is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by somafish View Post
Pisces,Big Al's,Golds have all been open for a long time, I don't think that should be the main criteria for doing business there. Wai's was selling a 3" maxima for $300, cross the street go to Ocean Creations got a 5" with nicer pattern for $180. Regal tangs for $80 At Wai's, Golds $30. And even alot of wai's dry goods and equipment are over priced. Daniel can be very picky who he likes and who he doesn't like, it seems to me it's based on who's gonna spend the most money
You may not be aware of the Big Al's franchise history in Calgary then.

Reef stores are not cheap to operate.
Like I said, Daniel has a good business model. If you are looking for inexpensive coral frags for example, it would be best to buy from other hobbyists. (there's nothing wrong with that, btw, I support other hobbyists when I can)
__________________
Mitch

Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 02-03-2016, 09:36 PM
btuck887's Avatar
btuck887 btuck887 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: calgary, Alberta
Posts: 105
btuck887 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by somafish View Post
Pisces,Big Al's,Golds have all been open for a long time, I don't think that should be the main criteria for doing business there. Wai's was selling a 3" maxima for $300, cross the street go to Ocean Creations got a 5" with nicer pattern for $180. Regal tangs for $80 At Wai's, Golds $30. And even alot of wai's dry goods and equipment are over priced. Daniel can be very picky who he likes and who he doesn't like, it seems to me it's based on who's gonna spend the most money
Highly agree with somafish. Been into Wai's countless times, bought a few things here and there, and never once had a warm reception. On the other hand, you cross the street to Ocean creations and you greeted with a big smile and great service. Oceans may not have the coral selection that Wai's has but I would prefer to spend my money in a shop that treats me as a valued customer and not just a walking wad of cash!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-03-2016, 11:16 PM
MitchM's Avatar
MitchM MitchM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Water Valley, AB
Posts: 1,280
MitchM is on a distinguished road
Default

Businesses can charge what the market will bear for their products.

If a new business wants to compete, it has to be able to provide a more attractive alternative, be it price or product.
So far, I have not seen anyone do that in the Calgary market. Wai's is the one to beat.

I could buy more volume if I went somewhere else, but I would hate to see Calgary lose the high quality products that Wai's offers.
I don't argue with the price, so I'm an easy customer to deal with, versus someone that complains about the price and tries to buy items for less.
Less profit = harder to do business = possibly going out of business entirely.

When I was in business, startups wold come into my market and offer cheap similar products at low prices. It hurt my sales. I know what it is like. Less than a year later, the startup was gone and out of business, because they weren't making enough money. Meanwhile, my sales suffered, I had to let people go, reduce my inventories and it took a while to build back up again. Soon another startup would try again and the cycle continued.

I wish good luck to all businesses, but I'm not a fan of shopping for cheap prices alone.
__________________
Mitch

Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-03-2016, 11:48 PM
Fishy! Fishy! is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Regina
Posts: 81
Fishy! is on a distinguished road
Default

Does big als have a large selection on AGA aquariums?
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 02-03-2016, 11:59 PM
DiscusZ DiscusZ is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 294
DiscusZ is on a distinguished road
Send a message via Skype™ to DiscusZ
Default

I have never liked wais I have been out of the scene for a while just got Back in Aug 2015. I prefer friendlier places Dennis at golds and the guys at concepts since being back in the hobby I have avoided wais had bad experience there 10+ years ago

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
__________________
Setup: 180G DT, 105G Refuge (approx. 300lbs LR, 150lbs Aragonite)
Hardware: Super Reef Octopus SSS-3000, Tunze ATO, Mag 18 return, 3x MP40W, 2X Koralia 4's Wavemaker
Lighting: 5ft Hamilton Belize Sun (2x250W MH, Blue LEDs) Vertex Calcium Reactor 2x Deltec Pellet Reactors
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 02-04-2016, 12:47 AM
somafish somafish is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: calgary
Posts: 100
somafish is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishy! View Post
Does big als have a large selection on AGA aquariums?
I think only Pisces carries AGA stuff. They have a little side room with soils,tanks, and co2 stuff
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.