Maidenhead Aquatics

[doresy]

ok. so here's my slant on this subject

When you go into a LFS (or any other retail outlet for that matter) to BUY something what is a major thought in your mind?

I'd guess it's COST. You will be asking yourself, is this the cheapest source and would it be cheaper at ............?

Something like a tank, if it's cheaper down the road but you prefer the shop that you are in then what's the betting that you'll be saying "well, down the road they have the same tank at £? less or are offering a free ??? with it" hoping that they will match or better the deal........yes?

Ok, nothing surprising about that but the knock-on effect of that is profit margins are cut to the bone and one of the first things to suffer (wrongly) are staff's wages. That then can lead on to some staff either not sticking with the trade or perhaps not having as much job involvement as they should, amongst other things.

Before there is a deluge of LFS staff taking objection to my findings I did say SOME.......ok? (some of my best friends are now LFS staff!)

Therefore to some extent, we only have our selves to blame

I'll give you an example. No names here.........I have several LFS within a 5 mile radius and several more if I extend that to 10 miles (gloat )There is one that is more expensive than the others in quite a few things although they do do a 'buy in' club that gives you discount on further purchases to attract loyaty.

The staff there are excellent, offering sound advice and loads of time even on a Saturday afternoon.

I would not dare ask if they are happy with their pay but they are the friendliest, happy to help and not afraid to pass you on to another member of staff if your questions are not in their comfort zone. Guess what, whenever mentioned none of them have slagged off fish forums......that's a first

So, next time you are trying to strike up a deal ask yourself am I, by doing that, denying this person a decent wage forcing them to be less interested in their job which effects future information to customers who may not be as informed in the art of fish-keeping as yourself?

YEAH, RIGHT!!!!

 

[Lorna]

Actually the maiden head in Cambridge is excellent. It is the best store that I have come across and the guy who deals with me knows alot about fish. He is very helpful and cares about the welbeing of the fish. He has helped me alot and taught me more about fish keeping. He is honest and I trust him with all my and hubbys questions. I would rate this store 10/10. Pets at Home, is another story all together. I was looking at buying anohter tank and I asked the girl how many ltrs is this one and she said 800!! I said, ahh noway, it is probally a 120!! They are completely usseless in there and don't know anything about fish.

 

[LakeyGal]

I think when buying fish from a LFS it's really just a case of buyer beware. I have a couple of excellent branches of Maidenhead Aquatics near me and I have bought a number of healthy happy fish from them but at the end of the day I always have in mind that most chain stores need to meet targets...not good for the fish but cash is king to them.
It is also entirely down to how interested the staff are in the job they do and that's pot luck (I'll get varied levels of advice from different 'sales' staff ranging from bang on the money to completely outlandish) so I've found here and Google to be invaluable sources of impartial and rounded information.
Unfortunately newbies will always be getting set up based on the cash now philosophy we just have to hope they make it into the forum so we can help when they do.

 

[FISH KEEPER EXP]

Actually the maiden head in Cambridge is excellent. It is the best store that I have come across and the guy who deals with me knows alot about fish. He is very helpful and cares about the welbeing of the fish. He has helped me alot and taught me more about fish keeping. He is honest and I trust him with all my and hubbys questions. I would rate this store 10/10. Pets at Home, is another story all together. I was looking at buying anohter tank and I asked the girl how many ltrs is this one and she said 800!! I said, ahh noway, it is probally a 120!! They are completely usseless in there and don't know anything about fish.

Glad you enjoyed your visit i work at the dartford branch, and the manager is a good freind of mine ill pass it on, thanks for your opinion.

 

[corey01]

My local Maidenhead aquatics refuse to sell fish to people who have only just set the tank up. They usually ask the customer to bring a water sample in to be tested to make sure that it's safe to add fish.

same here..and i think thats what every fish shop should be doing. my local maidenhead aquatics are always very helpful.

 

[madgap]

I like my local Maidenhead Aquatics, simply because it has pleny more choise than anywhere else around here.
But.....
Last weekend I really didn't want to do the miles to get there for a new light strip if they don't have them. So, I phoned them up. I asked what they have. I asked them to confirm that I'd heard right. He told me the price. I traveled down to there knowing they had put it aside for me. And.... No light!
After a few explicit words that told of my distaste, I left.


A while ago I took my big pleco there. They placed him in one of those sump tanks. With no wood, cover, plant or anything. My wife asked if they would put some wood in with him. "Yes, I'll do it shortly". Said the man. Two weeks later. Still the same!
As a result, my wife wont go back. They lied to her about this small thing. What's to say they wont lie about advice?!

I'd love to find a damn good store where you don't get the crap.

 

[Underwurlde]

...So you're looking abroad then?

 

[madgap]

hahaha
Probably cheaper. Their products are very expencive

 

[Darkstar]

i was in maidenhead aquatics in st albans and some woman asked for fish so the man got them in the bag then said how long have you had the tank running, so she said 8 days, he said that wasnt long enough so her boyfriend said he had a mollies in there for a few days.
outcome was a 10 minute conversation i was listening in on about when she should add fish, and the woman walked away with her fish.

try 3 black ghost knife fish for a newly set up 2ft tank!....that's what they sold a mate of mine in the same shop a few months back.

 

[Apolloefc]

complain all you want. At the end of the day its a business and they are there to make money. If people are too lazy and selfish to be arsed to do basic research then they are the people you should be complaining about in the main.

Enjoy your high horses

 

[madgap]

I whole heartedly agree. Everyon should do research first.
But......
Most people would go to a shop and expect the saff to know what they are talking about. And as a result, should be trusted.

General public opinion.

I am a joiner. If you came to me and asked for a new box sash window, such and such size. That is what you would get. Because I know my job. Surely the man in the shop knows his?

 

[rabbut]

I am a joiner. If you came to me and asked for a new box sash window, such and such size. That is what you would get. Because I know my job. Surely the man in the shop knows his?

The trouble here is that the man in the shops job is to sell, and unfortunately this can lead to some dodgy sales, with some staff. I do fully agree however, that shop staff should realy try to give the best advise possible, and feel free to pass your queries off to someone else if the answer is outside their comfort zone.

rabbut

 

[oddball_lover]

Actually the maiden head in Cambridge is excellent. It is the best store that I have come across and the guy who deals with me knows alot about fish. He is very helpful and cares about the welbeing of the fish. He has helped me alot and taught me more about fish keeping. He is honest and I trust him with all my and hubbys questions. I would rate this store 10/10. Pets at Home, is another story all together. I was looking at buying anohter tank and I asked the girl how many ltrs is this one and she said 800!! I said, ahh noway, it is probally a 120!! They are completely usseless in there and don't know anything about fish.

Exactly, but what you have to realise is that other people have had completely different experiences with the same chains.

For example, the Pets at Home I go to is absolutely outstanding, 10/10 every time.

However, the Maidenhead Aquatics i've had experience of, is a different story altogether....

At the end of the day, it's down to individual stores and individual staff, at least the poster has had the courtesy to name which branch they dealt with, rather than putting all MA stores under one umbrella.

 

[shang hi]

i was there today, they have a good plant choise but the fish were way more expencive then fishy business, and in maiden head there was like 50 fish to a small 10l tank..... staff not to good or helpfull, but its proberly just that store, all the rest sound fine

 

[sarah86]

i posted in another topic about MA, i visited the one in solihull today, it was very good. the lad there was very helpful and knew what he was talking about. the tanks were clean and they had a good selection. they were pricey but not alot more than other places i use. I will be visiting them again in a few more weeks to get some fish and i feel confident that i will be buying a good healthy lot