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| Re:RE: Fairy Lake |
Michael Laflamme
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I certainly wasn't trying to start a controversy. As with all things...this was my experience, and mine alone. When I first moved to the bay area, I began an aquarium maintenance service to pay for some of the costs of college. My first tasks were to visit all the area stores, and rate them. I looked at a variety of fish and products, compared prices, and looked at the friendliness of the staff and owners. This was circa 1993. As a quick aside, if you want some interesting reading...I can dig up my notes. (I met one lady who's store looked like my grandmother's kitchen. She even came out with here dress and apron on. When I asked her if she sold discus, she said, "Oh, Hector. He's right over here!" And there he was, in his own tank, with his own name. I waited for Rod Serling to step out ;^) ) Besides my quest to familarize myself with all the area stores; I used to live on Lake St. (one street over from Fairy Lake) for several years. Every few weeks, I would stop at Fairy Lake, peruse the discus, ask questions, and buy frozen beefheart. I became a regular to the store, but each visit was as if I had never been there before. It bothers me to frequent a store (regardless of what they sell) and some type of rapore (sp?) isn't established. Yes, I too saw the cones, and breeding fish at that time. That doesn't mean that the little wigglers were grown to the dime and quarter sized ones that were for sale in separate tanks however.(I've had my discus breed before, and the hardest part is getting them from wiggler to fish...it is much easier in my opinion to have your breeders doing their thing, yet you save $$ by purchasing dime and quarters size discus to sell) While I have no idea if this is true, it makes sense to me given my knowledge that they purchase their young discus from local breeders. That said however; questions I had concerning the fish were returned with mumbled answers at best. It may have been me, but it seemed that they were interested in only making the sale...and then having me exit. This eventually turned me off from doing anymore than my beefheart business with them. When I eventually moved away from beefheart, I wasn't sad about the departure. In contrast, I began visiting Justin and his wife at Ocean on a frequent basis a little over a year ago. I purchased 50 cardinals intially, and then black worms on a once a week basis following that. Within 4 or 5 visits we were on our way to establishing a good rapore (sp?) This is what I expect to happen with any small store...again regardless of product. (I ride and race bicycles, so I frequent bike shops and find the same dynamic applies). If a shop (fish or bike) seems strange, or unfriendly, I move on and find someone else to bring my business too. Granted, this relationship can work both ways if the customer is a jerk. However, not to toot my own horn, but I am a very friendly and polite customer! ;^)(had to get that gratuitous plug in there) Having worked at several stores in the bay area during college, and worked with several others during the time my maitenance business was operating (including wholesalers, and breeders); I've seen alot of dymamics at work at all these various establishments. (I've even witnessed some real crazy stuff that I can never devulge) That said though, my opinion of Fairy Lake wasn't an off the cuff reaction to a one time visit, or not without a context of how other stores function. Again though, this is my opinion...educated or not. I will say this however. A few years ago I visited Fairy Lake to buy some "otto cats" they were selling. I was given a tip by a fellow member that Fairy Lake was selling Pygmy Cories as Otto Cats, at Ottocinclius prices. i went, because I was skeptical that someone who works with fish, could make this mistake. Beside that though, I love Pygmy Cories, and have a hard time finding them. Sure enough, after I asked for 10 of these "otto cats"; the bag returned filled with pygmy cories. I was completely suprised at the mistake. So, I did the only thing any pygmy cory lover would have done...I bought 10 more. (and please don't tell me I should have pointed out the mistake to them. Given our past non-dialogues...I doubt anyone would have listened to me) Hopefully that clarifies my comments a little better. I hold no grudge or any personal feelings against Fairy Lake. I just feel that things could be done much better on their part. I'm off my soap box now....sorry for the rant. ;^) Regards to you all, Michael
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