Anyone else feel they got ripped off at Old Town aquarium?

[legendaryfrog]

i drove alll the way from arlington heights to see this place, mainly because of all the positive reviews. boy, was i surprised at the prices. The place itself is very nice and all with a decent selection, but if you;re looking for a bargain, try elsewhere. my worst cringe about the place is that they offered me a rena 400 air pump for only 150 dollars. the very same one is 60 dollars at petsmart.

[Sponsors]

[joshua969]

I haven't made it up there yet, but I live in Joliet so almost all the good places are quite a drive. Have you ever been to Scott's Pet Shop in Westchester ? I got all the plants to get my tank started there. Great selection.

[Javaquatic]

Old Town consistently has the healthiest fish and plants of any LFS I've been to in the Chicago area. They're also one of the priciest. For gear, I only shop there if I'm desperate and in the neighborhood. But for living things, I think they're totally worth it.

[legendaryfrog]

josh, i have also been to scott's pet shop. i was there with my GF to buy plants for her vivarium.

[joshua969]

frog,

I've heard Aquarium Adventure is very good also, but since it's in Hoffman Estates, it's a little more of a drive than I'm willing to take. The next time I need a large amount of plants, I'll be going back to Scott's. When I buy equipment, I usually just go to the big box stores or order online. I got my lights and hood from Drs. Foster and Smith.

Josh

[legendaryfrog]

whoa, thats crazy. i was in aqaurium adventure about a week ago. im buying the goldfish for my parents tank there. 4 dollars/medium goldfish.

[Blacksunshine]

Sadly most LFS will rip you off on hard goods.
Buy online. If they cannot adjust their buisness plan to compete. Well.. thats their problem not yours. They don't really need to make 150% markup on everything they sell. MSRP is high enough as is.

[eds]

Solution:
buy hardware on-line
obtain plants from fellow posters here
buy fish and fishfood at Chicago Cichlid Assn's swaps.
IF you have a decent LFS that is willing to work with you, you can adjust any of the above 3. But lacking that, no reason to bother.

[whitepine]

That or you can support your local shop that hires local people in the community and pays them a decent wage. Or buy online and when you have a problem deal with shipping it back to the vendor and waiting for ever and paying shipping both ways. Most small lfs have to buy from a middle man(distributor) and pass the cost along to us. If they are a big enough fish store and order enough to by directly from the Vendor, the prices will of couse be less. You can make your choice of who to support... but my lfs brings me in lots of goods that I can't find anywhere else. I also trade in plants and fish for credit. I feel that more than offsets the added markup from the wholesaler to the lfs.

Cheers, Whitepine

[Ryzilla]

Originally Posted by whitepine

I also trade in plants and fish for credit. I feel that more than offsets the added markup from the wholesaler to the lfs.

Cheers, Whitepine

In Chicago you are lucky to find a place that will give you credit.

[Blacksunshine]

Originally Posted by whitepine

That or you can support your local shop that hires local people in the community and pays them a decent wage. Or buy online and when you have a problem deal with shipping it back to the vendor and waiting for ever and paying shipping both ways. Most small lfs have to buy from a middle man(distributor) and pass the cost along to us. If they are a big enough fish store and order enough to by directly from the Vendor, the prices will of couse be less. You can make your choice of who to support... but my lfs brings me in lots of goods that I can't find anywhere else. I also trade in plants and fish for credit. I feel that more than offsets the added markup from the wholesaler to the lfs.

Cheers, Whitepine

Please tell me where you are shopping because I have yet to be wowed here in the PNW.

[eds]

I'm a big advocate in using local businesses, even if it involves a reasonable premium, provided the business gives you a reason such as service, expertise, or selection.
I was trying to point out that with on-line retailers, websites like this, and the many aquarists' organizations in the Chicago area, with relatively little effort anyone can find numerous alternatives should they dislike a particular store for any reason. (Heck, I believe one of the last guys I gave plants to for free works at Old Town! )

[AxolotlFarmer]

I used to work across the street from Old Town Aquarium. I never went in because I hated that neighborhood and everything overpriced about it but anyways...

Is there anyplace that is good arround here? Seriously. The place I went to when I was a kid burned down. I have been to the place in Park Ridge but they sell tattooed fish there and are kinda over priced. I hate Petco/smart. eck! I have not been to Aquarium Adventure. All i do is go to the places for plants and most places have melted and algae covered plants.

Please, other Chicago and Illinios people, what is good arround here? Heck, Ill even go to NW Indiana if they have something nice. I am really frustrated with all the places I have been to arround here, and mail order is an inconvience to me because the post office hates our appartment, so I only mail order when I have to and get it sent to the parents who lives in NW Indiana.

Sorry, not in a real good mood tonite. Its hard to get some nice plants here. Now here is my thing with the place in Park Ridge, they had some Riccia on a rock in a display tank, asked the dude if i could buy it and he said plants in displays not for sale. While i was looking at the Atya Gabonensis some person asked the same question and they sold it to them. WTF.

[will5]

Originally Posted by AxolotlFarmer

I used to work across the street from Old Town Aquarium. I never went in because I hated that neighborhood and everything overpriced about it but anyways...

Is there anyplace that is good arround here? Seriously. The place I went to when I was a kid burned down. I have been to the place in Park Ridge but they sell tattooed fish there and are kinda over priced. I hate Petco/smart. eck! I have not been to Aquarium Adventure. All i do is go to the places for plants and most places have melted and algae covered plants.

Please, other Chicago and Illinios people, what is good arround here? Heck, Ill even go to NW Indiana if they have something nice. I am really frustrated with all the places I have been to arround here, and mail order is an inconvience to me because the post office hates our appartment, so I only mail order when I have to and get it sent to the parents who lives in NW Indiana.

Sorry, not in a real good mood tonite. Its hard to get some nice plants here. Now here is my thing with the place in Park Ridge, they had some Riccia on a rock in a display tank, asked the dude if i could buy it and he said plants in displays not for sale. While i was looking at the Atya Gabonensis some person asked the same question and they sold it to them. WTF.

Ocean Desing Aquarium
• Irving park RD. and Narragansett (also called Nagle)
• will special order items
• friendly staff
• Decent prices on fish and plants but high equipment prices

I have found that the have the biggest selection of plants and if you would be looking for Anubias them all ways seem to have many to chose from.

[AxolotlFarmer]

I will have to drive up Northside sometime soon to check out Ocean Design Aquarium for plants. Thanks for the information!