STAY AWAY from SO. CAL TROPICAL FISH in Fullerton!!!

[rmor]

I know many of you are going to make me to be the bad guy because you like Tom, but please read the following and keep in mind my wife has NO CLUE about fish stuff. She went into So. Cal Tropical Fish in Fullerton to purchase a surprise first fathers day present for me and she thought she was doing a good thing and was so excited to give it to me. TOM TOLD HER THAT HE IS CHARGING HER THE SAME PRICE HE CHARGED ME, for the Vortech MP40W, WHICH IS A LIE, LIE, LIE, LIE, LIAR!!!!! Please read Toms response and see his lack of professionalism. And when he mentions that my brother and I always leave him PMs he is referring to the time my brother-in-law BKD067 was sold an ORA fuzzy for $55 and later found out that this is a $30 coral at best. What a rip off!!!! If you have not done lots of homework on any particular item, Tom and his family will take advantage of you! Tom, If you knew you were getting a PM tonight from me then you knew that you took advantage of my wife because you charged us $380 for the first 3 mp40w we bought from you. To answer your question, I am educated, I have a bachelors of science... how about you Tom? I can't believe that you actually resorted to calling me names, that is extremely elementary. Very poor business, and you turned what was suposed to be a happy experience for my wife and I, into something ugly... THIS STORE CANNOT BE TRUSTED

Here is my PM to Tom:
Originally Posted by rmor
Tom,

I am very disappointed. My wife came in today to purchase a Vortech powerhead from your store today to give me for my first fathers day. I have already purchased one from you and my brother-in-law has purchased 2 of them from you. In total we have bought 4x MP40Ws since May. The first three of them were purchased at $380 each cash out the door. Today you charged my wife $420 cash. My wifes brother and I have spent thousands of dollars in your store between halides, reflectors, coral, powerheads, dry goods, fish food, fish etc etc. I am hoping that you simply forgot that you charged us $380 for the first 3- MP40Ws and that you will do the right thing. Please do the right thing to make this right and refund my wife $40. My brother in law and I still have many more items we need to purchase including new skimmers, tunze osmilator, vortech battery back up, radiums, more ORA ect etc. I hope you understand and make this easy.
Thanks,
Ryan

Here is his response.
Ryan,

Why you always have issue with purchase stuff from us ? do you do this to all the stores that you go to ?

Your wife came in and make the purchase mp40w, that price is 420. She didn't ask for discount or stating anything.

So according to you...if you, your brother, and your wife come to our store. We have to do the right thing by giving you guys discount ? if you guys don't get the discount is this mean we are not doing the right thing ?

I am so tire of all your B/S. Disappointed for what ? what did I done to you or your wife that disappointed you ? because you didn't get the discount that is why you were disappointed ?

I don't care how much you purchased from me or your brother purchased from me...I am tire of these lines already. Do you have any better line to use ?

Mp40w is retail for 420, since you are bitching and complaining...we will be selling from from 420 from now on. Don't expect anything from us.

From now on you and your brother is not getting any discount from me. I know what the next line would be...so yes take your business somewhere else.

Now I am doing the right thing.

You have the option to bring it back if it's brand new still sealed in the box, however we will charge you 15% restocking fee. Sign is posted on the cash register and online.

You are an idiot.

My wife and I already knew that your Pm is coming right after your wife left our shop, but we didn't know you sound like a jack ***. Do the right thing ? what are you talking about ?

We are not obligate to give everyone discount and from now on we are not, especially you.

How many discounts we gave you and your brother in the past, and if we charge you a penny over, you or your brother will send us a nasty/disappointed email...please.

If you are an educated person, you would approach this like this: hey tom my wife came in today and purchased a mp40w from father day, she paid 420. But I got it for 380 last time. Is there anyway can you give her the same discount.

Now compare that to your email, put yourself in my shoe and how would you respond.

Tom

 

[socaltropicalfish]

Yes you guys be the judge.

This was the 10+ times I received this type of email from this customer. It got to the point of so much frustration.

Now you know why I keep telling you guys, I was wrong starting this business. I can't win.

 

[rmor]

Yes you guys be the judge.

This was the 10+ times I received this type of email from this customer. It got to the point of so much frustration.

Now you know why I keep telling you guys, I was wrong starting this business. I can't win.

Very wrong to start a business if this is the way you treat loyal customers. 10+ times.....here we go, that is another lie.

 

[socaltropicalfish]

LOL - Ryan thank you.

I will let the people here judge me and you, who is right and who is wrong. I am sorry that you are not happy.

 

[rmor]

To answer your other questions:

Why you always have issue with purchase stuff from us ? do you do this to all the stores that you go to ? ANSWER.....NO Tom, you WERE the only lfs I shopped at unless I needed something in a pinch and couldn't make the drive all the way out to Fullerton from Corona.

So according to you...if you, your brother, and your wife come to our store. We have to do the right thing by giving you guys discount ? if you guys don't get the discount is this mean we are not doing the right thing ? ANSWER.....No Tom, you told her you are charging her the same price you charged me so why should she ask for a discount. She trusted you.

I am so tire of all your B/S. Disappointed for what? ANSWER.....For taking advantage of my wife who was trying to do something nice for me.

what did I done to you or your wife that disappointed you ? because you didn't get the discount that is why you were disappointed ? ANSWER.....Ahhhh YES. And again you took advantage of her and lied saying you charged her the same price you charged me.

I don't care how much you purchased from me or your brother purchased from me...I am tire of these lines already. Do you have any better line to use ? ANSWER.....No better lines, I think that is why the term was established, "the customer is always right."

My wife and I already knew that your Pm is coming right after your wife left our shop, but we didn't know you sound like a jack ***. Do the right thing ? what are you talking about ? ANSWER.....the right thing by giving us $40 back which I would have put right back into your store anyway. Not anymore. As mentioned above, if you knew a PM was coming you knew you took advantage of her.

I think that about covers all of the Question marks in Toms nasty response.

 

[rmor]

LOL - Ryan thank you.

I will let the people here judge me and you, who is right and who is wrong. I am sorry that you are not happy.

I know you have lots of friends on here Tom and I am prepared for that. You are not sorry, I think yo made that very apparant.

 

[bigian]

Tom is a pretty down to earth guy and always does what he can to make sure I leave happy and return for future purchases. I think if you had approached him as if it was a simple misunderstanding, he would have given you credit. You didn't really give him the benefit of the doubt by insinuating that he wouldn't do 'the right thing'...

Before you posted private messages in a public forum, you could have responded to him that you were upset and may have come off the wrong way and if there were any way he could put the $40 to your next purchase, you'd really appreciate it...

either way, without getting $$$ back, you basically paid $390 each. Thats cheaper than anywhere else for brand new mp-40s...

I know Ill continue shopping with him...

 

[TheBluefish]

Hey Ryan,

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience at SoCal. I have only been in the store twice as I dont live very close. I can tell you this much about this hobby in general, prices always change especially if you are getting a discount, as I'm sure you know.

I used to only go to a LFS around the corner and I almost always received a discount but I would always ask even if I were coming for the same item. Its been months so I would have to say you should have reminded Tom of the discount to see if he was able to do the same price. I know its different as your wife came in so that doesnt really apply but all the more reason. In my opinion its not fair to be upset that you didnt get the same discount especially because you received a discount in the first place. I wouldnt let this come between you guys, this was your store of choice. :conf44:

I think Tom is doing all he has to do by offering you your money back, giving you a discount would be above and beyond his standard business practices. I hardly think its fair to demand it.

My two cents.

 

[jkreefer]

if you didn't like the price. Why don't you just return it and buy it somewhere else?
he gave YOU a great discount for the first few and he gave you a good price for your wife. Did he know your wife? she just walked in and purchased it... not haggling for the price and your complaining? he didn't overcharge even overcharge your wife, he gave her a good price for the mp40.

I think you should just return the MP40 and shop somewhere else.

 

[rmor]

Hey Ryan,

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience at SoCal. I have only been in the store twice as I dont live very close. I can tell you this much about this hobby in general, prices always change especially if you are getting a discount, as I'm sure you know.

I used to only go to a LFS around the corner and I almost always received a discount but I would always ask even if I were coming for the same item. Its been months so I would have to say you should have reminded Tom of the discount to see if he was able to do the same price. I know its different as your wife came in so that doesnt really apply but all the more reason. In my opinion its not fair to be upset that you didnt get the same discount especially because you received a discount in the first place. I wouldnt let this come between you guys, this was your store of choice. :conf44:

I think Tom is doing all he has to do by offering you your money back, giving you a discount would be above and beyond his standard business practices. I hardly think its fair to demand it.

My two cents.

Money back minus 15% c'mon... no thanks. Not worth the drive out there for that insult. I think what really set me off was his response as you can see above, calling me an "idiot" and lying to my wife for an extra $40

 

[Dooly]

wow youre up pretty late tom, :rofl:

somebody pass the popcorn

 

[pnguy3n]

I'm not one to really get into these type of discussions but I feel that most of Tom's customers have gotten too comfortable with the way Tom runs his business. Everyone is expecting a great deal. After reading the thread I won't take any sides, cause I can see where each parties are coming from. I don't agree with the verbal abuse that Tom types in the email.

If you are an educated person, you would approach this like this: hey tom my wife came in today and purchased a mp40w from father day, she paid 420. But I got it for 380 last time. Is there anyway can you give her the same discount.

I think "rmor" explained in the PM what the situation was and hoping it would be resolved.

On the other hand my parents own their own business and I understand what needs to be done. Such as markup on products and other items. I hope this gets resolve and Tom don't let something like this ruin your day.

 

[rmor]

if you didn't like the price. Why don't you just return it and buy it somewhere else?
he gave YOU a great discount for the first few and he gave you a good price for your wife. Did he know your wife? she just walked in and purchased it... not haggling for the price and your complaining? he didn't overcharge even overcharge your wife, he gave her a good price for the mp40.

I think you should just return the MP40 and shop somewhere else.

He recognized her, he even said to her, "your husband was just hear yesterday." I am not going to return it because he wont give me the full amount back, he said minus 15%. Yes I know that the going price is $420 thats why I used the phrase took advantage and lied to her instead of saying Ripped her off. Because it is not a rip off, its just poor business knowing who she was and what I had paid in the past.

 

[socaltropicalfish]

Ryan - sorry for calling you an idiot, but if you read your own PM and the last 10 you sent to me, you would know why I am upset.

You need to ask your wife the truth story. She came to the store, handle me a empty box of mp40 and a receipt and she wanted to buy another for fathers day. There is nothing showing it was less than 420. She never ask for discount or haggle.

The name on the reciept was bryan, she told me ( or atleast I heard ) she say her husband was brian. If you look at the second receipt you should know, I put down brian.

But like my pm, if you approach it like an educated person. The outcome would be different. I would be more than happy to give you credit. The last thing I want is a father received his gift and not happy about it.

 

[FOSELONE]

wow...its only 40 bucks...lol

 

[rmor]

I'm not one to really get into these type of discussions but I feel that most of Tom's customers have gotten too comfortable with the way Tom runs his business. Everyone is expecting a great deal. After reading the thread I won't take any sides, cause I can see where each parties are coming from. I don't agree with the verbal abuse that Tom types in the email.

If you are an educated person, you would approach this like this: hey tom my wife came in today and purchased a mp40w from father day, she paid 420. But I got it for 380 last time. Is there anyway can you give her the same discount.

I think "rmor" explained in the PM what the situation was and hoping it would be resolved.

On the other hand my parents own their own business and I understand what needs to be done. Such as markup on products and other items. I hope this gets resolve and Tom don't let something like this ruin your day.

Thank you for this part, "I think "rmor" explained in the PM what the situation was and hoping it would be resolved." I pretty much did say in my initial PM to Tom what he said I SHOULD have said.

 

[rmor]

wow...its only 40 bucks...lol

Do you think principal has a little to do with it?????

 

[rmor]

Ryan - sorry for calling you an idiot, but if you read your own PM and the last 10 you sent to me, you would know why I am upset.

You need to ask your wife the truth story. She came to the store, handle me a empty box of mp40 and a receipt and she wanted to buy another for fathers day. There is nothing showing it was less than 420. She never ask for discount or haggle.

The name on the reciept was bryan, she told me ( or atleast I heard ) she say her husband was brian. If you look at the second receipt you should know, I put down brian.

But like my pm, if you approach it like an educated person. The outcome would be different. I would be more than happy to give you credit. The last thing I want is a father received his gift and not happy about it.

My wife feels worse than anyone, she says she wishes she never got me that present.

 

[socaltropicalfish]

I don't agree with the verbal abuse that Tom types in the email.

again sorry but I am tired on seeing this type of pm/email/phone calls from Ryan and his brother. This is like the 10 times and it's the same thing over and over again. I am tired of all the threating...oh do the right thing or I will give you bad feedback or shop somewhere else.

What did I do wrong ?....

This also has been a bad week for my family, but I don't want to get into it.

 

[jkreefer]

TOM, I told STOP giving everyone discounts. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET!!! PLEASE start raise your PRICES and STOP giving DISCOUNTS.