I don't normally buy fish or really anything from my local Animates but popped in there today as I received the weekly fish club email stating assorted Danio's were the fish of the week on special. Thought by chance that they may have had some giant or pearl danios and if the quality appeared ok (usually doesn't) I could have been tempted to bring a few home to quarantine.

Got to the door to find it pretty much blocked by 2 staff members about a foot inside having a good old fashioned chinwag. Had to give the old 'excuse me' just to get in the store. :roll:

Didnt waste any time in shooting around to do a quick look through the tanks. No Danios to be seen whatsoever. Actually there may have been some in one of the corner tanks which I couldnt get near as two of the younger staff members were sitting in front of them with one of their non staff mates planning their weekend and catching up on last weekends party. Sounded like a real goodie. Someone had got really drunk and felt pretty bad the next day but I digress, as well, that's not what I was there.

Thought I'd ask a staff member if they knew what the deal was with the fish of the week. As I headed towards the counter, one of them approached me (well so I thought) and I said "Hi'' to which in return I received a smile as she walked on by to join the party in the corner. :-?

Anyway, nothing really bad happened at all, but the experience was just so average that, for not the first time, I walked out the door shaking my head in disbelief.

Btw, have prices skyrocketed or something? neon tetras for $3.99 each

$3.99 for neons?! Half that price at HFF!

Yeah, Animates is a real disappointment, maybe becuase P44 don't work at the botany one. :lol:

I was in a lfs in Nelson a couple of weeks ago and neons were over $4.00! I just about had a heart attack

Btw, have prices skyrocketed or something? neon tetras for $3.99 each

Hmmm, I don't think I've seen them that cheap before.

Ira, are you being sarcastic or did you quote the wrong person?

Normally buy em 10 for $20 but thats not my point.

Just the lack of service etc. The whole experience was distinctly average yet so memorable :lol:

So does that make it memorably average or averagely memorable?

So does that make it memorably average or averagely memorable?

memorably average for sure (i think :lol: )

Ira, are you being sarcastic or did you quote the wrong person?

Ira never quotes the wrong person 8)

:lol:

Ira, are you being sarcastic or did you quote the wrong person?

Neither, I'm being serious, I don't remember seeing neons for $4, I think they've always been around $5-6 when I've looked at the prices.

Neither, I'm being serious, I don't remember seeing neons for $4, I think they've always been around $5-6 when I've looked at the prices.

You sure you're not confusing them with cardinal tetras? $5-6 is pretty steep.

Hmmm Ira I can do you a deal on Neons if interested....$3.99 each!!

I'd never seen them over the $3 mark until yesterday

well i can agree completly as the one in hamilton is no different it must be animates policy to give the customer as little help as possible.i just dont go there anymore there are two other shops in hamilton who apreciate my buisness and are very helpfull and most importantly they mind if you ask for help.i would say average is an over exageration in my experience animates is well below that in my opinion.

Neither, I'm being serious, I don't remember seeing neons for $4, I think they've always been around $5-6 when I've looked at the prices.

I've never seen Neons go for that kind of money either. You must shop at all the wrong places Ira

You sure you're not confusing them with cardinal tetras? $5-6 is pretty steep.

Of course not, cardinals are a couple bucks more.

neons are $4 here, but less if you buy ten or so

i'd expect them cheaper in the city though

as far as i know neons are on average $2 to $2.50 each depending on the quantity.

Animates down here in Tauranga is exactly the same, I find myself going there for a laugh just to see how useless they are going to be. If anyone who works at Animates reads this... then congrats your lack of customer service lost you a $1100 sale last week.

Wow that sucks. The Animates in Kaiwharawhara is good. If you ever there ask for a guy named Les, Real nice guy!

i wasn't impressed with my first ever encounter with buying fish at animates... that's a whole story in itself but my second purchase.. my red wagtails was good. The staff member spent ages catching the specific two I wanted even though the store was really busy. She didn't try and fob off an easier catch but persevered till she got the ones I wanted.

I put off buying the red wags from there because of my experience first time around but in the end couldn't find any elsewhere so got them and quarantined them. They're fine and have had their first batch of platy fry.

I find the prices expensive but they are first and foremost a business. The specials can be quite good though. Sometimes you're lucky enough to get a staff member who has a passion for the animals and will give you good grounded advice that is not $ motivated.

Wow that sucks. The Animates in Kaiwharawhara is good. If you ever there ask for a guy named Les, Real nice guy!

+1

Yeah, I also find Les really helpful! He should get on this forum!

There is also another girl that's quite good although I don't know her name. She's friendly and all the other staff always go ask her the Qs....hehe

No offense to anyone who works at animates, but IMO buying anything from there is a last resort. I don't even care if they're cheaper, I'd rather support smaller stores like Hollywood who stock a decent selection of fish (catering for the enthusiast rather than just the easy bucks selling community tanks/fish to newbies) and actually have staff who know a bit about what they're supposed to be selling.

In these tough economic times I'd encourage others to do the same, don't make price the sole factor in deciding who gets your dollar, support those who support the hobby (not the big chain stores or dodgy trademe parallel importers).

+1 to David Rs post.

No offense to anyone who works at animates, but IMO buying anything from there is a last resort. I don't even care if they're cheaper, I'd rather support smaller stores like Hollywood who stock a decent selection of fish (catering for the enthusiast rather than just the easy bucks selling community tanks/fish to newbies) and actually have staff who know a bit about what they're supposed to be selling.

In these tough economic times I'd encourage others to do the same, don't make price the sole factor in deciding who gets your dollar, support those who support the hobby (not the big chain stores or dodgy trademe parallel importers).

I don't disagree with you in theory...but people living outside Auckland don't really have the luxury of going to HFF...unless they want to spend $20 just for shipping each time. And here in Wellington, Animates Kaiwharawhara actually does have knowledgeable and friendly staff (most of them). I've paid attention to how they treat newbie fish hobbyists who are buying their first aquarium. They stear them away from certain fish either because they are not going to able to provide them with the proper habitat or their are incompatible with the other fish they already have...even if this means losing money on a sale. That I respect a lot from a pet store.

Since I don't have a car, I can't regularly travel out to the other surrounding pet shops so I am pleased to have at least a fairly decent option close to me. Unlike the Animalz in Mirimar that wouldn't know a fishes' butt from its elbow.

I may try to buy my fish off of breeders/FNZAS members and my supplies off TradeMe in order to save some money and also potentially get better quality stock but I still support the store when getting some things.

I say if you think the staff is behaving inappropriately or just isn't knowledgeable, its best to raise this issue with the manager. You can also suggest to them that you'd really like to see more of certain types of fish in. I know they are a franchise, but I have had them offer to order specific fish in for me several times in the past.