LA Cherry Picker Wanted.

[JennM]

I think the best jobber/cherry picker is the owner of the import facility. Fortunately we have a great owner...

Yep I'd have to agree with that statement.

Last time I ordered from 104th street, my "new" rep (old one had been fired -- *again*), the new rep didn't know a yellow tang from a yellow-eyed tang, which I found out when I received my order. :x He also didn't know hard corals from soft corals, I explained the physical differences :roll: - nor did he know how to identify species of coral which I did not want. He admitted he didn't know diddly squat about marine life, just knew about "sales" (WHAT??!!) Sorry but that, among other things was the last straw. Since then, more enlightened reps from this and other companies have courted my business, but I am more than happy with the network of CLEAN suppliers I'm using now. They either buy net-caught only (or as sure as any of us can be about that without a CDT! ), or from countries where there is no cyanide use. I deal with the owner of each wholesale operation - and what a difference it makes. Mortality in fishes is WAY below projections, and way below what it was with other suppliers, and I don't get unwanted "surprises" anymore - no bad substitutions, nothing that's on my "do not send" list shows up on my invoice -- that type of confidence is priceless.

I'd have to agree - the best "cherry picker" is the owner

Jenn

 

[sdcfish]

Jenn,

Sorry about that experience with us and the New now old and gone rep.

Please understand that we have had a very challenging time finding good reps and that we have to try to find good people that can learn the trade while helping the customers that need it. It's been very overwhelming for us to handle all the new business, but we have been lucky in finding some new and more experienced people. The newest rep is Von from Underwater World. Great guy.

Anyway, thanks for not specifically mentioning us and I AM glad that you have found someone to take care of your needs.

Please call us if you want to try again, I promise to personally handle your orders.

Thanks and best regards,

Eric

 

[MaryHM]

Please call us if you want to try again, I promise to personally handle your orders.

Like I said, the best cherry picker is the owner! That's why when we refer customers to SDC (yeah, I actually do that sometimes, when my tinfoil hat falls off ) I always say "ASK FOR ERIC!!!"

 

[Veng68]

Please call us if you want to try again, I promise to personally handle your orders.

Like I said, the best cherry picker is the owner! That's why when we refer customers to SDC (yeah, I actually do that sometimes, when my tinfoil hat falls off ) I always say "ASK FOR ERIC!!!"

LOL :lol: Tin foil Hat

Cheers,
Veng68

 

[ERI]

Good grief, is it getting deep in here or should I take my hip waders off again? Since when did reefs.org become a free advertising/shameless plug locale? Why not start a new thread entitled "why SDC is the greatest wholesaler in the country and why you should buy from us"?

There are a number of jobbers in the industry, most of them drawing product from the wholesaler community in LA. ALMOST every wholesaler supports these companies (email me to find out who does not) because they buy a lot of livestock on a weekly basis. The fact of the matter is that "jobbing" is not a dying trend in the industry as alleged by Eric - if it was the jobbers would not be spending as much and shipping as much as I hear they do!!! There are still MANY major stores throughout the country who support and use jobbers because they can access all of the wholesalers' (who do sell to jobbers) inventories on a single order versus purchasing whatever one discrete wholesaler has in stock at that time. Fact is there are a few jobbers who do a very respectable volume of trade, testament to the support LFS's still give to these companies.

In response to concerns that the jobbers "rob" the out of state customers of the best livestock, why not look at the local Socal stores in the same light? 104th Street in LA has a smorgasboard of current (and soon to be more) wholesalers, all catering heavily to the local market. If the jobbers are cherry picking the best animals, the local stores do the exact same thing cruising from wholesaler to wholesaler on "fish row" and picking the best deals and best animals from each one. This is a fair part of these wholesalers' business and volume of trade, so you do the math and figure out how their best animals are apportioned between this local trade and the out of state market.

I am not going to plug any company here, but there are some wholesalers who do not sell or hardly sell at all to either the local trade or to the jobbers. Look at the trade advertisements in the magazines - those who put their focus primarily on their out of state clientele advertise that fact proudly. If you are a store owner who is concerned that you are getting leftovers, seek out these wholesalers and use them.

Rob.

 

[jamesw]

Hi Rob and welcome (back) to reefs.org.

Good post for the "other side of the coin."

Cheers
James

 

[sdcfish]

Wow...that was a surprise. I never meant to get attacked for being involved in this great arena.

I have to say that I am offended by Rob from ERI's comments. But without sounding too distasteful, I would have to say it's a HUUUGE CASE OF SOUR GRAPES.

Thanks Mary for the plug though...that was nice. There are fellow wholesalers out there that do and can cooperate with each other.

Like I said, we only allow one major jobber to purchase from us and it's monitored very closely. Ship out customers are number one priority...always have been, always will. We do get a nice share of the local market though and we treat them well too....of'course that's good business.

Contrary to Rob's comments, the local market and jobbers only make up a fraction of our business, but Rob would really have no clue about any of that. I would say to ask our sales rep's and local stores how many items are labeled sold or hidden in their personal aquariums, but the best proof is customer sastifaction and that's what counts.

I hope blowfish who started this thread finds the supplier he needs/wants/expects etc....that's what this is about anyway.

 

[ERI]

Wow...that was a surprise. I never meant to get attacked for being involved in this great arena.

Correct me if I am wrong, but this "great arena" was not intended to evolve into a forum for personal plugs. Last time I checked this site was intended for people involved with the hobby to meet and discuss topics of interest and concern, not for business owners to plug their own companies.

I have to say that I am offended by Rob from ERI's comments. But without sounding too distasteful, I would have to say it's a HUUUGE CASE OF SOUR GRAPES.

Again, this is not a forum for personal bickering and I won't get baited into a personal dispute. Suffice it to say that my grapes are still sweet and fresh and doing just fine. If you are offended then perhaps I struck a nerve.

Thanks Mary for the plug though...that was nice. There are fellow wholesalers out there that do and can cooperate with each other.

Eric, please spare us the melodrama. You know as well as anyone in the trade that most of us can and do get along.

Like I said, we only allow one major jobber to purchase from us and it's monitored very closely. Ship out customers are number one priority...always have been, always will. We do get a nice share of the local market though and we treat them well too....of'course that's good business.

Contrary to Rob's comments, the local market and jobbers only make up a fraction of our business, but Rob would really have no clue about any of that. I would say to ask our sales rep's and local stores how many items are labeled sold or hidden in their personal aquariums, but the best proof is customer sastifaction and that's what counts.

My post was not directed against your company alone. If you read what I posted you will see that I stayed within the scope of the original thread subject and only refered to the broad cross-section of the wholesale community as it related to the subject at hand. Your company is only one of many good and competent wholesalers in LA, few of which, incidentally, use reefs.org for free advertising as you do.

I hope blowfish who started this thread finds the supplier he needs/wants/expects etc....that's what this is about anyway.

See, now we are on the same page. This is what this thread and this site is about. Hopefully it can stay that way.

 

[ERI]

One final addendum. There are no sour grapes on this end, Eric. I have nothing but respect and admiration for what you and your partners have accomplished with your company. What I do find objectionable is the gratuitous use of this public forum for open promotion and advertisement of personal commercial interests. I think I once posted a thread on this site about our captive raised fish and that thread was promptly locked along with a warning from powers that be against the very same thing. That is the extent of the sentiment behind my post.

 

[Anonymous]

Geez, alls we need now is for Phil Shane to come in and start blasting his gun as well.

 

[sdcfish]

I vote to close the thread...it had been dead for a while anyway.

Anyone second that?

 

[Anonymous]

Hows that quote go....

"can't stand the heat...get out of the kitchen"

 

[Anonymous]

It was dead, and picked up again. I don't think anything here has gotten out of hand. A difference of opinions of course, but that's bound to happen, no matter what you're asking or speaking to.

I don't know that thread closings are actually up for vote. More of an administrative decision.. rather dictatorial, but that's how it's got to be I suppose.

 

[bobimport]

Eric and Rob your orders are on the way.

Big Bob
The one who sells everyone on 104st

 

[dizzy]

I just want to jump in and say I remember when Rob got his thread closed and he makes some valid points. I believe Mary was the mod at the time. I've seen Mary, Steve, Eric, Walt, Rob, and now Bob all plug themselves and I say so what. What your not going to see is me trying to use this forum to plug Fishey Business. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

No offense guys, but the rules have changed somewhat. I have no problem with someone being proud of their business and choosing to bring it to light as part of the discussion. Stick to the facts, and designate personal opinion as opinion and we should all be cool. The other forums have no problem debating the merits of various companies and I see no reason why we can't do the same. Just keep it civil and factual. We are after all the Industry Behind the Hobby and I don't find it unreasonable to expect a higher level of maturity and decorum from our participants.


PS. I hate (HATE) to lock threads.

Carry on....

 

[Kalkbreath]

Oh crap......I feel left out......"SeaitOnline.com".....soon to be the biggest Internet mail ordersite ever...... with over one thousand show corals individually photographed ........and everybody is a cherry picker even the customer!!!................Oh , now I feel dirty.....shameless and all plugged out............BUT wait......Only six people ever even read this silly board.......and I dont think Mary or Dizzy are going to buy corals at retail .....so whats the big deal? ......Its strange that I am not allowed to place a banner on this board or become a sponsor....{no one will return my emails because my hands smell like cyanide } Yet Most of the welcomed existing sponsors never contribute to the forum at all ........There should be some form of recognition and appreciation for companies which support the exchange of information on reef.org......shouldnt there be? The twenty plus industry representatives that make up the discussions on this forum, have more power, more Knowledge and more insight into hobby issues then any other group of people in the industry.....

 

[Kalkbreath]

Sorry Rover. I did not sea your post....Edit what you will..

 

[bobimport]

OHHHHH I feel the power K breath

Bob
the largest caribbean wholesaler in the world
(it's like being the tallest pigmy in the tribe your still small)

 

[Anonymous]

:| That double post should have netted you two posts.. :|

No worries, Bob, I'm rather short myself.. though I think I'd stand head and shoulders above your average pygmy.