Bad Experience At BoBo`s.

i would just like to add a little note, i have had some tanks with no trim i also thought would be an issue, but i talked to a guy i seen making a glass tank in his garage (bout a block away) and he said he has never used trim on any of his tanks, (hes got big tanks the one he was making was a 75g) you should see his house, anyway he told my that the trim is used more for protecting the glass and making it look good then anything, but if it don't leek you should have no problem using it as a sump. also why didn't you call me i have been looking for a lionfish for cheaper then 50 bucks( like our pet store in mason) for a while now. haha although just a word of advice, you should never pay more then 1 dollar a gallon for used tanks, unless you KNOW its worth it

 

If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all

 

one more thign yes that center brace does do some thign its not for looks as the newer glass is not a thick as the old stuff thay use to make and why take a change on having a tank brake in your house unless you live in a tralier and dont care that your floor gets wet

 

thats weird i don't know if i have ever seen a twenty gallon with a center brace.

 

Did you list the fish in the buy/sell/trade forum? Probably could have gotten some money for them and bought a new 20! I'd say fill it up to the top and see if it leaks after a day or two. If not, you'll probably be ok. You should see my 30g hospital tank. It's a piece of crap, but holds water. It also has top trim falling off and I have had no problems with it. It's the first tank I ever owned (Going on 16 years of FW/SW use!!)

 

just kinda sounds like he doesnt really care about his customers or his reputation. just wants to make his money at any cost. id feel cheated if i were u.

 

Hmm,

He told you he had a 20 long that was ugly but would work as a sump. You said good deal @ the time (I assume you actually looked at said ugly tank). Then you change your mind. This was after everyone else said no but him?

I dont blame him at all. No one else would trade you, you were fine with the conditions of the trade, and then you changed your mind.

I dont ever remember seeing a 20G with a center brace either.

 

I am the one that told him not to use that tank. The trim on top and bottom ( not the center brace) are both falling off. One corner has nothing to suport it at all. Just the silcone inside the tank. I don't feel that it is worth using a tank that could potentionaly blow out, and flood the house. I agree that it was a bad trade, and most people would have known this. But being completely new to this hobby, he didn't know, and I think he was taken advantage. There is no need to post blame on anyone, he is just sharing his experience and how unhappy he is.

 

whos posting blame? we were discussing trim, and tanks massed produced or home made, its only 20 gallons, and it being a sump, won't be a full twenty, also it was bad for the bobo's guy to take advantage of somone new like that, and people shouldn't discourage new aquarist to stop. we are all in this together. but he did take the fish you said you couldn't get rid of, and gave you a working (as long as theres no leek) 20g long sump. and you could always take three 3 2x4s and make your own center brace. don't even need 2x4s, that way, at least you get something out of your trade. other then a well learned lesson.

 

Just for good customer service he should have given you a better deal! A crapy 20 long is worth basicaly nothing you got totaly hosed! It will still work for a sump.

P.S. your fish were worth way more than a crapy 20 long he will sell them and get $100.00 or more he should have given you a brand new 20 long and he still would have been makeing out!

-Bill

 

That pretty much sums up how I feel about it.

 

Each side has it own pros and cons. As a store owner knowing who is a neebie and who isn't doesn't come in the job title. Knowing what your buying selling or trading BEFORE you do it makes everything go alot smoother. From Gary's side, it's not his job to know your expirience level. You did look at the tank, it was your choice to take it or leave it, knowing what your getting into before you buy it is part of any purchase. On a side note it is kinda crappy you traded three pretty nice fish for a 10 dollar tank

 

I too have been told that the trim on smaller tanks is more "form" than function and the silicon does most of the work.   If you've ever looked at the trim on a 20, it's not exactly the toughest stuff.   Besides, if it's a standard tank you should be able to get replacement trim.   They aren't very expensive and I believe Pet's Playhouse even stocks a few of the more common sizes.
If you bought something from BoBo's (or anywhere else) without researching it properly and then had buyers remorse afterwards, I really think it's nobody's fault but your own.   The LFS's are in a very tough business and I don't blame them for protecting themselves.
Just an FYI to the newer people on the board:   We don't mind if you post about your good/bad experiences with local retailers (including our sponsors), but hearsay is not allowed.   If the experience didn't happen to you personally, then please don't post it...
Thanks
-JB

 

Just my two cents. On my 20 gallon planted tank the bottom trim isnt even attached(got it for like 3 bucks at an auction)...and I remember it falling off when I was putting the tank on the stand. It has been running for probably 3+ years with no leaks whatsoever. Not to say that yours won't fail, and by no means would I let that slide on a 75 gallon or anything, but in my opinion you should be fine. No comment on that trade

 

I totally agree. That being said, many fish shops I have come across are like this. Unless the deal is HEAVILY in their favor (like it was in this case), they have no interest in trading. My experience comes all from CA, maybe here in IA we can expect something different, but I am pretty used to that sort of treatment, LOL
~ Bela

 

"Well, I was looking to get rid of them because I didn't want to have a predator tank any longer. So I went around asking different people if they wanted to buy them, or trade for them, or give me store credit. Well, no one was interested until I went into Bobo's."

Sounds like you may have had issues with your fish. If they were worth $100 as previously noted, why is BoBo's the only place willing to take them off your hands. It sounds like he did you a favor?

Either way you should have done some research or ask the forum for advice before peddling your goods. This is another example of someone not taking responsibility for their own lack of knowledge.

 

So it's his fault he was taken advantage of? Also, he did make a post a while back about his fish and got no response.  I'm all for standing up for LFS's if they're honest and reliable, but this just seems shady.  If the guy took it home and wasn't happy with his trade, the very least BoBo's could do is give him his fish back.  That's just standard customer service.
It'd be nice if Gary came on here to post his side of the story.  Unfortunately I think this is giving his shop some bad publicity.