BRS acquires Marine Depot? WOW!

[Hydrored]

They (BRS) touches on the lifetime discount in a post here-

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/we-have-some-exciting-news-to-share.839655/#post-9092931

 

[Cell]

The 15% lifetime discount is a no win situation for BRS. Take it away and MD customers are ticked. Leave it and BRS customers say what about us?

 

[phil bevilacqua]

This is dumb for all us buyers. Monopoly only hurts the end users. This is not a celebration IMO at all

 

[tehmadreefer]

I think some of you are forgetting BRS is a business formed by hobbyists and run by hobbyists. They aren't just suits looking for a quick buck.

Well recents events say otherwise

 

[piranhaman00]

Well recents events say otherwise

Bingo

 

[bnord]

note that there is usually a Home Depot across the street from Lowes (or Menards in the frozen tundra) - its what makes both of them sensitive to OUR needs (and wants) and I shop both of them for their strengths and avoid them for their shortcomings.
Randy and the gang are no longer in complete charge and Bertram will get their say in pound of flesh extraction.
Was a 60/40% BRS/MD shopper and will work hard to find the balance (LFS/other) to keep the new 800 pound gorilla honest.
Cannot see any good in this for us'ns in the long run

 

[bnord]

Well recents events say otherwise

would like to see a video of the new tanks set up in the offices at Bertram

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Yeah I don't get this. BRS is a biz. Moves like this are how they try to stay in a position to be your fav vendor for years to come.

There's more than sufficient competition out there to keep them focused on attractive pricing and service.

Reefers are fickle. BRS knows. They still want us to buy with them and so does their PE backing.

This notion that every biz trying to grow is only doing so in order to force a customer into a bad spot is pretty antiquated.

If you're not GE, that's prob not what your doing or how you'll do it. And if you are GE, you'll be the one in a bad spot not your customers in the end.

Well said

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Articulated so well. It would seem like if BRS could have a broader distribution network they would be set. I do almost all my online shopping through BRS and have no complaints. Anytime I've interacted with CS it has been a smooth process with a favorable resolution. I understand the disappointment of a staple of the online market place closing, but it doesn't feel as though the sky is falling.

I think it is also important to realize the value of having a strong BRS type entity in our hobby. Most of the major brands keep a lot of their equipment off Amazon (less 3rd party sellers), and the byproduct of that is a more quality product and better customer service. So while people will want to complain about BRS, wait until you get a load of Amazon customer service and quality...

Both well said, so much paranoid, negative conjecture surrounding this.

 

[TanksJB]

I think it will make things better. BRS has treated me well in doing business with them and I think each will bring their good points together to make a better company.

 

[TanksJB]

I bought my RODI from Marine Depot because they had a deal that so long as you purchased the unit from them, you got 15% off of the replacement filters, etc. for life. It was a nice deal. They also had amazing service when one of the elbows broke. I'll miss them as a vendor. I wonder of @Bulk Reef Supply will honor that program?

I recently bought a complete RODI system from BRS that was not put together correctly and I couldn't fix it. They went beyond what was necessary and sent me a whole knew component that included parts that were not defective. That sold me on their willingness to do the right thing.

 

[spllbnd2]

It looks like Bertram has some big plans for the future of BRS, straight from Bertram website, talking about BRS,

ADD–ON ACQUISITION INTERESTS​

• Global and domestic providers of aquarium supplies and equipment
• Online businesses in other pet-related categories (e.g. reptiles)

So I would venture a guess that BRS will be expanding in the future.

 

[shred5]

A couple owners make big bucks. Employees out of work.

Bad for equipment manufacturers.

Bad for the industry.

Bad for competition.

 

[icedearth15324]

It looks like Bertram has some big plans for the future of BRS, straight from Bertram website, talking about BRS,

ADD–ON ACQUISITION INTERESTS​

• Global and domestic providers of aquarium supplies and equipment
• Online businesses in other pet-related categories (e.g. reptiles)

So I would venture a guess that BRS will be expanding in the future.

Sounds like BRS might be going the route of DRFS and trying to offer supplies for all markets as well as finally offering international shipping. Something they couldn't do in the past.

 

[JCOLE]

Well....there goes metal halide!

 

[Reefvision]

RELAX EVERYONE

 

[Fish Dr. D]

Is BRS now the "Amazon" of reef world?

Aqua Cave is still a great alternative source

 

[Fish Dr. D]

I'm a BRS fan, and I still don't like this. Too much centralization of power. Next to nothing good about that.

What line big Tech is going in Real Life!

 

[NShirke]

Aqua Cave is still a great alternative source

Yeah, Saltwateraquarium, and aqua cave is on my list next. Thinking about premium aquatics too, never shopped with them but want to give it a try.

 

[Midrats]

I WISH BRS used FedEx. My last 2 orders shipped with some company named SpeeDee, and they were anything but. Orders used to get to me in WI in 2-4 days. Both orders with SpeeDee took twice as long, and tracking showed my last order sat for 4 days at their facility less than 40 miles away because they didn't have enough drivers to deliver it. I have actually been using saltwateraquarium.com more lately for that reason.

I love SpeeDee. If I order from BRS in the morning my stuff always arrives at my door in Madison the next day. That's a bummer your experience has been different.