Why does BRS seem to be the default site?

[starypotter]

Hi everyone,
I'm just wondering why BRS seems to be everyone's default when it comes to purchasing. This is just going based off what I see being recommended. Whenever I'm in the market for something, I tend to look between BRS and SaltwaterAquarium, and while the prices are usually the same, and they have the same point system, SA has free items to add onto the order with your purchase which I like. Maybe BRS has more variety in some areas that I'm not looking at? Maybe where the majority of reefers are located their shipping is faster? I get things in 2-3 days, free shipping at any price from SA but it took a week or so when I ordered from BRS since they ship from further away from me. Is it because they have their own brand of things like the kalk? What am I missing?

 

[PDR]

I can’t speak for everyone, but I choose to shop at brs as a way of supporting their ongoing involvement in the reefing community. Their YouTube videos have been invaluable to me.

They also have excellent customer service.

 

[Geebs19]

Their customer service is hands down some of the best I have worked with. I have used their chat feature probably 100 times asking them for recommendations and when I have had issues they make them right. Quick and cheap shipping.

From BRS I get my shipment in 2 days at the latest and thats with the free shipping. With SA it takes over a week. I do shop SA, but usually for items I cant get on BRS or if they are significantly cheaper.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I can’t speak for everyone, but I choose to shop at brs as a way of supporting their ongoing involvement in the reefing community. Their YouTube videos have been invaluable to me.

They also have excellent customer service.

This +100. As long as these guys keep on making their awesome videos I’m going to be buying from them first.

 

[starypotter]

Their customer service is hands down some of the best I have worked with. I have used their chat feature probably 100 times asking them for recommendations and when I have had issues they make them right. Quick and cheap shipping.

From BRS I get my shipment in 2 days at the latest and thats with the free shipping. With SA it takes over a week. I do shop SA, but usually for items I cant get on BRS or if they are significantly cheaper.

That's funny that the shipping is reversed. SA ships from the state next to me mostly so it gets here in no time. I ordered from BRS once and it took over a week, granted there was a weekend involved in there.

 

[starypotter]

I can’t speak for everyone, but I choose to shop at brs as a way of supporting their ongoing involvement in the reefing community. Their YouTube videos have been invaluable to me.

They also have excellent customer service.

This +100. As long as these guys keep on making their awesome videos I’m going to be buying from them first.

That's cool, I watched a some of their weeks of reefing series not long ago for select topics, I'm guessing they have a bunch more to look into as well.

 

[Geebs19]

That's funny that the shipping is reversed. SA ships from the state next to me mostly so it gets here in no time. I ordered from BRS once and it took over a week, granted there was a weekend involved in there.

I am in Kansas and BRS is in Minnesota, only about a 6 hour difference. Being that SA is on the East coast it certainly takes longer.

 

[Xavierwally]

I can’t speak for everyone, but I choose to shop at brs as a way of supporting their ongoing involvement in the reefing community. Their YouTube videos have been invaluable to me.

They also have excellent customer service.

+1, If I can't find what I'm looking for at BRS my next stop is Marine Depot. Marine Depot's customer service is just as good as BRS.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I order most of my supplies (that I can't get cheaper from Amazon) from MarineDepot.com due to the proximity of their warehouse to my home. They have a warehouse in Southern California so I get my orders shipped free and received them within 1-2 days at the most.

 

[Greybeard]

Price is not the only factor is selecting a vendor.

Customer service, speed and efficiency of delivery, a wide range of quality products...

You can be fairly certain, when you need something for your reef system, BRS will have it. Might not be the lowest price, but you can be fairly certain it's going to be in stock, and that they'll ship it out fairly quickly.

Add in the amount of hours they spend generating and sharing information on this hobby of ours... well, they're my default site.

That said... I do price check BRS. On most stuff, they're close enough that I'm willing to pay a bit more... but NOT ON EVERYTHING!

A surface mount clamp for 1" PVC... $5.99? Really? Oatey sells something that works fine, 50 of them for $10.

Ratcheting Hose Clamps... $1.49 each? BRS, you should be ashamed. Buy the variety pack, 52 clamps in various sizes, $15.

I'm not sure why they seem to want to drag us over the coals for little stuff like this, but they do.

 

[starypotter]

+1, If I can't find what I'm looking for at BRS my next stop is Marine Depot. Marine Depot's customer service is just as good as BRS.

FWIW I had to contact SA twice, once because they needed to update a tracking number and I only had the old one and was wondering where my package was, and once because a free item was missing from my order. Both times they responded very quickly with the new tracking number, and the missing item was in my mailbox the next day no questions asked. I'm glad to hear that the main names in the field all have good customer service, we'd really be in a tough spot if they didn't.

 

[Dennis McGrath]

For most things I try to go with people who are supporting my ideals or hobby. BRS are good folks, have fast shipping and decent prices, and support R2R. That's why I shop there.

 

[starypotter]

Price is not the only factor is selecting a vendor.

Customer service, speed and efficiency of delivery, a wide range of quality products...

You can be fairly certain, when you need something for your reef system, BRS will have it. Might not be the lowest price, but you can be fairly certain it's going to be in stock, and that they'll ship it out fairly quickly.

Add in the amount of hours they spend generating and sharing information on this hobby of ours... well, they're my default site.

That said... I do price check BRS. On most stuff, they're close enough that I'm willing to pay a bit more... but NOT ON EVERYTHING!

A surface mount clamp for 1" PVC... $5.99? Really? Oatey sells something that works fine, 50 of them for $10.

Ratcheting Hose Clamps... $1.49 each? BRS, you should be ashamed. Buy the variety pack, 52 clamps in various sizes, $15.

I'm not sure why they seem to want to drag us over the coals for little stuff like this, but they do.

I agree, that's why after buying from both in the beginning I stuff with SA just because of the shipping, their warehouse is only a couple hours drive from me as opposed to halfway across the country. I've been bouncing all over pricing out things, shipping, products. BRS does seem to have a greater variety but luckily for me it's not on all of the things that I really need at this point in my journey. I've got to check out their videos and all of that and see what things I can get from them.

 

[PugsAndFish]

Even if their prices on some items can be a few dollars more expensive, there are frequent sales. Even if there weren't, I appreciate the help they've given me, the patience they had when I had a million questions, and the material they put out there. If their business ceases to exist, I think there would be a lot of knowledge gaps for beginners like me.

 

[mrpizzaface]

Their contribution to the hobby, through information dissemination, and investigation is unparalleled in the retail marine aquarium industry.

 

[TheHarold]

I use BRS or marine depot- usually check BRS first and then go to MD. I get my boxes in ~3 days, which I think is pretty darn good. And when I had a broken bulb arrive or a bad RO membrane, they were quick to reship.

I also appreciate them demoing new products as as well as their BRSTV OPEN BOX discounts. A lot of my more expensive equipment like 300g+ skimmers, controllers, etc are from there; 15-30% off MSRP equipment is nice, especially when it has barely seen water.

For example I saved about $150 bucks on my open box BRSTV skimmer, which was more than enough to get the open box BRSTV automatic skimmer cleaner.

A sick freebie, especially when it seemed to be brand new minus not sealed. Thanks @Bulk Reef Supply

 

[reeferfoxx]

BRS is everyone's default? Didn't know that?

Personally, I try to buy as much available products from brs due to having rewards. They compensate customers with adding rewards cash for future purchases. However, on the equipment side of things, they are not my go to.

 

[starypotter]

BRS is everyone's default? Didn't know that?

Personally, I try to buy as much available products from brs due to having rewards. They compensate customers with adding rewards cash for future purchases. However, on the equipment side of things, they are not my go to.

I only meant that whenever people ask for recommendations, at least from what I see and my observations, it's always dominated by BRS.

 

[starypotter]

Their contribution to the hobby, through information dissemination, and investigation is unparalleled in the retail marine aquarium industry.

It sounds like they do a lot more that I wasn't aware of, that's awesome!

 

[redpine42]

I did one order with BRS, they missed some stuff, so they shipped out again and charged me. The first shipment was overnight.

Other than that I don't do business with them, they are very pushy on selling what they like.

I buy mostly from Saltwater Aquarium. They get everything to me in 1 to 2 days.