Why does BRS seem to be the default site?

[Don Lidtke]

As I was looking into starting a reef tank, I came across some BRS videos and was impressed with what they were saying. (It was the start of the BRS 160 series)

The expense of some of the series they have done, ULM tanks as an example, showed me they were serious about helping me succeed in this hobby so I want to support them.

Since I lack experience with most of the items needed to setup a reef system, I appreciate that BRS has recommendations on many of their products. The customer reviews are also helpful.

I have used Marine Depot and Amazon but I check on availability with BRS before going to other sites.

It’s probably a bit silly but I grew up in MN, living in Utah now, and I like the idea of supporting a company that’s in MN. (they have the right accents...lol)

 

[Forsaken77]

I use BRS for certain things, like filters for my rodi system, and use Marine Depot for others. MD has a bigger selection of items. BRS also charges high prices for plumbing stuff. Almost like it's being bought from Walmart, a fee added, and then sold to you. It was this way for a few years, but this year the colored pvc at Walmart & Home Depot got more expensive because it now comes with beveled edges.

 

[TheHarold]

Lol BRS is smart- liking posts that praise them, but cleverly not actually getting directly involved with the subject of the thread. Their customers praise them enough!

I added this to my cart at BRS and two other sites, same prices (MSRP) but at BRS it would arrive Wednesday, free, and other sites say up to 5 business days. I’m desperate, my existing lighting, an original powermodule (just T5) fried beyond reasonable repair after a good 6 years (no complaints). I looked into getting it fixed for a day or two, but have to get lighting on ASAP so make a wallet-wrenching order. I might call BRS today to see if I can get it sooner than Wednesday at a reasonable cost; acros don’t like the dark. Help me @Bulk Reef Supply , you’re my only hope!

I also like that the BRS rewards points are instantly available- right after placing this order, I used my rewards points to order a refugium light. No pending time.

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

On top of all the reasons listed above they give away items they test. There is nothing more exciting than an email on Friday morning letting you know you won. Thank you @BRS

 

[SaltwaterAq Verified Sponsor]

This is a great post, sad I'm just seeing it now Thanks to all the customers out there who have chosen to shop with us. I think there are a few good companies in this industry. I'd like to think we are trying to do our part to provide the best possible experience for the customer over the lifetime that they are in the hobby. That's a few reasons we offer some of the program we do, it's to help our customers have a good experience in the hobby.

Things like free shipping without a minimum order, checkout via Amazon & Apple Pay, free samples & swag, PayPal credit financing, guaranteed free 2 day shipping on Neptune, AI, Ecotech, Maxspect & Kessil, free returns, military & civil service discounts, cash back rewards, text message support, live chat support, teacher discounts, low price guarantee's, automatic price matching, #tanksgiving free fish tanks, etc.

We literally have so many customer benefits it's a huge hurtle just letting our customers know they exist

 

[mta_morrow]

I started with MD and purchased both of my tanks and gear from them

I do try to spread my maintenance and upgrade dollars around now between MD, BRS, and Salwater Aquariums. But MD still gets the majority as they have been excellent to me from the beginning.

 

[Garbonzo]

Customer service. I've never had a company go to the lengths they have gone. When an order came in wrong they next day aired the shipment to me. They really go the extra mile

 

[ReefWithCare]

This is a great post, sad I'm just seeing it now Thanks to all the customers out there who have chosen to shop with us. I think there are a few good companies in this industry. I'd like to think we are trying to do our part to provide the best possible experience for the customer over the lifetime that they are in the hobby. That's a few reasons we offer some of the program we do, it's to help our customers have a good experience in the hobby.

Things like free shipping without a minimum order, checkout via Amazon & Apple Pay, free samples & swag, PayPal credit financing, guaranteed free 2 day shipping on Neptune, AI, Ecotech, Maxspect & Kessil, free returns, military & civil service discounts, cash back rewards, text message support, live chat support, teacher discounts, low price guarantee's, automatic price matching, #tanksgiving free fish tanks, etc.

We literally have so many customer benefits it's a huge hurtle just letting our customers know they exist

I recently started buying from you because of your Vet discount and ability to ship smaller orders free. I usually default to Amazon because of 2 day because I don't need major equipment anymore (they also have a no questions asked return procedure --- I hated having to pay for shipping from the other stores because something didn't fit my setup etc). But if SWA has it I'm usually trying to order from them because they give discounts to Vets.

I've been less supportive of BRS lately due to their excessive promotion of overly extreme high priced equipment. It just turns me off seeing too much tech in a tank I guess. I feel that their WWC series is a return to sanity though. The WWC method is essentially a fallback to Berlin.

 

[SaltwaterAq Verified Sponsor]

I recently started buying from you because of your Vet discount and ability to ship smaller orders free. I default to Amazon because of 2 day nowadays because I don't need major equipment anymore, but the Vet discount wins me over everything else.

Thank you for your service! I started the military discount after my cousin was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan as a small way to give something back. Wish there was more we could do.

 

[rcpalmer1]

When started setting up a new tank I was ordering from both. In a few months I had ordered over $1000 from SA. I had ordered some icp test kitsch that showed on sale on their site. I ordered 3. I paid and they took my money. When the package came in the packing slip showed 3 but only one was inside. I contact customer support. They said they did mean to put them on sale an just decided I should only get one and that they would keep the money I paid for all three.

The same week I had ordered from BRS. I received an email wanting me to review a product I bought from them. I emailed them back and said I had not received it yet. I got a call about an hour later from them. They sent me a new one and told me to keep the other one if it showed up.

So one company I got 1 for the price of 3 and the other I got 2 for the price of 1. Not sure how much h I have ordered since then but it has been a lot. I don't care if it cost half as mush at SA. I only order from BRS even if it takes over a week to get it.

 

[ReefWithCare]

Thank you for your service! I started the military discount after my cousin was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan as a small way to give something back. Wish there was more we could do.

Unfortunately it is tough with how hardcore some Companies are with MAPs like EcoTech. Other companies like Current are a bit more loose allowing ya'll to be a bit more creative. I think you and FishOfHex are the only two online sellers who give our Vet discounts to my knowledge.

I also forgot to mention that BRS has no affiliates but SA and MD do. To me, that is pretty sucky for the YouTubers out there. They put in a lot of work, but if people are defaulting to BRS to get stuff there is less ways for them to generate income to keep doing what they do. I always try to click affiliate links for the YTers I enjoy watching like FishOfHex, ReefDudes, and Inappropriate Reefer. It allows me to support them with very low effort from me. I click the link, order something, and I provided them a few bucks for their work .

 

[BZOFIQ]

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

BINGO - I couldn't say it any better.

That said I also buy from PremiumAquatics, ChampionLighting, DRs Foster & Smith, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's and many many more.

I stopped buying from MD because their shipping times were horrendous. I was told at recent RAP that MD opened another warehouse on the EC but I haven't had a need to try them yet.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Brs has good products, a history of good customer service and an exceptional marketing strategy.

There are other very good vendors that arent as visible simply because they fall short of brs in marketing.

 

[ajhudson15]

Going to buck the system here. I shop at @MarineDepot because of their financing options on large purchases

No, really I think I shop at both equally. I think that they have both added so much more to the hobby other than a great shopping experience for dry goods.

I am assuming you mean the Affirm loans. That is why I used to shop their. Not sure if you have noticed but affirm recently changed to where you can request a digital card number and use your loan everywhere. I plan to buy an apex from brs here in a few weeks and use the affirm card number.

 

[Tamberav]

I use brs...marine depot...premium aquatics...and sometimes Drfosterandsmith. Many products have overlap but plenty dont.

Marine depot is more dominated on my other forum than brs since they more involved there than brs and carry some unique nano things like intank...nanobox..oh and reefweeds. So it just depends.

I haven't have an issue with any of the 4 venders I listed.

 

[Bulk Reef Supply Verified Sponsor]

Unfortunately it is tough with how hardcore some Companies are with MAPs like EcoTech. Other companies like Current are a bit more loose allowing ya'll to be a bit more creative. I think you and FishOfHex are the only two online sellers who give our Vet discounts to my knowledge.

I also forgot to mention that BRS has no affiliates but SA and MD do. To me, that is pretty sucky for the YouTubers out there. They put in a lot of work, but if people are defaulting to BRS to get stuff there is less ways for them to generate income to keep doing what they do. I always try to click affiliate links for the YTers I enjoy watching like FishOfHex, ReefDudes, and Inappropriate Reefer. It allows me to support them with very low effort from me. I click the link, order something, and I provided them a few bucks for their work .

We are just getting started with a beta program of BRS brand advocates and have been in touch with a few YouTubers As a brand that focuses a lot time/energy/$$ on creating content for the community, we totally value others we see doing it!

 

[symon_say]

BRS simply gives to much to the community with their videos, and that makes the reliable for a lot of reefers.

 

[xaflatoonx]

my only issue with BRS is the undeniable overpriced plumbing misc. parts....

small things that even local retailers with large overheads sell cheaper ( much cheaper )...

I love you guys - honestly - and you are my ONLY online go to retailer - but you gotta do something about that.

 

[Bulk Reef Supply Verified Sponsor]

my only issue with BRS is the undeniable overpriced plumbing misc. parts....

small things that even local retailers with large overheads sell cheaper ( much cheaper )...

I love you guys - honestly - and you are my ONLY online go to retailer - but you gotta do something about that.

I hear ya. To be honest, we usually just suggest people goto the hardware store. It's almost impossible not to lose money on items like that, and I won't lie - our video & research program isn't exactly cheap. I'll definitely ask @Zack@BRS to take a look and see if we have any wiggle room though appreciate the feedback!

 

[MnFish1]

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?

Their customer service is excellent.
They make lots of educational videos etc.
They have easy to access help with products (online chat, etc)
Have never had a problem with them.

For those using other companies - wait until you have a problem with an item. That is one of the best features of BRS - I have never had a issue getting quick customer friendly resolution to a problem. I cant say that about 2 of the other 'big names'. In fact it is a major hassle.