Borneman's Reefkeeping Magazine article

[Anonymous]

vitz-

Granted that the last time I was in MDLive was 1.5 years ago. But when I was there you had an employee named Eric that was doing the daily running around filling orders, unfortunately you had to let him go because he was a Mexican national with questionable credentials for working in the US. I can even draw you a diagram of the building you were in. I spoke to Eric on numerous occasions, and when I was in there I spoke to the guy that used to be at ffexpress, white guy, long blond hair, but I can't remember his name.

I had no idea you were connected with MD. Is Lech (spelling may be off) still your owner? I still rememebr all the rumors about him being connected to the Asian mafia.

you have the wrong company, bubbah-l ....ek was coral depot, or aquatic depot,or some such, and has, and never had, anything to do with marine depot, or marine depot live

i used to order from him back in the mid 90's, and i'm pretty sure my sales rep at the time from his company was one of my former bosses, and a frequenter of this forum-she did her best to correct stuff, too, - but they, as a company, just weren't competent enough, as far as i was concerned, so i stopped working with them

his company was pretty much a joke back then, re: quality of stock, and proper order filling-i actually threatened to pay 'em a visit once, in person, to correct and adjust their attitude-it was abit of an 'in joke' at the backer show in AC in '97 (they nicknamed me 'thor', lol).


please get your facts straight, especially when it comes to what's borderline slander of a company, on this forum mmmmkay ?

 

[dizzy]

Well I think the public has a right to know a little something about a place with an employee who gets on the world wide web and calls brick and mortar stores dinosaurs. A secret place that doesn't allow the public inside. 8O

 

[danieldm]

Vitz-

Sorry, I confused Lec with Ken. Hey, it's been a while.
But it was certainly NOT Coral Depot that I was in...unless Coral Depot has a bunch of MDLive lit laying around, and answers the phone MDLive, and tells people when your're in there "hi, we're MDLive".

Granted that the last time I was in MDLive was 1.5 years ago. But when I was there you had an employee named Eric that was doing the daily running around filling orders, unfortunately you had to let him go because he was a Mexican national with questionable credentials for working in the US. I can even draw you a diagram of the building you were in. I spoke to Eric on numerous occasions, and when I was in there I spoke to the guy that used to be at ffexpress, white guy, long blond hair, but I can't remember his name.

Then respond to my statemens above. Are you saying that Eric (I won't use his last name) did not work for MDLive? I can call him if you want me to. And you are saying that the long haired hippy looking guy from ffexpress didn't work there, and that I can't produce a fairly detailed drawing of the MDLive layout?
That's what you're saying?
Answer these statements. [/quote]

 

[Anonymous]

???huh???

we don't have a store, so there's nothing to see, as far as the general public is concerned

are you that interested in a tour of a warehouse ? :lol:

our main 'hobbyist commodity' is the expert knowledge and support we offer, and our excellent customer service, all of which most online places don't all have at the same time

having and selling products is something anyone can do-it's what you do with your knowledge base that, whether b&m, or etail, will ultimately determine who really succeeds and who ends up whithering away, in the long haul :wink:



you just have a personal issue with non b&m's, and think they're all evil, as you've made clear on numerous occasion

 

[Anonymous]

Vitz-

Sorry, I confused Lec with Ken. Hey, it's been a while.
But it was certainly NOT Coral Depot that I was in...unless Coral Depot has a bunch of MDLive lit laying around, and answers the phone MDLive, and tells people when your're in there "hi, we're MDLive".

Granted that the last time I was in MDLive was 1.5 years ago. But when I was there you had an employee named Eric that was doing the daily running around filling orders, unfortunately you had to let him go because he was a Mexican national with questionable credentials for working in the US. I can even draw you a diagram of the building you were in. I spoke to Eric on numerous occasions, and when I was in there I spoke to the guy that used to be at ffexpress, white guy, long blond hair, but I can't remember his name.

Then respond to my statemens above. Are you saying that Eric (I won't use his last name) did not work for MDLive? I can call him if you want me to. And you are saying that the long haired hippy looking guy from ffexpress didn't work there, and that I can't produce a fairly detailed drawing of the MDLive layout?
That's what you're saying?
Answer these statements.

[/quote]

this eric of which you speak was before my time, and a few have passed through here since then-MDL is a far different operation now, if it was indeed as you say in the past

though it sounds like this eric and ff are a good match :lol:

 

[danieldm]

If MDLive is a different operation than it was when I was in there then you have my apologies for my gross misstatement of your operation.

So what you are saying is that MDLife has a full holding facility, and is NOT doing daily jobber picking to fill the orders?

 

[dizzy]

???huh???

we don't have a store, so there's nothing to see, as far as the general public is concerned

are you that interested in a tour of a warehouse ? :lol:

Yes, yes I am. You don't mind if I bring my camera do you? I'd like to drop in unexpected if you don't mind. Make sure Ken Wong doesn't have any problems with it.
Thanks
Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:


you simply crack me up, mitch

 

[spawner]

This is interesting.

You know for some reason I remember JT stating a few years ago that his former employer had nothing to do with MDL, that they never came in there. He even went very far to accuse me of conspiring against the drop shippers with MaryM. JT was that because you were working with that company? Now that you are working with what seem to be a very fine store, with the best of intentions in regards to fish and its customers you tell it straight now? I must know, after days of being smeared it would be nice to know your motives back then. I will be happy to accept your apology and completely understand why you took the position you did while your were employed in LA. Just be nice to know why you would take the position you took. I’ll even accept it via PM.

Vitz, there is nothing wrong with a company dropshipping products. As long as it’s legal, why not, might as well, someone will do it.

Just nice to see someone being up front and open with customers, nice to see companies that state how (if) they hold fish and where their fish come from.

If you drop ship you shouldn’t be afraid to say so, just explain to the customer in plain language how and why do you do what you do. If you don't then I would say that you are lieing to customers and scaming them if you pretend to hold fish and don't.

 

[Kalkbreath]

???huh???

our main 'hobbyist commodity' is the expert knowledge and support we offer, and our excellent customer service,
having and selling products is something anyone can do-it's what you do with your knowledge base that, whether b&m, or etail, will ultimately determine who really succeeds and who ends up whithering away, in the long haul :wink:

But its even more difficult having and selling products, expert knowledge and creating the customers all at the same time.
If it wasnt for the Brick and Mortars finding and creating the customers, online stores would have nobody to sell to other then the occational new hobbyist whom stumbles onto a reef keeping website whilste surfing the web for porn.
Be carefull for what you wish ..........

 

[Caterham]

I would like to see the Marine Depot Live holding facility. I will fly to Los Angeles, rent a vehicle and drive there at a time that is convenient for a staff member to show me the animals and the environment that they are held in.

If somebody could please contact me at their convenience via PM on this board that would be greatly appreciated.

I do not think that it is appropriate to doubt a company unless I view it for myself. I truly think that actions speak louder than words. I look forward to a PM on this board.

 

[dizzy]

Secondly, this move is not about the money. RC paid them a very small amount, nowhere near the amount of money to be fairly compensated for the time required. When broken down per hour, they didn't even make minimum wage. Additionally, another message board offered 3.5 times the amount of money that MD offered and a second place offered to beat that high offer. Both were turned down flat. In the end, MD is paying about the same RC paid.

This is the part that is confusing me. Why did the former RC "experts" choose this particular company over other message boards? They turned down an offer that beat an offer that was about 3.5x this deal. 8O It seems to be an endorsement of this companie's superior business ethics. If all they are doing is sending people to the LA wholesalers to hand pluck the online orders, along with any cherries they can find, how does this make them better than anyone else? If they really are doing something that sets them head and shoulders above the rest then we all need to be able to learn what it is. Somethings are just to important not to share.
Mitch

 

[JT]

You know for some reason I remember JT stating a few years ago that his former employer had nothing to do with MDL, that they never came in there. He even went very far to accuse me of conspiring against the drop shippers with MaryM. JT was that because you were working with that company?

MDL was always very sporadic in buying from SDC, they could go for months without gracing us with their presence. I didn't consider them to be a threat of any kind to my customer base. If I told you they never shopped there, I do apologize. However, it could of been an accurate fact at the time. Jobbers of all kinds came and went depending own how pissed they were at SDC, or the other way around. However, with that said, their buying did increase shortly before my 'depature'. I don't think I said, or implied, anywhere in this thread, that MDL was an active buyer @ SDC.

My motives, much to the dismay of former employers, was to always try to do the right thing and try to take care of my out of state customers. I have never liked the idea of dropshipping live stock, dry goods are different, even though one of my LA employers did this service for one company (not MDL).

- JT

 

[naesco]

???huh???

we don't have a store, so there's nothing to see, as far as the general public is concerned

are you that interested in a tour of a warehouse ? :lol:

Yes, yes I am. You don't mind if I bring my camera do you? I'd like to drop in unexpected if you don't mind. Make sure Ken Wong doesn't have any problems with it.
Thanks
Mitch

Yes, Yes and I will drop in too.
I would like permission to bring a camera as well.
I will just drop in as well.
Thank you for the invite Vitz
Wayne

 

[naesco]

this group of reeformers ????
Kalk,
These guys are not reformers...
Their just small business owners plying their wares and marketing thier literature....Very American.
Steve

Steve, they are businessman but they are reeformers.
Sign up and see.

I am looking forward to participating there. Anyone know how I get the tang police logo here over there?

Of course, I will continue to actively participate on this board as well.

 

[JT]

I would like to see the Marine Depot Live holding facility.

Although she no longer works there, you guys should PM fishinchick. She worked in husbandry at MDL's holding facility for awhile and could possibly give a more accurate picture of their holding system than anyone here.

Vitz probably has little clue as he works on the dry goods side of things.

- JT

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to see the Marine Depot Live holding facility.

Although she no longer works there, you guys should PM fishinchick. She worked in husbandry at MDL's holding facility for awhile and could possibly give a more accurate picture of their holding system than anyone here.

Vitz probably has little clue as he works on the dry goods side of things.

- JT

you have no clue about clues, even

 

[Anonymous]

Secondly, this move is not about the money. RC paid them a very small amount, nowhere near the amount of money to be fairly compensated for the time required. When broken down per hour, they didn't even make minimum wage. Additionally, another message board offered 3.5 times the amount of money that MD offered and a second place offered to beat that high offer. Both were turned down flat. In the end, MD is paying about the same RC paid.

This is the part that is confusing me. Why did the former RC "experts" choose this particular company over other message boards? They turned down an offer that beat an offer that was about 3.5x this deal. 8O It seems to be an endorsement of this companie's superior business ethics. If all they are doing is sending people to the LA wholesalers to hand pluck the online orders, along with any cherries they can find, how does this make them better than anyone else? If they really are doing something that sets them head and shoulders above the rest then we all need to be able to learn what it is. Somethings are just to important not to share.
Mitch

maybe they just liked a BB with the name 'depot' in it? or maybe some of them have friends here, and wanted to work together?

(not to detract form our superior business ethics, which stand as they are regardless of what happens on a BB)

there you go again, with your assumed conclusions formulated by nothing other than what 'seems to you' to be a reason


why don't you ever FIRST find things out, and THEN make a suggestion as to what you think the reasons are?



you have got to be the biggest conspiracy theorist i've ever met in this hobby/biz/industry-mel gibson couldn't hold a candle to you :lol:


i also can't believe how any or all of this can be such an important deal to anyone-a buncha guys left a BB due to whatever differences there were, and they moved on to another BB, so big effin deal... :?

 

[Anonymous]

???huh???

we don't have a store, so there's nothing to see, as far as the general public is concerned

are you that interested in a tour of a warehouse ? :lol:

Yes, yes I am. You don't mind if I bring my camera do you? I'd like to drop in unexpected if you don't mind. Make sure Ken Wong doesn't have any problems with it.
Thanks
Mitch

Yes, Yes and I will drop in too.
I would like permission to bring a camera as well.
I will just drop in as well.
Thank you for the invite Vitz
Wayne

you may have to first qualify by being either an industry related individual, or a hobbyist-so far, you've never given any reliable indication that you're either

 

[dizzy]

Whenever anyone claims moral high ground to increase market share it raises eye brows. If you guys are doing something better than the rest of us, by all means explain it to us.
Mitch