New Water Testing Policy

[barrierreefcf]

New Water Testing Policy
All Tests $1 For Each Parameter Tested
We can test the following parameters:
•pH
•Ammonia
•Nitrite
•Nitrate
•Calcium
•Alkalinity
•Magnesium
•Phosphate
•Salinity
•TDS
•Copper
Its a sad day, but due to increasing costs associated with doing business we are no longer able to offer free water testing. We've been watching this for a few months now and came to the difficult conclusion that free testing had to come to an end. Sorry all​

 

[justforfun]

what about if we are purchasing fish or coral?....

 

[charlypooh]

Don't apologize Cy! I'm sure most on here would prefer to pay a small amount for a water test and still have your wonderful store and staff to visit than not pay and see BR suffer for it!

 

[Krish]

New Water Testing Policy
All Tests $1 For Each Parameter Tested
We can test the following parameters:
•pH
•Ammonia
•Nitrite
•Nitrate
•Calcium
•Alkalinity
•Magnesium
•Phosphate
•Salinity
•TDS
•Copper
Its a sad day, but due to increasing costs associated with doing business we are no longer able to offer free water testing. We've been watching this for a few months now and came to the difficult conclusion that free testing had to come to an end. Sorry all​

I'm surprised all LFS' don't charge to do this. Those test kits aren't the cheapest things sometimes and I could imagine testing water for a bunch of people each day, you could easily run through a test kit in no time.

 

[barrierreefcf]

Unfortunately this is a flat policy. Competing with the internet is shrinking margins. Gas prices are crazy. Keeping good employees costs a lot. Add in the fact that the Elos kits we use are expensive, and it takes up a lot of employee time, and we just can't afford to keep doing it for free. Sorry!

 

[user 2204]

I am on the same mindset as Krish. I think LFS should charge for water testing. Test kits aren't free so why not charge for testing, only makes sense to me. I don't do diagnostic work for free.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[returnofsid]

No need to apologize! You offer a great service! One much more expensive, time consuming and accurate than the dip strips that a lot of lfs use

 

[barrierreefcf]

No need to apologize! You offer a great service! One much more expensive, time consuming and accurate than the dip strips that a lot of lfs use

Switching to the dip strips was something we discussed. Decided we didn't want to sacrifice quality

 

[jaymz69]

I never seemed to get accurate readings from dip sticks

 

[Chichas01]

I stopped in to have some water tested a week ago. I was more than happy to pay for the service over the cost of buying an Elos test kit and I can be certain the test was done correctly. Thanks for all the great work you guys do

 

[crazyfish253]

If you need someone to test your water you should not be keeping a reef IMO. Good husbandry you have test kits up to date and know how to use them. Yes problems do arise and you should compare with other tests. I'm sure you can find a DIY on YouTube.

 

[Chichas01]

hmm, that seems a bit presumptuous don't ya think? for myself, I have used the service to dbl check my findings and I know others do as well. There can be reasons for using a service like this other than lack of skill with a test kit.

 

[Scooterman]

hmm, that seems a bit presumptuous don't ya think? for myself, I have used the service to dbl check my findings and I know others do as well. There can be reasons for using a service like this other than lack of skill with a test kit.

I agree, when you end up having issues and you can't trace it back to what your testing, the 1$ price tag for a test is super cheap to help eliminate an issue. I'd rather pay to get a good quality test than assume everything is great because I have experience using test equipment etc.

 

[justforfun]

i think what really pussed the camel on its side is all of the tank keepers that have barrier do ALL there testing!!....been there a couple times and seen it "yep same as last week test it all".....+1 crazyfish you gotta test yourself and use br as a backup teseter.....

 

[barrierreefcf]

i think what really pussed the camel on its side is all of the tank keepers that have barrier do ALL there testing!!....been there a couple times and seen it "yep same as last week test it all".....+1 crazyfish you gotta test yourself and use br as a backup teseter.....

Huge part of it for sure We recently had someone send their friend in to drop off 5 seperate water samples and ask that we test them for everything! Same person refuses to even look at buying test kits. "You do it for free, why would I buy a kit?" So we end up with customers waiting for help while our employee spends 45 minutes testing water for someone who bought all 5 setups online and is yet to purchase anything from us.

 

[user 2204]

I too believe that people should use a stores testing in addition to their own testing. I think that if people are only using the store for testing and not purchasing anything from that store, then they should not have any reason for complaining.

Just my 2¢ and IMHO.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[MrGone]

I feel it is reasonable, especially when you factor in the time it takes and the quality of the kits they use. It was a nice service they offered and it is a shame it was taken advantage of. I don't even think $1/test covers the cost of the high resolution phosphate test.

The every day price of the test kits is on par with e-tailers and with the pricing Barrier has on the Elos test kits during the sales there is no reason not to stock up on the Elos kits. Then just take a sample in to barrier if you are having troubles or feel like it is necessary to verify things.

 

[Ilovereef]

Darn! I should have brough my watter in last week for testing!!!
Just kidding... LOL
Anyway, I actually feel better that way and rather to pay $1 per parameter testing than coming to your store doing nothing but asking for free water testing...
Back there I was in doubt with my system and sent my watter to SWT to test one time that cost me $45 (for 10 parameters package) and the results were very close if not exact the same with those ELOS test you use.

 

[JPG@CFI]

Just an idea, how about emailing or texting them the results after all the customers in the store have been helped. I can just see it, on a busy Saturday, the store is wall to wall with customers, and someone wants to have everything under the sun tested. I also think that the basic teats should be 1.00, and all the trace elements should be 2.50+. I'd like to see someone mail order their water tested!

 

[barrierreefcf]

I feel it is reasonable, especially when you factor in the time it takes and the quality of the kits they use. It was a nice service they offered and it is a shame it was taken advantage of. I don't even think $1/test covers the cost of the high resolution phosphate test.

The every day price of the test kits is on par with e-tailers and with the pricing Barrier has on the Elos test kits during the sales there is no reason not to stock up on the Elos kits. Then just take a sample in to barrier if you are having troubles or feel like it is necessary to verify things.

Thanks Gary. I'm surprised more folks don't grab the Elos kits during the sales. At 25% off its the best price that can be found. Testing is such a critical part of keeping saltwater. I can't imagine keeping a reef without having test kits at home.



Yes Jason. During busy times we often email people their test results later when we have had a chance to catch up. I like your pricing structure better !!