Old Orchard Aquarium

Address:	9235 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077, USA
Phone:	+1 847-675-3474
Site:	oldorchardaquarium.com
Rating:	3.8
Working:	11AM–7PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 12–6PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 7

Daye W

Came in this morning. Started out liking that we were greeted nicely and got to ask a few questions to stock a new tank we set up. I asked a few questions about types of fish we like and tank set up. The guy told us we cant keep koi in a tank which I know is a common recommendation, however, we have a pond willing to take them when they get large. Most surprising was claim that live plants were no better for the tank environment than fake ones and were a neusance that DIDNT help oxygen in the water. Thats definitely false and aside from being basic science, I was told the opposite at two other fish places. So, he told us to look and pick some we liked and he could give us some compatible species from there. We were browsing and noticed that most of the fish cost 30-40% more than both other stores and the aquarium accessories were double the lowest price I had seen for the same products. While looking at the koi and goldfish, the same employee approached and told us "stay away from the goldfish." Seemed bossy, and pushy. Another man approached us as we were browsing and wasnt wearing a name tag, uniform shirt, or even professional attire to indicate he worked there. He started asking if we had ever had a tank before and told us some things like, "you cant put a sucker fish in a tank that isnt at least 6 weeks old" mostly telling us we needed to pick hardy fish and cant add multiple fish at the same time. Not close to anything else I had read or been told. Seemed like they all "knew it all and knew best" had no positive advice or even made any specific suggestions just that we had to pick but none of our choices were appropriate. Terrible customer service. Id have felt ok with the hands on attempt if there was more guidance instead of non productive criticism of our choices and perhaps an alternate suggestion or two instead. The attempt at all around guidance was ineffective because of that, and because the actual knowledge didnt match what all the other stores and articles had advised. Found one fish we might even have taken had we even felt like spending a dollar in there at that point. We were offered a card upon exit, and declined. Wont be back.

A Private User

Wow, I cant say enough about Paul at Old Orchard Aquarium. Incredibly helpful, especially considering that he knew that this trip (from Schaumburg) would only result in a very small sale ($2.39 to be exact). This sounds silly, but I had an "emergency" situation with my young daughters "SeaMonkeys" and needed to augment the little critters. Old Orchard Aquarium was one of only two places in all of Chicagoland that I could locate that sold them ALIVE (frozen is more typical). Paul made sure I knew they were sea-water, what I could do to keep them alive a little longer at home in their jar, didnt push any extra products or fish on me, gave me lots of water, etc. He wasnt in a rush, was professional and encouraged me to ask questions. All for a piddly sale of $2.39 ! But you know what? When my daughter is ready for a fish, and a new tank set-up, I will make a point of driving out to Old Orchard Aquarium to buy them. If they were this helpful with a sale that consisted of a few brine shrimp, I know they will be knowledgeable and helpful with a "real" fish quest. Since all I bought was the brine shrimp ,I cant speak to their prices or other fish-oriented issues, but Paul was top notch with the customer service !

angel torres

I go to this store often for RO. This pass Monday I had a discussion with one of the employees there.. I ask him a question about there clown fish.. I ask if they where the same pair that they had from the pass 6 months. Guess he took it the wrong way and told me that they get pairs in all the time and that why do I go in there and ask too many questions all the time.. I answer sorry if my questions bother you in any kind of way that its common in this hobby to ask questions went you dont know the answers. I told another employee that always was really cool every time I stop by , thanks for the wonderful service you have giving me went I stop by but that today will be my last time there. Said good bye and take care.. this was the last time I let this happen to me.. had two other occasions before but this was by far the worse one.. glad seven seas is open now so I can start going there instead of this store that it seems they prefer customers that have more money to spend than the ones that go for simple stuff because of there high prices..

Tanya Szatkowski

So, we drove an hour to go to this store (one way) and spent 10 minutes in the store. Thats 2hr, 10min from my life I will never get back! The store was Jam Packed (hello fire hazzard) and very confusing. We encountered an extremely rude employee who answered our questions with one word answers almost as though we werent worth his time. After talking with him for a minute and being "turned off" by his lack of professionalism, we decided to engage another employee, in hopes that our experience with him would give us a better feeling. Well, he was a little more professional than the first, but not by much. The only thing this store cared about was their upcomming sale, not about the consumers who were in their store at that time. This store is not worth your time! At least it wasnt worth ours.

Roman Matiyash

I just want to state that there are many helpful and knowledgeable employees that work here. Although they need to have a better system for returns/exchanges. I bought alkalinity supplement and deciced that I dont need it. Came back two days later and lost my receipt. They would not return or exchange it without receipt. I left the supplement for them on the counter and Im not coming back. This is basic customer service and if you not going to help customer on such a simple thing, how do you expect customers to be coming back? You could have give me a credit or discount, the amount was less than $20. I dont think I ever seen such a poor customer service. It seems like they dont care about new customers.

Max Zisook

I want to shop local so I drove some distance to go to this shop. Overpriced, but I want to give business to a local business rather than PetSmart. I bought over $50 of equipment and one fish. The fish died the next day so I drove out with my kids to return it. They refused to replace it because the water sample I brought was not adequate. I could forgive the huge markup. I could forgive the sickly fish they sold. I could even forgive refusing to replace it after I tried to tell him how far away I lived. The snotty attitude was too much. I went to PetSmart and bought the same fish for a fraction of the price. Read the other bad reviews. They are accurate.

Johnny Martinez

So I went here even thou a couple months ago I called and they refused to give me prices over the phone. So I was in need of RO water and I was asking some questions but seemed like I was being a bother and the guy smelled bad. After a few questions he told me if I had someone from there maintain my tank they could answer my questions. Well that was not the answer I was looking for. I then asked about wifi lighting cause I heard another rep talk about it and he started to say very expensive and stopped himself and then showed me. What I dont look like I spend a lot of money. I have no idea how they won awards. Most terrible customer service