I have used Drs Foster & Smith with no problems. I have not tried Big Als. but think I'm going to order fluorite from there..great price. Kinda hard to break gravel. I'll see how it goes.
Anyone else had problems with BigAlsOnline?
- Thread starter JosephMCorbett
- Start date
I just placed another order with Big Al's online today. I just love double point Wednesday. I've never had a problem with an order before, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope this one is just as perfect as the others.
Made purchase's for Dog, Cat, and fish related products including live plants and everything was always in perfect condition and on-time.
My first two orders with Big Al’s went like a charm. Orders shipped within 2 days, had them within 4 days from date the order was placed.
My 3rd order with them was missing a $2.00 item. Web site lists it separately from the rest of the order, so I assumed they were out of stock. It was only $2.00 so didn’t really bother me too much. Even though I was charged for it.
I placed another order, my 4th with them, this past Saturday. I’m thinking they’ll ship it Monday and I’ll have it Friday the latest. I checked the site on Wednesday and it didn’t ship. Now I’m sitting on a partially set up 60 gallon, waiting for some parts to get this puppy going.
I call Big Al’s and I am told, they’re out of stock on a $2.40 item so, that is why they held up your order. I said ok, can you ship the rest? “Sure thing, we will send it today”. While I had them on the phone I explained about the $2.00 part from the previous order. I was told I wasn’t charged for it. OK I’m not going to argue over $2.00. I’ve saved more then that from ordering from them.
Anyway I check the site on Thursday; sure enough the package still hasn’t shipped. I get them on the phone again and they tell me a different item ($1.40) is now out of stock. I go through the whole can you please just send me what you have routine. I just checked the site a few minutes ago and low and behold, the info has been sent to UPS and….everything I ordered is included! Even the “Out of stock” stuff. So pardon the pun, but it is starting to smell a little fishy.
The prices are good… but, their customer service does leave something to be desired. They are holding up a $100 plus order for a $1.40 part, without notifying the buyer that they are out of stock. They charge you for that item and leave it up to you to catch it. It doesn’t seem like they are interested in cultivating a good business relationship.
While I’m ranting….They could also seriously use some sort of newer shopping cart setup on the site. I’ve already been through a 30 item shopping cart only to lose it with a “page back” in the web browser. The search engine does not always turn up all the results. (Type in bio balls and see if you can find them)
Whew...no that I got that out of my system
I’m going to try someone else next time.
My 3rd order with them was missing a $2.00 item. Web site lists it separately from the rest of the order, so I assumed they were out of stock. It was only $2.00 so didn’t really bother me too much. Even though I was charged for it.
I placed another order, my 4th with them, this past Saturday. I’m thinking they’ll ship it Monday and I’ll have it Friday the latest. I checked the site on Wednesday and it didn’t ship. Now I’m sitting on a partially set up 60 gallon, waiting for some parts to get this puppy going.
I call Big Al’s and I am told, they’re out of stock on a $2.40 item so, that is why they held up your order. I said ok, can you ship the rest? “Sure thing, we will send it today”. While I had them on the phone I explained about the $2.00 part from the previous order. I was told I wasn’t charged for it. OK I’m not going to argue over $2.00. I’ve saved more then that from ordering from them.
Anyway I check the site on Thursday; sure enough the package still hasn’t shipped. I get them on the phone again and they tell me a different item ($1.40) is now out of stock. I go through the whole can you please just send me what you have routine. I just checked the site a few minutes ago and low and behold, the info has been sent to UPS and….everything I ordered is included! Even the “Out of stock” stuff. So pardon the pun, but it is starting to smell a little fishy.
The prices are good… but, their customer service does leave something to be desired. They are holding up a $100 plus order for a $1.40 part, without notifying the buyer that they are out of stock. They charge you for that item and leave it up to you to catch it. It doesn’t seem like they are interested in cultivating a good business relationship.
While I’m ranting….They could also seriously use some sort of newer shopping cart setup on the site. I’ve already been through a 30 item shopping cart only to lose it with a “page back” in the web browser. The search engine does not always turn up all the results. (Type in bio balls and see if you can find them)
Whew...no that I got that out of my system
I’m going to try someone else next time.
JosephMCorbett, this message pertains to this thread and your locked thread.
We use BigAl's regularly and never had a problem with returns, damages, or missing items, one case of each in aprox two years and over a dozen orders of dealing with BigAl's, we've always been notified of out-of-stock items and never had a billing problem.
In each case customer service handled'em as quickly as the phone, E-Mail, UPS and the USPS could provide service. Note, we contact by phone and E-Mail and fully document time, persons name and situation whenever we have a problem with anyone for anything, this helps when the person on the other end knows your on top of things, taking names and asking questions, whether it be the Creditcard company or PizzaHut.
BigAl's is a very big on-line retailer and has been the target of scams due to some of their unquestioning customer service in the past, some practices have changed and seldom do they just immediately ship another <<insert>> out as in the past. For instance, we had a filter arrive damaged, they sent a package service out to pick it up, got it back, inspected it and shipped a new one to us ASAP, a extra week +- a day, we needed it but we made do.....
Customer service/order processing (mistakes happen) and warehouse/shipping (always some jerk willing to throw whatever in the box
) are never going to be perfect.
I'm sorry to hear you've had problems, they've always been good to us.
I suggest you call and email, if not staisfied with operator aske for manager, go up the line till you are satisfied their working to fix your problem.
Or simply tell'em that its insufficient, that you'll challenge the creditcard if its not fixed or refunded and that you'll take your business elsewhere, do this without ever raising your voice or getting flustered and I find you get your way 90% of time
We will continue to use Bigal's when their price beats another on-line competitor, and we do use other on-line retailers.
Last friday I placed orders with BigAl's for a 50' Python and Carbon and with ForYourFish.com for two Won Brothers Pro Heat IC Titanium heaters, got the ForYourFish.com order wednesday and BigAl's today, both as ordered and in great condition.
We use other on-line retailers, its generally whoever has the best combination in price & shipping fees, but we also look closely beforehand at customer reviews, terms of sale, available contact info (never buy from a retailer who doesn't have contact info other than website and E-Mail, verifiable address and PH# is a must!) and whether or not their local Better Business Bureau has any hits on'em.
Buyer Beware!
We use BigAl's regularly and never had a problem with returns, damages, or missing items, one case of each in aprox two years and over a dozen orders of dealing with BigAl's, we've always been notified of out-of-stock items and never had a billing problem.
In each case customer service handled'em as quickly as the phone, E-Mail, UPS and the USPS could provide service. Note, we contact by phone and E-Mail and fully document time, persons name and situation whenever we have a problem with anyone for anything, this helps when the person on the other end knows your on top of things, taking names and asking questions, whether it be the Creditcard company or PizzaHut.
BigAl's is a very big on-line retailer and has been the target of scams due to some of their unquestioning customer service in the past, some practices have changed and seldom do they just immediately ship another <<insert>> out as in the past. For instance, we had a filter arrive damaged, they sent a package service out to pick it up, got it back, inspected it and shipped a new one to us ASAP, a extra week +- a day, we needed it but we made do.....
Customer service/order processing (mistakes happen) and warehouse/shipping (always some jerk willing to throw whatever in the box
) are never going to be perfect.I'm sorry to hear you've had problems, they've always been good to us.
I suggest you call and email, if not staisfied with operator aske for manager, go up the line till you are satisfied their working to fix your problem.
Or simply tell'em that its insufficient, that you'll challenge the creditcard if its not fixed or refunded and that you'll take your business elsewhere, do this without ever raising your voice or getting flustered and I find you get your way 90% of time
We will continue to use Bigal's when their price beats another on-line competitor, and we do use other on-line retailers.
Last friday I placed orders with BigAl's for a 50' Python and Carbon and with ForYourFish.com for two Won Brothers Pro Heat IC Titanium heaters, got the ForYourFish.com order wednesday and BigAl's today, both as ordered and in great condition.
We use other on-line retailers, its generally whoever has the best combination in price & shipping fees, but we also look closely beforehand at customer reviews, terms of sale, available contact info (never buy from a retailer who doesn't have contact info other than website and E-Mail, verifiable address and PH# is a must!) and whether or not their local Better Business Bureau has any hits on'em.
Buyer Beware!
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I've ordered many times with bigalsonline, and have never had a single issue.
I order on Wed.... I get it by Friday....
I order on Wed.... I get it by Friday....
Thanks allot Chile, I feel better about the whole thing just reading your post. Turns out they finally shipped the item and gave me a tracking number. My latest package arrived with no problems.
Yeah, I just got a 5 gallon aquarium from Big Als to keep baby guppies in, and it was almost broken in half when I got it 
Not necessarily BigAl's fault, especially if packaged as such where inspection was not possible without opening packaging. It could've been broken anywhere after it was manufactured and subsequently shipped too BigAl's and then to you...
