You can add on a cleaner to your order once you satisfy the $60 minimum. When I ordered through him I added on a skunk cleaner and a tuxedo urchin and was only responsibe for the increase in shipping costs (which was a few dollars). I'll add another testimonial for Just Phish- good outfit, good guy.
ordering from "saltwaterfish.com"
- Thread starter kpatrick
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You can add on a cleaner to your order once you satisfy the $60 minimum. When I ordered through him I added on a skunk cleaner and a tuxedo urchin and was only responsibe for the increase in shipping costs (which was a few dollars). I'll add another testimonial for Just Phish- good outfit, good guy.
Well Ravencad, I'll tell you. There's no real reason. Do you think that a 5 or 7 day after arrival guarantee really sets peoples mind at ease? Do you think that it's the final nail in the coffin so to speak for someone who can't decide between me and somoene else? I'm curious as to how much it really impacts my sales.
To be perfectly honest, no one has been stuck yet in the rare event something goes wrong with their order. I even honor claims from locals who pick their stuff which many places won't do. Why they don't I have no idea. I'd feel much better about the health of an animal which spent one hour in a bag with only one person handling it than one with 12 hours in the bag with who knows how many people tossing it around. Anyways, as I've stated to others about the temp rule, it goes on a case by case basis. In the recent cold snap some people did lose an emerald crab or a snail here and there. Those couple people were credited instantly with no questions asked even though it was well below the temps in the conditions.
Do you think that the majority of people would jump through all the hoops necessary to get their credit? I can only think of one person in the two years I have been in business that actually saved a DOA animal and asked me if I wanted them to send it back. (No real big deal as there aren't many people who've been in that situation, but still, just a point).
Exactly. I believe my website is quite clear about substitutions. I really don't think there's anything more I can do to draw attention to the rule without getting gaudy. But yet, people still call me and demand that I substitute and exchange all sorts of things for them. Just recently I had one gentleman call me, demand I exchange the clean up crew items for other stuff since it was the same price retail and actually got abusive when I calmly explained that I could not. They just didn't want to hear it. The auto parts store I went to the other day for some car soap had a package that included some car wax couple with the soap for X dollars. What do you think their response would have been had I ripped the wax from the package and demanded they instead give me a steering wheel cover equal in price to the wax?
After numerous calls with all sorts of demands I decided to call the other places out there that offer clean up crews. Guess what? None that I called allow substitutions within a package nevermind swapping out $45 worth of crabs for $45 worth of cleaners. So I think people are pretty well off with me by even allowing subs.
I think if you deal with me you'll find that I'm quite fair and accomodating. I am always up for constructive criticism and suggestions. I enjoy hearing from customers and potential customers so if you've got anything else you'd like to throw at me, I'm all ears.
HTH
To be perfectly honest, no one has been stuck yet in the rare event something goes wrong with their order. I even honor claims from locals who pick their stuff which many places won't do. Why they don't I have no idea. I'd feel much better about the health of an animal which spent one hour in a bag with only one person handling it than one with 12 hours in the bag with who knows how many people tossing it around. Anyways, as I've stated to others about the temp rule, it goes on a case by case basis. In the recent cold snap some people did lose an emerald crab or a snail here and there. Those couple people were credited instantly with no questions asked even though it was well below the temps in the conditions.
Do you think that the majority of people would jump through all the hoops necessary to get their credit? I can only think of one person in the two years I have been in business that actually saved a DOA animal and asked me if I wanted them to send it back. (No real big deal as there aren't many people who've been in that situation, but still, just a point).
Exactly. I believe my website is quite clear about substitutions. I really don't think there's anything more I can do to draw attention to the rule without getting gaudy. But yet, people still call me and demand that I substitute and exchange all sorts of things for them. Just recently I had one gentleman call me, demand I exchange the clean up crew items for other stuff since it was the same price retail and actually got abusive when I calmly explained that I could not. They just didn't want to hear it. The auto parts store I went to the other day for some car soap had a package that included some car wax couple with the soap for X dollars. What do you think their response would have been had I ripped the wax from the package and demanded they instead give me a steering wheel cover equal in price to the wax?
After numerous calls with all sorts of demands I decided to call the other places out there that offer clean up crews. Guess what? None that I called allow substitutions within a package nevermind swapping out $45 worth of crabs for $45 worth of cleaners. So I think people are pretty well off with me by even allowing subs.
I think if you deal with me you'll find that I'm quite fair and accomodating. I am always up for constructive criticism and suggestions. I enjoy hearing from customers and potential customers so if you've got anything else you'd like to throw at me, I'm all ears.
HTH
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I think your the only local place that would do that, I havent found 1 single place around here that has any type of warranty on any SW stuff.
Oh and Ill probably be picking up some critters sometime soon. Maybe a clam and some SPS frags also in the next month or two. Ill let you know.
Oh and Ill probably be picking up some critters sometime soon. Maybe a clam and some SPS frags also in the next month or two. Ill let you know.
Actually, the stay alive guarantee is one of the reasons I order from Marine Depot and Live Aquaria... My LFS has no guarantee, of any kind, period, on anything sw and I personally think that stinks... They can guarantee an $80 Discus, but not a $30 clown, interesting... I cannot look at the fish before buying it, but I know those MO places are PROBABLY not going to send me a deformed fish, but if they do and it dies, they stand behind it... Live Aquaria even ships the replacement free of charge cuz they say it isn't my fault they send an unhealthy critter... They do require the corpse, and for a replacement and free shipping, I'm happy to comply with that small request. Marine Depot gives a credit, but the shipping is your own to cover, hence the reason I go with Live Aquaria...
I fully respect the fact that you say no one has been stuck yet, and that is GREAT that you take care of your customers when a problem occurs... But, had I not talked to you here, one on one, I'd have no idea of that fact... Put that guarantee in writing on your page, then you make my list of suppliers =)
I asked if it would happen within the next month because I'm planning an order with a couple of my buddies and the stay alive guarantee is something we all 3 require. I hope to see it pop up on your page soon, cuz I also wanna get a cleanup crew for my 29 and I like your way of doing it...
I fully respect the fact that you say no one has been stuck yet, and that is GREAT that you take care of your customers when a problem occurs... But, had I not talked to you here, one on one, I'd have no idea of that fact... Put that guarantee in writing on your page, then you make my list of suppliers =)
I asked if it would happen within the next month because I'm planning an order with a couple of my buddies and the stay alive guarantee is something we all 3 require. I hope to see it pop up on your page soon, cuz I also wanna get a cleanup crew for my 29 and I like your way of doing it...
Yeah I understand about not being able to see the fish and or coral, but I believe there is where there's a huge difference between them and I. First, fish aren't placed on the site unless they are eating what I offer. No matter what. Second, you can see exactly what you are buying from me. There's no touched up photos, no "this picture represents what you will receive, as in nature expect variation", etc etc. If I have more than one thing of something, for example firefish, I take a pic of one or two. If you wanted all four and really needed a pic of all of them, I'd be more than happy to oblige. I've gone so far as to measure each mushroom on a rock for a customer, take pics of live rock which I thought looked like what a customer would want for another, etc etc. I believe that says something about a place and also justifies a higher price (though I believe I am cheaper than both marine depot and live aquaria in most instances anyways).
I'm reading live aquaria site and their guarantee has me a bit confused. In one part it says that they will credit for the shipping as well and in another part it gives me the impression that you can only get a credit for shipping if it's DOA and you call the same day you receive it DOA. Also it appears they require a water sample to ensure parameters are within their limits. What about having to follow their acclimation prcedures? How are they or anyone supposed to know if you did in fact follow them? They are supposed to trust you, but you won't trust them to send you a healthy animal? "You" here does not mean you personally but anyone who orders.
Live aquaria is huge. They do millions of dollars in business each year. They can certainly afford to offer credit on shipping costs and still make money. Marine depot is not nearly as large, but still considerably larger than me. I can't afford to cover the cost of critters as well as shipping for folks who didn't know their zebra moray was going to eat their emerald crabs on day six. Or didn't know that blue spot jawfish can jump out of the tank on day seven. Or even for people who throw animals into their tank without even knowing if the tank can handle live stuff yet. What I'm getting at is my being responsible for the stupidity of others. I can only go so far in a phone conversation.
Here's a few things to consider when ordering online. Live aquaria has a min order. I don't. Live aquaria needs an order in by 9:30 am central time for it to have a shot at going out the same day. You can call me at 5:30 est and if I am around and have what you need, chances are I can pack it up and you will have it the following morning. Live aquaria, from what I am told, has the people taking orders in an entirely different location than where the live stock is. If I'm home when you call me, I can go downstairs and take a look at the exact fish you are looking at on my site and see how good it's looking. Live aquaria will ship your order even with only a 90% fill rate. I will tell you flat out when you call that either I have everything, or I don't have XYZ, what do you want to do? Many places (I don';t believe live aquaria does) have a box charge plus heat pack charge. I just spent the last two hours while my boy napped making boxes out of shipping boxes and styro I bought at depot last night while watching Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown. No charge. In fact, UPS just delivered a case of heat packs to me which cost me a few hundred $. No charge. You can see the exact critter you are getting from me (clean up crews excluded)...etc etc etc. As you can see, IMHO it shouldn't always come down to simply who has the better guarantee. If I did millions a year I could guarantee my stuff for months.
K, time to put these boxes downstairs and vacuum before my wife comes home and flips over all the styro bits littering the livingroom.
Thanks again for your input.
I understand your reasoning, but I prefer the security blanket that Live Aquaria gives me... Might pay a bit more in some isntances, but if it gets here ok and then dies a couple days later, (and I'm not talking about an eel eating a crab or a suicidal jawfish) what have you REALLY saved? Nothing, yer out the animal, the cost of the animal and the cost of the shipping...
I always assume something will not survive the order and plan accordingly...
I always assume something will not survive the order and plan accordingly...
oh, about Live Aquaria's policy... I ordered a cleanup crew for my 55 and the Scarlett hermits were about 75% DOA and the rest were barely moving... I called the same day to report it and they shipped me 25 new ones the following week, 100% replacement, 100% free...
I've never ordered fish online before, but if I was going to order some, it'd be from JustPhish now. Sure LiveAquaria and Marine depot has gurantee, but that just shows me how big of a business they are. Not even LFS have gurantee on SW fish, simply because 1) not as high mark up as FW fish and 2) most SW fish are wild-caught, so unless it's 100 acclimated to tank environments, there's a good chance they could go belly up. Sounds like JustPhish not only cares about customer's money, but their time and effort as well. They want to do things right the first time, not the 2nd or the 5th time. For the time and serivice, I'd risk losing 40 or 50 bucks for a fish and get the respect, Screw big corporations, they just want your money (No Offense)
Sorry, when I'm buying a $100 fish, I'd rather know I'm covered if anything comes up than to know the guy that packed it with his own 2 loving hands... Yeah, I like helping little guys when I can, and if he sells dry goods I'll be happy to compare some prices, but the simple fact is that bad things happen during shipping and fish don't always make it...
When I first started my sw tanks I learned the hard what that Dwarf Zebra Lions are NOT good shippers... If I'd paid the LFS for em, I would have been out 2 fish and 80 bux... But, Marine Depot gave me credit on both of those fish...
To say you'd rather lose the 80 bux than support a "big corporation" is simply poor judgement...
Let me ask this instead...
If the package is so caringly wrapped, fish treated so well, blah blah blah, then why cant a warranty be given? Water quality? Require a water sample... It's pretty easy to tell a fresh batch of change water from some nice lived in tank water, both in appearance and under a microscope... Some places require you to take the same exact fish as the loss, which I think is a very good way to cover you incase you find, God forbid, someone that would rather order the Flame Angel, decide they don't like it, off it, then use the credit to order the Yellow Tang instead...
I fully understand the reasoning for not giving a warranty when you are small, but your reasoning for why one ISN'T needed frankly doesn't hold water...
When I first started my sw tanks I learned the hard what that Dwarf Zebra Lions are NOT good shippers... If I'd paid the LFS for em, I would have been out 2 fish and 80 bux... But, Marine Depot gave me credit on both of those fish...
To say you'd rather lose the 80 bux than support a "big corporation" is simply poor judgement...
Let me ask this instead...
If the package is so caringly wrapped, fish treated so well, blah blah blah, then why cant a warranty be given? Water quality? Require a water sample... It's pretty easy to tell a fresh batch of change water from some nice lived in tank water, both in appearance and under a microscope... Some places require you to take the same exact fish as the loss, which I think is a very good way to cover you incase you find, God forbid, someone that would rather order the Flame Angel, decide they don't like it, off it, then use the credit to order the Yellow Tang instead...
I fully understand the reasoning for not giving a warranty when you are small, but your reasoning for why one ISN'T needed frankly doesn't hold water...
