How many customers of SWF are receiving DOA fish or other? Is the quality of fish that SWF carries, possibly a problem? Maybe there choice of shipping

[sdbardes]

This is now my second order from them of which after the couple hundred dollars that has been spent with SWF, I have received 2 DOA's on first order and 5 out of 9 on this second order. This is unacceptable as I need to keep dumping more money out to even recover partial loss. Nonetheless these are living things. Maybe more care should be handled, maybe the quality of the fish are poor, who knows. At the end of the day I am out money and I'm tired of flushing SWF products down my toilet. I can wipe my butt with the cash instead of killing living things. I know it is a tough business, but 2 times, I don't need a third. I have tried customer service "Mary" and she thinks that I should change my delivery and go to pick up at the shipping companies office. I didn't pick the delivery method as this is SWF's choice and is part of there business. As far as all the non-sense of taking pictures to prove there dead, really? Did that with my first order and still had to spend more money to even get the money that was mine and owed to me. Than you can't combine that money that is yours, the credit with any special offers, as we know SWF has a diferrent one everyday to get you to spend. I would rather they fulfill there order that I paid for. If I ordered a fish or any product, if it is dead, broken, you need to send the right thing and what I ordered to fulfill that agreement.

 

[bang guy]

Moving this to the appropriate Forum.

 

[sdbardes]

sorry bang guy, where was the appropriate place to put this as I usually don't post threads, thanks

 

[lilclowns]

That's why I buy my fish at the store lol

 

[sdbardes]

Yes I agree with you as the majority of my fish and inverts that still are a live today were from the local stores. If they were all bought from SWF, I wouldn't even have a saltwater tank or I would, it would just be empty, lol. Unfortunately, I thought I would have a better experience and that seems to be including customer service, lol

 

[sdbardes]

Actually, I can;t lie, I have a week old feather duster and emerald crab that I got from SWF that is doing fine. All my other fish and inverts totaling like 8 are all from local stores and I have had for a year. My levels I test all the time and prior to receiving this order I even had my local saltwater fish store confirm with my tests, EXCELLENT quality water. So I pose the question? Even the ones that are still alive that soon die, not counting the DOA's, where does this problem lye???? Is it SWF's poor quality, the shipping they have chosen? That's not even questioning or getting into the customer service "Mary" issues!! I am not into throwing money away nor kill living things

 

[sdbardes]

Bang guy, I see that you are a moderator and have experience in alot of conversations and fish, any guidance and or suggestions? thanks

 

[bang guy]

I can certainly empathize how terrible it is to receive a dead animal in the mail. I haven't had that problem with SWF.com though. I know there are a few that have similar experiences but it really needs to be worked out with the store side.

 

[sdbardes]

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your advice. It is just a shame when you go to improve your fish's habitat and you test and re-test water quality and do 3 hour acclimation for the fish that aren't doa and there really dead to. I don't even buy fish that aren't claimed to be anything but easy and hardy. What does that possibly say? Thanks bang guy

 

[sdbardes]

Anyone know of some good fish stores that have a little better quality and or service? I know there is one in Lancaster, Pa. That Pet Place, Also I believe the Hidden Reef in Phila. Pa. Anyone have any good recomendations as SWF is not so up to par

 

[lilclowns]

There is place that has a 14 day guarantee. It's a legit site, but I cannot put it up here. lol. Have you asked for a refund-is that possible?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdbardes http:///t/390264/how-many-customers-of-swf-are-receiving-doa-fish-or-other-is-the-quality-of-fish-that-swf-carries-possibly-a-problem-maybe-there-choice-of-shipping-is-part-of-problem#post_3455081
Anyone know of some good fish stores that have a little better quality and or service? I know there is one in Lancaster, Pa. That Pet Place, Also I believe the Hidden Reef in Phila. Pa. Anyone have any good recomendations as SWF is not so up to par

 

[sdbardes]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdbardes http:///t/390264/how-many-customers-of-swf-are-receiving-doa-fish-or-other-is-the-quality-of-fish-that-swf-carries-possibly-a-problem-maybe-there-choice-of-shipping-is-part-of-problem#post_3455081
Anyone know of some good fish stores that have a little better quality and or service? I know there is one in Lancaster, Pa. That Pet Place, Also I believe the Hidden Reef in Phila. Pa. Anyone have any good recomendations as SWF is not so up to par
Wish I could get rid of this quote, lol Hey lilclowns I appreciate your interests. I have had several e-mails with "Mary" I asked her to step up to the plate and I guess she than was done with me as she did not respond and wanted to use the shipping company as the excuse. I don't know, lol Last incident I had a dead lobster of which I took the picture of the dead lobster attached it and got the credit. Now if I want that lobster and to use my credit I need to spend what is it like$35-$40.00 for the shipping, lol. I then went to use my credit (of which would not allow me to put towards any other discounts, loo ARE THEY SERIOUS!!!!!)(ARE THEY FORGETTING THIS IS MY MONEY AS IT IS A CREDIT)and spent close to another hundred and wa lah, lol 5 of the 9 are dead. Do I really need this, I am paying for a product and or service that is not even being fulfilled and has no end in sight. Just keeping paying more to get what I should have received. At least that is how I was taught to do good business
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilclowns http:///t/390264/how-many-customers-of-swf-are-receiving-doa-fish-or-other-is-the-quality-of-fish-that-swf-carries-possibly-a-problem-maybe-there-choice-of-shipping-is-part-of-problem#post_3455033
That's why I buy my fish at the store lol

 

[snakeblitz33]

I've never had problems with swf and have been a happy customer since. That's not to say that occasionally there are problems, and it's generally promptly dealt with. Sorry for your losses, and I hope that you continue in the hobby.

 

[sdbardes]

Thanks. I don't believe this is there normal practice of business, but to get caught up in it, sucks and I guess we all learn are lessons. It is a hard business as these are living things being delivered, but I question there quality or fish health prior to shipment, because that is just to many fish dying. Thanks for your interest

 

[sdbardes]

How hard is it to kill peppermint shrimp, a wrasse and even a goby as these are easy and hardy fish. Am I wrong? At least that is what it had said on SWF before I purchased the dead fish, lol

 

[snakeblitz33]

Actually, I purchased a cleaner shrimp from a live fish store in town and took a 10 minute ride home and in another 5 minutes of temp acclimation before I even unbagged it for drip acclimation, the thing up and died. I whole heartily believe that it's not the intention of the business side of saltwaterfish.com to ship you dead fish. Sometimes it just happens. Realize that it's just as possible that a fish/shrimp/coral could die in the bag on the way from the store to your home like mine did. It's a chance that we take... I've also never gotten a fish from saltwaterfish.com that has ever come down with ich or any other disease. I might just be the lucky one here though.

 

[sdbardes]

Totally agree with you and most stores do now offer there guarantees and it does happen. 2 orders 7 fish dead, ahhh, tough one? Close to couple hundreds dollars. Ok, I can suck it up, where is there customer service, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. If you can't deliver what we pay for, than you better have a good customer service or something, LOL

 

[xcali1985]

I can say this, when I ordered from SWF 2 - Female Anthia, both looked dead on arrival. However, after acclimation on is still alive the other died. I was unable to take a picture as I have a full on reef and with it dying behind the rocks I didn't notice it until the crabs had almost fully eaten it.
I have bought fish from my LFS and all them have died. ALL OF THEM!
2 Anthia, 2 Firefish, 2 Wrasses, 1 Lionfish! None lasted a week. On the other hand, all the fish that have been delivered with the exception of the 1 anthia have all lived. Some were in the LFS for weeks, some I got before they even took them out of the bag.
There is a certain amount of money that will go down the drain in this hobby, as fish die, however, I think over the long run your successes will be greater than your losses.