Buying fish online safer than buying in the store?

[Ocicat]

It seems that the LFS in the area (most? all?) do not offer any guarantees on their livestock.

Meanwhile, online vendors such as LiveAquaria (14 days) and VividAquariums (15 days) offer great guarantees.

Doesn't it make more sense to buy online?

 

[Bcollins111900]

it is hit or miss to me. I like to see what I am buying before I buy it so I prefer to buy from a reputable LFS. I am fortante to have Phishybusiness 15 mins from my house. To me a gurantee is good but if you buy from a reputable dealer a gurantee does not matter. Online vendors 95% of the time have better prices so it also depends on how deep your wallet goes.

 

[frenchie]

i got six line wrasse and 2 red mangrove plants coming tomorrow from marinedepotlive.com, plus have order coral and fish from saltwaterfish.com, thatpetplace.com, liveaquaria.com and all arrived alive once one of them can't remember which forget to send a gobie and i called them and they had no problem sending it i think it was liveaquaria.com.

i buy online mostly instead of lfs cause half the time pets store don't have what i want or they want to much money for it. The best is getting frags from on here though i've got great frags from a member here cheap.

 

[Letmegrow]

LFS have more Overhead to cover. The LFS stay open longer too, that means they have to pay employees for the duration they are open per week. Not just when they are shipping or recieving.

Online retailers get fish cheaper because they are usually closer to the wholesalers.

 

[Ocicat]

I just wish the LFS would offer guarantees like the online vendors do. I suppose that, unlike the LFS, it is critical to the livelihood of an online vendor to give that guarantee - otherwise very few people would order from them, because it would be way too risky without seeing the livestock first.

Online isn't always cheaper - vividaquariums.com wants $99.99 for a medium (4"-6") magnificent foxface. They say their fish are "hand-picked" - of course that is not possible for LFS in the midwest.

 

[frenchie]

true it can go both ways i seen drastic price differences online and at lfs especially between online store themselves

 

[MayoBoy]

CPE used to - they don't anymore? You could either get the guarantee or a 10% (I think) discount.

 

[Reggae Fish]

There is a reason they offer the guarantee. You don't get to see the fish, not to mention not getting to see if it is not eating, hiding, etc... In addition, you also have the stress of additional shipping. (one of the main reasons for the guarantee) Plus, unless you are buying over a certain amount, the shipping costs on some of them doesn't make it worth it. Plus, you are helping support the LFSs. I'm certainly not saying don't order from them because depending on what I'm looking for, I would too...However, usually the cons outweigh the pros.

BTW- CPE offers a guarantee I believe

 

[Chelsey]

CPE does offer a guarantee or 10% discount. Can't remember how long the guarantee lasts though.

 

[Fade]

2 weeks.

 

[Ocicat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8137597#post8137597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
CPE does offer a guarantee or 10% discount. Can't remember how long the guarantee lasts though.

Thanks guys, I will take a look there.

 

[DrBDC]

Most of the time you will know if they will make it or not just by looking at the fish. Only 2 times did I come home with a fish to die soon after. Once, (the second incident) I really didn't look at it as it was in a dark tank and all worked out well and he took care of me. I'd say where but if anyone reading this has historically bad water quality issues and a history of fish dying, they might badger the store to do the same which isn't fair.

The first time it happened was overnight and the next morning there were a dozen other little hippo tangs dead in thier tanks the next day when I went back in to return the fish. They gave a store credit which I guess could tick you off if you didn't need something else but I did so I didn't care. For the same reason I don't want to say that store's name.

But the short of it is, if you examine the fish and put away the "I really want that kind of fish" goggles, they will make it.

Just before hitting send I remember I had a 3rd incident with a couple of Bangaii cardinals that died over a period of about 3 weeks to a month. That appears to be so common that I never tried another one again and don't plan on it.

 

[Kathy55g]

I like to buy fish I can see. If you buy a clownfish, you could be buying a pet you will have for 20 years. I like to see how it swims and behaves and eats and all.

 

[kentrob11]

Just bought a fish from CPE- A Lunare wrasse. On Tues through Friday you can get the fish without a garuntee for %25 less than normal cost- My Lunare wrasse was $21...Prety close to what I see them online for.

 

[StupidsReef]

I haven't yet bought a fish from an on-line dealer. Just the LFS. But my reasons where due to the amount you have to spend online in order to make it worth the shipping. However, When ever I do get a saltwater tank again there is one fish I want that I have yet to find at the LFS so I will most likely have to go for the online dealer. For me it's all about the price, who is cheaper. Online couldn't deal if they didn't offer a guarantee, who would buy a fish you can't see, watch it eat, see it swim, and give it the general look over??

 

[rgpennell]

One thought is that many LFS will hold a fish for you. If they survive for a few days in the LFS tank they are probably good to go unless your tank has a problem. I assume that if they die before you pick them up from the LFS they won't charge you or give you store credit so in effect you get the same thing as a guarantee but better since you are able to actually see the fish before you buy. Correct me if I'm wrong.