Dead Aquaria

[jmsalt1]

Well, after waiting forever for the stars to align with my work schedule and the availability of trimma cana gobies, I ordered 3 from Live Aquaria this week. Well, the title says it all. They arrive about 10 am today via UPS, all 3 were DOA. When the UPS guy dropped the box (I was home so I was on it immediately) it was not oriented correctly, imagine that. When I cut the box away from the Styrofoam container and opened it, all three fish were packaged separately. The first bag I removed, the poor fish was stuck to the upper portion of the bag out of the water because the box had been handled in a manner that caused the fish to shift and got stuck to the plastic bag. The other two were in the water, but dead. Maybe they got stuck out of the water as well only to shift again and fall back in the water dead. I chastised the CS person who I called immediately. Told her I can send pics of the dead fish still in the bags if she needed them but she didn't. The bags were at best, 1/3 full. Never again. This was the first time I've ordered fish online and I've been in the hobby for a long time. They refunded all but my shipping charges. Not sure if I want to order from them again so I haven't decided if I want to ask for a supervisor to get the shipping credited too. Basically, they will ship them for free when they are available and I order them again.

Very disappointed as I thought these guys knew what they were doing. I can see why the hobby gets a bad rap at times when stuff like this happens.

The flip side, I've been asking the my favorite local guy to get them for me and he hasn't come through yet but then again, I haven't pressured him much. I think he can probably get them and I will probably go that route.

Just wanted to share my first Live Aquaria experience.

 

[alb_56]

Every time I've ordered everything has gone great. All alive and very healthy. That's a bummer to get 3 DOA, sorry man. This is the first time I've ever heard of anything showing up dead from them. I've ordered four or five times and all went well.

 

[ct_vol]

I'm certain if that was all you ordered and they were all DOA, they'd refund shipping as well. I haven't had this problem with LA, as their shipping practices are typically top notch. I do recognize they do a better job out of their WI facility than CA. I wouldn't let one bad experience keep you from ordering again, but understand if you don't want to chance it.

 

[fishyfish22]

If it was that the fish were packed well but handled badly, then isn't the fault on the person/people who handled the package after it was shipped like the delivery man's?

 

[mnavick]

My experience with them was also top notch!
Achilles Tang fat and healty and started eating 1hr into QT.
Give them another shot, UPS can be brutal with there handling practices

 

[indyjaco]

I had a pair of clowns arrive DOA as well a couple months back from LA. It was part of another box that arrived earlier due to the clowns going out of stock. Using a cold pack when the weather is in a 60s and 70s did them in. I was not impressed.

 

[Reefnub]

I never had problems with them. Always professionally shipped and arrived in excellent condition.

 

[jmsalt1]

My experience must not be that of the majority or they would not be in business. However, it was my experience. Disappointing. I think they were mishandled during shipping. I will also say that the two bags where the fish wasn't stuck to the plastic bag were somewhat deflated, almost as if they weren't sealed (metal ring done by a machine to close the top of the bag) completely. Cabin pressure? I don't know. I guess I will give them another shot at it and will remind them of my first experience when I do. Back to coordinating my day off and their in stock availability, yippy.

 

[badsmitty]

I think LA is still a great place to buy from, & they will refund you shipping & all
you can't beat there 2 week guarantee
but I'm sure your disappointed
I don't think ups is as good of a shipper as fed ex
I've had a few problems since they changed shippers

 

[jmsalt1]

Just called and a supervisor approved crediting me back the shipping charges on my cc rather than as a credit for free shipping on my next order. I will say I appreciated them handling it that way instead given the circumstances.

 

[rocsec1]

Well at least they made it right as far as the cost went.