scarter
New member
This is a summary of my experience with MD:
the short and sweet, I have recently ordered online with MD. I recieved two shipments of a 2k order. I had three issues with the equipment that I recieved, I will only discuss one of these issues. I consequently recieved a piece of equipment that does not work properly. I contacted MD about this issue. They advised me that there was nothing that could be done about the defective equipment and that I shoud try to contact the company that makes the product, the response was "Marine Depot does NOT warranty ANYTHING". that comment made me very upset that I had spent so much money and was haveing an issue returning an $80 product that was defective. I was also a little put off by the use of caps to drive home to me that I wasnt going to be able to return anything, seemed slightly unprofessional...
I have read on these threads where people really try to trash company's. complaining about things that they would never complain about if the product had been bought from a LFS. I did some contemplating and came to this conclusion. I purchaced 2k worth of stuff from an Online company that would have easily cost me $2400 at my LFS, an instant $400 savings. did I get burned on an $80 product? yes I did. Am I still ahead of the game for the money that I saved? Yes I am.
People scour online company's for the cheapest price and demand free shipping. for the company this means rock bottom priceing and eating costs in shipping fluxuations. so doesent it make sence that a company that sold you something at a rock bottom price is not willing to accept every return that came by? I think it does, if everyone returned half of their stuff MD would be out of business or would need to increase prices to compensate for the loss of goods.
My point is this: Company's do what they need to do to survive in the niche that they choose. MY LFS charged me $285 for a fixture that I could have bought online for $199. That fixture was defective and stoped working about a year after I bought it. I returned it to the LFS and was given a new fixture. No reciept, no questions, they smiled when I came through the door and knew my name. the lamp was way out of warranty and I am sure that they recieved no credit from the manufacture. I returned that fixture with ease when I should not have been able to do so.
if I had ordered that same fixture online I would have had the same experience. I am quite sure that i would not have been able to return it, but woild have paid 30% less.
I am glad that I have thought this through and would like to share with others. it all comes down to what you value, if you dont mind paying to much for your equipment and enjoy the freedom of returning anything you want at any time that you want, then visit your LFS. if you want rock bottom prices with a risk of recieving defective equipment, order online.
The reason that I wrote this message is to inform people like myself, who treasure customer service, to bear in mind the limitations of online companys. if you order in large quantities as I do you will allways come out ahead. If it tears you up inside to get burned on one or two products then stay away.
will I order from MD again? I am waiting on a $650 order that should be here any minute....
S. Carter
the short and sweet, I have recently ordered online with MD. I recieved two shipments of a 2k order. I had three issues with the equipment that I recieved, I will only discuss one of these issues. I consequently recieved a piece of equipment that does not work properly. I contacted MD about this issue. They advised me that there was nothing that could be done about the defective equipment and that I shoud try to contact the company that makes the product, the response was "Marine Depot does NOT warranty ANYTHING". that comment made me very upset that I had spent so much money and was haveing an issue returning an $80 product that was defective. I was also a little put off by the use of caps to drive home to me that I wasnt going to be able to return anything, seemed slightly unprofessional...
I have read on these threads where people really try to trash company's. complaining about things that they would never complain about if the product had been bought from a LFS. I did some contemplating and came to this conclusion. I purchaced 2k worth of stuff from an Online company that would have easily cost me $2400 at my LFS, an instant $400 savings. did I get burned on an $80 product? yes I did. Am I still ahead of the game for the money that I saved? Yes I am.
People scour online company's for the cheapest price and demand free shipping. for the company this means rock bottom priceing and eating costs in shipping fluxuations. so doesent it make sence that a company that sold you something at a rock bottom price is not willing to accept every return that came by? I think it does, if everyone returned half of their stuff MD would be out of business or would need to increase prices to compensate for the loss of goods.
My point is this: Company's do what they need to do to survive in the niche that they choose. MY LFS charged me $285 for a fixture that I could have bought online for $199. That fixture was defective and stoped working about a year after I bought it. I returned it to the LFS and was given a new fixture. No reciept, no questions, they smiled when I came through the door and knew my name. the lamp was way out of warranty and I am sure that they recieved no credit from the manufacture. I returned that fixture with ease when I should not have been able to do so.
if I had ordered that same fixture online I would have had the same experience. I am quite sure that i would not have been able to return it, but woild have paid 30% less.
I am glad that I have thought this through and would like to share with others. it all comes down to what you value, if you dont mind paying to much for your equipment and enjoy the freedom of returning anything you want at any time that you want, then visit your LFS. if you want rock bottom prices with a risk of recieving defective equipment, order online.
The reason that I wrote this message is to inform people like myself, who treasure customer service, to bear in mind the limitations of online companys. if you order in large quantities as I do you will allways come out ahead. If it tears you up inside to get burned on one or two products then stay away.
will I order from MD again? I am waiting on a $650 order that should be here any minute....
S. Carter
if you should return the item to Marine Depot...not all vendors are created equal, Premium Aquatics or Dr. Foster has great return policy and does not charge a 10% restocking fee. Please read the fine print.
