I just wanted to share a really terrible experience I just had with AquariumFishDepot.com to help anyone researching ordering from them.
I placed a $350 order last month for 4 fish. Because I was over a certain $ threshold I got free shipping and boxing fees. The fish arrive and 3 are near death. They need pictures, videos, and detailed descriptions of my acclimation process, but finally agree to a 'gift card' for two of the fish, for about $200. Only 1 of the 4 fish lives past a couple days.
So the other day I take a look at the site and place another order. Only now, since I'm just trying to use the 'gift card', I don't hit the threshold for free shipping and boxing. Its $60. So although I got 'refunded' for the two fish, I can only afford $140 worth of fish. Well, that's only enough to replace 1 of the 2, so I order 1 fish.
It comes dead. Totally dead, completely shredded from either rough handling or just panicking to death in the bag. I send a video, they don't respond at all, but issue a 'gift card' in the amount of price of the fish, $120. So I email them and explain, this doesn't work out: given your shipping and boxing fees, that original $200 gift card is now going to get me a $60 dollar fish? They say tough luck, their details are on the website, get ******.
So basically I'm out $350 with 1 fish to show for it. And I'm wondering, are they shipping dead fish to skip out on their refunds? Who knows, its a crap shoot.
So far, my experiences ordering fish online are below. Let me know if you have had different experiences or know of other vendors and I'll update this for future searchers:
S Tier: Blue Zoo Aquatics
B Tier: Live Aquaria
F Tier: Aquarium fish Depot, SaltwaterFish.com
I placed a $350 order last month for 4 fish. Because I was over a certain $ threshold I got free shipping and boxing fees. The fish arrive and 3 are near death. They need pictures, videos, and detailed descriptions of my acclimation process, but finally agree to a 'gift card' for two of the fish, for about $200. Only 1 of the 4 fish lives past a couple days.
So the other day I take a look at the site and place another order. Only now, since I'm just trying to use the 'gift card', I don't hit the threshold for free shipping and boxing. Its $60. So although I got 'refunded' for the two fish, I can only afford $140 worth of fish. Well, that's only enough to replace 1 of the 2, so I order 1 fish.
It comes dead. Totally dead, completely shredded from either rough handling or just panicking to death in the bag. I send a video, they don't respond at all, but issue a 'gift card' in the amount of price of the fish, $120. So I email them and explain, this doesn't work out: given your shipping and boxing fees, that original $200 gift card is now going to get me a $60 dollar fish? They say tough luck, their details are on the website, get ******.
So basically I'm out $350 with 1 fish to show for it. And I'm wondering, are they shipping dead fish to skip out on their refunds? Who knows, its a crap shoot.
So far, my experiences ordering fish online are below. Let me know if you have had different experiences or know of other vendors and I'll update this for future searchers:
S Tier: Blue Zoo Aquatics
B Tier: Live Aquaria
F Tier: Aquarium fish Depot, SaltwaterFish.com