Is this Standard Practice?

[ca1ore]

My guess, and it IS just a guess, is that LA/DD hasn’t been particularly profitable in the past and they are making some changes to try to change that. I do agree that it’d be better to just build the box charge into fish/coral prices if everyone gets the charge. Versus airlines, for example, that charge to check a bag but not everyone does. If LA/DD cannot be acceptably profitable, Petco will close them down - I’d personally hate to see that happen.

FWIW, while it seems fashionable to ascribe negative or even nefarious intentions to LA/DD, my personal experience with them both prior and since Petco has been completely positive despite the various silly conspiracy theories. Yes, there have been issues, but those have always been resolved in a way I’d deem to be reasonable. So, policy changes are certainly not illegal, nor do I see any of this stuff as dishonest. If you’re buying online, read the policies first.

 

[dmh41532]

Most online retailers now have to collect sales tax. I didn’t know about the box fee, I haven’t ordered from them in a while. But I do see their reasoning for it, the boxes heat packs styrofoam containers all cost money. I’ve order from other vendors that charged a box fee. I really don’t see it as being dishonest or illegal. I see They also changed their guarantee policy, expert level fish are now exempt from the extended guarantee.

 

[fcmatt]

The one thing that goes through my head are most of the people complaining the ones who never owned or ran a business?

But yes.. they should mention all charges up front. More honest.

But if you want quality service, healthy livestock, good shipping containers, a qt process in place, and etc etc be prepared to pay a premium. End of story.

 

[NeutronMan]

Doesn’t matter to me. I check multiple places and choose the one with the lowest total price.

 

[Billldg]

I personally don't see a problem with it. Do I want to pay more, OF COURSE NOT, but what are you going to do, it is what it is. Eventually they will all go to it whether you like it or not. I will still buy from some vendors because I like the service I have gotten from them in the past, and I feel I am getting better fish than from my LFS.

This is funny because when ever something goes up in price people start to complain, but a year or so down the road its no big deal. Perfect example is gas, several years ago it was a dollar or even less in GA, then all of a sudden the gas company's and states realize they were missing out on profit, so they either raised the price or taxed the heck out of it and people FREAKED!!! Gas went almost 2 dollars a gallon and company's were starting to ration gas and consumers were freaking out. NOW, $2.50 to $3.00 dollars gas is no big deal.

 

[mrpizzaface]

I know vendors offer “free shipping” , but the shipping cost is factored into the pricing strategy of their goods, therefore the whole notion of free shipping is misleading.

 

[Dugless]

DD prices have gone through the roof lately. I’ve seen prices jump 20-30% in just a few months on many different fish.

I’m not sure you’d find anyone to agree a box charge isn’t associated with shipping. It would be best for LA to update their marketing stance as not to alienate customers. Sadly a lot of the DD benefits have been watered down in the last few years and it wouldn’t surprise me if things continue to trend in this direction unfortunately.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

It has been a couple of months since I ordered from LA. I've spent $$$$ over the years with them and am dismayed by the direction the new ownership is taking them but not surprised. Looks like I'll be spending future $$$$ elsewhere.

New ownership? Who owns it now and when did petco sell?

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I don't like it but do understand why they are doing it. The BEST way to show disapproval is with our money. If we stop buying from them due added fees it will force them to reevaluate.

 

[ReefRy]

To me, LA hasnt been the same since petco took over. They dissolved Drs Fosters and Smith altogether, which is a shame. Customer service was once a huge selling point, but now it has taken on a corporate feel, where everything is disputed or challenged, almost to the point of being offensive. Luckily, Amazon will eat them in a few years, so until then, I wont spend my hard earned there unless given no other option.

 

[motortrendz]

I've ordered a bunch of stuff from them, until the new pricing. I've also. Noticed their fish prices have jumped about 30% as well. I used to not worry about paying 20% more for e nice divers den fish with the 14 day guarantee. But now with all the added fees and price jump. Honestly I'm done with them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yellow tang:
DD- $79.99 + ship + box
LFS - 39.99

orange spot rabbit:
DD - $79.99 for 1.5-2” + box + shIP
LFS - $44.99 for 2-2.5”

THE LIST GOES ON !!

 

[ZoWhat]

I would like to hear opinions from my fellow reefers on the box fee charge from LiveAquaria. They advertise shipping as free if purchasing $149+ and $29.00 for orders below that amount. It’s not until checkout or if you find the fine print that they inform you of the box charge. You also get to pay taxes on shipping and the box fee which puts it closer to $45.00. Is it dishonest, illegal, or standard practice for online livestock dealers to put hidden fees in? To me it is at least dishonest because shipping is not $29 or free, but they hide that. I’ve spent around $2000 with them, but I’m considering other choices. Just tell me the truth without hiding what you’re doing.

Have you not bought a 1) house, 2) a new car, 3) a new cellphone thru a carrier, 4) tires????

Each other those 4 example all have HIDDEN fees you wont know about until the bill comes AFTER you've made a contractual agreement. [Unless you paid a $200/hr lawyer to sit next to you during the transaction)

Lol. It's called Real Life where retailers pad their forever shrinking margin to get some sort if pure profit back INTO the original price.

 

[lavoisier]

I do not think the issue is whether the box fee is dishonest or not. I think the issue is if I am willing to pay it. I am not! I visited my LFS for the first time in years yesterday. I picked up a medium Powder Blue Tang for $70 ($109 on LA) and 5, 1 1/2" - 2" fully encrusted sps and lps frags for $25 each. The frags were from the "high end" tank. Three other tanks of frags from $20 down to $5.

I had gotten so used to buying from LA and other online vendors (who used to be much less expensive than LFSs) that I missed a fundamental market shift. I will be shopping at my LFS regularly from now on.

 

[EmdeReef]

Definitely not illegal but they could be more transparent about the box charge, although $10 isn’t the end of the world.

My issue with LA/DD is that they’ve raised their prices overnight (in some cases doubled). I’m somewhat addicted to checking the DD daily and have ordered many fish from them but I don’t understand how they can justify these price hikes...perhaps if they implemented a more stringent QT protocol...

 

[EMeyer]

I'm a big bargain shopper but this doesnt bother me at all.

Taxes are charged by law, no company should be criticized for that.

Box charges... whoever compared it to Amazon or Pizza missed the point. They're not charging you for the cardboard box. Theyre charging you for the cost of a heat pack or ice pack, and a nice thick insulated box. Before you complain about what they charge you for these, you might look into what it costs to purchase them. You may be surprised. Those styrofoam coolers are pricey.

Its possible the $10 box charge doesnt even cover the true cost of these.

For me, its all about total purchase price. LA rarely wins, but when they come out lowest I don't hesitate to buy from them.

 

[mshonk]

FYI it is mentioned under their shipping policy. I get that its not displayed with banner promoting free shipping but it is there.

 

[Thaxxx]

To me, it’s extremely deceptive and borderline false advertising. Everyone knows what free shipping is. A box charge is not free shipping. Can you imagine if amazon charged you $10 box charge on every order whole advertising free shipping?

I’ve ordered from LA countless times over the past 10+ years, but I will NOT be paying a box charge.

This is similar to the info commercials that say "free Shipping" and in very fine print "processing and Handling fee separate"

 

[don_chuwish]

Interesting angle on the cost of the packaging - we get frozen raw dog food from Darwin. Comes in a big styrofoam lined box with dry ice. They include a UPS return shipping label for the empty box. They get it back and the customer doesn’t have to dispose of (waste) the packaging.
The cost is most definitely built into the overall pricing.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think the consensus is not disputing the box charges and addons although they deem it unfair and non-disclosed but when you take those add-ons and factor in $20-49 increase in price of livestock, in essence a $40 fish can be well over $100 shipped and the LFS price is maybe $45.
That is a Deal breaker especially when fish is being shipped and no telling its health until it arrives, that is if it arrives or arrives late, even an additional night