jefra
Active Member
Placed an order for this coral on LiveAquaria, a long-polyped pink Goniopora.
... but received this coral instead, a short-polyped, encrusting green Goniopora.
I emailed LiveAquaria expressing my surprise and disappointment, they responded with the following:
"Thank you for your email. We apologize you are unhappy with the specimen received. We would like to note that under the photograph on the web page it states "Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided." The color form of this one states blue that is the blue centers of the polyp. After reviewing your photo you have received the correct specimen."
The bolded quote is in tiny print in italics under the first picture. Barely legible, and still doesn't explicitly state you may receive an entirely different coral in another color and form.
I replied with the following:
"This is not an acceptable outcome for me. "Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided" — does not mean an entirely different coral. This is a short polyped and green Goniopora coral, the picture is of a long polyped and pink coral. Those are two very drastic differences in morphology.
Furthermore, the coral is not blue in any way, but green. As an experienced hobbyist, I don't read the "Quick Stats" where it states this coral is blue since I'm perfectly aware of the necessary water parameters. This item should have been identified as a different color much more prominently, such as in the "Select Product" menu (picture included for reference) like your company does for nearly every other coral on the website."
(Select Product/Color Options used on other corals but not this one)
They responded with essentially the same message they wrote the first time. They're refusing to refund or give me any kind of compensation whatsoever. Very disappointed with this experience, especially considering I've spent $1,000 with LiveAquaria in April alone. I'll no longer be using them.
... but received this coral instead, a short-polyped, encrusting green Goniopora.
I emailed LiveAquaria expressing my surprise and disappointment, they responded with the following:
"Thank you for your email. We apologize you are unhappy with the specimen received. We would like to note that under the photograph on the web page it states "Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided." The color form of this one states blue that is the blue centers of the polyp. After reviewing your photo you have received the correct specimen."
The bolded quote is in tiny print in italics under the first picture. Barely legible, and still doesn't explicitly state you may receive an entirely different coral in another color and form.
I replied with the following:
"This is not an acceptable outcome for me. "Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided" — does not mean an entirely different coral. This is a short polyped and green Goniopora coral, the picture is of a long polyped and pink coral. Those are two very drastic differences in morphology.
Furthermore, the coral is not blue in any way, but green. As an experienced hobbyist, I don't read the "Quick Stats" where it states this coral is blue since I'm perfectly aware of the necessary water parameters. This item should have been identified as a different color much more prominently, such as in the "Select Product" menu (picture included for reference) like your company does for nearly every other coral on the website."
(Select Product/Color Options used on other corals but not this one)
They responded with essentially the same message they wrote the first time. They're refusing to refund or give me any kind of compensation whatsoever. Very disappointed with this experience, especially considering I've spent $1,000 with LiveAquaria in April alone. I'll no longer be using them.
