Local fish store guarantees

[cba191]

I know most online sources have guarantees on livestock, but what about your local shops? Do yours provide any kind of guarantee?

 

[Peace River]

I have found that it varies from store to store. It is often limited, it is usually posted, and it is often interpreted differently based on the customer. In other words, it is pretty much like any store that is used to getting taken advantage of.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I figure that unlike an online retailer-- which due to selling 'sight unseen' fish, and tenuous shipping concerns-- has to beef-up a guarantee, probably an LSF just figures, 'If it dies from this tank to your tank, you're the one who killed it during the short car ride home.'

 

[smitten with ocean life]

nope. when i walk out the door with it im on my own

 

[Peair]

I know most online sources have guarantees on livestock, but what about your local shops? Do yours provide any kind of guarantee?

My LFS has very good prices on saltwater fish and coral colonies, lower than most, but once the fish and corals leave their store and it dies you eat it, now their freshwater fish and plants have a 7 day guarantee if they die, but you must have ok parameters because they will test your water.

 

[moxieandmirth]

My LFS has very good prices on saltwater fish and coral colonies, lower than most, but once the fish and corals leave their store and it dies you eat it, now their freshwater fish and plants have a 7 day guarantee if they die, but you must have ok parameters because they will test your water.

Very similar to what's in my area- 7 day on freshwater with testing, on your own for salt. One of my smaller lfs couldn't guarantee the fish but did order me a new one at cost, and that was super nice of him. Got my return business for sure.

 

[Goaway]

one local fish store is 14 days, even saltwater. The other lfs is 48 hours of time of purchase. And they really mean that.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I worked in a saltwater only LFS (a good one too) and no guarantee on anything once it leaves the door. There are so many variables that can affect the specimen once it leaves, so I understand.

 

[cba191]

one local fish store is 14 days, even saltwater. The other lfs is 48 hours of time of purchase. And they really mean that.

My starry goby lasted 30 hours

 

[Goaway]

It's complicated. I find saltwater fish to be very delicate. They are transferred from various systems and that's a lot of added stress. To top it off, their first captive holding chambers don't give them a very good diet and who knows what kind of parasites are in the systems.

 

[randomfishdude]

No, they couldn't if they wanted. They make less money than my dog

 

[Peace River]

 

[BryanM]

I know most online sources have guarantees on livestock, but what about your local shops? Do yours provide any kind of guarantee?

Mine do not.

In one special case I did convince them to agree to take a reef safe with caution fish back if it turned out to be a coral eater, but he's been a model citizen... Gold Flake Angel :)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I don’t think mine do either. Never personally asked, but they don’t seem like the stores to offer guarantees

 

[twentyleagues]

I guess in my case I get "special attention" as I have worked at 2 of the lfs in my area that I regularly shop at and I have sold fish and plant/macro algaes to most of the shops within an hour of me. The 2 I worked at have a guarantee on all of the fish, corals not so much. I mean if your water tests ok and the coral dies over night then yeah theyll usually do something for the customer. Water testing is required for fish and is usually 2 days on salt and 7 on fresh. It does have certain Q and A that need to fall in line though. When I was "in training" at the bigger one they give you info on acclimation to tell the customer and they sell acclimation kits (drip kits). Obviously this is for newbs but they still want you to go over their idea of proper acclimation with everyone. I guess really I have worked for 4 lfs in the past (just a random though as I type this) the other 2 had no guarantee on salt one didnt even have salt the other was only salt.

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

Anyone in the middle Tennessee area (Nashville) with a good LFS recommendation, specifically for fish? New to the area. Been doing my research online and can’t decide between music city aquatics and the aquatic critter. Both look like they have clean tanks and healthy livestock from what I can see online (YouTube videos and such). Any recommendation would help.

 

[Reefing102]

If I recall, one has a 48 hour, the other has I think a 3 or 7 day on all livestock except coral. I could be wrong. It’s been a few months since I’ve been in

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

If I recall, one has a 48 hour, the other has I think a 3 or 7 day on all livestock except coral. I could be wrong. It’s been a few months since I’ve been in

Are you from the Nashville area? Not concerned with livestock guarantee like the original poster. My question was more so who just has the nicer healthier overall fish? Does either store have quarantine procedures etc?

 

[JayM]

My go-to LFS doesn't have any guarantee, but will make it right if there's a problem within a reasonable time frame.

 

[Reefing102]

Are you from the Nashville area? Not concerned with livestock guarantee like the original poster. My question was more so who just has the nicer healthier overall fish? Does either store have quarantine procedures etc?

Oh no, I’m from Columbus Ohio area. I was responding to the OP.