Receiving Coral w/o a heat pack

[Bear22]

What uber-lame vendor would package up a frag (or fish) with no heatpack in winter? I must admit that quality control/customer service with some of these vendors lately has been questionable and I am being "nice".

 

[NeutronMan]

How much are heat packs costing right now? A dollar? Makes me wonder what the seller was trying to prove here…They have some sort of special power or something?

I never understand why sellers cut such tiny corners involving multi hundred dollar transactions.

Are they a regular here? If so, I’d hope that they’re reading this and re-thinking their unusual approach.

 

[exnisstech]

UPS delay is not the sellers fault. No heat packs in the winter is negligence. The coral very well could have survived an extra day had it been packaged properly. I would file with CC for a full refund and be done with the seller. No way I'm letting them keep half the money and waiting a year for a frag that may never arrive. What if the seller has a tank crash or the colony dies 9 months from now?

 

[NeutronMan]

UPS delay is not the sellers fault. No heat packs in the winter is negligence. The coral very well could have survived an extra day had it been packaged properly. I would file with CC for a full refund and be done with the seller. No way I'm letting them keep half the money and waiting a year for a frag that may never arrive. What if the seller has a tank crash or the colony dies 9 months from now?

This brings up something I’ve been meaning to ask: I don’t think PayPal is helpful in these cases since “something” arrived and they have no clue what a live coral should look like. When using the CC chargeback route, which CC are known to be successful for this situation?

On a $100 frag pack, I’m probably not going to bother (just leave negative feedback here) but on a $1000 one, I’m definitely going to persue.

Interested in what others have been successful with.

 

[exnisstech]

I only use one CC and my company has been very good the few times I have filed a dispute. I have not filed for a refund through PayPal before but I thought that a claim could be filed for an item that arrives "not as described" but I could be wrong. The only issue I've had with live stock was when ASD tried to keep my payment for an item they failed to ship. I ended up getting a refund.

 

[Bear22]

I only use one CC and my company has been very good the few times I have filed a dispute. I have not filed for a refund through PayPal before but I thought that a claim could be filed for an item that arrives "not as described" but I could be wrong. The only issue I've had with live stock was when ASD tried to keep my payment for an item they failed to ship. I ended up getting a refund.

I am experiencing similar issues with ASD as I type this. No email responses from ASD. No return of phone calls. Nothing...

 

[exnisstech]

I am experiencing similar issues with ASD as I type this. No email responses from ASD. No return of phone calls. Nothing...

They border on criminal IMO and I'll never deal with them again but that's already been discussed here so I'll leave it at that. I had to threaten a dispute and they finally refunded the payment. I never did receive a replacement clam for the one that arrived gaping and didn't last 24 hrs. I did get some free aiptasia with the gaping clam so I probably should be satisfied with that

 

[NeutronMan]

They border on criminal IMO and I'll never deal with them again but that's already been discussed here so I'll leave it at that. I had to threaten a dispute and they finally refunded the payment. I never did receive a replacement clam for the one that arrived gaping and didn't last 24 hrs. I did get some free aiptasia with the gaping clam so I probably should be satisfied with that

I see you’re a tank half full kinda guy?

 

[Bear22]

They border on criminal IMO and I'll never deal with them again but that's already been discussed here so I'll leave it at that. I had to threaten a dispute and they finally refunded the payment. I never did receive a replacement clam for the one that arrived gaping and didn't last 24 hrs. I did get some free aiptasia with the gaping clam so I probably should be satisfied with that

Yep, lesson learned on my part as well - I won't ever attempt another purchase with them in the future.

IMO, decent customer service is essential in the business and word get's out quick if it's not there.

 

[RobynR]

Part of what helped I think was I called UPS and got them to to put it in a “climate controlled environment” and off of the usual spot that they’d keep it. Even 65-68 degrees is lots better than leaving it waiting on the loading dock for the next day. I even got FedEx to send it out on a late truck one time. I highly recommend trying the carriers customer service if it happens again.

Thanks for this information. Unfortunately I tried calling UPS customer service, but I couldn’t get a hold of anyone I think due to the recent surge in delayed packages. They were just inundated with callers.

I’m not sure how it works in your area but in mine, I have all my regular delivery people’s phone numbers, for this reason. Not for livestock, but because it’s already so messed up we need to keep in touch for work deliveries. If you have regular delivery people who have consistent routes, can you get their numbers, that way when you have something like livestock coming give them the heads up? They might be able to then give the warehouse a heads up so if they not picking it up until next day, someone can put it in their office or something.

Not sure this is realistic or not, we get dozens of packages a week so have A LOT of contact with multiple different delivery companies, therefore close relationships, so it allows asking for this type of thing. I just text them and let them know I’m expecting something.

 

[fluffynemo]

That's unfortunate, I was hoping to help out.

Thank you so much for the offer. I can DM you about it. Me dropping the coral name would be a dead giveaway.

 

[fluffynemo]

No heat pack right now is definitely crazy if thats the question lol, id even expect 2 packs right now.

Yes, that is indeed the question at hand. I feel better today, just had to sleep on it. Seriously I’d just straight up refuse to ship if I didn’t have the essential materials to ensure a safe journey.

 

[fluffynemo]

I’m not sure how it works in your area but in mine, I have all my regular delivery people’s phone numbers, for this reason. Not for livestock, but because it’s already so messed up we need to keep in touch for work deliveries. If you have regular delivery people who have consistent routes, can you get their numbers, that way when you have something like livestock coming give them the heads up? They might be able to then give the warehouse a heads up so if they not picking it up until next day, someone can put it in their office or something.

Not sure this is realistic or not, we get dozens of packages a week so have A LOT of contact with multiple different delivery companies, therefore close relationships, so it allows asking for this type of thing. I just text them and let them know I’m expecting something.

That’s a genius idea! We recently moved so in need to become friendly with the delivery crew.

 

[fluffynemo]

I am experiencing similar issues with ASD as I type this. No email responses from ASD. No return of phone calls. Nothing...

I’m sorry about your experience with them. Running a business is extremely difficult… I fully get it. I bought from them early in my reefing days. I received a hammer with BJD and it wiped my LPS, at that point I was a novice. I nearly stopped reefing bc of it. I think it’s paramount to send healthy corals out especially when shipping but everyone seems to be looking for quick buck. It’s rare to find good people/vendors that have a good moral compass.