Should I be upset or complain?

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

The vendor has already replied to OP, that was their opportunity to make things right.

Just one more sentence, you couldn't read just one more sentence??? Rofl.

I would at least give them the opportunity but do so in private first. But based on response prior they may have to go this route.

 

[EliMelly]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback with us. We truly value your input and want to take a moment to address your concerns regarding the image representation of the coral you received.

First, we want to assure you that we strive for transparency and accuracy in all our product images. The coral images on our website are captured using a Canon camera with a macro lens under a 20K blue spectrum lighting setup, which is standard in the aquarium industry for showcasing corals. This lighting enhances the natural fluorescence and coloration of the coral, which is how it would appear under similar blue-spectrum lighting in a reef tank. The photo you took is clearly under a more white daylight spectrum so would make any yellow color appear more green.

However, we understand that the appearance of the coral can vary significantly under different lighting conditions, such as the white light you used to capture your attached photo. White light tends to reveal more of the coral's natural pigmentation without the fluorescence that blue light accentuates. This difference in lighting is likely why the coral appears differently in your photo compared to the image on our website.

Regarding the title mentioning "yellow," we apologize if this caused any confusion. The coloration of corals can be subjective and influenced by various factors, including lighting, water parameters, and individual perception. We aim to provide descriptions that reflect the coral's appearance under the lighting conditions we use for photography.

Your reponse is pitiful. This is clear photoshop and you literally wrote yellow. This is far from yellow. Hopefully this thread pops up when people ask if they should purchase from Queen City corals.

I suggest you check out Dr Reef for how to do proper customer service and build up a client base.

OP I would submit for a refund with the credit card at this point.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The vendor has already replied to OP, that was their opportunity to make things right.

There is nothing to make right. It’s the same coral. Trusting images for color is setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[EliMelly]

There is nothing to make right. It’s the same coral.

They said it was yellow Bean.

 

[BeanAnimal]

They said it was yellow Bean.

I guess that depends on what light it is under.

I am torn on situations like this. When you buy a coral based on a photo you really need to pay attention. At the same time, where is the line on the vendor side as to what is too much enhancement.

Not defending this vendor, rather just stating that it is what this.

 

[GSPClown94]

There is nothing to make right. It’s the same coral. Trusting images for color is setting yourself up for disappointment.

I never said it was a different coral. The issue I see is with the color advertised and the color that the customer received. Is it acceptable to claim something is yellow only if it appears yellow under a specific spectrum of light? We should hold vendors accountable.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

To avoid these issues I think standard practice should be to either post filters and lighting specs in the about section with a little snippet in coral description to it or also post under lower kelvin (more white) lighting and no filter.

 

[Reefing102]

Just to throw my 2 cents in. Should you be upset, that’s up to you. I would be mad at myself but not necessarily at the vendor.

That said, I’ve bought a yellow sinularia from an LFS in person and it was a solid green in my tank. So it genuinely could be strictly lighting. The LFS was running Radions in a pure blue spectrum and the employee didn’t have access (or just didn’t know) how to turn the light to the whiter spectrum. Put it under halides (at the time) and it was a solid green sinularia.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I never said it was a different coral. The issue I see is with the color advertised and the color that the customer received. Is it acceptable to claim something is yellow only if it appears yellow under a specific spectrum of light? We should hold vendors accountable.

Accountable for what? There is no standard spectrum and none of our monitors show the same thing even if there was… and even if they all did, how is white balance being done when the photo is taken…

There are numerous variables at play, add to that post processing and expectations and buying a coral based on a photo is a crap shoot at best.

 

[Marco_99]

I guess that depends on what light it is under.

I am torn on situations like this. When you buy a coral based on a photo you really need to pay attention. At the same time, where is the line on the vendor side as to what is too much enhancement.

Not defending this vendor, rather just stating that it is what this.

They stated it is yellow and red. He received it green/red. The problem with this practice is it leaves the whole back door open for them to manipulate in any fashion they see fit, look you in the face, and go, yeah I don’t know bro,maybe your blue lights just aren’t like ours, but trust us bro, you saw the pic, that thing is yellow as the sun is big on our side. I would almost bet my house that there is a filter used on that picture taken. So where does the accountability lie in the hands of the seller to put forward what they are advertising?? Not a what it could’ve been, or what it should’ve been, or if you use these lights, or use these setting. It is the same coral that he bought sure, but It’s just the wrong color.

If we have to sit and dispute about being careful about what you buy, and how it may look, or how it’s represented, that tells me that the vendor should air on the side of caution and be more upfront about their product they are selling. But what’s really happening is they are going all in 150% to do everything magical to polish that turd for the main stage and it’s very disingenuous.

You need to receive what is being represented period. If I was gonna sell a blue truck but when I park it under the lights on 42nd street it looks purple. Should I advertise it as a purple truck?or is it still a blue truck? I mean, if I advertise it as a purple truck I’ll probably get more interest in it because it’s some rarity, right? Heck even my advertising picture shows the truck being purple under the 42nd street lights. Purple truck right? Right??

Accountability is dead nowadays, right along with customer service. And in a world full of AI , data harvesting, every turn you make anymore you’re being deceived, used, or manipulated. The dead Internet theory is so on our doorstep. So now you gotta deal with buying some color manipulated coral. If you are going to demand that kind of money, your product better back it up in spades, not this well let’s see what color I get this time for $599, Smh, it doesn’t end. This is a stand on business being upfront moral issue more than anything. they are playing a dangerous game of deception and it’s wrong.

 

[Marco_99]

There is nothing to make right. It’s the same coral. Trusting images for color is setting yourself up for disappointment.

The other thing is if they wanna put underneath the picture that you may receive this coral in many X color variations, purple, violet, aqua, brown, im fine with that. But it is ADVERTISED and they are telling you it is a yellow and red such n such, so I better get a yellow and red one. But yes, there should be 100% disclaimer on all these vendor sites about receiving something of different color, but many don’t do it because that will hurt their sales cause it will put doubt in your mind on rolling $399 on a chance, the manipulation game is over at that point, they’re showing you their hand.

 

[BeanAnimal]

They stated it is yellow and red.

It depends on the light that it is viewed under.

You need to receive what is being represented period.

Except that what is presented in a photo or description is not going to match what you see in person.

Set expectations accordingly. It is that simple. Use common sense, usual queues, reality, etc. and roll your dice accordingly,

Are some vendors better than others? Certainly. But again, given the variables, drawing the line between honest and dishonest is rather hard.

Have a nice evening.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The other thing is if they wanna put underneath the picture that you may receive this coral in many X color variations, purple, violet, aqua, brown, im fine with that. But it is ADVERTISED and they are telling you it is a yellow

Change the light and it could be any color. See my post above. Not comfortable with the gamble, then don’t spend the money based on a photo.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Not sure how hard it is to post what you see. I am using my phone camera and orange glasses. 7700 for the colorful and 4400ish for the more dull 2nd set and what I see without glasses. Both are using the orange glasses to adjust. It is almost spot on in person the center mouth part is almost golden yellow. It still shows here as almost a lime green that's still slightly lighter than the outer part of the mouth that's green. The stripes I see are a dull gold while not quite in image in first 2 pic.

While I was doing a picture with it open, it decided to close up on some floating food or I bumped it lol

The last pic I played with the photo editor just to bring out the slight yellow. But I noticed the rock in the back ground looks almost exactly like it does in more white light in tank.

With what I see with glasses

With what I see without

To bring out yellow and messing with editor took more work.

 

[KandAReefs]

I never said it was a different coral. The issue I see is with the color advertised and the color that the customer received. Is it acceptable to claim something is yellow only if it appears yellow under a specific spectrum of light? We should hold vendors accountable.

I would question if you can get the color under any reef lightning at all. When you see massive changes in color I suspect the photo was manipulated or is under lighting that is not used for reefing at all. A lot of dishonesty going on here and unfortunately it is all to common.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

It's magic my green elegance turned yellow it only took several layers of camera filtering and changing the tone labout 3 layers . But it's just the lighting...

 

[KandAReefs]

It's magic my green elegance turned yellow it only took several layers of camera filtering and changing the tone labout 3 layers . But it's just the lighting...

Quick post it for sale lol.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Quick post it for sale lol.

I'll just say it's their lighting when they get it!

 

[DHill6]

I run a Kessil 500x towards the blue, all coral I’ve ordered from this vendor has been spot on with the photos from their website. Yellows are yellows. I’m a repeat customer of high end and will continue to support this vendor.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I run a Kessil 500x towards the blue, all coral I’ve ordered from this vendor has been spot on with the photos from their website. Yellows are yellows. I’m a repeat customer of high end and will continue to support this vendor.

Which is odd as I have heard a lot of great things about this vendor but this wasn't one of those and it's pretty blatant.