Don't order fish
 

I ordered fish and plants two times. If you don't mind the very high
shipping cost, their plants are ok but fish orders are incomplete and
poor quality. Both of my orders were only partly filled and YOU DO NOT
GET A REFUND. If you're lucky you may get an in-house credit (to
have additional aggravation with your next order.) The quality of
livestock is poor and only DOA's are replaced. Compare this to
"Petsmart" were you get two weeks warranty; granted they don't
have some fish that are available at AAG but there are several better
mail order places.
The other problem is you can't talk to anyone and left messages are
ignored. If you send them an email it is also most often ignored. I
filed a complaint at BBB and I encourage you to order somewhere else.

Don't order fish
 

"Methuselah" wrote in message
ps.com...
I ordered fish and plants two times. If you don't mind the very high
shipping cost, their plants are ok but fish orders are incomplete and
poor quality. Both of my orders were only partly filled and YOU DO NOT
GET A REFUND. If you're lucky you may get an in-house credit (to
have additional aggravation with your next order.) The quality of
livestock is poor and only DOA's are replaced. Compare this to
"Petsmart" were you get two weeks warranty; granted they don't
have some fish that are available at AAG but there are several better
mail order places.
The other problem is you can't talk to anyone and left messages are
ignored. If you send them an email it is also most often ignored. I
filed a complaint at BBB and I encourage you to order somewhere else.
==========================
I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order. I get all mine at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket. Since both places know me they'll replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Don't order fish
 

On Sat, 2 Dec 2006 15:49:04 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:

I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order. I get all mine at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket. Since both places know me they'll replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.

That's fine if you are lucky to live near a well run PetSmart, PetCo,
etc. and you are not looking for anything unusual. Otherwise I'm not
sure what else you can do if you don't live near a good specialty LFS
that has what you want. The fish quality and health in my local
Petsmart and Petco are awful. You are very lucky down there in TN
Köi-Lö.


AAG is quite clear on their site that they are unavailable many days
of the week and that they only issue credit for DOA fish applied to
your next order. I called them once on their best day (Tues IIRC).
Someone answered promptly and gave good plant advice. Of course I
didn't have a big problem or complaint for them to deal with. The
shipping was so huge the one time I ordered plants there I have been
forever hesitant to order again. And also yes, Köi-Lö I don't like
the idea of ordering fish sight unseen either, although I have done it
before.

Don't order fish
 

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 2 Dec 2006 15:49:04 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:

I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order. I get all mine at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket. Since both places know me they'll replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.
------------
That's fine if you are lucky to live near a well run PetSmart, PetCo,
etc. and you are not looking for anything unusual. Otherwise I'm not
sure what else you can do if you don't live near a good specialty LFS
that has what you want. The fish quality and health in my local
Petsmart and Petco are awful. You are very lucky down there in TN
Köi-Lö.

That's the pits! When I was visiting relatives down in Atlanta GA the fish
at PetsMart were every bit as healthy and nice as up here in TN. We have a
Petco here but it's a long drive through heavy traffic and the PH of their
water is too different than what I have out here. With the long drawn out
acclimation process, I don't go there any more. Pet Supermarket has nice
healthy fish but a more limited selection. Aquarium plants there are really
nice and low priced, when they get them in.

AAG is quite clear on their site that they are unavailable many days
of the week and that they only issue credit for DOA fish applied to
your next order. I called them once on their best day (Tues IIRC).
Someone answered promptly and gave good plant advice. Of course I
didn't have a big problem or complaint for them to deal with. The
shipping was so huge the one time I ordered plants there I have been
forever hesitant to order again. And also yes, Köi-Lö I don't like
the idea of ordering fish sight unseen either, although I have done it
before.

I'm really surprised the stores near you don't have the same nice healthy
ones we have here since they all come from the same wholesalers. Find out
what day they get their shipments in and be there late in the afternoon.
That may give you a better chance to get something still in good health or
those oddballs we all watch for.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Don't order fish
 

"Köi-Lö" wrote in message
...

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 2 Dec 2006 15:49:04 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:

I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order. I get all mine at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket. Since both places know me they'll replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.
------------
That's fine if you are lucky to live near a well run PetSmart, PetCo,
etc. and you are not looking for anything unusual. Otherwise I'm not
sure what else you can do if you don't live near a good specialty LFS
that has what you want. The fish quality and health in my local
Petsmart and Petco are awful. You are very lucky down there in TN
Köi-Lö.

That's the pits! When I was visiting relatives down in Atlanta GA the
fish at PetsMart were every bit as healthy and nice as up here in TN. We
have a Petco here but it's a long drive through heavy traffic and the PH
of their water is too different than what I have out here. With the long
drawn out acclimation process, I don't go there any more. Pet
Supermarket has nice healthy fish but a more limited selection. Aquarium
plants there are really nice and low priced, when they get them in.

AAG is quite clear on their site that they are unavailable many days
of the week and that they only issue credit for DOA fish applied to
your next order. I called them once on their best day (Tues IIRC).
Someone answered promptly and gave good plant advice. Of course I
didn't have a big problem or complaint for them to deal with. The
shipping was so huge the one time I ordered plants there I have been
forever hesitant to order again. And also yes, Köi-Lö I don't like
the idea of ordering fish sight unseen either, although I have done it
before.

I'm really surprised the stores near you don't have the same nice healthy
ones we have here since they all come from the same wholesalers. Find out
what day they get their shipments in and be there late in the afternoon.
That may give you a better chance to get something still in good health or
those oddballs we all watch for.

That's one thing I've always wondered if I was doing the right thing. Do I
really want to get the fish the same day they arrive at the store. It seems
like a lot of stress on the fish to me.

Don't order fish
 

"John" wrote in message
et...

"Köi-Lö" wrote in message
...

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 2 Dec 2006 15:49:04 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:

I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order. I get all mine at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket. Since both places know me they'll replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.
------------
That's fine if you are lucky to live near a well run PetSmart, PetCo,
etc. and you are not looking for anything unusual. Otherwise I'm not
sure what else you can do if you don't live near a good specialty LFS
that has what you want. The fish quality and health in my local
Petsmart and Petco are awful. You are very lucky down there in TN
Köi-Lö.

That's the pits! When I was visiting relatives down in Atlanta GA the
fish at PetsMart were every bit as healthy and nice as up here in TN. We
have a Petco here but it's a long drive through heavy traffic and the PH
of their water is too different than what I have out here. With the long
drawn out acclimation process, I don't go there any more. Pet
Supermarket has nice healthy fish but a more limited selection. Aquarium
plants there are really nice and low priced, when they get them in.

AAG is quite clear on their site that they are unavailable many days
of the week and that they only issue credit for DOA fish applied to
your next order. I called them once on their best day (Tues IIRC).
Someone answered promptly and gave good plant advice. Of course I
didn't have a big problem or complaint for them to deal with. The
shipping was so huge the one time I ordered plants there I have been
forever hesitant to order again. And also yes, Köi-Lö I don't like
the idea of ordering fish sight unseen either, although I have done it
before.

I'm really surprised the stores near you don't have the same nice healthy
ones we have here since they all come from the same wholesalers. Find
out what day they get their shipments in and be there late in the
afternoon. That may give you a better chance to get something still in
good health or those oddballs we all watch for.

That's one thing I've always wondered if I was doing the right thing. Do I
really want to get the fish the same day they arrive at the store. It
seems like a lot of stress on the fish to me.
===================================
Yes, it's added stress but they do BETTER for me when I get them the same
day or the next morning. Be there shortly after the store opens. Better
another hour or two of stress than DAYS or even a few weeks of stress in the
store. No matter how devoted the employees are the tanks are often
overcrowded, a pleco is rasping a fish's slime coat, more aggressive fish
are getting all the food, parasites may be lurking etc.

But that's just my experience.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Don't order fish
 

Jolly Fisherman wrote:

I would NEVER order fish sight unseen by mail-order.**I*get*all*mine*at
PetsMart or PetSupermarket.**Since*both*places*know*me*they'll *replace
anything that dies even it's a little past the 14 days.

That's fine if you are lucky to live near a well run PetSmart, PetCo,
etc. and you are not looking for anything unusual.**Otherwise*I'm*not
sure what else you can do if you don't live near a good specialty LFS
that has what you want.

There are both good and bad on line vendors out there. A couple of good ones
I've ordered from are Anubias Design and Aquaboy Aquatics.

AD had the fish I ordered die before he could ship them. Since he had no
substitutes I wanted, he promptly refunded my money.

AA sent me two more than I ordered and threw in a few White Clouds for free.
The fish were shipped promptly and arrived in great shape.

I've also ordered MTS and vinegar eels on line and both vendors were good
vendors.

So let's not give up on online fish. If you wonder about a vendor, ask here
or in some other aquarium forum.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

Don't order fish
 

On Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:51:21 -0800, Larry Blanchard
wrote:

snip

I've also ordered MTS and vinegar eels on line and both vendors were good
vendors.

Just curious. Where did you get the vinegar eels?

So let's not give up on online fish. If you wonder about a vendor, ask here
or in some other aquarium forum.

Oh I'm not totally against it. I just got in an order last week of
Rams, Apistos, shrimp, MTS, and a plant. All either unavailable
locally (or unavailable at decent quality/health). But I have to
admit I prefer the idea of giving the fish a once over and picking out
exactly what I want or walking out the store without any commitment if
I don't like what I see.

Don't order fish
 

On Sun, 3 Dec 2006 22:50:32 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:

snip

That's the pits! When I was visiting relatives down in Atlanta GA the fish
at PetsMart were every bit as healthy and nice as up here in TN. We have a
Petco here but it's a long drive through heavy traffic and the PH of their
water is too different than what I have out here. With the long drawn out
acclimation process, I don't go there any more. Pet Supermarket has nice
healthy fish but a more limited selection. Aquarium plants there are really
nice and low priced, when they get them in.

We don't have "Pet Supermarkets" in the NE.

AAG is quite clear on their site that they are unavailable many days
of the week and that they only issue credit for DOA fish applied to
your next order. I called them once on their best day (Tues IIRC).
Someone answered promptly and gave good plant advice. Of course I
didn't have a big problem or complaint for them to deal with. The
shipping was so huge the one time I ordered plants there I have been
forever hesitant to order again. And also yes, Köi-Lö I don't like
the idea of ordering fish sight unseen either, although I have done it
before.

I'm really surprised the stores near you don't have the same nice healthy
ones we have here since they all come from the same wholesalers. Find out
what day they get their shipments in and be there late in the afternoon.
That may give you a better chance to get something still in good health or
those oddballs we all watch for.

That's the problem. They replenish the stock very infrequently. You
really have to get a straight and honest answer about when things are
coming in and be there then. The tank populations dwindle low for
months, then they get a big shipment, and surprise everything gets
Ammonia poisoning and look half dead. The employees always want to
tell me that "a new shipment is coming next week" so I'll come back.
But it's more like sometime in the next month or 2. Depending on when
things start to look embarrassingly pathetic.

The last time I was at the local Petsmart (20 mins away) I overheard
an employee complaining about how they used to carry such wonderful
stock but don't have the variety anymore. I'm convinced that in these
neighborhoods at least, the fish livestock don't really move and are
or are viewed as a loss leader for the dry goods. But that's just my
local assessment.

Don't order fish
 

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...

The last time I was at the local Petsmart (20 mins away) I overheard
an employee complaining about how they used to carry such wonderful
stock but don't have the variety anymore. I'm convinced that in these
neighborhoods at least, the fish livestock don't really move and are
or are viewed as a loss leader for the dry goods. But that's just my
local assessment.
===========================
I'm clueless as to what kind of area you live in but get the impression
you're not near any cities or large towns. You may have to plan a trip or
two to another city some distance away. A bigger city where there would be
more turnover of their stock. And CALL the store to make sure the shipment
came in before you dive or take a bus or train there.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Don't order fish
 

On Mon, 4 Dec 2006 22:37:39 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:


"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
.. .

The last time I was at the local Petsmart (20 mins away) I overheard
an employee complaining about how they used to carry such wonderful
stock but don't have the variety anymore. I'm convinced that in these
neighborhoods at least, the fish livestock don't really move and are
or are viewed as a loss leader for the dry goods. But that's just my
local assessment.
===========================
I'm clueless as to what kind of area you live in but get the impression
you're not near any cities or large towns. You may have to plan a trip or
two to another city some distance away. A bigger city where there would be
more turnover of their stock. And CALL the store to make sure the shipment
came in before you dive or take a bus or train there.

I know I must sound like a hick. Believe it or not I do actually live
near a major metropolitan area. But I've got 2 problems on my hands.
I'm currently interested in the less common FW stuff, and like the DIY
approach.

In these suburbs where I live ppl basically seem to either pay a
premium for a big custom tank or pond and get installation and
maintenance service or they buy a common fish and small bowel or tank
cluelessly for the kid, kill it, and then move on from the hobby.
Frankly my neighbor looks down on my tanks because they aren't huge &
marine. (If only the FW hobby was as cheap as she assumes).

I've found a couple of good shops but clearly need to do some more
exploring...

Don't order fish
 

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 4 Dec 2006 22:37:39 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:
I'm clueless as to what kind of area you live in but get the impression
you're not near any cities or large towns. You may have to plan a trip or
two to another city some distance away. A bigger city where there would
be
more turnover of their stock. And CALL the store to make sure the
shipment
came in before you dive or take a bus or train there.
=================
In these suburbs where I live ppl basically seem to either pay a
premium for a big custom tank or pond and get installation and
maintenance service or they buy a common fish and small bowel or tank
cluelessly for the kid, kill it, and then move on from the hobby.

Fortunately I'm in mostly a middle income area so we have all types of
ponders and tank owners here - from those with expensive sw setups to those
with small tanks with a few guppies. :-) We also have a fantastic
privately owned Aquarium store that sells nothing but fish and herps. It's
only 30 miles away. The place is huge and often has odd-ball fish you don't
see in the chain stores. I loved the place and try to get there every few
months.

Frankly my neighbor looks down on my tanks because they aren't huge &
marine. (If only the FW hobby was as cheap as she assumes).

I've found a couple of good shops but clearly need to do some more
exploring...

One Saturday my husband and myself checked out a few new pet stores in a
nearby city. We weren't overly impressed and some of the places were a bear
to even find, but it was fun! :-)
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Don't order fish
 

anyone ever buy anthing from http://www.aquabid.com/ ? I've ordered
from online vendors before, but hadn't thought about an auction...

Don't order fish
 

snotbottom wrote:

anyone ever buy anthing from http://www.aquabid.com/ ? I've ordered
from online vendors before, but hadn't thought about an auction...


Nobody ever bought anything from Aquabid, just from one or more of the various
vendors that reside there :-).

Some good, some bad, as I said about online vendors in general.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

Don't order fish
 

Jolly Fisherman wrote:

I've also ordered MTS and vinegar eels on line and both vendors were good
vendors.

Just curious.**Where*did*you*get*the*vinegar*eels?

An Aquabid vendor who goes by "Dragonlordno1" - $10 including shipping.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

Don't order fish
 

On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:08:20 -0800, Larry Blanchard
wrote:

Jolly Fisherman wrote:

I've also ordered MTS and vinegar eels on line and both vendors were good
vendors.

Just curious.**Where*did*you*get*the*vinegar*eels?

An Aquabid vendor who goes by "Dragonlordno1" - $10 including shipping.

Thanks.

Don't order fish
 

On 5 Dec 2006 14:37:15 -0800, "snotbottom"
wrote:

anyone ever buy anthing from http://www.aquabid.com/ ? I've ordered
from online vendors before, but hadn't thought about an auction...

Yes. But unless you are bidding from the same seller my experience is
irrelevant.

Don't order fish
 

Larry Blanchard wrote:

Nobody ever bought anything from Aquabid, just from one or more of the various
vendors that reside there :-).

Some good, some bad, as I said about online vendors in general.

Ok, ok... my bad for not being a bit more specific. I guess I wanted
to know it the site was legit in general. I hadn't thought of bidding
on live animals online before. I don't know why not, it makes as much
sense as bidding on anything else I suppose. What's next... Highprice
Hampster? Guinea bid? Topdollar Turtle?

he he... Thanks to those who replied to let me know that it is at
least worth checking out, but the rules for online auctions still
apply.

Cheers!

Don't order fish
 

On Tue, 5 Dec 2006 10:47:29 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:


"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 4 Dec 2006 22:37:39 -0600, Köi-Lö wrote:
I'm clueless as to what kind of area you live in but get the impression
you're not near any cities or large towns. You may have to plan a trip or
two to another city some distance away. A bigger city where there would
be
more turnover of their stock. And CALL the store to make sure the
shipment
came in before you dive or take a bus or train there.
=================
In these suburbs where I live ppl basically seem to either pay a
premium for a big custom tank or pond and get installation and
maintenance service or they buy a common fish and small bowel or tank
cluelessly for the kid, kill it, and then move on from the hobby.

Fortunately I'm in mostly a middle income area so we have all types of
ponders and tank owners here - from those with expensive sw setups to those
with small tanks with a few guppies. :-) We also have a fantastic
privately owned Aquarium store that sells nothing but fish and herps. It's
only 30 miles away. The place is huge and often has odd-ball fish you don't
see in the chain stores. I loved the place and try to get there every few
months.

Oh these pet super stores are in a solidly middle income area. But
that doesn't help. The stores are too close together and frankly I
don't think there is the local interest.

Frankly my neighbor looks down on my tanks because they aren't huge &
marine. (If only the FW hobby was as cheap as she assumes).

I've found a couple of good shops but clearly need to do some more
exploring...

One Saturday my husband and myself checked out a few new pet stores in a
nearby city. We weren't overly impressed and some of the places were a bear
to even find, but it was fun! :-)

Yeah I've done that. It was a bear that didn't yield much, but was
fun. Covered every store I could find that sold tanks and/or fish in
a 30 min radius. But I'm sure there's still more I could check out.
Probably will try again soon.

Don't order fish
 

I'd bet $100 I know where you live Jolly, and i would have to agree
your petsmart sucks. A year ago they had a good selection but its went
downhill. The Petco there sucks too. I spent alot of time searching
Omaha while I lived there for a good place, and I found one, but they
went out of business a couple weeks after I found them :( You think
you have it bad? I live in the tri-cities and we have a few LFS around
here but I dont buy ANYTHING from them, with the exception of feeders
for my clown knife. Thinking about doing a planeted aquarium? Good
luck! You won't find flourite or any other good substartes in
Nebraska. Period. I use www.drsfostersmith.com and www.aquabid.com.
Foster and Smith is a great vendor and i have ordered many many times
form them without ever a problem. Aquabid on the other hand is kind of
hit and miss. I've gotten some of my favorite fish (bettas and angels)
from vendors on there but I've been burned a couple times. The only
problem is shipping costs, but it costs me about $20 to drive to and
from your crappy petsmart and another $10 if I wanna go to the crappy
ones in Omaha. Consider yourself lucky all you people who have only 30
miles to a petstore, I got at least 100 before i'm willing to buy
anything.