themarinecenter.com- good at misleading!

[nvillacci]

Quoted from themarinecenter.com's website at http://themarinecenter.com/dfwrockspecials+.htm

"Marine Center gives you free shipping and delivery in DFW!
Get Marine Center's fresh, Premium Live Rock delivered to your door free as soon as it arrives from the islands! No extra shipping cost, no airport pick-up hassle.
Need Info? Check out the facts. "

more

"Delivered to your door prices!
If you live in or can take delivery in Dallas Fort Worth, you just found the best deal on live rock anywhere! Why? Prices on this page are delivered to your door in DFW! No extra shipping, no airport pickup hassle. If you buy rock from an out of state supplier you're looking at a minimum of $40-$60 in shipping for just one box, and that's to DFW, then you have the hassle of picking it up at the airport. If you want it shipped to your door, that's even more at a cost of $1.50 or more per pound on shipping alone... we do it free!"

"What are my shipping options for Live Rock & Sand?


If you're in DFW, IT'S FREE! "

and one more
"Your Order
NOTE: If you're In Dallas, TX, shipping is FREE!


NOTE: If you are not a Dallas/Fort Worth, TX resident, or are not taking delivery in DFW, please see our Nationwide live rock & "

Now am I alone in thinking that delivery in the DFW - Dallas/Fortworth are is free. This means no charge except the items, right? Now go to themarinecenter.com. Nowhere on there does it say, oh theres a box fee of 10.00 for every order. I ordered twice before noticing this charge. Mainly because I didnt recieve the invoice from the first order. I think this is another case of ripoff occuring. The main reason I ordered from themarinecenter is the free delivery. If I knew there was a hidden cost I would have gone to the LFS

I called TMC.com and asked about this charge. I was told it was on the website somewhere. In fact he couldn't find it and point it out to me. He said there is a box charge for each order, I said for what? All I got was a cardboard box. No heatpads or cooling pads. He said its an industry standard. I think its a bit misleading for you to advertise FREE DELIVERY and then throw in Packing charges. Let me know if I wrong here, please.

PS. When I did proceed to say it was misleading to not have it listed anywhere on the ordering page he insulted me by saying, "Are you that hard-up for money, do you need me to send you a Peanutbutter and Jelly sandwich or something..." I will never order from this place again. Espeacially after making some good friends at the LFS

 

[Modo]

Nvillacci,
Same happened to me. I didn't realize the box charge until I read through my invoice.

I DO think it is misleading, but the deals I got and the doorstep delivery of an actual employee was nice.

I quess I justified it by comparing to other MO order places that charge $10-15 for a box charge on top of shipping.

Boxes are overcharged everywhere, have you ever shipped something from Mailboxes Etc or Pack & Mail? There boxes are even more expensive!

I know I worked at one in college.

But I still AGREE with you, they are not being up front with their local folks on this charge.

 

[nvillacci]

Thanks, I mean it wouldnt be so bad if it was even in small print on the order page. But it isnt anywhere on the order pages one has to go through to place an order.

Boxes are always overcharged and I accept that. I think they know what they are doing, and the way they justify it is by the free shipping to your door. "Hey we deliver it to your door, so what if we slip you a micki."

Anyway, since making some good connections at WDU, TMC isnt getting anymore of my business, sorry to say.

Nick

 

[loosbrew]

i wouuld write them an email statig this and get your 20 bucks back! its not a matter of the money, rather the fact that nowhere did you see this hidden fee.

good luck
loosbrew

 

[Modo]

I agree with you there. The World Down Under has always hooked me up! Great crew of guys.

I love the "slip you a micki"...great analogy!!

 

[Jacob1]

I would have told the guy off. For him to get insulting with you is way out of line. I work some of the time in tech support and sales. I deal with belligerent customers and if I lose my cool I lose business. Hope he realizes he lost yours.

Jake

P.S. Call the guy back and ask him "Are you so hard up for money that you have to steal 10 bucks from your customers through deceptive and misleading advertising. Then tell him you could use that PBJ he offered and to drop it off at your door. Then tell him exactly where you'd like to assist him in putting that pbj. Do all this while imitating Chris Farley's "Motivational Speaker" and I am sure you will feel better about the whole situation. If you do follow through make sure to tape it and send me a copy!!! ;-)

 

[Anemone]

Not to defend what that guy said to you, but you'll find that box charges are an industry standard for MO livestock, is not mentioned by the vast majority of online retailers, and is always in addition to shipping. Order from Inland Aquatics, Premium Aquatics, Harbor Aquatics, Jeff's or IPSF and you'll often find a box charge listed separately from shipping, so, if they were to give you free shipping, you'd still have the box charge.

Now, as to the PBnJ crack, that was out of line (although I would have accepted his kind offer, as I love PBnJ sandwiches

), and poor customer service and attitude will cause me to "vote with my money" elsewhere ever time.

Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

I ordered a one-of-a-kind bubble-tip XXL and paid $100 plus shipping. It was barely larger than my $12 ones I got from Dr. Mac. (which are great BTW). Funny thing is they keep sending me emails with this same one-of-a-kind anemone listed for $100. Their prices are quite high, but I am willing to pay high prices for good animals. I am unconvinced that I got what I paid for. The problem is I have no way of knowing.

 

[nvillacci]

Yes, I know theres an industry standard for MO packing charge. But I really dont expect that same charge for a drop it off at your house delivery.

As for everyone elses replys. I would love to be able to have the b@lls to call the guy and act tell him off like you suggest. As it is I dont have tons of money to spend on this hobby, all I have is a 10 gallon nano tank, that should tell you how much money I have to spend. Fact is, I went with themarinecenter.com because they did have the lowest prices on liverock and sand. These are things you cannot do without. As it is I guess I am hard up for money, just bought a car after having the original, may it rest in piece, totalled in an accident.

Anyways, not much I can do except get revenge by making sure the people who need to know(you guys), know this guy doesnt really care about customer satisfaction. This is also evident in the above post about a $100 anemone the size of a quarter.

Thanks for hearing my woes

Nick

 

[nvillacci]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR> from Russr Was just browsing their site...and noticed the price is different for rock in DFW.

Outisde DFW: 2.50lb
In DFW: 2.99lb

So a 45lb box in DFW you get charged $22 extra, plus a $10 box charge. Shipping isn't free...it's just built into the price of the rock.

Pretty sneaky...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

last time I order from there again!!!

 

[furyclown]

Yes, I too just got "fooled" by this "clever advertising Delivery Free for DFW" Packing charge - $10.00.

Had I known about it before hand, I would have said to hold my order until it is complete. Instead of delivering it in separate deliveries, each at a separate packaging charge....