Mail ordering animals???

[Ryan22]

So far I've been afraid to try this, I sort of like to have a look at what I'm buying before I actually purchase it. Lately I've been trying to be a good boy and research my purchases and plan out the evolution of my tank from FOWLR to reef. My problem is that the things that I research/deside on, are never available when I decide to buy them. Either they are in the store and I leave them to there to do research and they are gone when I get back, or the just are hard to find. These things are always available on line, but so far I've been chicken to try it. The online cost of these animals is almost always lower then what I see in the stores, but fter shipping and boxing charges, is it really worth it? Do your orders generally make it through without any mortalities? It seems that returning a dead fish or coral to a mail order company would be quite a PITA. Any pearls of wisdom from those of you that have done this in the past, or do it regularly?

TIA,

 

[newkie]

I've been ordering online pretty regularly recently, mainly because I'm too lazy to waste an entire Saturday to drive 2 hours and back to the best store in the bay area (www.gotpa.com). I've placed a couple of orders with FFE, coralcity, drmac, reeftopia, etropicals, and others. Each have always been good about replacing mortalities and have had good customer service. Aside from Dr Mac, most of the time you can get as good or a better deal than you could at the LFS. Also a lot of places have specials and the occasional free shipping offer. For corals I always order the WYSIWYG (cherry pick) suppliers.. I don't like to purcahse corals sight-unseen. For fish this doesn't matter as much, although once I was sent the wrong type of fairy wrasse from FFE.

The only tips I have are to always ask for deals and to request FedEx to hold the box at their location instead of delivering it to your door. This does 2 things, allows you to pick up on a Saturday at no extra charge and keeps the box by being manhandled by a delivery boy and sitting in a cold truck for a couple of extra hours.

 

[wombat1]

I don't like to get fish online due to their high oxygen demand, but corals, snails, etc. usually do fine. Some places evn ship snails with just a little wet newspaper in a dry bag and they acclimate just fine. It helps to order a lot of stuff at once (within reason) to reduce box and shipping charges also. Ask the reefers where a good LFS is in your area to buy fish at.

 

[das75]

Concerns I have is quality of the animal your getting, at least at a LFS you can see what shape they’re in. I visited one place local that does mail order from a guy’s basement . Wasn’t until I got closer that I realized the fuzzy white ball I was looking at was a blue damsel.

 

[Anonymous]

I've probably made a dozen online orders and not had a single mortality. Like Newkie suggested, have them hold it at whoever does the delivery and you pick up. The day spent in the back of the truck is probably the worse part of the trip. Shipping is pretty expensive; I usually try to get a number of things at once.

Also, a decent LFS will order stuff for you and hold it if you ask them to.

 

[Reef Guy11]

Hello I have placed a lot of orders from Mail orderand i have not had any problem's I live 2 mins away from the airport that it goes to so i am the frist stop on the fed Ex list but it you live were it might take a while i would just go and pick it up. I have a friend that orders on line and it goes to my house by 9:30 am and then i have it at his house in 20 mins.

 

[Anonymous]

Order online! Get a few local reefers to go in on the order and split the shipping/box charge. Pick up at the Fed/Ex office. How do you think the fish get to your lfs in the first place?

 

[Ryan22]

I know that the LFS do mail order, but they are also much better equiped to absorb the cost of DOA's ect.. I'm sure I will try it soon, I just need a little nudge/ confidence boost before I try. I like the idea of picking it up myself.
Thanks guys,

 

[ScottC]

I've ordered from FFE and Exotic Fish without a hitch. FFE was in constant communication with me, letting me know the status of my order, everything arrived alive, as did ExoticFish's order. I'd do business with them again.

 

[Anonymous]

I certainly agree with all of the above statements. However, don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Please consider the quality of your LFS. Mine told me not to buy a mandarin unitl my sump/fuge was at least 1 year old to give my pods time to grow. When I had a little Ich, they didn't sell me $100 dollars worth of useless supplements. They told me exactly what they do in their reef tanks. Not all LFS's are created equal (I have seen some horror stories on these web pages). If yours is of the same caliber of the two in St. Louis that I frequent, then pay them the extra 10% it costs to buy from them. My LFS's have saved me bundles. In return, they should be compensated.

Do you have a LFS that sells mandarins to beginners? If so, let them slowly go broke. However, if your LFS's are like mine and will sell you only what you need, test your water, and will educate you, then pay the extra money for the education. I have nothing to say bad whatsoever about mail order----I'm only saying that if you want your LFS, if it is good, to stay in business, sometimes cheaper is not always better.

 

[reefland]

The only tips I have are to always ask for deals and to request FedEx to hold the box at their location instead of delivering it to your door. This does 2 things, allows you to pick up on a Saturday at no extra charge and ...

Is that true? You can get Saturday delivery at no extra cost if you pickup at the Fedex location?

 

[danmhippo]

Rich, yes. Because they did not "deliver". Their office are open on saturday anyway.

I have no problems with mail ordering animals. But if you are to MO, you have to compare cost. Some MO places charges so much for box and shipping that by the time it arrives at your door, it would've cost the same if you get them from your LFS with tax.

 

[ScottC]

I have to agree with that statement. I just returned from the LFS with a large Clown Tang. I paid $37 for it. FFE has the same fish, at the same size for $40. Add shipping to that and you're paying a lot for a box and some water. I've used FFE for items I can't nornally find locally. It's a good idea to find a GOOD LFS and establish a relationship with them. They can come in handy if you're in a pinch, especially if they know you. The tricky part is finding the "good one" in your area.

 

[naesco]

Scott C
A Good LFS would not carry a clown tang let alone sell one to a customer.
For some unknown reason, these fish do not survive in our aquaria. Some that do, for a while, are holy terrors.

 

[Ken2001]

One other thing to think about is asking your LFS to order something special for you. They absorb the cost of shipping to a degree, since the special order comes in with other orders, so it may work out to be cheaper if you are talking only one or two items, then ordering it online. Another advantage of doing this is that if it is a fish you're ordering, you can ask them to hold it for a week or two to make sure it is healthy and feeding. I've used this method several times for getting interesting fish and other animals that they don't usually stock and I've been pleased with the results. A bonus for me is that I pay for whatever I get from them by trading soft corals to them. This means I never actually have to spend any cash, which is another advantage over mailorder.

Best regards,

Ken

 

[ScottC]

Scott C
A Good LFS would not carry a clown tang let alone sell one to a customer.
For some unknown reason, these fish do not survive in our aquaria. Some that do, for a while, are holy terrors.

Ahhhh...never said I bought it from a good one. This will be my 2nd Clown Tang... the 1st lived in my system for 3 years. Thanks for the heads up, though!

 

[Michelle50]

I have placed tons of order with Marine Depot Live and everything is always great. The only thing ever lost was a cleaner shrimp and it was DOA, and I called and told them and they me credit on my next order. They are great! And I've never had a problem with shipping either, they bring it right to my door first thing in the morning.

 

[Michelle50]

I have placed tons of order with Marine Depot Live and everything is always great. The only thing ever lost was a cleaner shrimp and it was DOA, and I called and told them and they me credit on my next order. They are great! And I've never had a problem with shipping either, they bring it right to my door first thing in the morning.

 

[Anonymous]

I too am in the same boat as I am trying to "nudge" myself into ordering online. Unfortunately I did not realize until not long ago, that they dont ship in weather <40F, which living in Michigan means I have to wait until probably March (unless we get a warm spell). The biggest reasons I am considering ordering from Marine Depot Live (I am open to other suggestions) is price, selection, and the fact that I am not that impressed with my LFSs. I must admit the biggest thing is price when I see a fish on MDL for $20 less than my LFS. But hey, I am open to being introduce to new LFSs in my area, and if they have everything I am looking for I would have no problem buying from them.