A bit dissapointed with Glasscages.com

[stage3-S4]

I was inquiring about purchasing a small 16”x16”x16” cube that is around 17 gallons. They quoted me $125.00 for the tank which I thought was fair, but $36.00 in delivery charges to have it brought on their truck to White Plaines. Now I know they came to the reptile show regardless if I buy this tank or not so I decided to write them an email back on 9/7/2010 stating that I would defiantly purchase the tank if we could work something out on the shipping costs. It really isn’t practical to pay almost 30 percent of the full tank cost in shipping charges given the circumstances(size of tank, coming to the reptile show, etc). Well, I didn’t hear back from them so I decided to give them a call this morning. I was told that the $36.00 price is a standard price for shipping on tanks of a certain size. So I figured let me speak to the person in charge I’m sure he is a good business man and would be willing to help me out. Well I thought wrong that’s for damn sure. He proceeded to tell me that they take a “separate” truck to the show for aquarium tanks and that the only sell Reptile tanks at the show. So I said fine, so you can’t maybe cut 10-15 bucks of the shipping? Since they are coming here anyways you would think that they would rather sell me the tank, then sit there and say that they can’t do anything because then everybody would complain. Everybody would complain about me paying less for my little 2lb 17 gallon cube as someone buying a 36” long 40 gallon or something? So he decided to get cute with me and quote me a shipping charge from UPS which ending up being $42.00. Big deal, I save a whole 6 bucks to pick it up at the show? Isn’t the whole Idea to provide convince for customers to pick up their tanks to increase your business? People usually stay away from purchasing tanks online for the simple reason of dealing with shipping costs and such. Never mind that fact he was ready to hang up on me, and really gave me an attitude on the phone, I will never do business with them or recommend them to anyone. I guess I’ll just buy something from jim as he is worth of my business.

 

[JavyJaverson]

i've heard they do sloppy work so maybe it's best you didn't go with them in the end.

 

[stage3-S4]

i've heard they do sloppy work so maybe it's best you didn't go with them in the end.

Really? I guess I'm not the only one then huh? Maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

 

[marrone]

The sloppy work is in the silicone, which they seem to get all over the place, but it doesn't have any impact on the tank itself.

 

[piranhapat]

I saw they tanks and if you like thin cheap glass than go and order from them. You pay for what you get. If I was you the money you save in shipping you can get something made up.

 

[stage3-S4]

I just didn't know anywhere else I could get 16 inch rimless cube like that. Anyone have any ideas where I can get one?

 

[ECFENCING]

I saw they tanks and if you like thin cheap glass than go and order from them. You pay for what you get. If I was you the money you save in shipping you can get something made up.

It's not always thin glass. I have a 100gallon rimless and it's built very well with 0.5" thick glass. I have heard though that their low iron glass is not the starfire or optiwhite brand.

As far as the OP I would say check with coast to coast in Toms River NJ or Miracles. They are going to be more expensive but always pleasant to deal with.

Glasscages probably does more more in volume than anyone else so they really don't care about one small tank. It's unfortunate and that is not the way GC should have handled it.

They were ok to deal with when I got my tank.

Good luck in getting your new tank.

Have you thought about the mass produced Mr. Aqua tanks or even greenleaf aquariums makes nice tanks but I don't know if they will have those exact dimensions.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I usually only see them with one truck there. :scratchch

 

[albano]

It's not always thin glass. I have a 100gallon rimless and it's built very well with 0.5" thick glass.

+1, sloppy silicone work is easy to correct

Glasscages probably does more more in volume than anyone else so they really don't care about one small tank. It's unfortunate and that is not the way GC should have handled it.

+1 Although, they could of handled it a little better...their shipping cost is more than fair (especially on bigger tanks), Their truck is constantly on the road delivering tanks, after White Plains, I think it goes to Boston...the truck, the drivers, and the fuel all cost $...for the $6 extra, have UPS deliver to your door!...I didn't really have that option when I got my 450g tank.

They were ok to deal with when I got my tank.

+1, they were very nice, even delivered a month early!

 

[mckostya]

honestly i think $36.00 is not bad at all. I work in shipping industry and i tell you, packing materials are very expensive. You want your tank to arrive in one piece correct? So do they. box itself with bubble wrap insurance or whatever else will cost them pretty penny. I doubt they are making any money on shipping here.

 

[masterswimmer]

Your experience sounds very typical of GC. Not one bit of a surprise in anything you said. If you had the opportunity to read any of the reviews on the various boards you'd find a huge amount of dissatisfied customers for no other reason than their attitudes (quality of work as well, but your distaste was from the way you were spoken to). You'd also find a huge number of customers who like dealing with them.

In my opinion the $36 was a fair price for shipping.

GC is capable of manufacturing a standard tank with no special requirements. Once you add any twist to the order you are at their mercy, and I've heard about many nightmares.

I would never deal with GC......my partner has no issue with them.

Russ

 

[tosiek]

I agree with Albano on all points. And also agree with you on the negative. Their customer service is great until you try to get past the delivery fee or work a deal.

A year ago I was looking for a custom 30g that i didn't want to build myself and got to talking to them about the shipping and asked if they get a hard time about the shipping to the reptile show from people. Your story with the shipping has come up before in other forums and i was curious while killing time as she was waiting to see if they had my dimensions in stock. Anyways, she told me that every second person tries to get out of the shipping fee and she could spend all day telling me ridiculous stories at the lengths people will go to save 1-2$.

Anyways, I think its bad business and shouldn't happen regardless of the circumstances. I don't blame them though either.

On a positive note, I ended up building my own just because i had glass lying around but they did offer me a similar tank that i couldn't fit in the area, starfire rimless with overflows for 1/4 of the price they had in the factory that didn't sell and wanted to make room. It was short 1".

 

[Wes]

The sloppy work is in the silicone, which they seem to get all over the place, but it doesn't have any impact on the tank itself.

As long as there are no bubbles in the seams...which I have seen in a few of their tanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[stage3-S4]

First of all, the point here is that yes, if i was to pay to have the tank shipped to my door 36 isn't bad I suppose. But to be honest they are not making a special trip to me to deliver a tank. I'm not saying i shouldn't pay anything. I was thinking 20-25 for shipping would have been more then fair. And to albano, yea im sure if i bought a 450 gallon for $xxxx.00 they'd be happy as pigs in **** too. That fact of the matter here is that if you spend 100 dollars or 1000 dollars each customer should be treated equal. That is what makes a good buisness. But its ok because, i just found a 25 gallon mr aqua cube on marine depot for 108 bucks shipped to my door. Shipping was only 8 bucks go figure.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[roc5288]

My 240g is a gc tank not bad. If i had the $$ to spend would deff go somewhere else.
Not impressed with the overflow boxes, I brought it used and called them for the correct sizing of bulkheads who better to ask than the company who built the tank right NOT.
They told me all tanks were drill for sch 80 bulkheads. I called savko plastics and ordered
the bulkheads. didn't fit had to reorder shc40. Maybe not that big of a deal but come on.

 

[mellotang]

A few years ago I was ordering a tank from GC and having a issue trying to communicate dimensions, overflow box size, bulkhead size, you know things you want to make sure are correct when ordering a custom tank. One of their owners proceeded to tell me he makes tanks all the time, knows this and that, and what I need. I politely tried to tell him that I just want to be sure everything was to my specs. He didn't like that and told me it wasn't worth it for him to make the tank cause I probably wouldn't be satisfied anyway and HUNG up the phone on me. I called him back and told him what I thought of him and his customer service, then hung up on him

Good luck, I wouldn't even give them the business

 

[masterswimmer]

im sure if i bought a 450 gallon for $xxxx.00 they'd be happy as pigs in **** too. That fact of the matter here is that if you spend 100 dollars or 1000 dollars each customer should be treated equal.

I think you're finally understanding what the problem with GC is. THEY TREAT EVERY CUSTOMER THE SAME!!!!! You were NOT treated any different than they treat any other customer that calls them. They are horrendous business people. The customers that use them do so because the prices they offer are so far below the competition that people take their crap.

swimmer

 

[albano]

Stage, I am NOT trying to argue or put you down, please take this as the OPINION of someone that has dealt with the 'buying public' for quite a few years...

But to be honest they are not making a special trip to me to deliver a tank.

... I think that the above statement is key to the problem...You are correct, they are not making a special trip JUST FOR YOU...they have a truck that delivers a hundred (+/-) tanks each trip! Sure they could deliver yours for free, if they wanted, but why should the other 99 people have to pay, if you're not. You quoted the owner as saying "they can?t do anything because then everybody would complain". He's RIGHT! If you found out that someone else on that same shipment paid less for shipping, I think you would be upset! VERY UPSET!

That fact of the matter here is that if you spend 100 dollars or 1000 dollars each customer should be treated equal. That is what makes a good business.

EXACTLY...they have a shipping charge schedule, and everyone IS treated equal. If you call back next week, you should receive the same quote!

I'm not saying i shouldn't pay anything. I was thinking 20-25 for shipping would have been more then fair.

If they didn't offer their own shipping, would you tell UPS or FED EX, that you think that $20-25 would be fair? If you did, I think we all know what the answer would be.
Some of the members here know me and know that I can get some UNBELIEVABLE deals! I love a bargain as much as anyone, and I'm glad that you found another deal...but , I think, that your 'expectations' were not quite right in this situation.

I think you're finally understanding what the problem with GC is. THEY TREAT EVERY CUSTOMER THE SAME!!!!! You were NOT treated any different than they treat any other customer that calls them. They are horrendous business people.

Apparently, they are GREAT business people, that are doing so well, that they don't need to take every deal and every dollar, or any crap! Piss them off, and you're done! That's the TRUE dream of every business owner, whether they will admit it or not!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Alfie, they stink. I have tried to buy from them at reptile shows and got the runaround and also got the bait and switch from them. I also hinted while I was looking for a reptile enclosure for my Gecko, I was also thinking about a custom fish tank for my reef tank and they guy still kept trying to sell me what I didn't want. When I asked who was in charge he told me he was the boss. I went to another vendor and saved a ton of money.

 

[albano]

Alfie, they stink. I have tried to buy from them at reptile shows and got the runaround and also got the bait and switch from them...When I asked who was in charge he told me he was the boss. I went to another vendor and saved a ton of money.

Chief, you're RIGHT (I realize, that you don't often hear that), BUT, it works for them...You can bet, that they're making $$$ The public votes with their dollars, and everyone wants a deal!
Maybe I was lucky, but I got a good deal, nice tank, and the experience was fine. I faxed over all my 'custom' designs, and they did it exactly as requested, and ahead of schedule.
Years ago, when I had my new car dealerships, we won awards every year for 'customer satisfaction', but EVERYDAY,customers would drive to Yonkers, and Manhattan (rated the WORST dealerships) to save $50-100!!!! So who was the better business?... me winning the awards and selling 1000 cars a year, or them, rated the worst and selling 3-5X the vehicles and averaging over TWICE the profit PER CAR, (by ripping off the customers)!!!!