Warning to those purchasing online

[jdarr]

Hey everyone, I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post this thread, but I was unable to find a "sponsored" thread, so here goes.

Being from Canada, I have very limited options as to where I can purchase frags online (at least decent ones). So, I have been looking all over the place, including the USA, to find a site that will ship to Canada. I finally found one called coralfanatics.com. I made my first order from them a few months ago, and they sent me some zooanthids and it was an excellent experience. The livestock was great, and there were no issues at all. The shipping prices were extremely high, ($125 for a $55 order), but like I said, I have limited options, so I decided to pay the price...

A few days later I ordered another shipment, (as I was extremely happy with the first order) which I received quickly, but they sent me something that I didn't order. In fact, It was the same zooanthids that I previously ordered. It was certainly not the zoos that were pictured on the website. (If there is one lesson to be learned, make sure you take screenshots of your orders!). After some mild complaining, they decided to refund my money and satisfied me enough to consider them again.

So, on May 4th, I placed my most recent order. I have paid in advance (using paypal) and have not heard anything from coralfanatics.com, other than an email on the 5th asking me if I had a tracking number from my first purchase (from earlier in the year). I have sent countless emails, and also filed a claim with paypal yesterday... I haven't heard anything yet.

The purpose of this message is three fold.
1. hopefully this supplier will realise that, as consumers, we have a voice and will use our voices if we are treated unfairly, and will hopefully remind them to MAKE GOOD on their business transactions.
2. let other consumers know that there are lessons/risks associated with purchasing online (goes without saying I guess)
3. find a good frag supplier who will ship to Canada!!!

If anyone has any info, please contact me. If this is not the right forum to post this, I apologize.
Thanks
Jason

[lastlight]

Coralmaster here is a sponsor and he ships across Canada.

Greg's highly regarded and his frags are great.

[jdarr]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Coralmaster here is a sponsor and he ships across Canada.

Greg's highly regarded and his frags are great.

I actually contacted Greg and have purchased from him before, but He said he had a crash and had no stock... maybe I will need to hit him up again and see if he's back in business.
I appreciate the tip
thanks
Jason

[sphelps]

Lots of places in Canada ship nation wide, Bayside Corals in Sask ships everywhere in Canada and they sell frags, often have sales as well. Red Coral also ships and likely sells frags. Plus countless other sponsors on here. And that's just retail stores, quite often hobbyists sell and ship frags across the country as well. Ordering from Canada would have gotten you much better value, more like $125 for the order and $55 for shipping.
Lesson learned here is don't buy livestock from the states cause you really don't have to.

[mark]

have bad but also good with on-line but still feel more comfortable supporting the LFS

[jdarr]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Lots of places in Canada ship nation wide, Bayside Corals in Sask ships everywhere in Canada and they sell frags, often have sales as well. Red Coral also ships and likely sells frags. Plus countless other sponsors on here. And that's just retail stores, quite often hobbyists sell and ship frags across the country as well. Ordering from Canada would have gotten you much better value, more like $125 for the order and $55 for shipping.
Lesson learned here is don't buy livestock from the states cause you really don't have to.

thanks for the info!