Those who sell frags online Please Read!

[Snappy]

Let's try to keep store names out of the thread, this is more a theoretical discussion. Thanks.

I would think it would be ok for vendors to respond especially if they are sponsers on Canreef. So that said, here are some of my thoughts on this topic.


One point I would make about shipping "floating frags" is this: many people are deterred from buying online because of the cost of shipping, and that said, shipping with the frags attached to styrofoam generally requires more water, a bigger bag and a bigger container therefore costing more to ship, making it a double edge sword. I generally ship this way but on occasion have not. I personally feel one of the problems with some vendors is they like to ship "fresh cut" frags so when you get them they still have lots of colour and they get a good customer rating but then due to stress they go brown in the customer tank in a day or two and they think it's their fault. My frag tank is on the same system, same water, etc. and when I cut frags they often turn brown within a few days from just moving them 10 feet across the room. Colour is not necessarliy a sign of health and just because the frags are browned out when they arrive in many cases doesn't reflect the quality. They will colour back up. Other than something like birdsnest, frags should be always be mounted but let's face it, even a well encrusted frag can fall off the mount when handled improperly by shippers. I appreciate what has been said but there is often more to the equation than most people realize. I think the replacement policy is what sets vendors apart from each other. For example, my frags don't just have an "arrive alive" policy, I have a "stay alive" for 10 days policy that is 2nd to none in Canada. I know what it's like to be treated poorly and make a point of not treating my customers like that.
Jason I also appreciate your comments about that "Calgary vendor"

[Aquattro]

Greg, yes, vendors can reply if they so feel inclined, I just don't want a vendor rating thread out of this.

[wickedfrags]

I agree, while all online vendors shipping methods and materials will undoubtedly vary, customers can only hope they have it figured out. I always recommend potential customers concerned about buying online for the first time (or after having had a poor experience) review feedback on a vendor such as that available on canada.frags.org (which some of us use).

There is also some value (IMO) in doing a quick "google" of a vendor to see what others are saying about their experiences. I have learned a lot doing this!

Floating (styrofoam) is a good shipping technique to be aware. That being said it is not always required, and I have personally been equally successful not using the floating technique. Just like the coral exporters around the world, some float their corals during transport, others do not.

Shipping can also be alot easier said than done! I have fully researched shipping fish and hey I am 1 for 1, but will not be 100% confident in my technique until I have shipped as many fish as I have corals.

[marie]

I have a question for the vendors on here, has dry shipping been looked into? It would seem to make sense money wise because your not shipping water.
I have sent monti frags and a few acros to Anthony that were dry shipped and they survived (sometimes they didn't but I think that could be blamed on lousy heat packs, cold weather and lousy couriers )

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic48...t=Dry+shipping

[Borderjumper]

I too have bought hundreds and hundreds of dollars of frags online. A vender I USED to buy from would ship 3-5 MOUNTED frags together in ONE bag. Well by the time they beat each other up during the shipment there wasnt much tissue left.

The last bunch of online frags I bought came packed in sandwhich bags.. in a plain cardboard box.. not even lined with stryofoam.. and this too was a replacement shipment.

I really dont mind spending good money for nice frags.. but I do expect some care and thought in how they are packed. Its a HUGE dissapointment to look forward to your new corals.. and then the UPS man calls you and says umm I have a box for you.. but its kinda wet.

My last shipments I didnt even bother to try and get the deads replaced.. It wasnt worth it IMO to have to go thru this over and over.

Neither of these shipments were from the sponsors who have replied above my post

[wickedfrags]

I have read a lot about this, and while I think most people acknowledge it is possible, many regular shippers feel the losses are generally higher than when shipped with water. One of the australia shipments we received, some of the pieces were shipped "damp" and the survival rate was not as high as those shipped in water where there were essentially no losses. You still need to ship overnight, express, so you may only be looking at $30 difference (does not even buy you a piece of liverock!)

Originally Posted by marie

I have a question for the vendors on here, has dry shipping been looked into? It would seem to make sense money wise because your not shipping water.
I have sent monti frags and a few acros to Anthony that were dry shipped and they survived (sometimes they didn't but I think that could be blamed on lousy heat packs, cold weather and lousy couriers )

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic48...t=Dry+shipping

While I have never shipped multiple corals in the same bag (excluding ricordia florida) I could see how someone would do this with zoas if the shiping container was tight on space. Zoas generally don't mind touching and should not get that stressed. That being said, sandwich bags and a non-insulated box does not show much of a commitment on behalf of the seller, so they may not have been thinking this when they shipped.

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

I too have bought hundreds and hundreds of dollars of frags online. A vender I USED to buy from would ship 3-5 MOUNTED frags together in ONE bag. Well by the time they beat each other up during the shipment there wasnt much tissue left.

The last bunch of online frags I bought came packed in sandwhich bags.. in a plain cardboard box.. not even lined with stryofoam.. and this too was a replacement shipment.

I really dont mind spending good money for nice frags.. but I do expect some care and thought in how they are packed. Its a HUGE dissapointment to look forward to your new corals.. and then the UPS man calls you and says umm I have a box for you.. but its kinda wet.

My last shipments I didnt even bother to try and get the deads replaced.. It wasnt worth it IMO to have to go thru this over and over.

Neither of these shipments were from the sponsors who have replied above my post