Group order for rare Hawaiian/christmas island fish ,joculator angels etc

[BlueWorldAquatic]

I hope it goes well for you, just from our experience there are many fee's they don't tell you about. Especially from Hawaii for some reason compared to an order from LA.

Fees not including shipping from the Hawaii
USDA HEALTH CERT. $37.00
INSPECTION VETERNARIAN $115.00
EXPORT DOCUMENTS International only $45.00
U.S.F.W. GOVT INSPECTION- International only $186.00
REG PACKING: REGULAR Hawaiian/Cardboard $19.00
PACKING: COLD PACK $2.85
PACKING: HEAT PACK $2.85
PACKING: PACK LIST FEE $20.00

Shipping is estimated $55-$75 a box

You don't get to see the fish before your purchase, health, aggression or personality

Also, when a LFS makes an order, its our responsibility to if something dies in transit.

Also I am concerned about a wholesaler that does break the "supply chain", what other things is he willing to do?

Just a few things to ponder

[Myka]

This thread makes really saddens me...

Originally Posted by FWC

Prices will be better then you can find in LFS ,as far as I can tell.

To those people wanting to go in on this group order, what will you do if your fish shows up DOA? Wholesalers and collectors generally do not give refunds! Once you factor in all the fees I doubt you will be much cheaper than the LFS. All this risk to maybe save a few bucks? That's outrageous! Plus, there are only so many suppliers out there, all the LFS know who they are, it's no big secret. Any fish that are available from this supplier will also be available to your LFS. Your LFS should be able to special order your fish for you, and if it shows up DOA the LFS foots the bills, not you.

After you've gone through so much effort to not support your LFS (and you have many to choose from in Edmonton), and there comes a time when you are in a pinch, don't expect your LFS to jump up and down to help you out. This is a hobby where helping each other out goes a long way. If many people did what you are proposing, then maybe your LFS will go out of business...then what? I don't know about you, but I really find it to be quite a nice luxury to be able to see my livestock purchases in person before I buy them. I also value the support of my LFS and show this by shopping at my LFS.

Originally Posted by albert_dao

- it just seems VERY irresponsible of the collector to be offering this out to non-retailers/wholesalers...

Yes, it is despicable. This sort of undermining devalues the livestock we are buying. This collector/wholesaler is shooting himself in the foot...and in Hawaii of all places where all collection for aquariums is currently being threatened. Sigh...

[Aquattro]

Thanks Mindy.

[reefwars]

+1 to mindy and ken

i cant see why your lfs couldnt order them, and maybe im crazy but isnt your tank like inly 20g?? what are you going to do with a golden moray or triggers or butterflys??