AlgaeBarn is nice but...

[JonnyTorch]

This is on the Algaebarn Mandarin page:

**Mandarin Dragonets are Shipped Directly from BIOTA Facilities and not from AlgaeBarn**​

Cool, so I am right on assuming there was communication error. Thanks everyone.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Do the Mandarins ordered via Algaebarn not ship directly from Biota?

It might not be a case of them not telling you about the stock levels, they might not have known as I believe they don't actually stock them.

That would explain their comment about improving communication between Algaebarn and Biota.

That is correct. All of the fish and coral on our website are shipped directly to the customer from Biota's facility in Florida. Thanks for everyone's understanding on the matter!

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Honestly, I gave up on them. Like you said, a few years ago they were great, but now they cant keep up with orders. I have put to notify me when they get things and I never get an email. Not to mention they are always sold out of everything. Not worth the time.

Hey Michael! What was it that you were looking for?- We would love to help you with that! Also depending on your email provider when mass emails go out to notify that do not always go to inbox or spam folders. I would be happy to get you/make sure you are subscribed to email notifications on items if you would like to dm us your email and what you are looking for

 

[MichaelReefer]

Hey Michael! What was it that you were looking for?- We would love to help you with that! Also depending on your email provider when mass emails go out to notify that do not always go to inbox or spam folders. I would be happy to get you/make sure you are subscribed to email notifications on items if you would like to dm us your email and what you are looking for

Chaeto, been trying to get some for months. Check my spam and emails and never hear from you guys about having it in stock; also every time I go on there it says you're sold out.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Chaeto, been trying to get some for months. Check my spam and emails and never hear from you guys about having it in stock; also every time I go on there it says you're sold out.

Our Chaeto does tend to go quickly- especially the last few weeks it has been updated on the website. Tomorrow we will have several pounds available to be purchased in the Ultimate Refugium Starter Packs as well as individually. As mentioned before I would be happy to get you/make sure you are subscribed to email notifications

 

[ChuckTownReefer]

Everyone is still living in the pre covid times... Everyone needs to understand that maybe your state/county might be living like nothing happened but in the reefing community our stuff comes from all parts of the world and they could still under strict lock downs and are trying there best to get products out there doors and are doing there best.

And shipping problems has nothing to do with the company your ordering from.

So I would stop blaming the company your ordering from because your expectations are just not going to happen

Please don't bash me to bad. But this is the world we live in now.

 

[Tamberav]

I simply don’t order much live goods online these days. The pandemic is still here and shipping companies are overwhelmed. You will find numerous posts on these very forums about delays from everywhere. It’s probably not going to go away any time soon.

It is also unrealistic to think they would have fish or other aquacultured fish and snails and such in stock that frequently. These are living things that are difficult to breed and not a piece of mass produced Chinese junk.

 

[JonnyTorch]

I simply don’t order much live goods online these days. The pandemic is still here and shipping companies are overwhelmed. You will find numerous posts on these very forums about delays from everywhere.

It is also unrealistic to think they would have fish or other aquacultured fish and snails and such in stock that frequently. These are living things that are difficult to breed and not a piece of mass produced Chinese junk.

I agree somewhat, you and @ChuckTownReefer are correct there are delays in a lot of places. It seems the delays are more on the "larger company" side of things. I've ordered from @Cultivated Reef and Pod Your Reef. I'm in Southern California, in the desert. Cultivated Reef is in Maine, literally opposite coast, as far away as possible in the US. Mid-pandemic they sent two fish overnight that are amazingly healthy. Same for Pod Your Reef. They are in Texas and shipped to my door in 3 days. Algae barn has 2 day shipping, but it's not 2 days if it's a week late, then 2 days after it's late. I'm not bashing anyone I am just saying that the larger a company gets, especially with marketing on FB and Instagram, the more orders they get and the more orders they get the more backed up they are, regardless of pandemic.

Choose who you like, I've ordered from Algaebarn even after I posted this because they do offer things that others don't. But I've also ordered from Pod Your Reef and Cultivated Reef with no problems and fast shipping.

 

[captain_jimmy]

I placed an order for some Phytoplankton on Monday, shipped Tuesday and arrived this morning.
It was in my tank by lunchtime.

Shipping was fine for me. Thanks Algaebarn.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I placed an order for some Phytoplankton on Monday, shipped Tuesday and arrived this morning.
It was in my tank by lunchtime.

Shipping was fine for me. Thanks Algaebarn.

Thanks for choosing AlgaeBarn!

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I agree somewhat, you and @ChuckTownReefer are correct there are delays in a lot of places. It seems the delays are more on the "larger company" side of things. I've ordered from @Cultivated Reef and Pod Your Reef. I'm in Southern California, in the desert. Cultivated Reef is in Maine, literally opposite coast, as far away as possible in the US. Mid-pandemic they sent two fish overnight that are amazingly healthy. Same for Pod Your Reef. They are in Texas and shipped to my door in 3 days. Algae barn has 2 day shipping, but it's not 2 days if it's a week late, then 2 days after it's late. I'm not bashing anyone I am just saying that the larger a company gets, especially with marketing on FB and Instagram, the more orders they get and the more orders they get the more backed up they are, regardless of pandemic.

Choose who you like, I've ordered from Algaebarn even after I posted this because they do offer things that others don't. But I've also ordered from Pod Your Reef and Cultivated Reef with no problems and fast shipping.

Shipping days can make a difference as well as we only ship Monday-Wednesday to try and prevent any possible delays extended through the weekend and being delivered the following week. We do have our AOA guarantee so please reach out and let us know if there is anything wrong with your order and we will definitely make sure you are taken care of!

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Just an FYI, chaeto is now available on Algaebarn. I just got an email.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Just an FYI, chaeto is now available on Algaebarn. I just got an email.

Thanks for sharing! Get it while supplies last!

 

[Anchorboy]

Wish I had read this thread earlier. Made an order and received notification that it was sent on Monday but they just printed the label and never shipped. Now I have to wait a week due to weather. Their customer service department is great, their shipping department sucks.

 

[Jekyl]

Wish I had read this thread earlier. Made an order and received notification that it was sent on Monday but they just printed the label and never shipped. Now I have to wait a week due to weather. Their customer service department is great, their shipping department sucks.

Rather have it shipped during a storm?

 

[Nick Steele]

Wish I had read this thread earlier. Made an order and received notification that it was sent on Monday but they just printed the label and never shipped. Now I have to wait a week due to weather. Their customer service department is great, their shipping department sucks.

Shipping during any inclement weather is not just a bad business decision but also ethically wrong. You risk the animals life and also any added cost due to Dead on arrivals. Winter is a tough time to receive livestock.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Wish I had read this thread earlier. Made an order and received notification that it was sent on Monday but they just printed the label and never shipped. Now I have to wait a week due to weather. Their customer service department is great, their shipping department sucks.

Hi there- We do apologize that your label was created Monday and did not make it out! We are in the process of training new shipping team members, and we do apologize for the human errors! One of our customer support members did add a jar of pods to your order for the trouble We have unfortunately seen enough delays last week with the weather not being as intense as what is coming so our shipping team had to make the tough call to delay shipping on our last shipping day of the week. Again, we sincerely apologize for the delay and please message us if we can help with anything else!

 

[Anchorboy]

Rather have it shipped during a storm?

 

[Anchorboy]

I am not complaining about the weather delay, that is always the right call. I am complaining about receiving a order shipped notification when the weather was nice but the order never shipped out, they only printed a label. Their website says my order is complete.

 

[srobertb]

This is exactly what I say, “they’re really nice but…”

I have ordered things on Monday, receive no word, then on Thursday or Friday reach out to be told the item is out of stock. I could have pivoted on Monday/Tuesday and gotten what I need by the weekend.

several times I’ve ordered things with overnight shipping and the system reverts back to USPS. USPS then promptly murders the animals. When I try and catch it they reship it but also ship out the original order which means I get the joy of opening dead animals and checking for life.

They seem to mean well. They’re super nice. But they seem super disorganized. So I keep using them but I think we’re at less than 50% of my orders have gone smoothly.