Buying coral online

[Mav88]

Scheduled delivery for Wednesday and fedex thought what my overnight really needed was to be shipped out to the Midwest to hang out for 36 hours before shipping it to me. 3 days in shipping and some cold coral. 14 pieces gone. Anyone still trusting ordering online? I’m done with it at least if it is through fedex shipping. Even if I do get credited, because sellers like to put “Not responsible for shipping delays” in their terms. I know it sucks for sellers as well.

 

[Ghost25]

I never buy online. Prices are already high and $35 shipping turns a $10 frag into a $50 frag after taxes and everything. Plus you don't get to see the piece you're buying unless it's WYSIWYG.

Generally I buy about 70% from local reefers and 30% from the LFS.

 

[DDenny]

That sucks. I personally wouldn’t order in the early spring due to cold weather. If I order online would probably be around late April early May to try and avoid this.

 

[The District Reef]

That sucks! I generally try to buy from sellers I trust and who will replace/refund for any corals that arrive dead (whether it’s their fault or not).

 

[Mav88]

That sucks! I generally try to buy from sellers I trust and who will replace/refund for any corals that arrive dead (whether it’s their fault or not).

I contacted them and sent pictures of everything per their DOA policy, just waiting to see their response.

 

[rhostam]

Scheduled delivery for Wednesday and fedex thought what my overnight really needed was to be shipped out to the Midwest to hang out for 36 hours before shipping it to me. 3 days in shipping and some cold coral. 14 pieces gone. Anyone still trusting ordering online? I’m done with it at least if it is through fedex shipping. Even if I do get credited, because sellers like to put “Not responsible for shipping delays” in their terms. I know it sucks for sellers as well.

I bought online and I would buy again.

I would not buy during forecasted or known periods of inclement weather or when shipping companies actively say “we are delayed.”

I have a free account with FedEx, UPS, and USPS so that I can receive these emails.

Also, some vendors like @Tidal Gardens email you first to inform you of the target shipping date and will even delay it if the weather ALONG THE TRANSIT ROUTE is unfavorable for shipping live creatures (they include a sheet showing the forecast that impacts dates or quantity of heating packs they include).

Part of this experience must be tempered by our own patience. Some companies will ship no matter what. It’s fine if you’re impatient and willing to risk hundreds of dollars or the lives of the creatures.

But then sometimes timing is just bad and a confluence of circumstances beyond anyone’s control or prediction occur. The trick then becomes to find a reputable vendor that will work with you to some reasonable extent.

 

[SaltyT]

Scheduled delivery for Wednesday and fedex thought what my overnight really needed was to be shipped out to the Midwest to hang out for 36 hours before shipping it to me. 3 days in shipping and some cold coral. 14 pieces gone. Anyone still trusting ordering online? I’m done with it at least if it is through fedex shipping. Even if I do get credited, because sellers like to put “Not responsible for shipping delays” in their terms. I know it sucks for sellers as well.

I feel your pain. I couldn't resist a vendor live sale a few weeks back and had the same thing happen... I got a box of dead corals super cheap! The vendor gave me a credit so I hope yours does the same for you.

 

[jas111]

I buy online and haven't run into issues. I do understand what you are saying about Fedex. If I had a choice I prefer to have things shipped UPS a little more reliable. Other thing I do on live orders with Fedex is have them hold it at my local Fedex location and go pick it up. Sorry about your losses.

 

[Mav88]

I bought online and I would buy again.

I would not buy during forecasted or known periods of inclement weather or when shipping companies actively say “we are delayed.”

I have a free account with FedEx, UPS, and USPS so that I can receive these emails.

Also, some vendors like @Tidal Gardens email you first to inform you of the target shipping date and will even delay it if the weather ALONG THE TRANSIT ROUTE is unfavorable for shipping live creatures (they include a sheet showing the forecast that impacts dates or quantity of heating packs they include).

Part of this experience must be tempered by our own patience. Some companies will ship no matter what. It’s fine if you’re impatient and willing to risk hundreds of dollars or the lives of the creatures.

But then sometimes timing is just bad and a confluence of circumstances beyond anyone’s control or prediction occur. The trick then becomes to find a reputable vendor that will work with you to some reasonable extent.

Knowing the route would be helpful, my issue is all overnights I have gotten have came into Dulles Int. This one went out of the way to Indiana, the company did contact other orders, when a couple of the first day orders got shipped to wrong hubs, and posted that the Fedex hub that they were using was having difficulties and were told to hold off on shipping.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I have no choice since I live so far away from a city; I almost always buy online. And I've only had one or two items die on me per shipment, and that's solely because of Fedex's stupid shipping policy. I ordered a shipment from Fragbox this week; it shipped from Ontario and arrived in Alberta the next morning. And then Fedex let it sit in its warehouse for a day, even though it could've put it on the truck to my town with time to spare. The shipment arrived at my house dead cold (and we still have snow on the ground here)...and containing one dead blenny. All the coral frags (but one) and most of the snails survived, though. I was impressed.

 

[Mav88]

I have no choice since I live so far away from a city; I almost always buy online. And I've only had one or two items die on me per shipment, and that's solely because of Fedex's stupid shipping policy. I ordered a shipment from Fragbox this week; it shipped from Ontario and arrived in Alberta the next morning. And then Fedex let it sit in its warehouse for a day, even though it could've put it on the truck to my town with time to spare. The shipment arrived at my house dead cold (and we still have snow on the ground here)...and containing one dead blenny. All the coral frags (but one) and most of the snails survived, though. I was impressed.

working on the Zoas, they are not happy but may have some salvageables, but the SPS, and Goni were goners.

 

[jas111]

Knowing the route would be helpful, my issue is all overnights I have gotten have came into Dulles Int. This one went out of the way to Indiana, the company did contact other orders, when a couple of the first day orders got shipped to wrong hubs, and posted that the Fedex hub that they were using was having difficulties and were told to hold off on shipping.

One of the biggest problems with Fedex is just trying to get a hold of a live person. Man talk about frustrating.

 

[Mav88]

One of the biggest problems with Fedex is just trying to get a hold of a live person. Man talk about frustrating.

You are right about that!!!
I know my UPS driver and send him a message when I have a livestock order, he pulls the box up front with him for climate and sees me first or has me meet him.

 

[jas111]

Nice! Like I said if I had a choice I would never have anything shipped via Fedex. I just received some equipment today that shipped Fedex. Took 10 days from California. The funny part is they marked it on Monday as a weather delay in Hagerstown MD. I am in Maryland so not to far from you. It was sunny and 67! SMH.

 

[coralfishreef]

Anytime I get something that arrives alive through FedEx, I feel lucky. I try to not order live fish or corals during extreme cold or hot weather.

 

[Mav88]

I feel your pain. I couldn't resist a vendor live sale a few weeks back and had the same thing happen... I got a box of dead corals super cheap! The vendor gave me a credit so I hope yours does the same for you.

Well good news Vendor issued full refund, not credit, even on the shipping - top marks, I e-mailed back offering to pay for any that do come back to life, Zoas can be resilient. Feel bad for the vendor.

 

[jas111]

Glad it worked out.

 

[fish farmer]

I never try to get stuff this early in the spring or much past October. I was pondering some snail/coral shipping a couple weeks ago since I was home for two weeks and it was getting spring like. We've had snow and freezing temperature the last couple of days.

I've had stuff shipped from Ohio to Vermont USPS that took two days, everything was fine and it was from a hobbyist so it was a small box, but the temps were more favorable for shipping.

Not many other options for me, don't know many local reefers anymore and the ones I do know don't have the stuff I want. My not so LFS prices are the same if I bundle a few corals together and ship.

 

[PAreefer710]

Lost an Indo 24kt and a jester torch Tuesday. Fedex can suck a big one. Ups or nothing for me from now on. If the vendor doesn’t use ups, Then no business from me. Too many bad experiences with fed ex.

 

[mike550]

I’m okay with online purchases but will only do it during certain months and when I think weather won’t affect shipping. But I also will support my LFS when I can