Below is a summary of my dealings with MODE Aquariums (CAD Lights Aquariums) regarding the fish tank I received on 12/18/18.
From the get go my dealings with MODE Aquariums did not go smooth. I originally emailed them the specifications of the tank I wanted to order. Shortly after I received an invoice for $xxxx.xx plus $600.00 s&h. A few days later they replied back to me and said that they made a mistake and now the tank with shipping was going to be $xxxx.xx which was $600 more than the original invoice. I understand mistakes are made, however, they had already sent me an invoice and that was the price I expected to pay. Still, I wanted the tank so I paid the price of the new invoice.
After the order was placed I was told the estimated shipping date would be the 1st week in October. I had multiple phone conversations that I don’t have a record of; however, I have forwarded you the emails that I do have.
Later I was told it would be shipping out the last week in October. I then contacted them on 11/16/18 because I had not received any tracking or shipping information. I was told that the tank was crated and ready to ship and would go out Monday 11/19/18. Monday came and I got a call asking me where I wanted the holes drilled in the tank (how could it have been carted ready to ship if the holes weren’t drilled?) When asked this, I was told they were finishing it up and it would ship in a couple days. On 11/28/18 I emailed them once again and told them if I didn’t receive tracking information I would be opening up a dispute. On the 11/29/18 I received an email stating my tank was scheduled for tomorrows pickup (11/30) they then read the address which was: 396 Quail Hollow Rd., Thomasville, NC. This is clearly not my address. I emailed them and gave them the correct address after which they told they got the address mixed up with another store. On Friday, 11/30/18 MODE Aquariums then sent me a false tacking number via email. When I tried to check the information there was none, MODE claimed it could take 24 hrs to update tracking. However, as of the following Tuesday there was still nothing so I contacted the freight company. The freight company told me the number was not a tracking number they used. They looked up my location and found a different number showing my shipment was picked up on Monday 12/3/18 and that MODE had stayed late to finish my order. Funny, they told me it shipped on 11/30.
On 12/18/18 I called the shipping company because the tracking number I received stated it would arrive on 12-19-18 and I needed to schedule time off from work to be home to receive it. The shipping company informed me that it was on the way and should arrive between 1-4pm on 12/18/18. At this point I phoned my boss, left work and head home. Once the shipment arrived the driver and I unloaded the crate with a pellet jack. The two of us inspected the crate and did not notice any damaged so we proceeded to open the crate to further inspect the tank itself. Upon inspection I observed that the tank had a few issues which the driver even made an effort to point out.
The damages consisted of:
A small chip in the back right corner of the glass.
A good size chip in the front bottom panel.
A few surface scratches on the inside glass front panel.
A few other chips on the edges of the glass which clearly were not due to shipping.
Upon more detailed inspection I realized that the holes the company had drilled in the glass (to allow you can attach your plumbing) were drilled very sloppy and had a lot of chips and shatter marks around them.
The right side glass panel on the top of the tank has a small fracture inside the glass pane (This concerns me as I am worried that the crack may spread) When this particular tank is empty it weighs ~1000lbs and when it is full it will weigh nearly 4000lbs (The tank holds 280 gallons of water which is not something I want to risk breaking and flooding my house).
In addition to the damages, the tank is not even the correct tank that I ordered. This is my chief complaint. I paid extra money to have a low iron glass front and side panels. Unfortunately, they drilled the front low iron panel and left the normal glass as the front which should have been the back. This may not seem like a big deal; however it is very significant. When viewing the tank as a display, the low iron makes the glass look as if it’s not even there, making it crystal clear and crisp. Standard glass has a haze to it. Now I am in a situation that if I were to set this particular tank up, when you are looking at it from the side the front view and side view will not match. The front will be hazy and not clear. I cannot turn the tank around as they drilled holes in the clear side for the plumbing and it would all be hanging in the front of the tank, which is not very professional or attractive.
I have contacted eric with CAD Lights Aquariums. And keep getting told i will get a call back he never caled back and has the nerve to text. I have multipul emails sent over text msg and phone calls. They are even going to the point of ***** buttoning my calls. I have contacted my bank and have a dispute going currently .
AVOID CAD Lights / MODE Aquriums at all cost
From the get go my dealings with MODE Aquariums did not go smooth. I originally emailed them the specifications of the tank I wanted to order. Shortly after I received an invoice for $xxxx.xx plus $600.00 s&h. A few days later they replied back to me and said that they made a mistake and now the tank with shipping was going to be $xxxx.xx which was $600 more than the original invoice. I understand mistakes are made, however, they had already sent me an invoice and that was the price I expected to pay. Still, I wanted the tank so I paid the price of the new invoice.
After the order was placed I was told the estimated shipping date would be the 1st week in October. I had multiple phone conversations that I don’t have a record of; however, I have forwarded you the emails that I do have.
Later I was told it would be shipping out the last week in October. I then contacted them on 11/16/18 because I had not received any tracking or shipping information. I was told that the tank was crated and ready to ship and would go out Monday 11/19/18. Monday came and I got a call asking me where I wanted the holes drilled in the tank (how could it have been carted ready to ship if the holes weren’t drilled?) When asked this, I was told they were finishing it up and it would ship in a couple days. On 11/28/18 I emailed them once again and told them if I didn’t receive tracking information I would be opening up a dispute. On the 11/29/18 I received an email stating my tank was scheduled for tomorrows pickup (11/30) they then read the address which was: 396 Quail Hollow Rd., Thomasville, NC. This is clearly not my address. I emailed them and gave them the correct address after which they told they got the address mixed up with another store. On Friday, 11/30/18 MODE Aquariums then sent me a false tacking number via email. When I tried to check the information there was none, MODE claimed it could take 24 hrs to update tracking. However, as of the following Tuesday there was still nothing so I contacted the freight company. The freight company told me the number was not a tracking number they used. They looked up my location and found a different number showing my shipment was picked up on Monday 12/3/18 and that MODE had stayed late to finish my order. Funny, they told me it shipped on 11/30.
On 12/18/18 I called the shipping company because the tracking number I received stated it would arrive on 12-19-18 and I needed to schedule time off from work to be home to receive it. The shipping company informed me that it was on the way and should arrive between 1-4pm on 12/18/18. At this point I phoned my boss, left work and head home. Once the shipment arrived the driver and I unloaded the crate with a pellet jack. The two of us inspected the crate and did not notice any damaged so we proceeded to open the crate to further inspect the tank itself. Upon inspection I observed that the tank had a few issues which the driver even made an effort to point out.
The damages consisted of:
A small chip in the back right corner of the glass.
A good size chip in the front bottom panel.
A few surface scratches on the inside glass front panel.
A few other chips on the edges of the glass which clearly were not due to shipping.
Upon more detailed inspection I realized that the holes the company had drilled in the glass (to allow you can attach your plumbing) were drilled very sloppy and had a lot of chips and shatter marks around them.
The right side glass panel on the top of the tank has a small fracture inside the glass pane (This concerns me as I am worried that the crack may spread) When this particular tank is empty it weighs ~1000lbs and when it is full it will weigh nearly 4000lbs (The tank holds 280 gallons of water which is not something I want to risk breaking and flooding my house).
In addition to the damages, the tank is not even the correct tank that I ordered. This is my chief complaint. I paid extra money to have a low iron glass front and side panels. Unfortunately, they drilled the front low iron panel and left the normal glass as the front which should have been the back. This may not seem like a big deal; however it is very significant. When viewing the tank as a display, the low iron makes the glass look as if it’s not even there, making it crystal clear and crisp. Standard glass has a haze to it. Now I am in a situation that if I were to set this particular tank up, when you are looking at it from the side the front view and side view will not match. The front will be hazy and not clear. I cannot turn the tank around as they drilled holes in the clear side for the plumbing and it would all be hanging in the front of the tank, which is not very professional or attractive.
I have contacted eric with CAD Lights Aquariums. And keep getting told i will get a call back he never caled back and has the nerve to text. I have multipul emails sent over text msg and phone calls. They are even going to the point of ***** buttoning my calls. I have contacted my bank and have a dispute going currently .
AVOID CAD Lights / MODE Aquriums at all cost
