DOA or Extended Guarantee

[Saltgator]

Just thought I'd start this topic and get feedback from anyone willing to participate. When your ordering livestock, whether it be a $5 domino damsel to a $2500 gem tang, do you prefer a extended guarantee or are you comfortable with just a DOA/Live Arrival? Does price or vendor reputation play a role in your choice of the above choices?

 

[jboone82590]

I would prefer as long as they will give me lol
I honestly think they most places do DOAs nothing more.

 

[wkscott]

+1. I don't even see why they offer extended guarantees. Just look at this forum with so many new reefers: adding fish to not fully cycled tanks,
not quarantining, allowing bullying, adding new fish when one of the current ones has ich, etc. We are killing so much livestock. Sellers shouldn't be held responsible for these loses.

 

[Desmond]

There is no way a seller can be held responsible for a very long extended gaurentee. My lfs does 50% of purchase price back within a week. But they also require a water sample. As said above many people add fish without researching or any general knowledge of the fish and this in itself shoukd be enough for a no gaurentee extension. With a fish that is more pricy maybe there is some argument depending on the tank it has gone into.

 

[Maritimer]

If you're purchasing at a LFS and have the opportunity to evaluate the fish beforehand, then no guarantee is understandable - especially with the high overhead LFS' operate under.

If you're ordering online, and have zero opportunity to evaluate . . . I've heard too many stories of fish arriving emaciated, covered in parasites, with shredded fins, etc. to make me comfortable with DOA only in most circumstances. Are there vendors out there who have the kind of reputation that would make me more comfortable with the "DOA-only" level of guarantee? Yep. They didn't get to that level overnight, though . . .

~Bruce

 

[jhatfield]

Just starting out here and all of my online purchases have been from an online vendor with a 15 day guarantee. So far none of the four clowns I've purchased have made it through quarantine, two died from high ammonia from extended shipping and two had severe internal parasites which I spotted within 1 hr of putting in quarantine. All arrived alive, died within 4 days and all have been been fully refunded.

At this point I'd like to find any vendor that will sell me healthy (or Mostly Healthy) fish even without a DOA or guarantee. While I am thankful for a generous return policy; it only gets you so far.

 

[Bdog4u2]

There should be extended warranty on high end fish like the gem tang since your average beginner isn't gonna fork out serious money for one of these n less he's paying a fish maintenance company of set his system up.

 

[Saltgator]

Good replies by all. Figured I'd get a mixed of opinions, but that's good. Me personally, I'd like more than a DOA on a more expensive fish rather than a commonly raised in captivity fish. For example, I'm searching for a quality black tang but would like a extended guarantee just because the fish is on the rarer side. The same reason applies to the 2 regal angels I purchased and did qt on.

 

[dh350twin]

I have been into reef tanks for 20years. But have recently set up a FOWLR for my love of fish that I could never put in my reef tanks. My personal opinion after spending thousands of dollars with everyone from LFS to online vendors to hobbyist\sellers is to set up a relationship with the seller by asking questions and sharing your knowledge and tank specs. Once you do this order something inexpensive to see how it is shipped. Then you will feel more comfortable with a larger purchase. Do your homework and research the vendor and look for feedback. Also it doesn't hurt to ask for a 15 day guarantee.
The same rule applies as mentioned above with new hobbyist buying fish with other sick fish(being irresponsible) so can the vendors. Some are very careful what condition the fish they sell is in others not so much. Any vendor who takes good care of there livestock will most likely give you a guarantee. As it would take a lot for a fat healthy fish to die in that time. Highly unlikely unless it wasn't very healthy to begin with. Just my opinion. Good thread