Vendors you love.... Spread the Joy!

CMMorgan · Oct 23, 2020

Everyone is so quick to yell from the roof when they have a bad experience with a company. With so many of us shopping online due to Covid, we've all seen it. Arm chair critics trash retailers without giving a thought to the person on the other side just trying to earn a living. Let's put some good energy into the world today. Anyone have a great experience recently that will make you go back to a vendor?

I'd like to shout out Marine Depot. I bought a RODI from them in 2018. That sucker sat ... uninstalled until 6 weeks ago. In our attempt to open the tube to insert the membrane, we snapped the elbow that the water inlet attaches to. (In my defense, there are no instructions telling you to remove the water line before trying to open.) So, here we were sitting with a totally broken piece of equipment. I never used a RO/DI ... we were frustrated as heck. It took me like 20 minutes to even go through my old emails to see where I bought it. Then ... of course... it's discontinued. On a lark, I emailed them to see if they could help me source the part. Not asking for a warranty claim or anything.... we were the idiots that broke it. Within 48 hours, they identified two possible parts to fix it and mailed them... no charge. I even wrote back and offered to cover the cost plus shipping. Nope. They just hooked me up. The RO/DI is now operational. I have flooded my floor three times.... must stop multitasking.... and we are good to go. Thank you, Marine Depot, I will remember this excellent customer service moment as I order equipment for my new build. Marine Depot = Everyday Hero

Honorary Mention ----- BRS ---- just thanks for all of the amazing videos, reviews and inspiration. You guys are awesome.

harley32907 · Oct 23, 2020

Mr Reef! Shipped my corals on the day I asked.

Pkunk35 · Oct 23, 2020

Definitely love marine depot and brs!

so IVe always loved Aqua SD since I found them on this site a long time ago and recently bought stuff on their sale last week. They are serious at packing coral, with just a load of water and tight metal bands, heat pack because they know it’s going to Chicago. Everything I buy from them is super clean, healthy and true to picture. Just really like this shop and think it’s cool that it really doesn’t really matter if I live in San Diego because they are very good at pics and shipping. That’s just dope. OH and the freebies!!!

Sthomp01 · Oct 23, 2020

Top Shelf Aquatics : This is one of our LFS. The team at TSA has always gone out of the way to assist us and answer our questions. They worked with us and installed the new tanks when we upgraded from our 55gal tank to our 750XXL. We have had tours of the new coral farm, it is very impressive. All in All it is a LFS that we will keep working with for years to come.

Toadpapa · Oct 23, 2020

I was a bit afraid to purchase a cade from algae barn. I mean it's a big purchase and being so new to the hobby it was a big leap of faith. Turns out I worried about nothing. @AlgaeBarn made the entire process painless and shipping was perfect and fast. The tank is in cycle mode but I just discovered we had somehow broke a barb off on the ato connection. I spent a couple days looking for the proper metric parts and having not much luck when it occurred to me to ask algae barn if they had extra replacement parts. Turns out they not only had what I needed but are shipping me what I need. Love that kind of service.

StlSalt · Oct 23, 2020

Been ordering from Marine Depot for a few years, NEVER have I had a problem. Oh and I just figured out how to cash in my reward points for a fat discount on my next order. I propped Zoanthids.com in another thread, but I only used them because I found this place. Nice frags and love they way they ship them in a foam ring upside down in a little container. Not sure if they invented that technique, but I thought it was ingenious.

old salt reefer · Oct 23, 2020

My number 1 go to is Marine Depot, great customer service and quick shipping(99% of the time) spend most of my money there. My number 2 go to if Marine Depot doesn't have it is Fish Tanks Direct, again great customer service and fast shipping. BRS is my choice if nobody else has it because they charge tax and have slower shipping.

Marine Life · Nov 19, 2020

CMMorgan said:
Everyone is so quick to yell from the roof when they have a bad experience with a company. With so many of us shopping online due to Covid, we've all seen it. Arm chair critics trash retailers without giving a thought to the person on the other side just trying to earn a living. Let's put some good energy into the world today. Anyone have a great experience recently that will make you go back to a vendor?

I'd like to shout out Marine Depot. I bought a RODI from them in 2018. That sucker sat ... uninstalled until 6 weeks ago. In our attempt to open the tube to insert the membrane, we snapped the elbow that the water inlet attaches to. (In my defense, there are no instructions telling you to remove the water line before trying to open.) So, here we were sitting with a totally broken piece of equipment. I never used a RO/DI ... we were frustrated as heck. It took me like 20 minutes to even go through my old emails to see where I bought it. Then ... of course... it's discontinued. On a lark, I emailed them to see if they could help me source the part. Not asking for a warranty claim or anything.... we were the idiots that broke it. Within 48 hours, they identified two possible parts to fix it and mailed them... no charge. I even wrote back and offered to cover the cost plus shipping. Nope. They just hooked me up. The RO/DI is now operational. I have flooded my floor three times.... must stop multitasking.... and we are good to go. Thank you, Marine Depot, I will remember this excellent customer service moment as I order equipment for my new build. Marine Depot = Everyday Hero

Honorary Mention ----- BRS ---- just thanks for all of the amazing videos, reviews and inspiration. You guys are awesome.

BULKREEFSUPPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything Aquatics · Nov 19, 2020

Bulk reef supply and @LoveTheReef

Arabyps · Nov 19, 2020

TSMaquatics, Top Shelf Aquatics, LiveAquaria Diver's Den and BRS. There are actually many outstanding vendors. Probably too many to mention but these are my go to.

DC Reefer · Nov 19, 2020

For equipment I really like BRS - great selection, customer service and have learned a ton from their videos.
For corals I have had good experience with Battle Corals, WWC and Top Shelf Aquatics. I also like Elite Reef in Denver for LPS.
Fish - Marine collectors for full service quarantined livestock but comes with a price. Have also had good luck with Live Aquaria for livestock but I always quarantine. Had a few that didn't make it through quarantine but they made good on their 2 week guarantee.

stanlalee · Nov 19, 2020

Live aquaria for live goods (I don't buy the $400 an inch pineapple, raspberry, strawberry reverse snow cone frags but they have the basics), marine depot, bulk reef supply and premium aquatics in no particular order for dry goods.

Scott1071 · Nov 19, 2020

The ones I use that are amazing for dry goods are @Bulk Reef Supply and @MarineDepot never had an issue with them or their products. For corals it would be @jfox @calikidcorals @CherryCorals and @A Reef Creation amazing, healthy, large frag corals at a great price. I haven't ordered fish online yet I get them from my LFS.