Fish casualty from LFS

[jamiehill]

Hey all. I bought a Powder Blue Tang this last weekend from a LFS which is a sponsor on this board. When I was in the store, it looked normal in the tank, but it was hanging out in the back of the tank. It was smaller than most of the rest of the fish in the tank so I figured it was just laying low.

I was assured that the fish was eating well and was healthy. I bought it and made the drive home. Within 1 1/2 hours I was home and opened the bag to drip acclimate the fish. At this time, it was not swimming at all. It was laying flat on the bottom of the container and not really moving. It was still breathing so I continued with the acclimation.

At this point, I stopped and took pictures of the fish and sent a PM to the owner of the store stating that the fish was in distress and sent the picture as well. I also let the owner know that I felt that the fish was obviously not in good health when it left the store, as it was in such bad shape already.

I continued to acclimate the fish for 2 hours. At this time, it was still breathing and not moving much. I decided to put it in the tank to see if it would perk up at all. It went to the bottom of the tank and just kind of stayed in the same place. It did seem to perk up a little, but was dead by the next morning.

I sent another PM to the owner of the LFS stating that the fish did in fact die and reiterated that I felt there was health issues with the fish and asked what could be done about a refund.

At this time, I still have not heard anything back and am asking for advice as to what recourse I may have.

1. Should I expect that the LFS has some responsibility here as they sold me an unhealthy fish even though he assured me that it was healthy and eating well?

OR

2. Should I mark it as a loss and not shop at this LFS anymore?

Jamie

 

[edwing206]

I think it's both of your mistake. If you even had a thought about it being sick, then you shouldn't have have bought it. Most fish stores are about making money and will tell you that a fish is healthy to make a quick sale, thankfully there are some exceptions. But the store also shouldn't straight up lie. Wouldn't that be great. With that being said, I would see what you can do about a refund or store credit.

 

[edwing206]

Oh yeah, can you PM me with what store this was at? Thanks.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Asking for a replacement in lieu of refund will get you better success. With your documentation and rapid communications, any reputable LFS will refund your money if demanded. You need to be clear, direct, and persistant. If they turn out to be less than responsible, threaten credit card chargeback.

 

[ronj]

i would stay persistant in trying to talk to the lfs...probably best to ask for an in-store credit.....i would also like a pm of the store name

 

[Ed Hahn]

I have heard this from many stores. Is it the LFS fault or customer? Did temperature play the part? Did the person that bagged my fish blow CO2 in bag? Was fish sick before I bought it?
If I were the store and I thought it were me with problem here is how I would react. The loss could have been both of our faults. I would hope the LFS could sell you the fish for his cost for this once. I would not expect it every time. Store has to pay expenses to be there, so never expect it. But I think this is a good barter point.
When you buy a fish inspect it and other fish in same aquarium. Ask questions on how long fish has been at store, can I feed it, what is it eating, is it eating, are you treating any fish in same tank? What is the salinity of tank? Watch person bagging fish. It very well could be as much of your fault as his. I say this because I have done the same thing.
I want everyone to work together. Education is best teacher. You make mistake and you both learn or no one wins. I am hoping all stores are educated as well as hobbyist and learn together supporting all. We have some awesome stores around ya. Please do not mark store for something that could be both of your faults.

Here is a heads up. Lea Birch will be in Seattle in October. I am asking you to ask him the same questions.

sincerely,
Ed

 

[Jan]

Hi

I agree with folks who suggest talking to the store owner and requesting a store credit as opposed to a refund...it's easier on the LFS.

Ed, will Lee Birch be attending a club function here in October?

 

[Ed Hahn]

yes...

Hi

I agree with folks who suggest talking to the store owner and requesting a store credit as opposed to a refund...it's easier on the LFS.

Ed, will Lee Birch be attending a club function here in October?

Yes. I know no one can see my face. But I am hoping we all get some hints on buying fish and acclimating new fish that way we can prevent this from happening to ourselves and others. I mean this with the upmost respect to all.
sincerely,
Ed

 

[ronj]

Please do not mark store for something that could be both of your faults

When you buy a fish inspect it and other fish in same aquarium. Ask questions on how long fish has been at store, can I feed it, what is it eating, is it eating, are you treating any fish in same tank? What is the salinity of tank? Watch person bagging fish. It very well could be as much of your fault as his.

i agree, but he did say the person working there "assured" him it was fine and healthy.. if i have someone assure me a fish is fine, then i would definately be asking for answers!!!! At the same time, i can tell pretty much is a fish is healthy looking or not.

 

[OceanReef]

Jamie, I just responded to your pm's. I have not been on my computer this week, so I didn't know they were there.

The Powder Blue tang you purchased was eating. I would not have told you he did if I didnt see it myself. We do not issue refunds on livegoods, but I still have the other Powder Blue tang that was in the same tank, so you can have that one as a replacement this time if you want.

Let me know soon, and I will hold it for you. Or I can place one on order when you are over this way again, I remember you said you had not been over here in about a year and a half. So just let me know.

Also, sorry to hear the Firefish you purchased jumped out of your tank that same night.

 

[OceanReef]

Wow Ed....Lee Birch.

In October???

 

[jamiehill]

Thanks Mario. I will let you know when I make it over that way again. I sent you another PM.

Jamie

 

[tamarindthai]

wow!! that 's called happy ending...and great customer service,,,cheer Ocean Reef,,,great job Mario.cheer
as the second throught 1 1/2 hrs trip too cold or too hot ,,might possible stress the fish out..

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

While it may be a "happy" ending, it does bring up something I'm seeing happen more and more in business - folks assuming emails are a substitute for a simple phone call. In this case, it sounds like it wasn't even an email, but a PM via the forum.

Even in this day and age of text messaging while driving while chatting on skype, there are still a lot of us that aren't glued to the internet. And even for the ones that are glued to it, a lot of emails still go lost and never get to where they should for many reasons. It just seems to me that before getting all ticked off because a business isn't responding to emails, one should attempt to actually talk to someone in real life - like on the phone. Seems to me the issue would've been cleared up with a 30 second phone call.

 

[MikeS]

Happy ending or not, it's RF policy that matters between vendors and customers be handled in private and not in the public forums...I'm going to go ahead and close this thread.

MikeS