No Returns

[banjocat]

I bought an albino bichir from a lfs yesterday. They told me that they had no return policy. The guy said that they stopped accepting returns, because of kids shaking bags, etc. I was also told that the bichir had been there for 2 months, so if it died it was more than likely my fault. I still baught the bichir, because I was pretty sure the 2 month thing was true(had been there in late december and saw the albino bichirs. Mine was the last one) and bichirs are pretty hardy. I ended up getting the bichir for only $8 also.

Their fish seem alright, but I don't think I would ever consider buying an expensive fish from a place that does not allow returns. I can understand that sometimes the customer is at fault in a fish's death, but I think accepting returns on dead fish is part of running a LFS(kind of like dealing with shoplifting in a retail store).

What do you think of this? Have you ever encountered this at a lfs?

 

[proaquatics]

yea if you were into saltwater,no guarantee on that at any fish store

 

[dragonfish]

Most stores offer no guarantee or a 24-72 hour guarantee with a water example. You want a guarantee go to PetSmart. 14 days, just bring body and receipt. I don't know of anyone else that crazy.

 

[banjocat]

I never knew that. I shop at places that have saltwater, including the lfs mentioned above, but I've never kept saltwater fish.

Edit: Yea the 14 days at petsmart is a bit extreme. I'll have to ask more lfs about returns. Bought from one without asking and it turned out alright.

 

[Mystus Redtail]

Walmart has a 90 day return policy, just bring the body and receipt. I haven't bought fish there since I was a noob, but...

My lfs has a 24 hour on FW, but none for SW.

 

[Burtess]

I don't remember if BigAls give one week or two, but I think if the fish is in such bad health when bought, that it should die within 24hrs. Of all the fish I have purchased in the last two years, only one has died.... and within a day, it was a red tailed black shark. If it takes a week to kill a fish, then you did the killin'

Most of the fish are killed by newbies (or stupid oldies lol..) and their new tank syndrome or brutal water quality....

Burt

 

[koop171]

a "chain store" called Jack's Aquarium and Pets does the 14 day thing too i got my reds from them (only local place that had them) and they are doing great i still have all 12 of them and i was really planning on haveing a loss by now

 

[headbanger_jib]

i have never been to an lfs where they would take a dead fish back even if it died within hours of buying it
so i am awfully careful when i buy expensive fish

 

[benzjamin13]

One place offers a 3 day return, but a lot of places only offer 24 hours.

 

[cenecker]

MANY fish stores don't offer any return policy. I understand honestly because they simply can't control what people are doing with the fish once they leave the store.