Flying Fish Express

[kervina]

I am considering a purchase of some livestock from FFE. I would appreciate the benefit of any experiences others may have had with them.

Good stories?
Bad stories?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

I actually just had an order delivered this morning. It could have been a disaster, but FFX handled it well.

The order was originally placed last wednesday for delivery on last friday. Friday rolled around, but the package didn't. Someone somewhere screwed up my zip code on the package, which wasn't caught until half of friday was over and the package was being bounced between fedex locations. FFX contacted fedex and gave them the correct info, and fedex told them the package would still be delivered on friday. It wasn't. It also wasn't delivered on saturday. Or monday. Fedex really dropped the ball, basically letting the package sit in their facility without even attempting redelivery.

After numerous phone calls between myself, FFX and fedex, FFX gave me a credit for the entire order, including shipping and box charges. They shipped out replacements yesterday which were delivered without a hitch this morning.

Did the order go well? No. But FFX handled it professionally, responsibly and thoroughly. Any company can have good customer service when things go correctly; not as many manage it when things go wrong. I'm satisfied now not only with the items I received, but also with the way FFX resolved the problems that cropped up.

 

[Len]

I just ordered yesterday, mainly for the sake of evaluating their current performance.* They mistakenly overcharged me for shipping (I'm in LA and thus get reduced shipping rates). I called them, and immediately got the shipping error corrected. I got my order today. All worked out fine.

4 years ago, when FFX was just a fledging company, I had two DOA's in one order. The situation were promptly and professionally handled; credit was posted to my CC within one working week with zero hassle.

 

[kervina]

So what I'm gathering from this (since nobody else has jumped in decrying them) is that FFX is a company that runs into the typical problems associated with shipping living things, and they try their best to make things right when things do go wrong.

Sounds good to me. I'll probably be ordering Thursday or Friday, so I'd still appreciate any info that may be out there.

Right now I'm developing a pretty positive outlook on FFX. Hopefully, that continues to be the case...

 

[Anonymous]

I have ordered from FFE twice, with no problems and nothing but good livestock. Excellent service.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

So what I'm gathering from this (since nobody else has jumped in decrying them) is that FFX is a company that runs into the typical problems associated with shipping living things, and they try their best to make things right when things do go wrong.

Pretty much. I've done probably about a dozen orders with them since '98, and I wouldn't be giving them repeat business if I weren't satisfied. Like Leonard, I've had small mistakes in billing on a few occasions, but it's never taken more then a phone call to straighten out.

 

[Goldmoon]

Same here.. we ordered twice livestock from them.. first time a clam died the next day.. they credited us without any problems, just had to send the shell back.. second order we had a torch that never opened and was sick with bacteria.. we called them and they did not even asked us to return it, they credited us again saying it was sadly common with torches..all the other corals we ordered were all nice and healthy..
Third order was drygood... it arrived without any problems and all in good condition..
Good MO place.. I would not be afraid to order there again.... except that their *small* stuff was always much larger then we expected..
Might not be handy in a small tank or in a tank with not a lot of room...

 

[tazdevil]

How about pet warehouse.com-anyone have any exp good or bad? I've ordered 2x from them (Lfs in this state are like liver sponges 2 days old in the sun!) and had pretty good luck except w/ a rainfords goby that was doa, sent him back and they are supposed to credit me, will see if that happens.

 

[davelin315]

The only complaint that I have with FFExpress is that since they were bought out by a corporation a couple years ago, I feel that their prices have gone up and are not always cheaper than buying at a LFS on some items, and their fish quality has gone down. When they were brand new, a friend and I ordered from them a few times and the fish we got from them were incredible, and looked like they had been hand picked. After they got bought out, their prices went up, and fish orders inevitably came with sick and decrepit specimens that probably looked half dead when they were bagged (I've even gotten a couple of fish from them that had bodies half covered in fungus that could only move their gills). I haven't done a lot of invert stuff with them except for items like shrimp and crabs, but I've also noticed that they seem to ship much smaller specimens now that are not always as successful in the tank as the older specimens they used to ship out were. Other than that, customer service is still good, although there really wasn't as much of a need for customer service when they were a startup company, since the quality of livestock was better.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to order from FFE and I never had a DOA, although I did have a Mandarin Goby and a Sebae Anemone die within their 5 day guarantee, and they gave me credit, no questions, and didn't ask to send the specimans back. (In retrospect, I shouldn't have bought either item for the tank I had then anyway. Not big enough for the Mandarin's food supply and not enough light for the anemone.)

The only reason I haven't ordered anything in the past year and a half is because I moved from Minnesota and sold my 38g tank. I plan on having a new 125g tank in the near future, and am expecting to use them again.

 

[dobish]

I've had nothing but good experiences with FFX - go for it....

 

[Roach]

I have ordered from Pet Warehouse a few times but it was always dry goods. Never had a problem with them in that department.

 

[danmhippo]

I second the vote for PW. I ordered countless Livestock, and drygoods from them and have all been satisfied.

 

[chris_h]

I have had good luck with ffexpress. I got most of my LPS from them. I find that if you are not pleased with your order it is important to complain. I ordered a white organ pipe and a green frogspawn. I got a green organ pipe and a brown with just a tiny green tint frogspawn. I complained and they gave me the organ pipe free and sent me a free green frogspawn.

 

[kervina]

Thanks for the resposes, everybody. I will be placing my FFX order today. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[kervina]

Well, here's how it went... The order I was going to place turned out to double in price when shipping was added.

I'll just drive up to That Fish Place and pick out the animals I want instead. It'll end up costing the same...