G.A.R.F. order

[sweetsop]

Just wondering if anyone has placed an order recently?

About 3 weeks ago I placed an order from G.A.R.F., a nice reef janitors package of hermit crabs and snails. Well, it's been 3 weeks and I still do not have any 'janitors'. I've been on the phone with LeRoy several times and he tells me that he will re-ship the order, but how many times can he re-ship? Sometimes I feel like he is just saying this to keep me happy, but when the order doesn't come when expected, well, you know the feeling...:irked:

Just wondering if anyone else here has had a similar experience and if so, what happened?

 

[DrCooper]

what is G.A.R.F?

 

[sweetsop]

Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation

www.garf.org

 

[Mangas50]

http://www.garf.org/index.shtml

i hear they are great... tough times maybe short staffed and people are multi tasking. Just tell them what you expect from them and I am sure they will meet your expectations as long as they are reasonable.

 

[sweetsop]

i just want my snails that's all...

 

[Mangas50]

no good locals near you?

 

[sweetsop]

yes, but i wanted to try their ever famous 'grunge'.....and the reef janitors pack sounded so good, just wanted to see for myself

 

[Mr.First]

I heard that guy was out of his mind, went ito some store and peed in a tank. Can't believe their still around, good luck

 

[sweetsop]

:Yikes:oh no!:Yikes:

thanks:headache:

 

[daisy]

I ordered my very first corals from them years and years before I found MR. I got grunge from them, too. It was definitely teeming with life. But then I started hearing odd stuff, and subsequently found MR -- you're probably going to be better off getting some sand from the tank of a friend whose tank has been up and running for a long time... if they don't come through with your order, that is.

As long as you've already paid, you have every right to push and push them to send you your order - or to demand that they reimburse you!

Best of luck!

 

[sweetsop]

thank you daisy : )

 

[Alex]

bought some stuff from them a while back. never had a problem with their corals or their grunge. just know that the grunge is just sand and small rubble from their tanks, which is definitely teeming with life. as for their janitors,same snails and crabs as others.

BTW they also have some interesting aragacrete rock which they make themselves.
I believe that his wife has been sick for a while now and that may be the reason for they delay.

Also they have a different way of keeping corals which has worked well for them and if you look at their tanks you will see some amazing colors on their coral. Just some FYI.

 

[cisco1717]

i just placed an order today and he said i should get it by friday. i got the reef cleaner pgk and 6 lbs of grunge. i was thinking about getting miracle mud but heard you have to replace half every 6 mo

 

[sweetsop]

don't get me wrong, their coral tanks look great, LeRoy is pleasant to speak to, but I've been waiting for an order that was to be shipped 'overnight', and that was 3 weeks ago! I'm sure it will arrive, but.....when?

 

[marrone]

GARF has always been a problem to deal with. In the past it was very hard to get them on the phone or even answer emails, though it's somewhat better now that they have a 1-800 number. In the end they're a research operation that sells on the side. Their sales side has never been strong, which could be from a lack of people or that they not really a sales operation, which some people will dispute that's what they are.

 

[greggnyce]

I ordered a janitor package 6 months ago and received it with no problems. He threw in an emrald crab, grunge and 2 corals for free. I guess they are not consistent with the customer service though. The janitor package cleared up all of my algea in 2 days.

 

[sweetsop]

o.k., I will think positive thoughts, and hopefully I will receive my package soon!

Thanks for all the input!

 

[sweetsop]

yea! finally got my order today!

 

[daisy]

how do you like what you got?

 

[DHaut]

I've heard mixed reviews about GARF overall. They're a research facility - not a store. That might play into their customer service. I've always used www.reefcleaners.org for my clean-up crew and macro algaes. John Malloney knows his stuff and they have great service. And as far as the Grunge goes, just go to your LFS and get them to give you a scoop of the stuff on the bottom of their live rock tank. Same stuff.