Fin Addict Saltwater Fish - Buyer Beware

You need it, you want to get rid of it or you have spotted a good deal and want others to know about it? Post about it here.
Forum rules
General Guidelines:
1. TPF Classifieds are intended primarily for advertisement of items related to fish and aquariums.
2. Include your location (City and State or Country) in your post or in your TPF user profile.
3. Posts may include links to commercial sites on the Internet or other commercial sources, but no spamming please :-)
4. No bootlegs, pirated games, spam or any other illegal or objectionable material.
5. Sellers are encouraged to include pictures of the products available for sale.
6. Sellers may "bump" their ad a maximum of three times.

Disclaimer:
- Sellers and buyers accept that this service is offered free of charge. TPF is in no way involved in the actual transaction between buyers and sellers and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of product descriptions or other information posted in TPF Classifieds.

Posting Ads
To help identify what type of classified you are posting, please use the following labels in your post topic:

FS - For Sale ex. FS Dogface in South Carolina
WTB - Wanted To Buy ex. WTB GSP in London area
PALS - Puffer At Local Store ex. PALS Fahaka at PetCo in SanFrancisco
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Fin Addict Saltwater Fish - Buyer Beware

Post by FishFan »

Is this a topic that can be discussed here naming the company name?

We purchased a "Spiny Box Puffer" from a Florida seller that shipped to Maine:
1. In the middle of a period of extreme cold during a major snowstorm (site says shipping will be held for bad weather)
2. Placing the 1.5 inch Burrfish in about 1.5 cups of water (site says they use sufficient water)
3. In a smallish uninsulated box filled with peanuts (site says the use insulated box plus fill media)
4. With a single heat pack that was spent when the box arrived almost exactly 24 h after shipping

The fish water was about 62 degrees when the fish arrived. Ammonia was above 8 ppm on an API test and the fish, covered with slime, died either just before arriving or very early during acclimation into his very own 46 gallon tank (prior to eventual housing in our 150 with our Orbicular Burrfish). The seller was notified and stopped communicating when I told them their "credit the purchase price to our account" policy wasn't acceptable because they didn't follow their stated shipping policies. We want our money back and don't want to buy another fish from a seller that does not show due diligence in their handling of fish (if not outright cruelty). The seller sells on eBay but we purchased directly from their website.

Should we initiate a charge back through Paypal, or let it go? Opinions?
Last edited by FishFan on Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:49 am, edited 3 times in total.
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
User avatar
G S P Freak
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Figure Eight Puffers, Binks (29G)
Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
Non-puffer:
1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco
Location (country): USA, Indiana

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by G S P Freak »

I'd file through paypal/eBay under "item not as described". They'll most likely file in your favor if you have to escalate the case (ie, uncooperative seller). Takes about a week, but you should get a 100% refund of shipping and purchase price. Sorry for your loss, seems a lot of people who sell fish are only in it for the $$ and couldn't give a damn about the fish.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by FishFan »

G S P Freak wrote:I'd file through paypal/eBay under "item not as described". They'll most likely file in your favor if you have to escalate the case (ie, uncooperative seller). Takes about a week, but you should get a 100% refund of shipping and purchase price. Sorry for your loss, seems a lot of people who sell fish are only in it for the $$ and couldn't give a damn about the fish.
When we were online sellers (not of fish) we refunded any complaint that didn't look like a scam.
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by Pufferpunk »

Absolutely, please name the company!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by bertie 83 »

I agree name them. If it stops 1 fish from dying its worth it
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
JRC3
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 904
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:10 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: F8(55g)
F8 (46g)
4-DP(29g)
Location (country): U.S.
Location: S.W. OH

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by JRC3 »

This is way too familar.
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by FishFan »

I wasn't sure of the forum's policies and the propriety, but this seller made a big deal about how well we communicated, then stopped responding to our email when there was a complaint. This purchase was small, about $12 + $31 shipping, and I've lost far more expensive mail order fish. Never have I seen such poor care to assure proper packaging. There was't enough water for a guppy in that bag, let alone a 1.5" puffer.

What really has my ire up is that even if I wait until summer, I don't want to reorder another Chilomycterus Schoepfi to be ammonia scalded in a tiny shipping bag. The fish was covered with slime threads. I sent them a photo of this and the fish sitting on top of the shipping bag eyes glazed over after I froze the corpse.

The seller is Chris Metcalf at Fin Addict Saltwater Fish
http://finaddictsaltwaterfish.com/

The seller's eBay rating and responses to complaints were not bad, but we purchased off eBay. I'm pretty sure PayPal will charge back the purchase, but it shouldn't come to that. Obviously we are not a competitor operating out of a Maine facility, but he may have googled us and found we were sellers at one time (rare orchids). We know how to ship into cold climates, often shipping even to Alaska.

-R
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by Pufferpunk »

Be sure to leave proper bad feedback, explaining exactly why!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
DarkStorm
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:19 pm
My Puffers: Picasso Trigger,
Burma Trigger,
Golden Heart Trigger,
Clown Trigger,
Rectangular Trigger,
Porcupine Puffer.
Location (country): Canada

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by DarkStorm »

cruel punishment ebay should not allow live anything sold on it.
id do a paypal charge back and make sure you describe the horror in their feedback so you can save a potential buyer headache and livestock loss
User avatar
Tripp
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:01 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): USA
Location: Carrollton, Texas

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by Tripp »

Social Media is a powerful thing these days
My suggestion is this.
1.) Try to resolve the issue with the owner directly via phone first.
2.) Try to resolve the issue with the owner directly via email if that doesn't work.
3.) Depending on how you paid "Amex" you cna have the charges reversed
4.) Work thru paypal to get it resolved.

When all else fails:
5.) Start by tracking down every review website possible that he has a listing on. (Post your situation)
(Dont let anger enter the situation. "Angry Mind is a Cloudy Mind")
Start here: Resellerratings: http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Fi ... ollections
6.) Then if you want to really go after them you can always go BBB.org http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/b ... l-90093362
In order to have a rating/ keep a rating they must respond to all complaints.

When issue like this come up I just hand it over to my attorney and let them go after them. Usually only take a letter to get the issue resolved.
But I have them on retainer and only cost $35 - 45 bucks a month. Well worth it to protect my family from idiots :lol:
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint

Post by FishFan »

DarkStorm wrote:cruel punishment ebay should not allow live anything sold on it.
id do a paypal charge back and make sure you describe the horror in their feedback so you can save a potential buyer headache and livestock loss
We didn't purchase on eBay, but directly. The money isn't a big issue. The bigger concern is the seller's practices. They removed the language on their web site saying they use insulated shipping containers. The internet's cashed copy from Jan 4 still shows the old language as do the Wayback Machine internet archives.
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
mattinlasvegas
Puffer Fry
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:28 am
Location (country): United States

Re: Online Fish Seller Complaint- Fin Addict Saltwater Fish

Post by mattinlasvegas »

I am currently fighting with this same person (Chris from Fin addicts) - I bought inverts from him and some died the first time and the second time they arrived in less than 36 hours but by plane and plants, hermit, crabs and cowry were all DEAD on arrival; they were packed in their bags with water and just in a card board box and styrofoam pellets - so of course they were all dead - they were on a sub zero plane!!!!! besides the original package should have been delivered in 24 hours and it was late and now he claims that the postal service won't give him his money back in the money back guarantee and I will probably be out of money cause he refuses to refund me but just give a credit towards future orders. He refuses to pack his stuff in a styrofoam box as my LFS says - but he says they don't know what they are talking about cause they aren't experts in shipping (and neither is he apparently!) but I don't want a credit cause what ever he ships keeps dying and I don't want to cause anymore deaths because of this clown!

so STAY AWAY FROM fin addicts and Chris Metcalff cause he is a scammer!!

FishFan wrote:Is this a topic that can be discussed here naming the company name?

We purchased a "Spiny Box Puffer" from a Florida seller that shipped to Maine:
1. In the middle of a period of extreme cold during a major snowstorm (site says shipping will be held for bad weather)
2. Placing the 1.5 inch Burrfish in about 1.5 cups of water (site says they use sufficient water)
3. In a smallish uninsulated box filled with peanuts (site says the use insulated box plus fill media)
4. With a single heat pack that was spent when the box arrived almost exactly 24 h after shipping

The fish water was about 62 degrees when the fish arrived. Ammonia was above 8 ppm on an API test and the fish, covered with slime, died either just before arriving or very early during acclimation into his very own 46 gallon tank (prior to eventual housing in our 150 with our Orbicular Burrfish). The seller was notified and stopped communicating when I told them their "credit the purchase price to our account" policy wasn't acceptable because they didn't follow their stated shipping policies. We want our money back and don't want to buy another fish from a seller that does not show due diligence in their handling of fish (if not outright cruelty). The seller sells on eBay but we purchased directly from their website.

Should we initiate a charge back through Paypal, or let it go? Opinions?
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Re: Fin Addict Saltwater Fish - Buyer Beware

Post by FishFan »

Hopefully the stories here will help other people avoid buying from this seller, who appears to be incompetent and interested only in getting people's money.


Fin Addicts Saltwater Fish (finaddictsaltwaterfish.com)
AKA Fin Addicts Saltwater Collections
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Fin Addict Saltwater Fish - Buyer Beware

Post by Pufferpunk »

Do they have a FB page?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
FishFan
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 am
My Puffers: Orbicular Burrfish (Oblio, shown in the avatar), Striped Burrfish
Location (country): Maine USA
Location: USA

Re: Fin Addict Saltwater Fish - Buyer Beware

Post by FishFan »

They do have a FB page, but how would it help?
-A&R
A = Anne, R =Robert

There has to be a point.
Post Reply