A Hard Pill To Swallow (aquatics)? :(

[mnew]

Before I discovered this forum. I went to the largest local fish place, Swallow Aqatics in Colchester. I asked their advice about having a custom tank made to fit an area in my house. They told me that this would be no problem and would take about 2 weeks. 4weeks later after having to ring then on several occasions I have just been told that the tank is now built but will only be delivered to them next Wed or Thursday, making a total of just over 5 weeks, somewhat longer than the 2 they quoted. They also told me that a single 30W tube would be sufficient for a 300 L planted tank, which according to the guys on this forum is not the case.

I was hoping to use Swallow Aquatics for a lot of my stuff but their 'laid back' attitude to my order does not fill me with confidence that they are the sort to deal with in the future.

Does anyone else have any experience of these people?

 

[andywg]

I have the flagship Rayleigh Swallows store near me.

you can't blame the shop for a custom tank as they cannot give it to you until it is made and given to them. This delay is most likely a delay at the manufacturer (Swallows do not make tanks).

With regards to a 30W tube on a planted tank, did you point out just how planted you want it? It is more than possible to grow some plants under lower light levels.

Remember that no one member knows all of the knowledge contained within this forum, so expecting a single lfs employee to do so is a little unreasonable.

My reason to rarely use Swallows is that they seldom have anything interesting in stock that I would like. I have found their dry goods far more expensive than the internet though.

 

[thegnu]

i have a swallow aquatics near me. (norwich) they have a huge selection and loads of marines. one gripe, they write the names of the fish on the tanks in marker pen and they are so out dated that hardly any of the names of fish correspond with whats in the tanks. makes me want to rub it all off and re-due the lists

 

[mnew]

I have the flagship Rayleigh Swallows store near me.

you can't blame the shop for a custom tank as they cannot give it to you until it is made and given to them. This delay is most likely a delay at the manufacturer (Swallows do not make tanks).

With regards to a 30W tube on a planted tank, did you point out just how planted you want it? It is more than possible to grow some plants under lower light levels.

Remember that no one member knows all of the knowledge contained within this forum, so expecting a single lfs employee to do so is a little unreasonable.

My reason to rarely use Swallows is that they seldom have anything interesting in stock that I would like. I have found their dry goods far more expensive than the internet though.

I'm not blaming them for the delay but rather the way they have handled it. Not once have they rung me to keep me informed of what was happening or the reason for the delay. If this is a normal delivery time then why did they quote me 2 weeks in the first place? If the member of staff is not quite sure of the information the customer requests then they should say so and ask someone else from the staff who might.

It's not often the staff members fault but rather the training they are given.

I will visit the Southend store to check it out. I like to support local business, but at times like this it seems on-line is the way to go.

 

[Richie Hell]

i have a swallow aquatics near me. (norwich) they have a huge selection and loads of marines. one gripe, they write the names of the fish on the tanks in marker pen and they are so out dated that hardly any of the names of fish correspond with whats in the tanks. makes me want to rub it all off and re-due the lists

We use that Swallow as well, and have found it excellent. The staff are knowledgeable, customer service is great, and the range of fish is second to none in the area.

I wish they had proper fish labels though! They need scientific names and some basic information would be handy, considering the vast range.

 

[andywg]

I'm not blaming them for the delay but rather the way they have handled it. Not once have they rung me to keep me informed of what was happening or the reason for the delay. If this is a normal delivery time then why did they quote me 2 weeks in the first place? If the member of staff is not quite sure of the information the customer requests then they should say so and ask someone else from the staff who might.

A normal delay on a custom tank is about 2 weeks. However, if a delay occurs at the manufacturer after your order is placed and said manufacturer fails to inform the lfs, how is someone at the lfs meant to psychicly know when your tank will be ready? I have had the exact same thing happen where the cutting tool at a manufacturer went off line for some time and it is not the fault of the lfs at all.

And it wasn't a point of the member of staff not knowing, there is also the fact that "planted" means a number of different things to different people. To some it means just a few easy to keep plants in the tank. And it may be that that member of staff has a pretty well planted tank themselves with just one small light.

 

[tropicaltone]

Hi Mnew,

I have never been to the Swallow Store you mention, but having lived in Ipswich near Colchester you might want to take a look at the Seapets store either in Ipswich or Colchester they have a good selection and give good advice. Heres their site http/www.seapets.co.uk you might want to visit them.

Tropicaltone

 

[andywg]

Hi Mnew,

I have never been to the Swallow Store you mention, but having lived in Ipswich near Colchester you might want to take a look at the Seapets store either in Ipswich or Colchester they have a good selection and give good advice. Heres their site http/www.seapets.co.uk you might want to visit them.

Tropicaltone

If my memory serves correct, that would be the seapets store in Colchester which had a habit for ordering tanks of fahaka puffers and other fish which it had no idea of how to look after.

Search through some of Sir Minion's topics for an idea of how good seapets in Colchester is...

 

[mnew]

A normal delay on a custom tank is about 2 weeks. However, if a delay occurs at the manufacturer after your order is placed and said manufacturer fails to inform the lfs, how is someone at the lfs meant to psychicly know when your tank will be ready? I have had the exact same thing happen where the cutting tool at a manufacturer went off line for some time and it is not the fault of the lfs at all.

And it wasn't a point of the member of staff not knowing, there is also the fact that "planted" means a number of different things to different people. To some it means just a few easy to keep plants in the tank. And it may be that that member of staff has a pretty well planted tank themselves with just one small light.

I don't think you and I will see eye to eye on this When I was in retail if this sort of delay happened we rang the customer. But that does not seem to be their way, perhaps I am expecting too much?

Of course its not the IFS fault if a supplier lets them down, but after placing the order and I rang up after 2 weeks they started telling me that it can be 3 to 4 weeks, after taking a 50% deposit from me. How can I trust anything else they tell me ? Thank goodness I didn't take their advice on external filters !