Lfs Taking Back Fish - How Common?

[juwelfan]

Hi,
Has anyone ever taking unwanted fish back to the shop you got them from?

How did you approach the shop? Did you get store credit?

I ask 'cos my paradise fish is bullying my Dwarf Gourami, so i was looking to move the Gourami on as i cant part with the Paradise fish.


Cheers,

Juwelfan

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

i always get store credit, most/all lfs should take back fish

 

[Majjie]

Some do and some don't. The best ones do and will give you a credit note. My nearest one doesn't
Try phoning them to check before you go.

 

[mrs_darlington]

I rang where i got my sons angel fish from and they are going to take it back - no problem, you can but try.

 

[juwelfan]

How about if i've had the fish for 3 months? Do you think they'll take them back?

Majjie, cheers, i'll give them a call before i go down.

I'll be happy if the shop just take the fish 'cos i want them to go to a good home, i'm not fussed about the store credit, but i'll try my luck.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How about if i've had the fish for 3 months? Do you think they'll take them back?

Majjie, cheers, i'll give them a call before i go down.

I'll be happy if the shop just take the fish 'cos i want them to go to a good home, i'm not fussed about the store credit, but i'll try my luck.

They may take them back, but probably won't give you anything for them- it depends on the shop. Just give them a ring and ask . You can also try the Buy/sell section on the forum too .

 

[mrs_darlington]

Do they have to know you have had them for 3 months

 

[juwelfan]

Do they have to know you have had them for 3 months

Ahhh, me likes the way your mind works, i guess i could pretend i got them a few weeks back, its a big chain store with lots of staff so they might not know.

 

[fishboy619]

personally whenever i buy a fish from a fish shop, i always ask if i can bring it back if any problems arise, if yes, great, i pay for fish and all sorted, if no, i refuse the fish and go somewhere else, there is always anonther fish shop willing to do business. my local fish shop is great, it doesnt have much varity but will always take fish of your hands, and any fry you want to get rid of (when grown). they either give me money off other fish, products, or store credit.

 

[Joviella]

I think it depends on whether they can still house the fish that you are returning. I would say that they wouldn't have to refund you at all,if you just decided you no longer wanted the fish.....hence why researching before you buy is such a good idea!!If you have problems,as in bad health,its up to you to provide a water sample so that they can assess the conditions of the fishes house!!

 

[vinylman]

The best thing (particularly if you're a new starter) is to find a shop you like the look of and keep popping in, even if it's just for the odd few plants or whatever - try to build up a relationship with the owner or staff. Even if it's just to ask them a few questions, they'd probably be more willing to do a regular a favour, like taking the odd fish off your hands if things aren't working out in your tank.

 

[Rhiannon]

Maybe other countries let you take them back, because I see it so many times on here "take your fish back to your LFS now, but I live in Australia, and none of my LFS's have wanted to take my fish back.

They say that its to dangerous because they dont know what kind of tank its been in. If the water is bad, if anyone has a disease etc.

 

[thegnu]

i think they are more likely to take them back if they are family run shops, not chain stores and less nowadays than a few years ago

 

[luque]

when i returned a honey gourami he didn't mind at all if you give them a valid reason i don't see why they won't allow it

 

[MegTheFish]

I guess if the shop has an assigned quarantine tank(s) then its fine, but if they agree to take your fish back and just plop it in one of their tanks, I wouldn't think they are very responsible. They have no clue if your fish is diseased and the kind of tank it came from. This is the reason the shop I work at won't take back fish, we don't have any spare tanks, and we won't risk contaminating our fish. So I don't think stores that won't take back fish should be labeled as "bad", thats just stupid.