Guess I just need to vent

My husband and I have a 90 gallon and a 29 gallon that we were planning to plumb together with a refugium. We recently got a nice new stand for the 90 gallon, and then we ordered then refugium. We made sure the measurements were right on and everything.

A week after we ordered the refugium, we finally got it. And it was the wrong size! It was a full two inches wider than the website had said and will in no way fit in the stand. But wait, it gets better.

My husband called the company we ordered the refugium from and they said we had to send them pictures of the measurements. After sending the pictures, we had to call them back after nearly three days because we hadn't heard from them. They told my husband that the actual manufacturer of the refugium said it wasn't their fault and there was nothing they could(would) do.

So now, we have a couple options: we can send the refugium back and get a new one (I can just see a new one getting broken, my luck), or try to return the stand and get a larger one. However, we talked with the owner of our LFS and he is "still thinking about it," letting us exchange the stand and paying the difference.... after 4 days.

We are trying to get our tank healthier and get to where we are supposed to be, and it seems like we are just hitting brick walls. Sorry for the rant, but I just needed to get it out. Have any of you run into similar problems when setting up your tanks?

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles, hope all runs smoothly once you can settle the differences.

 

sorry to here about that if they are willing to exchange the sump i woould just do that much less of a hassle also will the fuge fit thru the top of the stand?

 

Thats crazy! I would be upset too. I cant believe ur lfs wont work with u. He does realize ull be customers for quiet a while GRRR! I hope u get something figured out

 

You know, It seems that in this hobby it doesn't matter what the situation is, if it's bad....it's TERRIBLE! And when it rains it pours! It WILL get better for you and it's things like this that really make you appreciate how "cool" your LFS really is! I have the same issue with my LFS and they just suck. I mean suck! Is it that the new fuge is too big or you just can't get it under the stand? If your LFS wont work with you maybe you can post some pics and we can help you work through this thing. I'm sure that with the great minds here we can all work together and figure your conundrum out!

 

Talk to the owner/manager of the LFS. Technically, the workers don't give a poop they just have a job, but the guys in charge that run the books appreciate business and would like your loyalty...at least in a perfect world this is how it should work. Good luck! Sorry about your troubles.

 

I agree with everyone, talk to your LFS. Find the man and charge and remind him that you'd be returning and giving him more business if he does let you swap it out! Then if he still says no, I'd probably find another LFS if I was you, because that would just be an ***hole move.. Most of the time when future business comes into play, they cooperate.. At least I know the ones around Houston sure do.

 

IMO, the fault lies with the web company that you bought the fuge from, not the LFS. I would send the fuge back, and have them credit your card or call your cc company and deny the charge. Get a fuge from a company with a better standard of doing business.

I deal with things like this all day at work. They're challenges, not brick walls.

 

I understand your frustration, but the place I would hold responsible is the place that posted the dimensions of the fuge/sump. Have them replace your sump with one that fits, or return it and have one custom made.

You can't blame the LFS. When they sell a stand from their floor, chances are they will order another one to replace it... if they take yours back, they will have too much inventory, and stands take up a LOT of space. I can understand why they'd hesitate to take it back since there is not an actual problem with the stand itself.

 

Update!!! We finally got to sit down and have a one-on-one with the store owner, and he said that the reason he told us no was that he had thought we were someone else. He now recognized us and told us it would be no problem to exchange the stand! Then my husband contacted the company we got the refug from and they are sending us a $60 check for our "troubles." We now have everything set up and the results have been amazing. All the fish look happier and healthier, so I am very happy! ;D