returning fish

[flyjawn]

i keep seeing people suggest "returning fish" to the LFS for verious reasons and i'm curious to know if it's common for LFS's to accept returns.

i can assure you that there is not one store in my city (toronto) that will accept a return - Big Al's doesn't even guarantee their fish for more than 5 days!

are these small independent fish stores that accept returns?

 

[blazeyreef]

mine does...and it is a privately owned

 

[hc8719]

yes were talking about the privately owned ones, not the pet chains or even big als. most will accept fish you "dont want" in exchange for store credit, or money

 

[jbarr]

That is, assuming they're in good health

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Several large chains also take back fish. My SIL bought a bunch of African Cichlids for her 10 gal tank. When I told her that they would not work she returned them with no problem. It probably varies from each store though. Mom and Pop stores are usually great with returns as long as they are healthy.

 

[hc8719]

thats a given ff, most places have return policies for a week or so. but usually you cant "donate" fish or expect money for them, say at petsmart

 

[Fishyfanatic]

She returned them over a month later after the "guarentee" ran out. Call before you go in, but some big chains (like Petsmart) will allow you to bring them in. You won't get any money out of it, but they can be brought back.

 

[hc8719]

She returned them over a month later after the "guarentee" ran out. Call before you go in, but some big chains (like Petsmart) will allow you to bring them in. You won't get any money out of it, but they can be brought back.

ive never heard of my petsmart doing that, but i wont deny that your did

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Like I said above, it's not uncommon for the big chains to accept returns, even out of the guarentee period. At least it's not around here. I actually had one of the managers ask if he could trade our Mbuna fry for aquarium supplies at Petsmart. I wouldn't say that is the norm, but he offered. We didn't take him up on the offer since we sell all of our fry to a Malawi specific lfs.