I'm going to start out by saying that I did not want to have to write this post. However, I feel that it is necessary.
Mike and I have had some bad experiences with one of the club sponsors, which was quite a disappointment because Mike liked and respected him quite a bit. Because he was a sponsor, and because Mike did respect him, we didn't post anything about those bad experiences on the forum. We did privately tell a few people what happened with this vendor when they asked questions. Our conversations about the situation were entirely truthful at all times. Since I just got lambasted via private message by this sponsor, and accused of bad mouthing him and spreading rumors, I think it's time to clear the air in a more public fashion. To essentially be accused of lying by a sponsor is something that I find egregious and unacceptable.
These were the experiences that Mike and I had, explained in the same fashion that we expressed privately to a handful of people:
The marine velvet that killed most of the fish in my tank came from the blonde naso that I got from Catfish Charlies. I recognize that this is a risk you take with any fish purchase you make, and I don't blame him for the loss I sustained as a result of adding that fish into my tank. However, once we learned what had decimated my fish population, Mike and I went to his store to let him know so that he could take whatever steps he deemed necessary to prevent losses in his own tanks that would hurt his business and cost him money. I did not, and absolutely would not, ask for a refund. No way. However, I saw that nearly all of his fish had already been infected with either velvet or something similar. There were some indicators that he was treating his tanks, so he knew there was a problem. I was extremely disappointed to see that, despite this, all of the fish were available to purchase. He sold a couple of them while we were there that day, and didn't say a single word to the buyers about dipping or quarantining. He had an interesting new fish that I had never seen before, and when I inquired about it (what does it eat, is it reef safe, etc) he tried to sell me that fish on the spot, despite the fact that it was obviously sick. In my opinion, that's extremely unethical and NOT what I would consider a good business practice. Ethical fish stores will not sell fish that they KNOW to be sick, especially not when it's something highly contagious.
Despite that example of bad business practices, Mike ordered a sawtail tang from him because he was the first store to locate them. He prepaid $109 for a 3" fish. At the same time, I ordered a banggai cardinal. When those fish came in, I went to pick them up because Mike was working, and Ron required that they be picked up as soon as they arrived. When I walked in the door, the first thing I was told was that the sawtail tang came in smaller than expected. It was not 3". It was less than half that size. Not good, but not his fault. I called Mike, and the decision was made that I would not take that fish home. It was not what had been ordered, bottom line. We both understood that the vendor had not sent the right fish, and never once blamed Ron for it being incorrect. The size was crucial for 2 reasons- 1) the smaller the tang, the less likely it is to survive, and 2) it was going into a QT tank with 7 large yellow tangs. No way would it have lived. While I was talking to Mike on the phone about his fish, Ron had started acclimating the banggai cardinal that I was to take with me. That fish had been shipped in the same bag as 2 others, so he could not just hand me the bag. Knowing that he was acclimating the banggai with 'sick' water, and faced with acclimating it again when I got home, I decided I wasn't comfortable taking my fish with me either. Ron acted like I was making a big deal out of nothing, that double-acclimating would not cause any stress or harm. I respectfully disagreed, and left the store. A few days later, we went back so Mike could explain why we had decided not to take his sawtail home. Ron's response to the information about the 7 yellow tangs was a very snide/snarky "I'm sorry" as if it wasn't his problem. He complained repeatedly that now he was going to be stuck with this fish, and the other 2 sawtails that he had ordered in with it, because Mike wouldn't take it home. Mike asked about him getting in the sawtail at 3" like he had ordered & paid for, and was told that would cost more to make that happen. That was the last straw for both of us. We knew that he would refuse to refund us the money we had prepaid for the fish, so we used that store credit to buy the safest thing we could think of- salt.
This morning, someone asked a general question in the chatbox about a walking batfish. I responded that I had only ever seen one (indicating that it wasn't a common fish in the hobby), and it was at a store where I would not shop. I didn't name the store or the owner. Despite what had happened, I was reluctant to go public about it.
I then ran some errands, and came back to the following private message from Ron:
At no point did I tell a single lie about Ron or Catfish Charlies. Neither did Mike. If someone asked about it, we told the simple truth about our experiences with this vendor/sponsor. To accuse us of badmouthing and spreading rumors is dangerously close to calling us liars, and that is unacceptable, as is the entire tone of the message. It is filled with utter garbage, quite frankly. Up until I received this message, I was simply deeply disappointed with his ethics and business practices. However, NOW I'm angry. In my opinion, Ron is unethical, has the worst customer service I have ever seen from a business owner, and repeatedly demonstrates an attitude of self-righteous indignation. It amazes me that he is still in business.
Mike and I have had some bad experiences with one of the club sponsors, which was quite a disappointment because Mike liked and respected him quite a bit. Because he was a sponsor, and because Mike did respect him, we didn't post anything about those bad experiences on the forum. We did privately tell a few people what happened with this vendor when they asked questions. Our conversations about the situation were entirely truthful at all times. Since I just got lambasted via private message by this sponsor, and accused of bad mouthing him and spreading rumors, I think it's time to clear the air in a more public fashion. To essentially be accused of lying by a sponsor is something that I find egregious and unacceptable.
These were the experiences that Mike and I had, explained in the same fashion that we expressed privately to a handful of people:
The marine velvet that killed most of the fish in my tank came from the blonde naso that I got from Catfish Charlies. I recognize that this is a risk you take with any fish purchase you make, and I don't blame him for the loss I sustained as a result of adding that fish into my tank. However, once we learned what had decimated my fish population, Mike and I went to his store to let him know so that he could take whatever steps he deemed necessary to prevent losses in his own tanks that would hurt his business and cost him money. I did not, and absolutely would not, ask for a refund. No way. However, I saw that nearly all of his fish had already been infected with either velvet or something similar. There were some indicators that he was treating his tanks, so he knew there was a problem. I was extremely disappointed to see that, despite this, all of the fish were available to purchase. He sold a couple of them while we were there that day, and didn't say a single word to the buyers about dipping or quarantining. He had an interesting new fish that I had never seen before, and when I inquired about it (what does it eat, is it reef safe, etc) he tried to sell me that fish on the spot, despite the fact that it was obviously sick. In my opinion, that's extremely unethical and NOT what I would consider a good business practice. Ethical fish stores will not sell fish that they KNOW to be sick, especially not when it's something highly contagious.
Despite that example of bad business practices, Mike ordered a sawtail tang from him because he was the first store to locate them. He prepaid $109 for a 3" fish. At the same time, I ordered a banggai cardinal. When those fish came in, I went to pick them up because Mike was working, and Ron required that they be picked up as soon as they arrived. When I walked in the door, the first thing I was told was that the sawtail tang came in smaller than expected. It was not 3". It was less than half that size. Not good, but not his fault. I called Mike, and the decision was made that I would not take that fish home. It was not what had been ordered, bottom line. We both understood that the vendor had not sent the right fish, and never once blamed Ron for it being incorrect. The size was crucial for 2 reasons- 1) the smaller the tang, the less likely it is to survive, and 2) it was going into a QT tank with 7 large yellow tangs. No way would it have lived. While I was talking to Mike on the phone about his fish, Ron had started acclimating the banggai cardinal that I was to take with me. That fish had been shipped in the same bag as 2 others, so he could not just hand me the bag. Knowing that he was acclimating the banggai with 'sick' water, and faced with acclimating it again when I got home, I decided I wasn't comfortable taking my fish with me either. Ron acted like I was making a big deal out of nothing, that double-acclimating would not cause any stress or harm. I respectfully disagreed, and left the store. A few days later, we went back so Mike could explain why we had decided not to take his sawtail home. Ron's response to the information about the 7 yellow tangs was a very snide/snarky "I'm sorry" as if it wasn't his problem. He complained repeatedly that now he was going to be stuck with this fish, and the other 2 sawtails that he had ordered in with it, because Mike wouldn't take it home. Mike asked about him getting in the sawtail at 3" like he had ordered & paid for, and was told that would cost more to make that happen. That was the last straw for both of us. We knew that he would refuse to refund us the money we had prepaid for the fish, so we used that store credit to buy the safest thing we could think of- salt.
This morning, someone asked a general question in the chatbox about a walking batfish. I responded that I had only ever seen one (indicating that it wasn't a common fish in the hobby), and it was at a store where I would not shop. I didn't name the store or the owner. Despite what had happened, I was reluctant to go public about it.
I then ran some errands, and came back to the following private message from Ron:
Cindy I'm assuming that when you were talking on "chat" about a "walking batfish" and "will not buy from that store anymore", you're talking about my shop! Why the heck are you and Mike so ****ed at me? I did EVERYTHING you two asked of me and went over and beyond to get those sawtail tangs for Mike (over two weeks calling every supplier I knew)! It wasn't my fault that I was lied to about their size AND you could have picked up the bangai cardinal later! Nether you or Mike really talked to me about it, but did come in and take store credit for what you paid!
I have heard "rumors" that you and Mike have been "bad mouthing me"! Be respectful and if you have issues than come talk to me and not spreading rumors. I did NOTHING WRONG except "try" to make you and Mike happy and ALL I feel now in return is "kicked in the face" for something I was NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR! I did NOTHING wrong except apparently trying to help you and Mike!!!
Ron Acklin
Owner
Catfish Charlie's Tropical Fish, Inc.
I have heard "rumors" that you and Mike have been "bad mouthing me"! Be respectful and if you have issues than come talk to me and not spreading rumors. I did NOTHING WRONG except "try" to make you and Mike happy and ALL I feel now in return is "kicked in the face" for something I was NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR! I did NOTHING wrong except apparently trying to help you and Mike!!!
Ron Acklin
Owner
Catfish Charlie's Tropical Fish, Inc.
At no point did I tell a single lie about Ron or Catfish Charlies. Neither did Mike. If someone asked about it, we told the simple truth about our experiences with this vendor/sponsor. To accuse us of badmouthing and spreading rumors is dangerously close to calling us liars, and that is unacceptable, as is the entire tone of the message. It is filled with utter garbage, quite frankly. Up until I received this message, I was simply deeply disappointed with his ethics and business practices. However, NOW I'm angry. In my opinion, Ron is unethical, has the worst customer service I have ever seen from a business owner, and repeatedly demonstrates an attitude of self-righteous indignation. It amazes me that he is still in business.
