FAQ: Magazines and mail order
Tony Li
Rev 1.18 8/12/93
Prologue:
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This monthly series is intended to address some of the frequently
asked questions (FAQ) on the rec. and alt.aquaria newsgroups. Because
the answers may not be complete, please feel free to ask questions.
This is only intended to address first level concerns, and not to
dampen discussions. Please see the file FAQ.README for pointers to other
topics.
Please review and send any corrections or inputs to the FAQ maintainers
with "(FAQ)" in the subject line. You are absolutely welcomed to tackle
(i.e. WRITE) sections that have not been written yet.
I've received recommendations to put email address "pointers" in
the FAQ to vector questions to specific experts on particular
subjects. If you would like to offer yourself as such an expert,
please send me your email address and the specific topics you want
to host. Please include an email path that is generally accessible
to the greatest number of people.
NOTE:
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This section of the FAQ is NOT updated regularly. It is almost certainly
not up to date.
MAGAZINES:
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Freshwater and Marine Aquarium (monthly)
P.O. Box 487,
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Phone (818) 355-1476
1yr/12 iss. $22.00
2yr/24 iss. $43.00
Outside US $27.50/yr (no 2 year subscr.)
Tropical Fish Hobbyist (monthly)
One TFH Plaza,
Neptune City, NJ 07753
Phone (201) 988-8400
1yr/12 iss. $25.00
Foreign - add $11.00/yr
**note: The edition found in retail stores often does NOT
have mail order ads; the home subscription edition
does. Do not buy one at the store for m/o
addresses without checking it out first.
Aquarium Fish Magazine (monthly)
The following special offer is made by _AFM_ for readers of
the *.aquaria newsgroups.
*****************************************************************************
As a special offer to readers of *.aquaria, subscriptions to _Aquarium Fish
Magazine_ are being made available at a special price. You can receive a
2-year subscription for only $23.97. This offer applies to both new
subscriptions and renewals, and represents a significant savings over the
normal subscription cost of 2 years for $38.00. In other words, you get 2
years for the price of 1.
To take advantage of this offer, send a check or money order to the address
below. You must include the subscription department in the address in order
to receive the special price.
Aquarium Fish Magazine
Subscription Dept. FHNT
P.O. Box 6040
Mission Viejo, CA 92690
USA
Canadian subscribers please add $8 and foreign subscribers please add $12 to
the subscription price. Please pay by international money order.
******************************************************************************
Practical Fishkeeping (British mag)
MOTORSPORT
RR1 Box 200 D.
Jonesburg MO 63351-9616
US - $42.00 per year
KOI USA (bi-monthly)
KOI USA
P.O. Box 1
Midway City, CA 92665
U.S.A.
6 issues per year
$15 in U.S., US$ 19.50 in Canada
MAIL ORDER:
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Although prices are lower through mail order, one must
consider the cost of the shipping and handling, the delay time if
product is not in stock, and the fact that the mail order company
will typically not answer detailed questions. Your local retailer
on the other hand must pay for the overhead of inventory, and often
times are willing to answer questions. We need to collectively
ensure the survival of good, helpful stores with fair prices.
The following are just some of the larger m/o places. There are many more
to be found in magazines in ads.
TFP- That Fish Place 800-733-3829
MOP- Mail Order Pet Shop 800-366-7387
PW - Pet Warehouse 800-443-1160
800-443-1176 after 5 & Wknds
DLC- Daleco 219-747-7376
WTA- Wet Thumb Aquatics 313-725-0960
TFP MOP PW DLC WTA
Price 1.5 1.2 2.0 2.5 1.0
Selection 1.6 1.9 2.3 1.5 3.0
Service 1.7 2.3 1.0 2.0 1.0
Processing 2.1 2.0 1.0 1.5 1.0
Completeness 1.6 2.1 1.3 2.0 2.0
Correctness 1.1 1.4 1.0 1.5 1.0
Damage 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0
Sum 10.6 12.1 9.6 12 10
# Responses 11 10 3 2 1
Avg 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.7 1.4
Criterion:
Price - total cost of an average order.
1 - excellent, 2 - good, 3 - fair, 4 - pet shop
Selection: do they carry what you want?
1 - anything you could possibly want, 2 - good, 3 - fair, 4 - poor.
Customer service: are they pleasant on the phone? Do the sales
people provide accurate product information? Are printed materials
helpful?
1 - excellent, 2 - good, 3 - fair, 4 - why are you calling and
bothering them?
Order processing: how fast is your order processed? (When does it
leave the warehouse? Not when do you actually receive it, as this
varies with your location!)
1 - same day, 2 - 1-3 days, 3- longer than three days.
Order completeness: they have in stock what you ordered?
1 - rarely a stock out, 2 - occasional, 3 - often items are out of
stock.
Order correctness: they send what you ordered?
1 - never a problem, 2 - minor problems, 3 - common problem.
Order damage: do you ever receive broken items?
1 - never a problem, 2 - minor problems, 3 - common problem.
A Quick and Dirty Five Item Price Check, shipping not included:
TFP MOP PW DLC WTA
Python WC 21.79 21.79 21.88 24.95 21.00
AquaClear Mini 9.95 9.99 9.98 13.95 n/c*(Supreme)
H. Cich Gold 5.89 3.89 3.98 5.28 4.35*(Nippon Cich Dlx)
Bio Bags 24pk 10.95 11.29 10.89 16.99 n/c (Ginger 4 packs)
Ebo Jag. 100w 14.29 12.29 14.29 14.25 15.00 (Rena "F")
Stress Coat 16oz 3.95 3.99 3.98 5.95 n/c (Mydor products)
66.82 63.24 65.00 81.37 n/c
n/c= not comparable, WTA does not carry these exact brands.
***Remember that shipping cost and sales tax (if applicable) must
be considered in your final cost.**
The Big fish:
____________________
That Fish Place
237 Centerville Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17603
Clearly, a favored source for mail order. Best catalogue (very
useful for ordering from other places). I received no "horror"
stories, only one minor complaint.
Good Source for: Plants
Shipping: Actual Cost
____________________
Mail Order Pet Shop
250W Executive Drive 1338 North Market Blvd.
Edgewood, Ny 11717 Sacramento, CA 95834
Probably the total lowest cost place for supplies. However, it
seems that people either love or hate them. I received several
complaints about service and bulk products being shorted etc.
People like their flat fee for shipping.
Shipping: $2.99 orders <= $10, $5.99 orders> $10
The small fry:
____________________
Pet Warehouse
Dept. FA-122
P.O. Box 20250
Dayton, OH 45420
Not used extensively. However, I received many positive comments.
People like their quick service.
Shipping: $30 or < $3.95
$30-45 4.75
$45-60 5.75
$60-75 6.75
$75-150 8.50
$150 or > 10.50
--------------------
Daleco
3340 Land Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46809-1531
Has many unusual items. Shipping is included in prices for orders
over $30 but prices still seem high. Complaint received that back
ordered items was "just forgotten about."
Good Source for: Live Food Cultures, Dupla Products, LaMotte Test
Kits
Shipping: Free, orders under $30.00 require a $3.00 handling fee
--------------------
Wet Thumb Aquatic
52700 Base St.
New Baltimore, MI 48047
Smaller outfit. Their selection is not great but prices are very
good. They are more breeder oriented. They ship same day. Free
shipping for orders over $75.
Good Source for: Regenerative Blowers and Reverse Osmosis units.
Shipping: $25 or < 2.50
$25-45 3.50
$45-60 4.50
$60-75 5.50
$75 or > Free
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Others mentioned but not ranked:
Botany Bay: aquatic garden supplies, order was placed but shipment
had not been received by time of survey. 206-537-5223
Delaware Aquatics Imports: Water grown aquatic plants and supplies.
Many people like their plants. 302-738-4042
Spectacular Sea System: Specializing in marine lighting and
accessories ranked 3,3,1,1,1,1,1 305-941-3792
POND MAIL ORDER: Contributed by Diane DeMers
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These are from ads in Sunset, Horticulture, and Fine Gardening magazines.
I've tried my best to get all the info correct; I don't have any first-hand
knowledge (yet) with any except the catalogs from Lilypons. Note: these
were all "regular" ads; I didn't look through the classified sections of
these magazines.
Dolphin Outdoors
Fiberglass Ponds for gardens and fish
(408) 379-7600
Send SASE for brochure and prices
1808 W. Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
Hermitage Garden Pools
(315) 697-9093
Fiberglass garden pools, rock waterfalls, self-contained redwood
waterwheels; bubbling fantasias
Send $1.00 for color catalog
PO Box 361, Dept. A
Canastoga, NY 13032
Lilypons Water Gardens
pond liners, accessories, plants (lilies, lotus, etc), fish, etc.
100-page Catalog subscription $5.00
[Personal note: I've never bought anything from them yet, but I do
like their catalog]
3 locations:
Dept. 1626
PO Box 10
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0010
(800) 723-7667
Dept. 1626
PO Box 188
Brookshire, TX 77423-0188
(800)766-5648
Dept. 1626
PO Box 1130
Thermal, CA 92274-1130
(800) 685-7667 or (800)365-5459 (different ads had different Ph # here)
Paradise Water Gardens
(617) 447-4711 FAX: (617) 447-4591
Great books on water gardening (too numerous to list here); water lilies,
fountains, pumps, Koi, goldfish, aquatic plants, tub gardens.
Send $3.00 for a 60-page full-color catalog
56 May St. FN06
Whitman, MA 02382
Pets Unlimited
(813) 442-2197
Featuring TetraPond products
Send $3.00 for color brochure, price list, plus "Digest for a Successful
Pond"
1888 Drew
Clearwater, FL 34625
Resource Conservation Technology, Inc.
(301) 366-1146
Butyl Pond liners. 20-year warranty. Won't harm fish or plants, won't
stiffen in cold weather, resists sunlight better than plastics. Call or
write for literature and samples of the liner and Liner Protection Fabric.
2633 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21218
Slocum Water Gardens
Water Lily Catalog: water lilies, lotus, fancy Goldfish
Complete info on tubs, concrete pools, and ponds
Send $3.00
Slocum Water Gardens, Dept. FI592
1101 Cypress Gardens Rd.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
TetraPond
32-mil, flexible PVC liners, 10-year guarantee; accessory products,
fish and plant foods, water treatments, etc.
Write for free "how-to" brochure
Tetra Sales (USA)
Department P-9208
201 Tabor Road,
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Van Ness Water Gardens
Water lilies, bog plants, info, pumps, filters, maintenance
(714) 982-2425 For 56-page color catalog, send $4.00
2460 N. Euclid , Dept. 877
Upland, CA 91786-1199
Waterford Gardens
(201) 327-0721
Water Lilies, bog plants, lotus, pools and accessories, ornamental fish
$5.00 for 1992 catalog
74 East Allendale Road, Dept F
Saddle River, NJ 07458
Waterland USA
Fountains for your home, patio, or garden
(800) 321-6178 Call for free brochure
27071 Cabot Rd., Suite 116
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
William Tricker, Inc.
(216) 524-3491
Rare and unusual varieties of water lilies, aquatic plants, fish, etc.
Send $3.00 for full-color catalog
7125 Tanglewood Drive
Independence, OH 44131
MAIL ORDER LIVE ROCK (Contributed by Ron Burns)
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A listing of all FAMA advertisers Selling live rock in their ads.
From FAMA Sept. 1992
1) Coral Solutions. (602)881-7442 (602)881-7463 FAX
Indonesian, Caribbean, Mexican.
No pricing listed.
2) Conch Republic Aquatics, Inc. 1-800-TO-CONCH (305)289-1222 FAX
Macro-Algae coral base rock
35lb/Box
<10 boxes $1.50 / lb (few of us order more than 350 lbs at a time)
Ricordea and Gorgonian Rock
No pricing listed
3) Caribbean Creatures 1-800-728-3999 (305)852-3149 FAX
Purple coralline encrusted live reef rock
$89.95 / Box no info on amount in box
4) Natural Aquariums Unlimited (216)773-1414 (216)773-1286 FAX
live rock available no other info
5) Reef Rock International (602)547-1167
Mexican live rock Encrusting coralline algae
35-40lb/box
#1 grade $124.00 / box
#2 grade $ 86.00 / box
#3 grade $ 62.00 / box
No explanation of grade, or if any of them made it past 3rd grade
6) Pisces Coral & Fish (713)272-9938
Sea of Cortez and Caribbean Encrusting algaes and corallines
sizes 2" to 24"
$1.45 / lb 30 lb minimum or
$49.95/box 35-40lb/box
7) Zoo Tech 1-800-231-9005
"Weekly live rock specials" No other info
8) Reef Displays of the Florida Keys, Inc. (305)743-0070 (305)743-1971 FAX
Fresh and cured live rock / Caribbean decorative live rock
no pricing info
9) Exotic Aquaria, Inc. 1-800-622-5877orders (305)654-1171 (305)652-8125 Fax
Cured live rock
30lb/box
$125.00/box
10) Reef Scapers (305)745-3686
Florida live rock
30lb/box
Plant rock - $40.00 / box
Reef rock - $70.00 / box
11) Canine Cutlery and World of Aquatics (215)967-1456 (215)967-4228 Fax
Live rock
no other info
12) Brantana Aquatics (407)898-9422 (407)898-9423 Fax
Live Rock
Christmas worm $6.00/lb
Halimeda & Coralline Algae $4.00/lb
13) Exotic, Fresh & Reef Enterprises 1-800-882-7489 (410)381-0457 Fax
Live Rock Florida keys rock fresh or cured
30lb/box
$70.00/box
14) The Reef, Etcetera (713)981-4648
Live aquarium reef rock
2" to 24"
35-40lb/box
$45.95
15) C & B Distributors (305)664-4588 (305)664-5536 Fax
Live Rock
Plant Rock
no other info
16) Cortez Handcaught Marines, Inc. (310)215-0303 (310)215-1732 Fax
"tank raised, live rock" ???
No other info
17) Dolfin International Import/Export (305)731-1750 (301)731-1892 Fax
Live Rock by the pound cleaned and cured
no other info
18) Caribbean Connection (305)681-8120 (305)654-1322 Fax
Live Rock / Plant Rock
By the pound, from the diver
no pricing ( "Competitive Priced" )
Disclaimer:
-----------
Some answers listed above may reflect personal biases of the author
and the FAQ's contributors. In cases where the answers name
specific products and their respective manufacturers, these are not
to be taken as endorsements, nor commercials for the manufacturer.
Where cost information is stated (magazine subscription rates),
this is based on "street" information, and are in no way binding on
the publisher. The answers contained in this series pertain to
discussions on the rec. and alt.aquaria newsgroups, and are by no means
exhaustive. This series is not intended to take the place of good
aquarium books on the subject matter.
Copyright:
----------
The FAQ owes its existence to the contributors of the net, and as
such it belongs to the readers of rec.aquaria and alt.aquaria.
Copies can be made freely, as long as it is distributed at no
charge, and the disclaimers and the copyright notice are included.