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View Full Version : a little disappointed with DFS


frydaddy
07/05/2006, 10:34 AM
I've been using you guys exclusively for all of my online pet supplies, including Liveaquaria and Etropicals. For almost three years my wife and I have been ordering pretty regularly. On sunday I placed an order for around $250 of supplies. I also saw one of your competitors that I had heard/read really good things about that had some things I needed at a lower price. So I decided to place an order with them also (this is my first non-dfs order).

After I had placed the orders with both companies, I realized I forget a plumbing piece that I needed (which cost $1.69). I immediately called you monday morning to see if I could add that to the order. I was told you can not change an order in anyway once it is finalized. I figured that was probably going to be the case but I figured I'd try anyway.

Your competitor called and emailed me on monday to let me know that one of my items was not in stock (something DFS or LA has never done until the order shipped and then you were left guessing what wasn't coming). They wanted to know if I wanted to substitute another similar item, back-order it, or remove that part of the order or make any changes. So I had them substitute another item.

So here's why I'm disappointed. You guys can't (or won't) make any changes to orders once they're finalized, but it looks like your competitor's can. Is this a limitation of your ordering system? Or a policy? On top of that, this competitor provides as good or better customer service then you do. So while you will still be my primary for dog supplies, I think I'm switching my aquatic purchases to another company.

dfs/la2
07/05/2006, 11:13 AM
frydaddy,

Thank you for your post and recent order. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you and for the way your phone call was handled. As a company we do strive to process orders as efficiently as possible. Orders taken by phone process hourly and orders placed on the website automatically import for processing. Thus, once the finalized button is chosen on an internet order, changes to that order can no longer be made. However, since we are customer service oriented an exception should have been offered to place a new order without shipping and handling.

Our Drs. Foster & Smith supplies have a real time inventory system and our website will state if an item is not available. The Live Aquaria order shipments depend on what stock we have available at our holding facilities. Our facilities do receive daily shipments from the divers, so the stock can change regularly.

If you are still in need of this part we would be happy to place this order for you. Please contact us at 1-800-562-7169 or email customerservice@liveaquaria.com.

Michelle H.
Drs. Foster & Smith, Live Aquaria