BIG AL'S ONLINE

Has anyone every returned anything to big al's?me and a friend ordered a couple of emperor 400s and some other stuff and I opened mine and it was cracked in about 3 places.my friend is out of town working and it says notify them within 48 hours of getting it.I think it's slightly past that he is gonna call today.I was wondering if anyone had to return anything because of damage and if they are good about letting you swap for another one?

 

I personally have never used them but have heard they were good to work with you.
Carol

 

I've bought from them, but never returned anything. Can't help you with this one. I'm sure that they'll make good!

 

got my friend's wife to open his and it's cracked in the same place as mine ??? .i'm not sure what is going on.hope they will make it right. :-\

 

I think that is a Marineland product and if there is any problem, you should register your products on the Marineland.com website under their Consumer Products section and they will make it right if it is still under warranty. They are WONDERFUL to deal with. Just be sure you have the numbers off your invoice. I saved the receipt from my aquarium I bought in July and when my light system went out they sent me a new one free of charge. All I had to do was read them the number from the receipt. It didn't take long to get either. You don't even have to send in the old one. (or I didn't anyway.) Since it involves a crack they may want a picture sent by e-mail just for their quality control department. But I would give BigAl's a chance first.

Rose

 

whatever happened?
just curious, thanks!
denise

 

I have bought a lot of freshwater products from Big Al's and I generally like them for their low prices. But I do, however, have a problem with a canister filter I bought from them. Rena Filstar's XPs are generally considered very quiet filters. Well, my XP3 must be some faulty model because it is very loud. I did everything - checked for trapped air inside, for dirty propeller, clogged up filter media, etc ... but everything seems fine inside. I keep the filter clean and free of debris. Yet, the filter seems to be loud for no reason. Kind of sucks and I am thinking of replacing it with 2 HOB Aqua Clears. The XP3 I have has also stopped filtering this summer about 10 times - every time I opened the filter, the protective cover over the propeller was pushed out even though I closed it tightly according to the instructions by the manufacturer. Weird filter.

 

Boxing Day 2010 Sale - Big Al's Canada



The whole flyer can be found .

 

Just read on that flyer "FREE! BIG AL'S ONE YEAR HASSLE FREE WARRANTY ON ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, TO ALL VIP MEMBERS. Forgive me but is that a micky take or what, You automaticaly get a 1 year manufacturas garantee.

Nick

 

Yeah, I saw that too, and its true that they always have that policy. :/

 

I'm sure trading standards would tell them to remove it as it makes the punter think they are getting something for nothing, false statement if you ask me. It is a statutory right to have 1 year warranty, maybe if it was an extra year it would be a great deal if your a VIP MEMBER.lol

Nick

 

You're totally right, it's wrong, but nowadays every company lies or over exaggerates. Great world, right?

 

You're totally right, it's wrong, but nowadays every company lies or over exaggerates. Great world, right?

Yeah but really, I mean they are basicaly mocking their potential new customers and new VIP MEMBERS. Please do me a favour Loki, if you go in and buy something on boxing day or any other day Just mention the 1st year maufacturers warranty and see what they say. Should be a giggle.lol

Merry Xmas
Nick

 

Haha! I am planning to go on Boxing Day, if I go, I'll definitely bring it up! Lol, wish me luck.

Merry Christmas to you too!

 

Good luck Let me know what they say, he he.

Nick

 

I stopped by, and asked about it of course.

He just replied that he doesn't make the flyers, and they they are trying to promote the VIP membership and I guess the store in general.

 

HI Loki, thanks for the update. He does'nt make the flyers but they choose the wording. So to promote the membership and store they are trying to pull the wool over peoples eyes and basicaly insult their inteligence. Mmmm strange business ethics.

Thanks again Loki, I hope you got a good bargain when you went there.

Nick

 

is there a big al store in British Columbia?

 

is there a big al store in British Columbia?

Sadly, I think its only in Ontario and Alberta. :/

 

HI Loki, thanks for the update. He does'nt make the flyers but they choose the wording. So to promote the membership and store they are trying to pull the wool over peoples eyes and basicaly insult their inteligence. Mmmm strange business ethics.

Thanks again Loki, I hope you got a good bargain when you went there.

Nick

Big Al's Online has a link on this website,

I have visited the corporate store on Kennedy and the francise on Steeles

This company "big Al's" specializes with sales of the week.

their pricing on plants seems higher then PetSmart and PJ's, but their specials are lower.

Big Al is where PetSmart directs you to if you are serious Fresh Water or interested in Salt Water.

Corporate store has more pleasent staff, Staff at big AL give best level of support, only surpassed by Menagerie Pet Shop

PJ's yonge & Lawerence Store, Pickering store have one great staff person and the rest are at same level or better then PetSmart.

Scarbrough PJ's seems in need of upgrading in staff education, ethics and especially staff Qof A

PetSmart's least capable staff seem to be the Manager's

Only real Local Fish Store I have yet visited with knowledge and ethical staff, that is not a chain is Menagerie Pet Shop.
they seem to carry higher quality products, and better fiscal mangement (if a company is well run, they will be there in the long run to count on).

Large Tanks are ordered in, so they maintain smaller inventory

 

Big Al is a sponser of this website,

FishLore doesn't have sponsors. Meaning they don't pay money to keep FL running. Mike, the admin keeps us up and running.
I believe the link at the top is just an ad like anyone can place on their website.

 

Lucy is (mostly) right.
Fishlore doesn't have any specific sponsors. The ads at the top of the site are from Google Ads or a similar advertising program. Fishlore does make some money from those ads, but I don't know whether or not they fully fund the site.
We used to have an actually sponsor thing going through DFS, who had a large banner at the top of the page. Shopping through that banner earned Fishlore a percentage of each sale, I believe. Unfortunately, DFS stopped its sponsorship program. It's too bad because, since doing so, I have seen a lot fewer people suggesting it as a place to buy things. I don't know if this is incidental (I have been less happy with the products they stock in the past year or so) or if it is related (having that big banner can make a huge difference).

 

Thank you for clarifying SDS. I thought I didn't have it quite right.

 

Just wanted to give a review of Big Al's Online, used through Amazon.com.

At about 12 am, the filter on my 5 gallon hex started making horrible noises and decided that it would stop pumping water. It had already stopped up earlier that night, but with out the noises. I tried to fix it, but there was nothing to fix, the filter was dead (still turns on, but doesn't pump and makes scary, grindy, eat-your-soul noises), so I went on Amazon, and ordered the cheapest one I could find, which happened to be from Big Al's.



It was $12.99, which is a great price, considering you pretty much have to replace the whole tank if you want a new filter, as they aren't sold separately in stores. So I went ahead and ordered it, and it turns out that the shipping is $8.99! I didn't think to go go back and see if any of the other sellers had cheaper s/h*, as it had been a long day, and I really just wanted to go to bed...

But this was over the weekend, and its already been on the move since about 1 a.m. Monday morning Lets hope it gets here in one piece, and in the earlier range of the expected delivery day of Feb 2nd to Feb 7th.

I'll add more when I gets here, and let you guys know how it turns out.


*BTW, I checked today, and it turns out I could have gotten it for about $2 cheaper total from That Pet Place on Amazon. Oh well. I've heard good things about Big Al, so they can have my $2 extra

 

I hope everything works out for you.

I like ordering from Amazon. I order stuff all the time. We bought my daughter a Kindle Fire for Christmas and it came with a free month of Amazon Prime subscription that gave us free two day shipping. I order all kinds of stuff over the past month lol.

 

Hope so too! I learned that just because a vendor has the cheapest price, doesn't mean they'll have the cheapest shipping XD But for a good store, I don't mind so much

This is my first time using Amazon, and I had to fight with it to take my address, as I'm on a college campus, and they don't take the address the same why every other site takes it

 

I usually check out the shipping charges from numerous websites on an item if it's going to be too much. Amazons good though because a lot of times you can sort it down to free super saver shipping and order over $25 ships free. Otherwise I look elsewhere. But as you said you were tired and ready for bed so I don't blame you.

 

I usually check out the shipping charges from numerous websites on an item if it's going to be too much. Amazons good though because a lot of times you can sort it down to free super saver shipping and order over $25 ships free. Otherwise I look elsewhere. But as you said you were tired and ready for bed so I don't blame you.

Yeah, middle of the night emergency shopping isn't fun LOL I could have waited till the next morning, but I wanted to get it done, incase it made a difference in the shipping date. I don't think it did, though, now that I'm thinking logically LOL

But as I said, I don't mind the few extra dollars going to a good source. Its exactly why I buy my critters from the LFS, if I can

 

Got the filter, so heres the low-down:

Good:
-Arrived on time
-packed well

Bad:
-I got a used filter, with no impeller, or intake tube. I ordered new. The intake tube I'm not worried about, but when I order something that says "Pump and Filtration Assembly," I'd certainly like to at least get an impeller to go along with that.
-I ordered, as far as I understand, a new filter. The one I've received is dirty, full of scratches, and stinks. The bag that it comes in is torn open, and also a bit dirty.


*edit*

Added some pics...

 

I'd call & make an inquiry as to the condition of the filter - seems a little fishy

 

I'd call & make an inquiry as to the condition of the filter - seems a little fishy

I've just sent them an e-mail, with the same pictures I've attached here. Rather up-set about this, as my tank has been with out filter for 5 days.

 

Hope you're running an air stone for now.

 

one con about amazon u can't use paypal and that's what I use.

 

Hope you're running an air stone for now.

I am. I've been since the day after, I think.

one con about amazon u can't use paypal and that's what I use.

I noticed that... I'd have loved if it was that easy, but once your payment method is in, its in there for good, unless you want to change it, or enter a new kind, so you can use both.

 

out of topic...you have a mac pro!?(akari_32)

 

out of topic...you have a mac pro!?(akari_32)

Lol yeah. They were on sale summer 2011. Came with a free $100 iTunes card. Which I promptly spent $88 of in one night (to replace my iTunes from my moms dead desk top Dell LOL Thank God for friends that burn CD's all the time!)

 

Lol yeah. They were on sale summer 2011. Came with a free $100 iTunes card. Which I promptly spent $88 of in one night (to replace my iTunes from my moms dead desk top Dell LOL Thank God for friends that burn CD's all the time!)

dang the only apple product in my whole family is a iphone4. The only computers I have is a gateway laptop(running Ubuntu/google it if you want), and a homemade(with bought parts) computer(running Ubuntu also)



OK now this thread is out of topic

 

Hey Akari,
I buy directly from big als online all the time. Everything comes packed really well, in perfect condition, on time, (or earlier) and I have never had a problem. Plus, if you send $35 or more, the shipping is free, even on heavier items. However, that's only for Canada. The US one, you have to spend 75$ or more for free shipping. But even then, I feel its worth it, because I will buy food, prime, and other things I will always need to get to the free shipping, if I'm not there already. And I figure, it saves me money in gas driving to and from the store.

Next time, if I were you, I would deal directly from them. Are you sure it was Big als that was selling through Amazon, and not someone selling stuff from Big als? That happens a lot too. You have to be pretty careful, and check their ratings too.

Good luck getting your problem sorted out. If its really big als they will be more than accomodating.

 

Hey Akari,
I buy directly from big als online all the time. Everything comes packed really well, in perfect condition, on time, (or earlier) and I have never had a problem. Plus, if you send $35 or more, the shipping is free, even on heavier items. However, that's only for Canada. The US one, you have to spend 75$ or more for free shipping. But even then, I feel its worth it, because I will buy food, prime, and other things I will always need to get to the free shipping, if I'm not there already. And I figure, it saves me money in gas driving to and from the store.

Next time, if I were you, I would deal directly from them. Are you sure it was Big als that was selling through Amazon, and not someone selling stuff from Big als? That happens a lot too. You have to be pretty careful, and check their ratings too.

Good luck getting your problem sorted out. If its really big als they will be more than accomodating.

Hey MD! Glad to have you back online =D

Next time I certainly will buy directly from the store itself, rather than going through their Amazon . I'm 99% sure it is actually Big Al's, just through Amazon, because they have literally thousands of items, and if you click on the link in the 1st post, it says "Sold and Shipped by Big Al's Online." However, we all know how people like to make their money, how ever illegal it may be, and it suppose it could be someone else, using the Big Al's name, or selling stuff from them. Also, when I sent them an email (through the Amazon seller feedback page that you get a link to to your email after you order), it said to "Big Al's Online."

But, they have a really good rating, almost 5 stars, and have like a 96% feedback rating and what not. I think I just got unlucky, and they better fix it, or I'll drive up there and shove it somewhere



No email back yet, but its still early in the day. So, we'll see what happens.

 

It was probably a return someone sent back to Big Al's and whoever put it back in stock didn't check the condition of it. I see it happen every day. I work for the federal government in distribution and logistics. We ship and receive stuff all over the world on a larger scale then any other business in the world. You just happened to be one of those unlucky ones that was a result of someone else's carelessness. I wouldn't knock Amazon for it. They were just the middle man that processed the order. Nothing more. Sorry for your problems you had.