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Thread: Online Buying

  1. #1
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Online Buying

    OK I have a choice to make. Its not computer related before you all shout buy from Scan (which I do anyways!) its aquatics related, but don't click back on your browser just yet, hear me out.

    I need a new external filter for my tank and have settled on the Fluval 205 to do the job. Now I have two places online where I get my bits from if need. However the filter on there is about £65 on one and £70 odd on the other. Trying to save money I found another place which has Google Checkout (doesn't mean much I know) which comes to £55 inc Delivery which is the cheapest anywhere. Now the site doesn't look much, so do I go with one of my more trusted sources, or the cheapest option for the sake of about a tenner?

  2. #2
    I'm ITX
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    Re: Online Buying

    when you search froogle, check to see if the retailer has a goohle rating

    It's 4.98*

  3. #3
    bored.gamer Yosh's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Personally i always go for the service and support, if the item costs slightly more then so be it.

    You might save yourself a tenner now, and give yourself a headache later.
    Insert signature here.


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    Efficiently lazy shadowmaster's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    My fluval 204 failed a while back, so I bought one of these (from the same ebay user)

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Interpet-E...742.m153.l1262

    Was going to go for a fluval 205 but this one seemed better value for money. Also the quality is really good.

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    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Well this is the site in question

    http://www.capital-aquatic.co.uk

    The site doesn't have a rating as I can see. Thanks for the alternate shadowmaster, but I've settled on that one.

    I can always go direct to Fluval if something breaks with the filter, its just the wonder do you buy from a site just because its cheaper ...

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    Re: Online Buying

    One of the first thing I always do if tempted by an online retailer I know nothing about is checkout the 'contact us ' link. If you get a standard web form with no proper email, postal address or landline then I will generally avoid the seller. I also avoid anyone who requests credit card details before you see the final amount including VAT, shipping etc.

    I would recommend sending or phoning through 'dummy' enquiries, i.e. "Was that price including VAT?", "Is there a left handed version available?", etc. You can learn a lot by the speed and usefulness of the response you get. Alternatively try them out with low value orders before committing to larger purchases and use a credit card or similarly 'safe' payment method (NOT a debit card as you have no protection.)

    It is worth remembering that many small retailers supplement their income by internet sales and may not have particularly great websites but still offer excellent service and expertise. If a seller has a verifiable commercial premises I often think that is a bonus too.

    It is always gonna be hard to be 100% sure but by weighing up all the different factors you can get a good feel for how genuine a seller is.

    The golden rule is of course that if it appears to be too good to be true then it quite probably is!

  7. #7
    Beard hat ftw! steve threlfall's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Stringent, they may be a smaller business and unable to afford a fancy website. This doesn't necessarily mean that they wont be customer service focused though. I have bought a few items from sites that have looked dated and they have tended to be smaller businesses with less customers. I still remember play.com as as a barely known start up . It may be the case their brick and mortar shop (Weymouth according to the site) is their core business, which they supplement with online sales through their website.

    +1 for what Time Bandit suggested.

    Credit card ftw as always


  8. #8
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Good advice there guys thanks. I took the plunge and ordered from them using a CC. They use World Pay as well for their secure transactions. So lets see what happens.

  9. #9
    Get to da choppa Million's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Glad to see there are other fish-keepers on here. I still haven't taken the plunge on an external filter, don't really have the space or the money. What's your setup Stringent?

  10. #10
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    Re: Online Buying

    Quote Originally Posted by Million View Post
    Glad to see there are other fish-keepers on here. I still haven't taken the plunge on an external filter, don't really have the space or the money. What's your setup Stringent?
    External filters are the way to go imo. The quality of filtration is significantly better then the internal however ones but they can be a slight hassle to clean at at times.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Got a Juwel Vision 180, the internal one just isn't really cutting it IMO. I want to do a tank rescape in the half term, want the external to start filtering to build up some bacterial colonies before I rescape and mess about with it. Will remove the internal filter for a little more room as well. Means taking a scraper to it, but I will have to remove the Juwel background anyway so that will be fun.

  12. #12
    Get to da choppa Million's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Do any of you use a fish forum? I use TFF, but would be interested in what other people use

  13. #13
    Pseudo-Mad Scientist Whiternoise's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    They look legit, their website shows that their address is on a high street in Harrow - so it's probably just a quickly knocked up site for their shop.

    You should be fine

    If not.. well you know where they live!

  14. #14
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    Quote Originally Posted by Million View Post
    Do any of you use a fish forum? I use TFF, but would be interested in what other people use
    I started off with a BiUbe and found http://www.thornb2b.co.uk/Biorbforum/phpBB2/ and it all started from there, the girls (and few lads!) on there are pretty good and helpful, learnt a lot about the hobby there. I also trawl the PFK forums as well.

  15. #15
    Efficiently lazy shadowmaster's Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    I haven't joined any forums but I do browse quite a few don't remember the names though. They can be very helpful though.

    I remember buying my fish tank, it was my first one ever. Its one of those 200 litres rena curved glass fish tanks. I have to admit it took me a while to get the hang of it due to the regular maintenance fish required, all the cleaning, water testing etc can be quite tedious at times. However its worth it, as at times the fish tanks looks amazing, almost professional

  16. #16
    Yay a custom user title! =assassin='s Avatar
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    Re: Online Buying

    I'd stick with the places you know personally.... I don't like buying from places that aren't well known, even if they might be alright, I wouldn't be willing to take the risk.

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