Www.aquacon.com

[SoLiD]

Over a year ago I bought 3 PPE frags for $260 from www.aquacon.com (http://www.aquacon.com/) ($79X3= $240 plus $20 box fee = $260). That's what AquaCON called them back then but that’s not what they call them now. Well, they had some weird ordering method where you would fill out a form and then they run your credit card when they are ready. It sounded strange so I called there number and spoke to the owner and he assured me that he had several frags, so I placed my order on his site the way he told me to. Well after almost month and no frags, email, or a phone call, I called them several times to cancel my order, but I could only get an answering machine. So after 10+ calls in 3 days I left a message to cancel. Then 3 days after of leaving the call the owner calls my house phone instead of my cell phone and left a message that the frag order shipped and they will be there tomorrow. When I got the package they were clearly NOT what I ordered and NOT PPE's or even close. I tried to contact them but all I was able to do was leave another message on the answering machine for the next 6 or so days until the phone was DISCONNECTED. I thought OMG these guys are actually going to get away with it.

SO DON'T ORDER FROM WWW.AQUACON.COM (http://www.aquacon.com/) OR YOU WILL GET RIPPED OFF!!!

I was checking around and I noticed they are back online so BUYER BEWARE!

What I supposedly ordered from them.
The ad said 5 polyp frags when I bought them.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd285/SoLiDST33L/AquaConPPEAd-Feb2007.jpg

This is what the ad says now!
Notice How they Changed the Wording and Picture!!!
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd285/SoLiDST33L/AquaconPPEs.jpg


What I actually got from them.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd285/SoLiDST33L/YourPPEs.jpg

-David

[aquasport24]

Man, that is sucks. I would keep on calling and email the heck out of them.

[Beverly]

WOW!!! Good info. Thanks

[Texreefer]

there is no way I would let that end there,, I would be getting my money back

[DrMark]

David,
i would try one more time and let them know that you have notified 3283 members of MAAST. I would further say that in order for you to post a "happy ending" post, they need to make this right for you. I bet you can get a good resolution, but will take some more work. Think of it as a challenge. I hate to lose, I know you do too.......
Mark

[aggie4231]

Man that sucks. You should of checked out Reefcentral, because you are not the first nor the last person that this has happened too.

Why do you think their name is Aquacon? It's because they are cons

[SoLiD]

Guy's I got tired of typing last night. I actually did contact them over 3 months ago. I told the guy who answered what happened & I even sent them an email with pictures. The guy who answered said that he was just an employee but he would talk to the owner. When I called back in 2 days he told me that he would send me some frags to compensate but didn't know which ones he was sending. I called every other day to check the status and he kept saying that they didn't have anything yet. After about 3 weeks I just gave up. I figuered they are in Florida & I'm in Texas, I can't make them do anything. Other than this what can I do? Oh well, maybe someday I'll take a trip to Florida and get Arrested....

[Paul28]

Your taking it better then me if it was me I would road trip and get a good alibye in texas sorry can't say anymore hehe 300 dollars I wouldent be happy. but that's just me

[Chris]

Did you ever contact your credit card company? I would dispute the purchase, and get my money back. No way i'd let them get away with that!

I remember the name from years ago... I can't believe they're still around.

[SoLiD]

Did you ever contact your credit card company? I would dispute the purchase, and get my money back. No way i'd let them get away with that!

I remember the name from years ago... I can't believe they're still around.

Yes I did. Since I received a product they could do nothing about it.

[RayAllen]

Sounds Like Aqua-Con-Artist should be their name. Your ordeal is the reason I only buy from large well-know companies online like Liveaquaria.com. Good Luck if you decide to proceed, but there doesnt seem like there is much you can do. Id report them the the BBB and at least thats a mark against them.

[Bill S]

In any case, you DO have a dispute with them that your CC company SHOULD act on: They are NOT permitted to charge your card until the product is shipped. Enough of those complaints, and they WILL lose their CC arrangement. I would have also told the CC company that you had cancelled the order...

[Darth-Tater]

Bill is correct. The dispute is valid and the CC should take action. Keep on the CCC's back and don't let up. You did not get what was ordered.

David

[SoLiD]

I would have also told the CC company that you had cancelled the order...

I did. But they said that I received something for the tranaction and it could not be processed until they contacted the other party. After 3 weeks they said they contacted them and they were able to prove through shipping records that I received the item. They also said that they are unable to take returns as the business is closed. Those Bass-Masters.

-David

[SoLiD]

Bill is correct. The dispute is valid and the CC should take action. Keep on the CCC's back and don't let up. You did not get what was ordered.

David


Not even close. Check My first post. There are pictures.

[wesheltonj]

I just checked their website and it is still up and running. I was going to order some stars, crabs, snails, & featherdusters from them, but now I am worried if the credit card company says that they are out of business, and it they do not supply what shown in the photo.

[Richard]

Yeah I think your screwed. That company has been scamming for a long time. Threatening the owner will do nothing. I could list a bunch more links but I think you'll get the idea...

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50586&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=120419&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=114164&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=113962&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=104299&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=91515&highlight=aquacon
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=39585&highlight=aquacon

[Richard]

You should make this thread a sticky so others won't get burned.

[envy]

agree i was going to order from them a while back but wanted to find out more info on them. i guess i have made my choice and won't now. i stick with marine depot, liveaquaria, etc...

[SoLiD]

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Updated my Original First Post with the "Actual Older Photo Advertisement" I saw.

Old Contact Information
Order Line: 800-798-7625
Tech Line: 954-572-0033
Fax Line: 954-746-2992

Mailing & Showroom Address
4613 North University Drive
Lauderhill, Florida 33351



They are up to their old ways again.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=179965

NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM AQUACON.COM !!!! :mad:


-David

[SoLiD]

They can't hide anything on the Internet!!!

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.aquacon.com

[DrMark]

I always heard bad things about this company.

[Mr Cob]

I just spent a bit of time grazing through all the complaints about this company/group all over the net! Crazy! Stuff!

They even steal images and use them and then manipulate the colors drastically and pose the coral as being several different types/colors! LOL! Classic!

Thanks for posting and making us aware.

[brewercm]

They even steal images and use them and then manipulate the colors drastically and pose the coral as being several different types/colors! LOL! Classic!


Now if this is true you may be able to do something after all as though that this is illegal and can possibly be handled by the correct authorities. Probably someone even close by that has been burned that would love to shut them down and throw them in jail for fraud.

[glennr1978]

Updated with the "Actual Older Photo Advertisement" I saw.

Old Contact Information
Order Line: 800-798-7625
Tech Line: 954-572-0033
Fax Line: 954-746-2992

Mailing & Showroom Address
4613 North University Drive
Lauderhill, Florida 33351



They are up to their old ways again.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=179965

NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM AQUACON.COM !!!! :mad:


-David

Wow David, that sucks!!! The thing on nano reef is kinda silly IMO, but I would be PO'ed if that happened to me (your situation, not the nano reef thing).

My family and I take trips to Fl about twice a year. Maybe I could pay them a visit for you the next time I'm out there....

[mikedelgado]

My gf got me that for xmas last year. Needless to say same story.funny thing is that I just asked her today for some reason if she ever got her money back from her cc company. what a bunch of ***holes.

[reeferRob]

Below is the cut and paste from another forum about my one and ONLY experience with aquacon:

WORD IS: Aquatic connection SUCKS!! 1st the fruitcake that assures me yesterday they would ship out at 9pm that night, then I call this am to confirm shipment before I take off from work. I send 2 emails to them requesting a tracking number, no answer, I wait til like 4pm and I call for a tracking number and get told they'd email it right out. NOTHING! I call fedex, they can see several shipments to my address but nothing as recent as yesterday. I try and call them back and get an answering machine that says to try back in a few minutes. I keep trying until the answering machine quits answering. Now there's no way to take off work tomorrow so I guess I'll come home to a box of dead fish! NEVER AGAIN AQUATIC CONNECTION!

1 week later

well guess what, The completely incompetent and ignorant people shipped my fish to me a week late even after numerous messages left to CANCEL the order when it didn't ship last week. Got home from work today and a note was on the door from fedex, I called fedex and they had the driver meet me in cove. Aquacon never even notified me they were shipping them, and since I cancelled a week ago I never dreamed they would show up today. Well the 2 Idols are alive, 1 is real healthy looking and the other is extremely stressed and may not make it. The twin spot was deader than dead upon arrival, and the goby package that Rich wanted wasn't even shipped. GAWD them people are STUPID!!!! I was originally told that once they shipped I would recieve email and phone notification, GOT niether!!


Rob

I did put in a dispute for the charge, and told my bank that since I did recieve 1 live Idol, I would pay for the 1 fish pus shipping, just cuz I felt like it was the right thing to do, although I wish I would have disputed the entire amount now!

[jpond83]

i would be mad

[prof]

I am not defending the company so please don't take this any other way.

I have some really cool red and green zoos (under 20K and actinic) that turn orangeish brown under 10K lights. You might want to try them under different lighting. It won't make up for the bait and switch but they might look cooler in a different tank.

This is why the good web vendors explain exactly what kind of lighting the livestock is grown and photographed under.

[SoLiD]

That was under XM 15K lighting with PC Actinics. Believe me, it made very little difference. I actually already had a 2 Polyp Frag of PPE's to compare them to so I knew immediately that they were FAKE. The true colors are brown and yellow. So in any lighting I put them in won't matter much; simply because you can't polish a turd!

[reeferRob]

So in any lighting I put them in won't matter much; simply because you can't polish a turd!


ROFLMAO Now thats funny right there!

[prof]

No arguement from me. Brown is brown :(

[SoLiD]

This needs to be stickied...

Aqaucon Strikes Again And Again (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1815656)

[Europhyllia]

I am feeling so LUCKY that the one time I ordered from them 6 out of 7 things were actually correct and the 7th they sent was incorrect but better than what I had ordered.

It seems so weird that they do this kind of stuff when it's obvious that they do have some things. Weird!

[jrnannery]

OMG! No Kidding, I have been looking at ordering some stuff from them. Sad, too. Their website is really well laid out, or at least I like it.

[CoryDude]

OMG! No Kidding, I have been looking at ordering some stuff from them. Sad, too. Their website is really well laid out, or at least I like it.

Too bad a lot of their pics were lifted from other sites and hobbyists. RC has some really great (insert sarcasm here) reviews of these guys on their site.

[SoLiD]

I am feeling so LUCKY that the one time I ordered from them 6 out of 7 things were actually correct and the 7th they sent was incorrect but better than what I had ordered.

It seems so weird that they do this kind of stuff when it's obvious that they do have some things. Weird!


Well what did you order? Any pictures?

[Europhyllia]

I ordered different gorgonians and a thorny oyster. They didn't send the purple ribbon gorgonian and instead send a pretty nice purple lace seafan.
Here's that page:
http://www.aquacon.com/seafan.html
They're just gorgs. No fancy name attached to them so other than not sending it or sending a different kind there really isn't much one can mess up about that. lol

After that Ace, stangchris and I wanted to get a solid yellow sun coral and found one on their WSIWYG page. They don't seem to have that WYSIWYG anymore. We decided it was just too risky and didn't do it. I checked back a long time (maybe a year?) later and they still had the same picture/listing up. Seems suspicious. Plus of course even if they really had that massive yellow sun coral colony without target feeding it would have looked pretty sad a year later.

[tonyydeee]

.. aqua CON

[SoLiD]

.. aqua CON

If only I would have made that connection way back then... Those jerks.:angry: