Bad experience with Saltwaterworx

[roni]

I recently had a bad experience with Wayne at Saltwaterworx. I'd used him for a fish in the past, which was healthy and high quality. He

[rocko918]

Wow, sorry to hear that. One reason I only pay part up front and the rest when they are done.

 

Let me know If u need any help with it.

[roni]

Thanks for the offer Bob. I wish I'd done that. I didn't honestly expect this outcome from a sponsor :(

[rocko918]

I am really surprised this got buried so quickly and there is not much talk about it.

 

Have you heard anything from them since this post?

[Swimboy123]

I'm available to give you a hand as well if you need.

[epleeds]

I just read this. Not sure why i didn't see it before, but that stinks. Hopefully things can be worked out. I would hate to come home to a mess and things not finished.

[roni]

I am really surprised this got buried so quickly and there is not much talk about it.

 

Have you heard anything from them since this post?

 

Nope. I'm guessing he's just decided to ignore it. Definitely has no interest in resolving the issue. I'm still out all my money with only 1/3 of the job done.

 

Found this from last time he had an issue:

 

http://www.wamas.org/forums/topic/42443-got-rip-off-by-saltwaterworx/

 

I probably should have figured out how this got resolved before doing business with him. Live and learn I guess.

 

I'm available to give you a hand as well if you need.

 

Braden, appreciate it. Thankfully Bob was able to help me finish out the job. Your pipefish is in the 70, enjoying life

[hlem]

sorry to see this is still being ignored by the vendor...

[Jan]

Maybe he's ill and can't respond. Have you tried calling him?

[roni]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I originally tried to handle this over the phone and had hoped to resolve this privately.

[trockafella]

Really sorry to hear that, even more sorry nothings been done about. Thanks for opsting this, bc I like to read reviews before considering doing business. Good or bad, these reviews are important to us all..

[Coral Hind]

I too am sorry to hear this and let us know if you still need help. I would have stopped payment right away until everything was worked out. I'm not taking sides but if it isn't too late stop the payment until a resolution can be reached.

[trockafella]

I am really surprised this got buried so quickly and there is not much talk about it.

 

Have you heard anything from them since this post?

 

 

Im not suprised because he seems to have a small cult following and he doesnt have a bad reputation that ive heard (until now).. If it were certain other vendors im sure the site would have crashed temporarily.

[hlem]

Im not suprised because he seems to have a small cult following and he doesnt have a bad reputation that ive heard (until now).. If it were certain other vendors im sure the site would have crashed temporarily.

Roni posted a link earlier with a negative feedback. But I've also read a few positive as well. Vendor experience shouldn't be a hit or miss...

[Jan]

Vendor experiences can be hit or miss "sometimes". What they should not be is miss all the time.

 

It doesn't make sense based on last years post that he would just let this ride without a response. Something is wrong.

 

Roni posted a link earlier with a negative feedback. But I've also read a few positive as well. Vendor experience shouldn't be a hit or miss...

[roni]

I too am sorry to hear this and let us know if you still need help. I would have stopped payment right away until everything was worked out. I'm not taking sides but if it isn't too late stop the payment until a resolution can be reached.

 

 

Thanks everyone. He cashed the check immediately after "doing the job", while I was still expressing my frustration with the job and trying to come to a resolution. I also don't feel right denying the entire payment. While I'm extremely dissatisfied with the work, all I wanted was a partial refund as a compromise.

[nbgen12]

You're too nice I would have definitely denied payment.

 

I thought about giving him a call for some help with some things but after hearing of this, not a chance.

 

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[hlem]

Vendor experiences can be hit or miss "sometimes". What they should not be is miss all the time.

 

It doesn't make sense based on last years post that he would just let this ride without a response. Something is wrong.

Yes everyone is entitle to a bad day or two. But its how the bad day is "fixed" afterward that defines a good vendor and a not so good one. And not responding to pm, calls, text, etc, is truely a not so good vendor. and worse is the issue is made public and still no response or any action. I hope nothing bad has happened and he's simply very busy and hopefully he will resolve with Roni soon.

[Saltwaterworx]

 

WAMAS

 

I have been paying attention to this post and simply waited for it to heat up as obvously the original poster and a couple others tried to do. Not to mention we've been pretty busy these days, and exhurting energy for negative nonsense is exactly that. Nonsense. For everyones information the situation between Saltwaterworx, and the customer was resolved the day I left his house. Im not surprised by the bad review. I was told if I didnt give him even more money back nearly 4 days after the leaving and the check being cut, and 2 days after the check had been cashed that this would happen. I simply encouraged the upset customer that if he had any complaint with Saltwaterworx, respect our policy and contact us directly and not through 3rd party channels such as WAMAS. I understand how some of you may feel by the way the customer's story is framed, and I too would be upset if that were the case. Thats simply not how we roll. This is in no way to try to sway the 1 or 2 folks who are negatively affected, and are going to swear off my company. If you can make a sound decision from one persons review without hear both sides, you may not even be in our wheelhouse as potential customers for starters. I just figured it was time the whole truth came out. First off the client and I had been in discussions for nearly a month about the possiblities of Us(Saltwaterworx) coming down to his place and finishing up a project of his. Though apprehensive for the simple fact he wasnt technically in our serving area, we dont fix others projects, and going into a situation site unseen is sometimes more than what you bargain for, case in point. I agreed to stop by on a Thursday and at least check out what he was talking about since I was headed to his house to deliver one of our many healthy, high quality fish. We had already discussed and agreed on a time limit and hourly rate according to his budget and work schedule prior to me getting to his house just in case some work could get done. At one point he even offered us used equipment for full payment during negotiations.. Upon arrival with the fish, I tried my best to assess the situation. Since it was an incomplete job to start it was a little unorganized to say the least. I had informed the customer that my schedule would make it a very tight squeeze for me to do the work and for him to go to his job without him being late. Not to mention there were still parts missing to complete the job that needed to be purchased. I didnt even bring my tools to the delivery. Sadly, I gave in to the customers constant persistance and me wanting to help a valued customer. After a quick grocery list, we head to the hardware store. Routine business. Upon checkout I ended up having to pay for the parts, which werent cheap. Though later reimbursed, I thought you should know that. By the time we arrive back to his house nearly an hour of our 4 hour limit had been zapped. After about another hour and a half of work and a lot of feet of PVC, work slowed due to lack of PVC. Work didnt necessarily stop for me, I proceeded with other tasks that needed to been done while the customer went out for supplies. Upon further review, there were just too many things that had to be "rigged" up or other things that would make 10 minute jobs into 30 from the equipment the customer had. Cool if youre working with your buddies, not if your running a business. By the time he arrives, I warn him that we are well into the fourth quarter of our time limit, but needed more time to complete. I was told work until times up. While completing my 4th hour, an urelated situation arose with another aquarium of his. Though my work was done, I could see how hurt he was about his other situastion and I had decided to help him with his problem. No extra charge. The only obstacle would be to travel from stafford va, to lorton to pick up an important piece. Before taking that trek and the customer leaving for work, it was time for the initial payment. I had told the customer on a couple of occassions that we dont accept checks, but insisted that was the only way he could pay me. Before pen met check, I told him he can recieve a discount for the simple fact, I couldnt finish the job, along with attempting to fix your other problem free of charge. He definitely accepted.. with the exception that his spouse holds on to the check until my return and attempt to fix the other problem. I felt a little uncomfortable with that if not for just the simple fact that im ready to leave out to buy more parts and not a penny for the original job was paid for yet, and the check writer leaves to boot. Also before leaving, I asked to customer to complete an important, but simple step that had to be done in order to make this job run as smooth as possible for me when I return since I was going to be extremely late for the rest of the day. He agreed. About an hour into the commute I get a call from the customer asking to do other aquarium related odds and ends for him... Basically trying to get more work out of me for free. Give'm an inch.... After the nearly 3, yes 3 hour total commute back to his place, that simple task i asked of him wasnt done. I tried as best I could to do what I could, but at some point an time airport cargo closes and I wouldnt have been able to get my fish that were there all day. So how would that "bad day" get fixed? 10+ hour job including commute, get paid for less than 4 hours, parts left unpaid, check writing, and a complaint 4 days later??? We don't whine here at Saltwaterworx, we dont make untrue cases for pity, but if this is a pity contest, whose bad day really needs the most fixing? We merely made the mistake of taking the job in the first place. Thats what it looks like to me. Mind you that I had offered my services to him for that following weekend at a discouted rate if he was willing to continue where we had left off and I'd be more equipped. I Had even contacted the customer the second I left his house to let him know whats what. Fast forward 4 entire days later, I get a complaint PM basically stating the obvious things that werent complete on the setup, and had been discussed days prior, but yet as if he wasnt told by me and he didnt notice this 2 or even 3 days ago for that matter. Though I didnt notice his loose t-5 bulbs break, I offered to pay for them for the simple fact there was stuff all over the place and they just happened to fall and break on my watch. I also made the kind request of us not taking this matter further thru the WAMAS channels and to call me person to person to resolve this issue. The next day we talked for a while, mainly him repeating his story, creating monetary equations on how much he should get back. Once HE found a nice round number, he wanted me to agree. Though I had already gave him one discount, and had offered more of my services, lorton, free parts, the list goes on, I told him Id sleep on it and get back. Thats the type of guy I am. I was suprised to see the customer even went as far as documenting our conversation thru WAMAS PM attached with his Paypal address for easy payment. Im guessing I slept on the issue too long though it had only been a day, not to mention holiday weekend in which we were off. In a last ditch effort for the cash, I'm told in so many words that a bad review was coming my way if I didnt want to pay up.. Now he had a snowballs chance in Phoenix at first to get some sort of compensation, eventhough the deal was DONE. It was more just to pacify the customer. He totally blew it with that statement. Lines crossed. To even grasp by digging in the archives for a swing -and-miss of a bad review for a shred of support should speak volumes. The "compensation" value though not a large sum is irrelevant in this situation. For the fact theres still people out there who'll go through leaps and bounds to save a buck, even pathetically attempt to damage a business' reputation through untruths is enough for anyone to have a "bad day"... IMO, low-rent. Since I guess now its a public issue, to the complaining customer, your request for an extra refund to "re-rectify" your situation is denied, but I think you already knew that.. For my cult following and anyone else who'd like to come along: Keep up the support. Its greatly appreciated. More healthy high quality livestock, and more coming soon.

 

Quick version:

 

Thursday - Fish delivery, job, discounted payment, loooong day.

Friday - no word

Saturday - Check cashed, no word.

Sunday - Upset customer

Tuesday - small talk, initial negotiations agreed upon

Thursday - one sided negotiations

Friday- saltwater blackmail threat, salwaterworx declines offer, demands not met

Saturday - The rest is history

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jan]

Hey I've shopped every LFS and practically every local sponsor. There are good days, most always, and then every now and then there's something not so great. I've gotten flatworms (even though I dipped), lymph, etc.. Each situation I notified the vendor and we dealt with it to my satisfaction. I also had options. Could I blame them for no Qt? Could I say they mislead me, sure, but It takes a lot for me to think this would be the case. I'm supposed to know better. I'm supposed to do my homework. When I order something I want and don't get exactly what I want, I don't take it. It's straight up! One bad experience, within reason, doesn't stop me from going back. I could have bashed each one for something; no QT, sick looking fish, fish dead in their tanks, bad attitude, etc..

 

Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes we second guess ourselves or in not meaning to we over extend ourselves. There are two sides to every story. Then there are also folks who just don't mesh for whatever reason. I think the motto in situations like these are don't take the livestock if it isn't what you ordered or wanted and cancel payment if you can't resolve it on the spot. Both actions speak volumes to a seller and saves grief for both the buyer and the seller. There are other options available to consumers, if they feel they need to go that route. In my opinion, in both situations, there was an out and it wasn't taken....on both sides. I'm sorry for all invloved because no one is happy.

 

I've had good experiences with Wayne, so far. I got a beautiful rare anemone that I'm very happy with for a very reasonable price. We'll see how it goes down the road. These two situations wont stop me from dealing with him in the future.If I have a serious problem though, you will all know about it.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Jan

[roni]

Lengthy fiction is definitely your forte. Let me ask you some quick questions without going through a blow by blow account.

 

1. Did you know that you're coming to finish a partially completed tank before coming on site?

2. Did you evaluate the tank when you arrived?

3. after evaluating, did you think you can get it finished?

4. Did you agree that you could finish the tank within the agreed time and price?

5. Were you equipped and prepared when you agreed to the job?

6. Did I put out money to get you better equipped with parts so you can finish the job?

7. Finally, did you actually finished the job in the agreed time?

 

 

I didn't call you the night of the disaster because I got home at midnight to a task that was no where near finished and a leaking tank and have to spend another 2 hours fixing your mistakes. I slept on it, went to work, then fixed all the things that you didn't do and then contacted you. Obviously, if I were intelligent, I would have just done a stop payment on the check that you managed to somehow find time to cash immediately after doing the job instead of trying to resolve this in an adult fashion.

 

BTW, your "healthy, quality fish", the one that was quarantined and eating, didn't eat a single bit in my tank, despite trying angelfish formula (the food you said it was eating), PE mysis, hikari mysis, nls pellets, squid, clam, krill, live brine, and live blackworms. Again, I made the mistake of taking your word that it was eating and conditioned.

 

Also, just for everyone's information, the "generous" help that Wayne offered was to stop the leak of my main tank that somehow coincidentally happened while I was at Home Depot for the 3rd time getting parts after Wayne failed to assess what he'd need the first 2 times. This tank has been up since November without incident.

 

When I pay someone to mow my lawn, I don't pay them to mow half my lawn. I also don't have to run to the hardware store to get them equipment that they should have brought, or help them throughout the time. I also don't pay them for driving to and from my house or for them leaving to go get a new lawnmower.

 

My biggest mistake in this whole thing is writing a check to Wayne after the unfinished job. Unfortunately, I had to go to work and my wife doesn't know enough to know how incomplete the job was when Wayne had left my house. I trusted him to finish things and not leave my system in extremis. My second mistake is trying to resolve this via back channels instead of just doing a stop payment on the whole amount. I posted this review after Wayne basically threatened me if I wrote anything about him on Wamas. I don't expect to get any money back from this. I just want people to be aware. I have no reason to lie about this. I paid a service company instead of asking for favors because I didn't want to inconvenience other people and I wanted to get this done. I agreed on a price contingent on him doing a task, which he assessed and agree to. The job was not done and instead, more damage was done to my own system. I ended up spending more time fixing his mistakes and doing the job correctly with the help of another Wamas member then I would have if he'd never come. I'm out $450 from that disasterous day. There really aren't two sides to this story.

[surf&turf]

Wow, over a hundred dollars an hour, my mechanic doesn't charge me that much.

[Jan]

My husbands BMW mechanic always charged $1500.00. If it took more than 3 hours it was more.

 

Wow, over a hundred dollars an hour, my mechanic doesn't charge me that much.

[Saltwaterworx]

Lengthy fiction is definitely your forte. Let me ask you some quick questions without going through a blow by blow account.

 

1. Did you know that you're coming to finish a partially completed tank before coming on site?

2. Did you evaluate the tank when you arrived?

3. after evaluating, did you think you can get it finished?

4. Did you agree that you could finish the tank within the agreed time and price?

5. Were you equipped and prepared when you agreed to the job?

6. Did I put out money to get you better equipped with parts so you can finish the job?

7. Finally, did you actually finished the job in the agreed time?

 

 

I didn't call you the night of the disaster because I got home at midnight to a task that was no where near finished and a leaking tank and have to spend another 2 hours fixing your mistakes. I slept on it, went to work, then fixed all the things that you didn't do and then contacted you. Obviously, if I were intelligent, I would have just done a stop payment on the check that you managed to somehow find time to cash immediately after doing the job instead of trying to resolve this in an adult fashion.

 

BTW, your "healthy, quality fish", the one that was quarantined and eating, didn't eat a single bit in my tank, despite trying angelfish formula (the food you said it was eating), PE mysis, hikari mysis, nls pellets, squid, clam, krill, live brine, and live blackworms. Again, I made the mistake of taking your word that it was eating and conditioned.

 

Also, just for everyone's information, the "generous" help that Wayne offered was to stop the leak of my main tank that somehow coincidentally happened while I was at Home Depot for the 3rd time getting parts after Wayne failed to assess what he'd need the first 2 times. This tank has been up since November without incident.

 

When I pay someone to mow my lawn, I don't pay them to mow half my lawn. I also don't have to run to the hardware store to get them equipment that they should have brought, or help them throughout the time. I also don't pay them for driving to and from my house or for them leaving to go get a new lawnmower.

 

My biggest mistake in this whole thing is writing a check to Wayne after the unfinished job. Unfortunately, I had to go to work and my wife doesn't know enough to know how incomplete the job was when Wayne had left my house. I trusted him to finish things and not leave my system in extremis. My second mistake is trying to resolve this via back channels instead of just doing a stop payment on the whole amount. I posted this review after Wayne basically threatened me if I wrote anything about him on Wamas. I don't expect to get any money back from this. I just want people to be aware. I have no reason to lie about this. I paid a service company instead of asking for favors because I didn't want to inconvenience other people and I wanted to get this done. I agreed on a price contingent on him doing a task, which he assessed and agree to. The job was not done and instead, more damage was done to my own system. I ended up spending more time fixing his mistakes and doing the job correctly with the help of another Wamas member then I would have if he'd never come. I'm out $450 from that disasterous day. There really aren't two sides to this story.

 

 

False numbers, sour grapes, said my piece, off to work, done.

[surf&turf]

My husbands BMW mechanic always charged $1500.00. If it took more than 3 hours it was more.

 

 

 

All I can say is Wow.