Reliable on-line shops

[Halley]

Can people list some reliable online shops that delivery widely (especially to Ireland) with realistic shipping costs? I have had a few recent really disappointing experiences with online shops which has really turned me off online shopping.

I have a couple of questions:
- can people recommend online shops?
- do people use online shopping for the majority of their purchases or do they use local shops?


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[Zeus.]

Mainly online shopping for whole project as best way to get best price selection IMO. Although LFS did price match online price off my fluval FX6. Plus did a trip to TGM to get rocks, wood and AS.
I do normally check the returns policy before purchasing so if item needs returning who pays.
Also you never now how good their policy is until you need an RMA.
Had to return faulty product to aquacadabra aquatics and they was excellent free return and swift at getting a replacement out.

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[McCarthy]

I searched for Aquacadabra here on the forum because I just had a bad experience with them. In case others search for this online / ebay seller, here's my impression:

If you don't live in the UK, chances are they will ship with ebay Global Shipping Program and WNdirect, that's at least what they used in my case (shipping to the US). My package cleared US customs a week ago, and then tracking stopped and the package didn't make it. The seller aquacadabra-deals-online (ebay) name just said that I have to contact ebay in order to figure out where my package is. Got to hear that excuse several times, emails look like templates. On ebay you can read that you should contact the seller if the package didn't arrive, but this seller bounces his customers back. Now WNdirect has no phone number and their emails are also templates, saying to give it more time. The reviews for the carrier WNdirect are extremely bad, all are having the same issues with none usable tracking, delayed and lost packages after they cleared customs.

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/wndirect.com

Needless to say, I'm done with aquacadabra-deals-online. Will file a claim with ebay and get my money back.

I order products in the UK all the time. Always had a great experience with awesome customer service from lovely people. Aquacadabra-deals-online is a real let down.

 

[SuperJam]

Unfortunately can't comment on shipping to Ireland but can share personal online experience, I find local shops just don't have enough options or understand shrimp so I end up online for most if not all hardware.

Top brands at competative price points, speedy and reliable UK shipping, would use for most things if range was bigger;
- Charterhouse Aquatics
- Aquacadrabra

Great price point and extensive range so still use them, however some occasional problems with actual items received (slightly damaged or not quite right);
- Swell

Amazing specialist with reliable online ordering, never a bad experience, very helpful and willing to share expertise;
- The Green Machine
- Pro Shrimp

On a side note think The PFK are asking for people to vote for their favourite retailer again so might be worth keeping an eye open for those results?

Have also used eBay very successfully for smaller items because shipping is normally cheaper and ironically quicker!