'07 Regional Club Frag Swap in Dixon- Guidelines & Bonus Round Consideration

[Twisted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10807594#post10807594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
True, they are being marketed that way. Good thing were a bunch of local hobbyists for a swap and not a bunch of retailers at a convention!

In all honesty you and I both know who ever got those zoos paid 25$ for the colony just like every other retailer. Zoos come in like flavors of the month, albeit PPE's have been around for a while and are still very scarce.

I have a handfull of corals that retail at $80 an inch, we havent had the chance to hang out yet but if you knew me, you would know I could not look you in the eye nor anyone for that matter and hope to obtain it's retail value or even a few bucks under retail if I were to sell a frag. I even buy frags from local reefers here at 1/2 and a 1/3 the retail price and turn around and sell it for half of what I paid.

I think the only thing that really bothers people about the rare category is the spirit of the swap get's lost. Yes it increases the amount of the swap 10 fold, but rather than the brother-hood amongst reefers, it becomes like an investment trade or more of a tit-for-tat, and what can I get since I brought this, and that frag retails 10$ less a polyp than mine so I should get more, or bring less..

I think if something cost you 50-100 for a polyp, that coral may not be the best candidate to let roll around on the frag table for a few hours, especially if it's 1 or 2 polyps. Those are usually last to get picked and get the most banging around, by the time it finally makes the noobs house who wasnt really set up with a stable tank to begin with ends up killing 2 zoa that just happen to go for 100 bucks, wastefull. Those deals are best left for side deals and trading IMO, then everyone has a good feeling, and the poor noob is left feeling guilty cuz he just found out he burned up some golden polyps and the giver doesnt feel like he did it for nothing . But if you have a bunch of it and it aint gonna break your bank to frag it then that coral would be a good choice.

-Justin

:beer: :thumbsup:

 

[mpoletti]

I guess when I work in the financial markets all day, that will never leave me; as I hope it never does. I do enjoy my tank and the hobby, but when I have paid full price many times through hobbyist, that is why I bring up this point.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to frag swap. I think that too many times we as hobbyist wonder if something is "rare" or not. I buy what I like.

I am sure there will be pieces that get brought by people trying to "sneak" into this category. I don't think that is the purpose of the category. If the coral is nice, then it belongs in this field. If it common and browned out, then I do not think it should. I have been to too many events when a piece is said to be something, but it is brown and looks way too different to tell really what it is.

I know this will create some type of response from people either way, but I am a person that has no problem giving two great frags for the chance of getting one new one in return. That is why I like to trade, buy, and sell on a weekly basis.

 

[Unarce]

Originally posted by Marko9
I know the last four you mentioned should be good to go. I am doing frags of 2-3 polyps. This should be fair. What do you think? You are much more of a softie expert than I am. I would love some feedback. Thanks

Originally posted by Justin74
I think that's fair for paly's, as 3 polyps can pretty much cover a plug when grown and open. But for zoas I think should be at least 5 polyps, anything less IMO would be a hassle for the giver and reciever...

...Zoos come in like flavors of the month

Good call, Justin! I think in a previous post in this thread, I set the zoa minimum at 5 polyps for a frag, which should be standard. Especially, when it comes to the bonus category, because of the nature of zoa collecting.

Larger-sized palys would be acceptable at the 3 polyp minimum.

 

[buttons buster]

Can I join someone's carpooling group?
I live in fair oaks

 

[FunGuy]

As a polyp collector, I think anyone should be EXTREMELY happy if they can get even 1 polyp which typically sells in the $40 range. I'd be ecstatic if I could get 1 polyp of PPE in a frag swap.

3-5 polyps of the rarest polyps would cost $120-200+. Hopefully these expectations are in line with rares for SPS and LPS.

Thanks for clarifying the requirements.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10808778#post10808778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FunGuy
As a polyp collector, I think anyone should be EXTREMELY happy if they can get even 1 polyp which typically sells in the $40 range. I'd be ecstatic if I could get 1 polyp of PPE in a frag swap.

3-5 polyps of the rarest polyps would cost $120-200+. Hopefully these expectations are in line with rares for SPS and LPS.

Thanks for clarifying the requirements.

I agree 1000% . One PPE would kick azz. I was going to do 3 just because I have a few and its for a good cause.

 

[Unarce]

Mark - You're probably right, but let me consult one of the zoa experts first before I make the call.

Stay tuned

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10808961#post10808961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Unarce
Mark - You're probably right, but let me consult one of the zoa experts first before I make the call.

Stay tuned

Three PPE's and 5 rose nebulas would be like a nickle size of orenji -- in SPS terms

 

[buttons buster]

Ya It should be ok with 2-3 polyps.
Who ever ends up with them should be extremely happy.
I know I would be

 

[Twisted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10808996#post10808996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marko9
Three PPE's and 5 rose nebulas would be like a nickle size of orenji -- in SPS terms

Just trying to picture the look on someones face that doesn't know what you are talking about and overheard this comment....

So when it was commented that it would take 5 polyps to make it to the rare catagory, I think they were refering to my AOGs that are a heck of a lot more common then PPE's and such. So I think it would be a matter of the more rare it is the smaller the frag could be.

But as was said by several people previously, the frags should always be as big as you can for the sake of the hobby more then what we will get out of it.
I only stress on how many I need to frag because all of my colonies are pretty new, and still very small, as I am sure is the case with many people. But I will bring what I can.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10809517#post10809517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Twisted
Just trying to picture the look on someones face that doesn't know what you are talking about and overheard this comment....

Those are people that I don't want to be around

 

[Justin74]

Im glad my comments werent taken litterally and didnt offend anyone, like I usually do And am by no means suggeting put more of your PPE's on the plug In all honesty at the rate there flowing through my hands I couldnt even put one on a plug. Theres not too many acros out there that could compare to some of these market value these polyps have, not to mention the 500 a polyp orange envy zoos a while ago, are what down to 350 a polyp now? This is why I suggest side trades and buys if you would like some of your investment returned and at that price best believe I would!

This could be exploited through a high stakes table, with a 100$ minimum buy/trade in Think it would be a good idea as a seperate event though, maybe at Unarce's anual Regional Frag Swap?? spots on you now brother!!hahaha.

-Justin

 

[mpoletti]

I am always up for side trades

 

[Auntbeez]

I would be tickled to get a frag of 1-2 polyps of something that is typically sold that way... PPE, NG or PDs, for example.

I promise I won't kill it... and next time I will have something more than xenia to bring to the swap.

 

[Unarce]

Okay, I've consulted the zoa gods and here's what the bones told me, regarding Purple People Eaters:

-If they are True PPE, they must be traceable to Blane Perun. These will need to be 2 polyps per frag.

-Clone/non-traceable versions of PPE need to be 4 polyps per frag.

 

[Unarce]

Originally posted by Marko9
Three PPE's and 5 rose nebulas would be like a nickle size of orenji -- in SPS terms

Apples and Oranges to me

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10807594#post10807594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
I think the only thing that really bothers people about the rare category is the spirit of the swap get's lost. Yes it increases the amount of the swap 10 fold, but rather than the brother-hood amongst reefers, it becomes like an investment trade or more of a tit-for-tat, and what can I get since I brought this, and that frag retails 10$ less a polyp than mine so I should get more, or bring less.

Something to be said for that idea.

We didn't bother with a rare designation for the last BAR swap. It worked out pretty well for us with plenty of stuff to go around, including lots of rares that people put in just for the heck of it

Considering how well the last one went, it may be that we won't bother with rare categories anymore.

 

[Twisted]

Yup, the last bar swap I got a couple of LE corals from the $20 dollar investment in raffle tickets alone, and off the table pulled a Pokerstar monti and I was low on the pulling order like group D or something.
Sadly I was in over my head and killed the pokerstar, but got one of your Leng Sy cap pieces to a local club members tank before I lost it too, hopefully I will be able to get a piece back soon.

So while I agree the rare catgory isn't needed to get good stuff, there should be some sort of insintive for people to bring rares. Perhaps a seperate raffle for something nice, and each rare you put in the frag swap gets you a ticket to that raffle? That gets them out on the table....

 

[Unarce]

For some reason, I never got the feeling that the rare category caused this. I remember my first BAR swap several years ago. I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I submitted some rares to qualify (maybe about 9), and came back with 6 frags total (none of which were rare). I did, however, walk away with 1 rare piece, which was gifted to me from Jim (bookfish) that very afternoon. That really set the tone for me. When it came to swaps, it was just about giving.

I'm not sure if it's just whom I associate with, but I truly feel that 9 out of 10 rare category contributors never expect to get back nearly what they put in. Like me, many I know just contribute and no longer make a pick. Not that I expect everyone to do that. Just that I don't feel that the 'brother-hood amongst reefers' is lost.

I was surprised this came up again. These feelings didn't surface in the last two 'rare consideration' threads, and I thought that the horse was finally laid to rest. I guess we still can't accept that people approach the hobby differently then others. You either like 'collectible' coral, or you don't.

How often do you find thread subjects of 'Why do people beg for common or cheap corals?' Thankfully, never. That would be arrogant and obnoxious. Maybe even elitist. Yet, you can find hundreds of threads, whining about expensive corals. Wondering how people could spend that much. Is that any different?

 

[Mr. Ugly]

Yep, everybody has a different approach. Makes the world go round

I was talking some other reefers. They had commented about getting really excited when first getting into rare/collectibles.

Seemed that after a while, it wasn't as big a deal anymore, and you say, they might put a bunch into a swap and not bother to pick frags even.