Coral Farmers Market. What to expect?

[iamborg]

Never been to one, but have a ticket for this weekend.
Can someone please tell me what to expect at CFM?

1) Can I get relatively inexpensive frags there?
2) What can I get at CFM that I cannot get at LFS?
3) How much do people usually spend there. Time and $$ wise?
4) Is the raffle [is there one?] any good. Is it worth staying till the end.
5) If I want to get some
thing, should I buy it right away, or wait
close to the end to get some discount?
6) Any livestock/hardware or only corals?
7) Any advise for a novice?

Thank you.

 

[Solitaryensis]

In my experience the prices are generally consistent with "œregular" pricing except that you get numerous vendors under one roof.

I've never tried it but I've heard if you wait until the end of the day some vendors will offer a fairly steep discount but you run the risk of missing out on pieces you might have wanted.


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[ImNotNemosDad]

Interesting topic. I never been to coral farmers also. I might go this time if all questions are answered.

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[rostato]

My advice. Go there without too much as far as expectations and just enjoy the experience.

You'll figure out how it goes.

Honestly I think you can get high end frags cheaper here than most places (if you go to the right vendors) and normal frags at normal prices.

Always check out reef nutrition because they are always giving out free goodies.

I'm not sure if BAR is doing an auction, but if they are there is usually some good stuff to wait for.

 

[bigdeeezy]

In my experience, lots of vendors and lots of frags to choose from. Definitely agree with Rostato to visit the reef nutrition booth and their free goodies makes up for the ticket purchase.

Doesnt hurt to haggle once in a while or ask for multiple frag deals. Towards the end you get better pricing as the vendors dont want to bring any livestock back home. But as Solitaryensis said, you will miss out on the better frags/pieces.

I never actually stayed for the raffle as I always bring the family and the kids get restless so end up leaving early.

There should be vendor(s) who have some livestock for sale but dont expect too much. Maybe some clowns and tangs...

Usually some vendors for rockscapes and equipment but like livestock, dont expect too much.

 

[danreefman]

It's a bunch of smaller vendors that love cash.
Pretty good deals if you know what you're looking for. Good place to meet up with others to share corals hobbiest to hobbiest. Ben from cali kid will be there. Heard he takes pictures and autographs stuff( Lmao). Little bit of everything at a hobbiest vendor level. I'm not into raffles. Just like to buy what I want and bounce.

Wish they had a more high end vendor. And I don't mean jason fox. More someone with some unseen fire. I like that ultra fire.

 

[iamborg]

Thank you all for the reply and advise.

For me, I have to drive about 1.5 hours to get to CFM so I am weighing
the pros and cons.

Most likely I will go for the experience. Hope to find some colorful
hammer and torch and some cheap SPS [never had a SPS before]

Hey Dan, thank you for the frogspawn frag. It is doing very well.

Comments are still welcome ... thanks.
Which vendors should I target first?

thanks.

 

[NewJack]

1) Can I get relatively inexpensive frags there? Yes and NO, pricing is very competitive with your LFS
2) What can I get at CFM that I cannot get at LFS? BIGGER variety, every vendor usually has something different than the next.
3) How much do people usually spend there. Time and $$ wise? I'd say a couple hundred bucks and about an hour shopping
4) Is the raffle [is there one?] any good. Is it worth staying till the end. You'd have to see whats up for raffle. It always changes.
5) If I want to get some
thing, should I buy it right away, or wait
close to the end to get some discount? IMO I buy it right away, because if you "snooze, you may loose". someone else will be eyeing your coral.
6) Any livestock/hardware or only coral) NOt much livestock or hardware. 95 percent corals

 

[rlman41299]

Visit me and friends. We have a booth this coming Saturday. I am bringing sps with Wd, fox flame to name a few. Friends will bring zoas and lps.
Booth is “Islander corals”

 

[rostato]

I think Jesus and Coralitious frags typically have "œbetter" pacing. Cash definitely talks, and haggling multiple corals down to better pricing is easier with cash.