disturbing zoanthid trend

[MorandiWine]

I totally agree with the spirit if this thread! Being a LFS owner, I see people coming into my store and accusing me of having high prices etc. And not to toot my own horn, but I would say that I am more than reasonable with my pricing unlike some of my competition here in the SF Bay Area. So a couple times I simply got on a web site of a local store who happened to be selling frags that were EXACTLY the same as what I was selling and his were 150% more. Yet I digress.

Its a free market if you feel that you have to have so-and-so's Zoa that you paid $100 a polyp thats your deal. But dont scream at your LFS for ripping you off. Case in point is the link that I have at the bottom of this relpy. I dont know the company, I dont know who they are, but I can bet that this is someone who DOES NOT have a retail and DOES see out of this garage/etc.

Take a look, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw this!!!

http://www.frags.org/memberfragdetails.php?fid=2561

Thanks

tyler

 

[grisha]

hey, anybody here have cats eyes for cheap?
thats it
and seriosly i went to by a flowers for my girlfriend and they charge me fourty bucks, boom and it was gone she just said thank you.
i really wish salt, electric bill and other things would cost a lot less in my tank
so if it is a fact that nobody in my area have X polys i will pay thirty a poly just because it is part of the fun
hte problem every time some body post rare stuff for cheap it is gone by the time you able to pm, or it is a crook like a guy with the PPE a month ago, so you go to well established ripp offs like bestfrags.$$$ to make sure
and after this why would you charge less
best way is a trade

 

[surfnvb7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8001859#post8001859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MorandiWine
I totally agree with the spirit if this thread! Being a LFS owner, I see people coming into my store and accusing me of having high prices etc. And not to toot my own horn, but I would say that I am more than reasonable with my pricing unlike some of my competition here in the SF Bay Area. So a couple times I simply got on a web site of a local store who happened to be selling frags that were EXACTLY the same as what I was selling and his were 150% more. Yet I digress.

Its a free market if you feel that you have to have so-and-so's Zoa that you paid $100 a polyp thats your deal. But dont scream at your LFS for ripping you off. Case in point is the link that I have at the bottom of this relpy. I dont know the company, I dont know who they are, but I can bet that this is someone who DOES NOT have a retail and DOES see out of this garage/etc.

Take a look, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw this!!!

http://www.frags.org/memberfragdetails.php?fid=2561

Thanks

tyler

well, the thing with those polyps in question, is that there are only 2 other people who have them (at least to the publics knowledge). if you can find someone/somewhere who has true orange people eaters (not faded red ones under 10k) by all means, share with the class!!

enough people beg him for them, and they dont grow, so he can ask whatever he wants.

i know alot of people dont like ebay. but its still the most true predictor of the going rate for X or Y polyp if the auction starts at $0. (i.e. no buy it now or reserves). if people are willing to pay $X for Y polyp, more power to them, if they arent willing to pay that much, then the seller has no business saying that his polyps are worth that much if he cant sell them for that much.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8000928#post8000928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by surfnvb7
completely agree with all of the above. and has anyone else noticed the trend of all these stressed zoas that are dying on people lately? i sure dont remember these types of posts in large numbers ever before. its all this chop shop mentality, to make frags of colonies, then make frags of those frags, and then make 5 polyp frags of what is left to sell. all of this chopping up and selling in a weeks time before it goes to another person has stressed zoas out so much people arent having anything more than a 75% survival rate once it gets to the home aquarium......pretty sad if you ask me.

Yah, what he said. And 75% is being generous too.

 

[smp]

Anyone think that high mortality has something to do with all the newbs jumping into the hobby and starting with zoos?!!!
Personally, I think this forum is full of teenagers that just got their first 20 gallon SW tank and they are posting asking "is this a PPE", "are these OPEs?", "are these raspberry limeaids?", "How much are these worth?" etc

you get a good enough bandwagon and enough people jump aboard that have zero experience.
I'm not one to talk though, I've been in the hobby less than a year. I'm certainly no teenager though and I don't buy things because they are rare .. commodity fetishism isn't what I'm about. I'm about beautiful zoos! (which means bright colours, short skirts )

 

[Blitz99]

with all that said, i just went and spent 120 bucks on 3 polyps of purple deaths....


i then sold two of them for 120 dollars...


not true at all, but thats what's going on.

 

[surfnvb7]

like i said....if you arent helping to correct the problem, you are a part of the problem. its pretty cut and dry

 

[TheBigOne]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8001859#post8001859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MorandiWine

Take a look, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw this!!!

http://www.frags.org/memberfragdetails.php?fid=2561

Photoshop does cost $500, doesn't it? That makes them $100/polyp. hahahaaaa....


heres an example of smash and grab :
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95621
someone looking to buy

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95224
someone who sees an easy mark for a sale. just bought their colony last week!

just because you dont know that selling and shipping unhealed zoa frags is bad is no excuse. ask before you buy people! or else you're just another easy mark.
:rollface:

 

[TheBigOne]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005366#post8005366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blitz99
with all that said, i just went and spent 120 bucks on 3 polyps of purple deaths....


i then sold two of them for 120 dollars...


not true at all, but thats what's going on. [/QUOTE

that coming from someone with under 50 posts. :bum:

 

[Reef Junkie]

This is a trend that has been getting a lot worse lately.
People see an opportunity to make some quick cash and go for it.

Be smart, if you see something you like ask around. Post on this board and I'm sure you'll get some great responses that will save you some cash.

Watch out especially for ebay auctions. There are a few reputable sellers on there, but a lot of garbage. Photoshop heaven.

If you think someone is price gauging, post about it.

 

[msman825]

I agree with R/J about this trend. What about the folks that bought OPE'S for a 100 a polyp. I bet they were some sold fast for 500$ And there are more than 2 peeps that have them right here on RC

 

[redFishblue]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005434#post8005434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by surfnvb7
like i said....if you arent helping to correct the problem, you are a part of the problem. its pretty cut and dry

I read and agree with what you said about ebay and if someone is willing to bid an crazy price for a couple polyps, more power to them.
But high prices on ebay might then inspire high prices for the same zoas sold elsewhere.
So in effect, sellers on ebay are not helping to correct the problem and are part of the "problem" of high pirces as well?

 

[drouner]

Again, who's at fault. The seller, buyer or a hobby that has to certain point "trying to keep up with the Jones" syndrome.

Now to defend that, usually it is the experienced hobbyst who through time has created a beautiful tank and newbie's jumping in and wanting the same results fast.

But I also see everyday, the "if you don't have this skimmer or that coral then you are not worthy". "I will show you this is you show me yours". It drives the market crazy. It is all over these boards.

Today I went in my favorite LFS and they are selling dendros the size of peas for $75 a peice. I asked why and they tell me that you can't get them anymore and that is what they are going for online. As much as I would like to have one I said no thanks. The guy then tells me that they are selling like hot cakes. The reason is someone now thinks that they can sell them down the line at $75 each on day. By then maybe they will not be the flavor of the day.

I know a guy right down the road that bought LR full of PPE for like $50. He first sold them at $10 a polyp, then ran into the chop shop guys and felt cheated. Now he sells them for $40 just to keep everyone honest.

I see it in my other passion of fly fishing. When I first started I remember a guy coming over to me stating that I had to have $400 real and $400 fly rod to catch trout. I stood there with my dad's 45 yr old rod and a Wal Mart special reel. I caught fish just as well as he did that day. But as I gained expereinced I learned the hobby and upgraded the equipment. I just did not start off walking out of an Orvis store. Just because you shopped at Orvis does not make you a good fly fisherman.

 

[TheBigOne]

i do, however, enjoy searching ebay for "rare live coral" some stuff on there can be pretty good if you keep checking back. lots of zoas.

 

[Azurel]

If you think someone is price gauging, post about it.

That pure speculation and conjecture....Why should someone get flamed because you or I think they are gauging? How many bubble corals are out there? The price hasn't dropped over the years very much. You still pay $30-50 for a single colony, same thing with a lot of other corals. If you don't like the price then don't buy it, it's that simple. You can also wait till the price drops if it does. One of the reasons that zoanthids has a serious following is because there is no other coral out there that can compete with the variations in color and size. This is one of the reasons that some can and have a high price, and the ones that don't take for example eagle eyes you won't get much more then a .50-$1 a polyp for those but others like PPE and Purple Deaths and a few others, they are either slow growers or not in large circulation which in business will drive the price up within reason. Large demand/little supply= higher price. I prefer to trade but I will sell a few polyps here and there of some stuff that is a little more costly to help fund the hobby and get new color morphs which helps for trades. All these post crying about prices is getting just as old as "ID these please" threads. IF you don't think somebody is reputable or is gouging in your perception then don't buy from them. There is one site that has gotten outrageous with the prices of there stock and the only reason it has happened is because of the popularity of the site and the reputation of the site owner. I Haven't bought from this site in awhile because of the trend over the last year.....That's how you slow or deflate the prices not by continuing the crying on the boards about the prices, but not giving these folks money. Every person has a certain price standard your's maybe lower or higher then mine, does that mean I should come on the boards and flame you for it? Nope, sure don't, thats your business on how you spend YOUR money you earned it and deserve to not have some stranger flame you for how YOU spend it, that's your business not mine.

I will say though I don't support people that give or have the appearance of being a chop-shop......

 

[mecold]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8007197#post8007197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Azurel
That pure speculation and conjecture....Why should someone get flamed because you or I think they are gauging? How many bubble corals are out there? The price hasn't dropped over the years very much. You still pay $30-50 for a single colony, same thing with a lot of other corals. If you don't like the price then don't buy it, it's that simple. You can also wait till the price drops if it does. One of the reasons that zoanthids has a serious following is because there is no other coral out there that can compete with the variations in color and size. This is one of the reasons that some can and have a high price, and the ones that don't take for example eagle eyes you won't get much more then a .50-$1 a polyp for those but others like PPE and Purple Deaths and a few others, they are either slow growers or not in large circulation which in business will drive the price up within reason. Large demand/little supply= higher price. I prefer to trade but I will sell a few polyps here and there of some stuff that is a little more costly to help fund the hobby and get new color morphs which helps for trades. All these post crying about prices is getting just as old as "ID these please" threads. IF you don't think somebody is reputable or is gouging in your perception then don't buy from them. There is one site that has gotten outrageous with the prices of there stock and the only reason it has happened is because of the popularity of the site and the reputation of the site owner. I Haven't bought from this site in awhile because of the trend over the last year.....That's how you slow or deflate the prices not by continuing the crying on the boards about the prices, but not giving these folks money. Every person has a certain price standard your's maybe lower or higher then mine, does that mean I should come on the boards and flame you for it? Nope, sure don't, thats your business on how you spend YOUR money you earned it and deserve to not have some stranger flame you for how YOU spend it, that's your business not mine.

I will say though I don't support people that give or have the appearance of being a chop-shop......

Well said. It is nice to get alittle profit from a coral. If it can help offset my hobby and electric bill, I am all for selling a few polyps. I have purchased a few choice frags for high prices, but those are my trade bait

 

[TheBigOne]

^sounds like a defence to selling overpriced corals IMO.

 

[Azurel]

^sounds like a defence to selling overpriced corals IMO.

See that's what I mean, that's your opinion. Which means what? Nothing. You can't prove it nor have I defended what you think you have an uninformed opinion of. If it's not in your realm of affordablity why bash, **** and moan about it? I would like a eye of the sea but don't have the $700 or Orange envy but don't have the cash to purchase one of those. Have you seen me post a thread about it? Nope you know why? Cause there are other sweet stuff I can afford......So you can have your opinon and that's cool with me as I have mine, and you know what they say about opinions?

 

[mecold]

No, sounds like telling people to stop whining.

If you don't want to pay high prices, don't. Most of my expensive and rare corals I got for a trade, free, or a reasonable price. The cheap price was due to patience, free was do to fellow hobbiests in my area, and trades was due to generous reefers. Now in turn, I have given away tons of frags to club members in my reef club.

If you don't like waht is being asked for a coral, don't pay it. Wait, and you will eventually find it for less. It may be a few years, but you can get it for less.

 

[Azurel]

By the way I'm not trying to start an argument I was just stating my opinion on these threads......Like I said "you know what they say about opinions".......NO ill intent ment by any of my post.....I just though I would clarify that before somebody took offense.