Instant Ocean group buy
- Thread starter alkamar
- Start date
Mako Shark II
Fish are Friends not Food
Man, I too just bought some recently. (Blasted Water changes!!)
I’ll tell you what: I was a little more than shocked at the recent price ranges. The LFS’s are where I always buy from, but then there’s Sales Tax vs. the Cost of Shipping on-line.
The last time I bought I.O., I paid like $48. from the LFS. Later found it for $42. but I didn’t need it, so I passed. (It was old stock at a “pet†store; while shopping for “furry†critter food.) Recently, I was forced to buy Seachem Reef Salt from the LFS for like $62.!! I about fell over and that last trip (with Off-sale prices) got my attention.
(Readers of this out there might say, “Tut-tut little Makoâ€Â, but I burn through a pail a month, and at $62 (with OUT tax), that's $744 Annually, vs. $504. annually at $42 / pail. And Yes, I’m a supply-chain management guy… sorry! But what's worse, is that The (now-unemployed) $pousal Unit pays all the bills, so she keep's an eye on all Buys from the LFS's.)
Marcus, I’ll take at least One (1) if not two (2) Instant Ocean please, but that could change. What are the price points and qty breaks? I haven’t shopped it, but what kind of “landed†costs (FOB your Door) are you seeing?
Instant Ocean prices on-line for 160-gallon / 5-gallon Pails:
Marine Depot is $56.99 (landed)
Petsmart is $52.99 (landed)
Dr. Foster & Smith is $54.98 5-gallon bucket OR 200 Gallon Box (landed)
Dr. Foster & Smith had Oceanic 200 Gallon bucket for $56.98
The way I understand the WTMRAC By-Laws, we give Kermit’s & MemFish “Last Look†and we buy from them; which I would rather do anyways. Just NOT at $60 or $62 (or more) per Bucket (PLUS Tax!) again please.
Also, what Sizes should we get? 160-gallon (Five-gallon Buckets) or 200-gallon (cardboard Boxes), now that all of us are swimming in (very pretty) 5-gallon pails?? I've never bought the Boxes, but I don’t know why. They're solidly 20% cheaper and with all the buckets I've kept myself, I could easily transfer the salt to the buckets and keep them dry, so I don’t need to pay for another bucket.
Thoughts?
I’ll tell you what: I was a little more than shocked at the recent price ranges. The LFS’s are where I always buy from, but then there’s Sales Tax vs. the Cost of Shipping on-line.
The last time I bought I.O., I paid like $48. from the LFS. Later found it for $42. but I didn’t need it, so I passed. (It was old stock at a “pet†store; while shopping for “furry†critter food.) Recently, I was forced to buy Seachem Reef Salt from the LFS for like $62.!! I about fell over and that last trip (with Off-sale prices) got my attention.
(Readers of this out there might say, “Tut-tut little Makoâ€Â, but I burn through a pail a month, and at $62 (with OUT tax), that's $744 Annually, vs. $504. annually at $42 / pail. And Yes, I’m a supply-chain management guy… sorry! But what's worse, is that The (now-unemployed) $pousal Unit pays all the bills, so she keep's an eye on all Buys from the LFS's.)
Marcus, I’ll take at least One (1) if not two (2) Instant Ocean please, but that could change. What are the price points and qty breaks? I haven’t shopped it, but what kind of “landed†costs (FOB your Door) are you seeing?
Instant Ocean prices on-line for 160-gallon / 5-gallon Pails:
Marine Depot is $56.99 (landed)
Petsmart is $52.99 (landed)
Dr. Foster & Smith is $54.98 5-gallon bucket OR 200 Gallon Box (landed)
Dr. Foster & Smith had Oceanic 200 Gallon bucket for $56.98
The way I understand the WTMRAC By-Laws, we give Kermit’s & MemFish “Last Look†and we buy from them; which I would rather do anyways. Just NOT at $60 or $62 (or more) per Bucket (PLUS Tax!) again please.
Also, what Sizes should we get? 160-gallon (Five-gallon Buckets) or 200-gallon (cardboard Boxes), now that all of us are swimming in (very pretty) 5-gallon pails?? I've never bought the Boxes, but I don’t know why. They're solidly 20% cheaper and with all the buckets I've kept myself, I could easily transfer the salt to the buckets and keep them dry, so I don’t need to pay for another bucket.
Thoughts?
Last edited:
alkamar
New member
I had told a few others of my plans, but I'll post them so everyone is on the same page. My plan was to see how many buckets people are interested in. The more numbers we get, the better the price. I will them submit the number desired to our 2 LFS sponsers which to me seems the fair way to do this. Your online shops can't offer the service of the LFS. With salt being a heavy item to ship, I don't thing the savings online would be significant compared to a group buy.
I was thinking 5 gallon bucket, but it doesn't matter to me. When I submit the quantity needed, I can get prices for boxes and buckets.
They would all have to be the same though. You would have to decide paper or plastic for the whole order to save money.
Mako Shark II
Fish are Friends not Food
Depending upon Unit Price, I might go 2.
bshumake
New member
Put me in for one.
When I did the group orders I first checked with members for quantities needed (like your doing here).
Dave pointed out to me that some companies run sales on their salt to the LFS's. They send out a panphlet or updated price circular's alerting them as to the sale dates and prices. If you haven't, check with Dave and Richard and see if there is a sale going on now or soon. That may help with price.
Once I had a total number I shopped the order around to the club sponsors. Basically, just stick with the LFS's. Online gets to be expensive with shipping unless you have a HUGE order.
From the price quote you can work out unit cost (including shipping) and report the pricing to the interested parties, via email. No posting prices on RC!
If people were still interested then everyone paid and order was made. If anyone backed out usually the group buy caved in.
Since Cathy has the master email list for the club I suggest having her (or someone) email all the members that a group buy for salt is underway and to submit their request to begin the pricing. Not everyone checks RC so you might get more orders.
Your 2nd President has spoken :thumbsup:
When I did the group orders I first checked with members for quantities needed (like your doing here).
Dave pointed out to me that some companies run sales on their salt to the LFS's. They send out a panphlet or updated price circular's alerting them as to the sale dates and prices. If you haven't, check with Dave and Richard and see if there is a sale going on now or soon. That may help with price.
Once I had a total number I shopped the order around to the club sponsors. Basically, just stick with the LFS's. Online gets to be expensive with shipping unless you have a HUGE order.
From the price quote you can work out unit cost (including shipping) and report the pricing to the interested parties, via email. No posting prices on RC!
If people were still interested then everyone paid and order was made. If anyone backed out usually the group buy caved in.
Since Cathy has the master email list for the club I suggest having her (or someone) email all the members that a group buy for salt is underway and to submit their request to begin the pricing. Not everyone checks RC so you might get more orders.
Your 2nd President has spoken :thumbsup:
alkamar
New member
Let's get a running total of Instant Ocean.
------------------------------------------------------
Goibot - 1
MrRyanT - 1
Mako Shark II - 2?
bshumake - 1
tgriffin went in on the Oceanic group buy
We are up to 5 on Instant Ocean.
Now let see who prefers Box or Bucket:
---------------------------------------------------
Mako Shark II: leaning toward the box
Goibot: stands on the sidelines watching for the winning team
MrRyanT: ?
bshumake: ?
If we want to get in on a salt sale, we need to do it by June 9th. I have pm'd many of you with some details. If anyone else is interested, just post to the thread and I'll update you via pm. If we do the order by the 9th, then I'll try to arrange for us to pickup the salt by our next meeting which is June 27th. Whichever LFS that we end up purchasing from probably doesn't want the salt sitting there for any longer than that.
------------------------------------------------------
Goibot - 1
MrRyanT - 1
Mako Shark II - 2?
bshumake - 1
tgriffin went in on the Oceanic group buy
We are up to 5 on Instant Ocean.
Now let see who prefers Box or Bucket:
---------------------------------------------------
Mako Shark II: leaning toward the box
Goibot: stands on the sidelines watching for the winning team
MrRyanT: ?
bshumake: ?
If we want to get in on a salt sale, we need to do it by June 9th. I have pm'd many of you with some details. If anyone else is interested, just post to the thread and I'll update you via pm. If we do the order by the 9th, then I'll try to arrange for us to pickup the salt by our next meeting which is June 27th. Whichever LFS that we end up purchasing from probably doesn't want the salt sitting there for any longer than that.
Mako Shark II
Fish are Friends not Food
2 Each - 200g.
Wanna do a Paypal? or can I write you a rubber check?
Wanna do a Paypal? or can I write you a rubber check?
alkamar
New member
I'll adjust that for you. The Oceanic isn't going to fall through.
Updated running total of Instant Ocean.
------------------------------------------------------
Goibot - 1
MrRyanT - 1
Mako Shark II - 2
We are up to 4 on Instant Ocean.
Now let see who prefers Box or Bucket:
---------------------------------------------------
Mako Shark II: leaning toward the box
Goibot: stands on the sidelines watching for the winning team
MrRyanT: ?
