Pimpin' Ain't Easy

[MUCHO REEF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14074825#post14074825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dancing4raiin
In my opinion i would have to agree that thats why some people sell them for market value Just cause you are nice enough to sell a frag of something for cheap doesnt mean the other person will respect what you have done and sell it for their own price. I think if people that had these polyps or any coral just sold them for a decent price without feeling they would get ripped off, prices would come down. Someone gave me a frag of xenia, and now mine is starting to grow so i'm giving it away as it starts to get to a level where i dont want it. I have some eagle eye zoas that once i get a good ammount of them i will start giving away since someone did that to me with their xenia. I agree sometimes I would like to charge for the xenia to make some money and buy new stuff but that would not be right. If people would just start sharing their stuff it would encourage other people to do so also.

Also OwenInAZ wrote, "In my experience, if someone does get a cheap deal at a frag swap and it gets out that he/she goes and flips them, or grows it out and sells frags later for an obscene amount, no one wants to trade or sell them anything anymore. People just feel cheated, and that person is put outside the community of local reefers."


This is what the hobby has come to. It's not about helping or sharing anymore the way it use to be before naming and skyhigh prices. For many, it's a business, the hobby has gone out the window. I can only imagine how much money I have lost if I had sold my frags at what others are charging. So what cha complaining about Mucho, then sell yours at skyhigh prices too". I would, if that's what these polyps which grow overnight were worth. This hobby has turned into buy low and sell high, sounds like the stock market, that's not reefing. Reefing is now Retailing.

Owen, I sold a bunch of frags to a guy locally just before the prices went sky high and naming began. He came by my place and loved my tank and wanted to really learn about the hobby. So I sold him a bunch of frags for $ 15 a piece. I also gave him 3 frags which I had grown and attached to live rock as I hate frag plugs. Back then the frags were full of polyps unlike today, but guess what he did just 2 days later. He put the same frags which I gave him, up for sale on our local web sight which he knows I'm on everyday. The deals I gave him along with the free frags I felt would create a friendship for many years to come. I have helped him many many many times over. Not that I expect it, but he has a tank full of polyps now and he has never ever to this day offered me anything, but he's not alone. I've done this many times to help others out and it seems only one or two of the true reefers have come back and said thank you or offered me something back. But they HAVE set up shop and are selling polyps like crazy this very moment. To buy something for $ 2 a polyp at a frag swap and turn around the next day and sell it for more than that is not reefing, that's retailing, and that's what this hobby has become for so many. Our local frag swaps use to be fun and personal. I have met a lot of great people and formed great friendships as a result of local swaps. Now the swaps are so impersonal, there's very little dialogue and it's all about the buck now. That's not reefing, that's retailing.


Mucho

 

[Fishindude88]

Wow, I can't believe someone would have the nerve to sell a gift like that for a profit.
I think it is nice to make a few bucks here and there (who doesn't want their tank to pay for itself someday?) but I also think that this is a hobby which is supposed to make you happy and supposed to be fun. If not, you shouldn't be keeping a reef tank.

 

[capture]

Everyone has their reasons for being in the hobby and this thread may never actually result in any sort of answer or agreement.

I started this thread to inform people. To make people aware. Reef Central is our CNET or Consumer Reports website. Our community is relatively small and this and a few other means (even they turn a profit!) are our only resources. Most likely you have, if not, you will eventually get ripped off or have spent money on something that just didn't pan out in this hobby. I've been burned and I want others to know it happens and that they can be educated when it comes to purchasing, trading and yes, even selling.

What you do with your money is your business, I could care less. The point is that whether you purchase, sell, what have you... your actions do impact our hobby. If anyone can sell a two polyp frag successfully someone else will try... and if someone bought that first frag another will do the same.

I try to spread what I was first introduced to when I started in the hobby... share and spare (I may have just coined that, kinda lame but really my feelings). Share your knowledge and spare a frag or help to those willing to do the same.

Be Good.

 

[the808state]

Not Pimpin'

 

[MUCHO REEF]

2 thumbs up on the share & spare.

 

[capture]

Lame. But i think it gets the point across.
Thanks Mucho

 

[MUCHO REEF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14077855#post14077855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishindude88
Wow, I can't believe someone would have the nerve to sell a gift like that for a profit.
I think it is nice to make a few bucks here and there (who doesn't want their tank to pay for itself someday?) but I also think that this is a hobby which is supposed to make you happy and supposed to be fun. If not, you shouldn't be keeping a reef tank.

It happens all the time 808. I still give things away, but I'm very cautious now on who I give things of great value to.

Mucho

 

[capture]

It will also make you think twice about what your intentions might be when someone gives you something and how you might be able to return the favor some day.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I once gave a young reefer some frags to help him get his tank filled, but do you know what he did? Just 2 days later, those very same FREE frags and a colony I gave him, he turned around, gave them a name and placed them up for sale on the same site we both frequent everyday. He begged and hinted for some help to get his tank filled, and he sold them. I still give and share, but I'm very very careful with whom I give to now.

Mucho

 

[noobtothereef]

I believe people should offer 2 polyps for the price of one, and then go up in price after that. At least have little bit of a better chance of one surviving.

i think people should get real and not try to be a fly by night millionaire off of a friends hobby

 

[MUCHO REEF]

i think people should get real and not try to be a fly by night millionaire off of a friends hobby

Brother if you keep preaching the gospel like that, I'm gonna send you my offering. :thumbsup:

 

[noobtothereef]

I once gave a young reefer some frags to help him get his tank filled, but do you know what he did? Just 2 days later, those very same FREE frags and a colony I gave him, he turned around, gave them a name and placed them up for sale on the same site we both frequent everyday. He begged and hinted for some help to get his tank filled, and he sold them. I still give and share, but I'm very very careful with whom I give to now.

Mucho

This is the main reason i got into this hobby, my local reef club is nothing like this rc site, sure there are helpfull people on here but come on....i have a rock with 30+ tubs blues on it that was given to me to help cycle my tank....

 

[MUCHO REEF]

When I got into this hobby a long time ago,a guy name Trace from a LFS, a small mom and pop type of shop, this guy gave me so many breaks. I listened and listened and I met some great people who also gave me frags and colonies. It's the main reason I give so much as I have never forgotten those who helped me.

 

[XSharkboyX]

When I got into this hobby a long time ago,a guy name Trace from a LFS, a small mom and pop type of shop, this guy gave me so many breaks. I listened and listened and I met some great people who also gave me frags and colonies. It's the main reason I give so much as I have never forgotten those who helped me.

That is what reefing is about, imo. :beer:

 

[650-IS350]

LMAO I so remember this thread. A lot of folks I don't see here anymore.. sad.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Very sad indeed. We had some great discussions and debates back then. Things are slowly changing though Charles.

Mucho

 

[650-IS350]

Yes , I know. SMH.

 

[XSharkboyX]

I think the sad thing is that people are still practicing what they call "Coral Pimping"... You dont have to look much further than a few vendors on RC.

 

[popwin]

I had bought a few time of single poly frags before. they didn't survive at the end. But I also don't know if I bought a healthy 5-6 poly frag, they would survive or not.

It has been brought to my attention that the act of selling frags per polyp has been coined "pimping" for those of you unaware. If you aren't sure why I am bringing this up, continue reading, and for lack of anything good on television and seeing as it's the weekend, read on anyway.

May I ask why you or anyone responsible would buy one polyp, or why someone would sell one polyp?
I obtained a frag about 2 weeks ago with about 5-6 polyps and they have deteriorated to 2 and still havent opened. What if you get the one polyp home and it doesn't make it? That would seem a waste of $10-15 or more, not to mention the loss of a polyp. Unless you can get a guarantee from your source of the frag, it seems pointless and cruel. I could understand if a single polyp obtained were free and/or loose at the bottom of the tank. Things have definitely changed from 3 years ago when I took a break from this hobby.

Why are people so stingy that they have to sell by the polyp instead of offering healthy multiple polyp frags for resonable prices?
It seems as though responsility in this hobby has deteriorated and making a quick buck or two is more important than helping a fellow reefer and instilling the idea of a healthy reef. Listen, we all would like to subsidize our hobby by selling frags but who is being held responsible for the poor judgement of a living creature?
We cycle, we test our water, we go through multiple, expensive and excruciating processes to ensure that our ecosystems are sufficient to sustain living creatures...then we buy single polyps.
Slow down, enjoy, and relax. There are plenty of Tub's Blues, AoG's, and everyother annoyingly named polyp out there to make it into your reef.