Selling/Buying Slow these days?

[mapn4reef]

It seems selling/buying of reef/aquaria stuff is slow these days, even for live stock and live rock. I've seen many great deals on here and C-List and nothing seems to be moving. The economy? Perhaps everybody is content with what they have? Less newbies? What do you think is going on?

Heck, ya just about have to give away live rock these days, LOL.

 

[pelagic7]

I heard it's the season thingy, spring tend to have more people get into the hobby.

 

[AdrianBryce]

As far as stuff on CL not moving, I think that has to do with the people not being willing to part anything out. Most of them want to sell as a whole, even though, they would make more cash parting out. I think this because I have tried to buy stuff from numerous adds over the last couple months, and all I got was "selling as a whole unit".

 

[Pickupman66]

I got my whole setup sold a fwe pieces at a time. I still have a few things that SOMEONE (ZEF) cant seem to get picked up. or get it arragned, but all fish and corals and most everything was sold individually. worked best that way. I now have enough to get a good jump start on my new tank which may be 6 months from now. I was drooling at some of the GC models. really thinking about he 48x48 cube!

 

[pelagic7]

Pickupman,

I have a tall tank... and I have to say it's pain in the butt to maintain it. lol. Love Rhett's setup, short, wide, looks nice, manageable.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[fishdoc11]

FWIW selling reef related items has become much harder since the economy went downhill........and if you do want to part with anything it doesn't bring nearly as much money as it did a few years ago. That coupled with it being spring and people turning their minds away from their tanks and to outdoor ventures makes it hard to sell anything right now.

Chris

 

[Pickupman66]

yea, the tank i will get will be 18" or less deep. guess I didnt mean cube but a square tank. that or do 48x36x18

 

[orthokardia]

that would be a sweet tank, and more on topic.....i need a 36" T5 setup if anyone sees or has one for sale and or trade

 

[Fcamdog]

The problem I see that is slowing down selling is hobbyists asking high end retail prices. Just because someone claims they have a Tyree, ORA, etc... frag too many people think they should be paid a price comparable to retail.

I know the last time I bought some frags from someone on RC that wasn't local he was originally asking $200 plus shipping. I paid $150 shipped a week later for the same "named" 8 item frag pack. People not willing to deal just are not selling as much from what I've seen.

Fcamdog

 

[Jason S]

The problem I see that is slowing down selling is hobbyists asking high end retail prices. Just because someone claims they have a Tyree, ORA, etc... frag too many people think they should be paid a price comparable to retail.

I know the last time I bought some frags from someone on RC that wasn't local he was originally asking $200 plus shipping. I paid $150 shipped a week later for the same "named" 8 item frag pack. People not willing to deal just are not selling as much from what I've seen.

Fcamdog

+1... some of the prices are outrageous for a named item that grows just as fast and is just as common as one that is not named.

 

[NeveSSL]

+1... some of the prices are outrageous for a named item that grows just as fast and is just as common as one that is not named.

I call them "designer corals". They all come from the same place.

Brandon

 

[AdrianBryce]

not for long.

 

[NeveSSL]

Did that go through?

Brandon

 

[ZachB]

not for long.

It's a matter of time before the price of cleanup crews, rics, some zoas, and macro skyrockets or becomes unavailable. Especially if the oil hits the reefs of southern florida.

 

[whipit]

people are cheap. yes they want your stuff they just dont want to pay for it.
this hobby is like jewelry stores, auto's,furniture the markup to purchase the stuff (equipment) is insane but 3 months later you want to sell and get a little of your hard earned $$ back and bam aint worth crap...guess you got to give it away.
and CL are they are really #@#^& of all!

 

[AdrianBryce]

people are cheap. Yes they want your stuff they just dont want to pay for it.
This hobby is like jewelry stores, auto's,furniture the markup to purchase the stuff (equipment) is insane but 3 months later you want to sell and get a little of your hard earned $$ back and bam aint worth crap...guess you got to give it away.
And cl are they are really #@#^& of all!

infraction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fishdoc11]

The problem I see that is slowing down selling is hobbyists asking high end retail prices. Just because someone claims they have a Tyree, ORA, etc... frag too many people think they should be paid a price comparable to retail.

I know the last time I bought some frags from someone on RC that wasn't local he was originally asking $200 plus shipping. I paid $150 shipped a week later for the same "named" 8 item frag pack. People not willing to deal just are not selling as much from what I've seen.

Fcamdog

The thing is people were getting those prices all day long several years ago. I can remember Purple Monsters going for $600 for a 1/2" frag and the seller not having enough to go around, or PPE's going for $50 a polyp all day long. It's amazing what people will pay with a lot of disposable income.....people don't have that income anymore or are being smarter about spending it.

I've always advised people to buy a few nice desirable corals and then be patient, grow them out and eventually over a few years one can typically trade and aquire whatever one wants.

I have always sold frags for very reasonable prices when I do offer frags. 4 years ago when I moved to Knoxville I sold a lot of frag packs. When I tried to sell off my tank, which had a lot more larger, "more desirable" colonies, during the move back from Knoxville this last couple of months I couldn't sell much at all, even at what one could call "bargain basement" prices. Things have definately changed.

Chris

 

[ai-reefer]

sales have gone down a lot because of the economy but it will pick back up. Its all a cycle. People are definitely being more conservative, which is a good thing. Its great for people getting into the hobby. Theres a ton of stuff out there for sale at super low prices.

 

[Pickupman66]

For what I normally sold my frags for $10-$20 each, I more than paid for the colonies I had in my tank. I never bought the "Designer" ones, but bought a few high end ones.