A Civil Price Debate

[unibob]

Beautiful things are desirable, rare things are scarce. everyone wants rare and beautiful things that is why they are expensive. When things are expensive people tend to take care of them, this is a good thing because if people don't take care of the rare and beautiful things in this world then we will soon have none left.

The look of a coral has a big impact. If a coral is ordered and it comes in coloured down, the seller has 2 options, sell as is for less $$$, or keep to colour up with the risk of loosing the entire piece.

A good example would be Aussie Strawberry Shortcake Acropora.

These are just google images:


It usually comes in looking like this or worse:

But can be coloured up to this or better:

The seller has every right IMO to charge more for the coloured up piece, the price they decide on for both is entirely up to them, with the buyer having 2 options. Pay less for coloured down, or spend more for the coloured up.

Hidden gems are usually cheap because the time and effort hasn't been put forth to bring out the full beauty.

Time is $$




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scubasteve]

me personally have no problem paying high prices in the stores after all i dont want them to close and permits and overhead are a fortune. when i first found out what those shipping documents cost its a wonder anyone stays open. when i sell a coral i always try to give a deal as i dont frag to make money but when things are growing into each other you gotta do something and why throw it away when theres a ton of new and especially young reefers that cant afford all they want so a couple bucks to add for something in the future and making a fellow reefer happy keeps me happy. you will never see store prices on my stuff but im also not out to ruin stores business by undercutting.

I have payed up to $200 for a frag but when i do those peices are normally super colourful and hard to come by so if thousands of people want it and only a handful have it its gonna be worth alot more.

As for the names certain people have colonies that have been aquacultured for years and this normally creates healthier coral and more vibrant colours for instance my ora tri colour valida is 100x more colourful than most ive seen around so thats one reason why certain sellers names drive price.... not everybody wants to go through the browning and bleaching phases that happen with wild caught this is why aquacultured is such a demand.

Ideally in the end it comes down to do you want what everyone has or what everyone wants to have i now for the most part collect higher end peices yes it costs a fortune and im far from rich but bit by bit and year by year the collection grows and the rainbows of colour compared to the average are more than worth it

If you dont like the price then dont get it complaining wont make it cheaper. If you want it cheap then wait for someone with overgrowth or years till its common and price drops..... i want a gem tangone day

Happy reefing everybody

 

[scubasteve]

The look of a coral has a big impact. If a coral is ordered and it comes in coloured down, the seller has 2 options, sell as is for less $$$, or keep to colour up with the risk of loosing the entire piece.

A good example would be Aussie Strawberry Shortcake Acropora.

These are just google images:


It usually comes in looking like this or worse:

But can be coloured up to this or better:

The seller has every right IMO to charge more for the coloured up piece, the price they decide on for both is entirely up to them, with the buyer having 2 options. Pay less for coloured down, or spend more for the coloured up.

Hidden gems are usually cheap because the time and effort hasn't been put forth to bring out the full beauty.

Time is $$




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Perfect example you hit the nail on the head unibob

 

[davesolo29]

My biggest beef is the apex aquacontroller. When I bought mine three years ago I paid just over $500 taxes in. Now, the same model is $700. This is definitely a case of supply and demand. They know they made a kick ass product and people that want one will pay for it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[reeferkeeper420]

My biggest beef is the apex aquacontroller. When I bought mine three years ago I paid just over $500 taxes in. Now, the same model is $700. This is definitely a case of supply and demand. They know they made a kick ass product and people that want one will pay for it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That and are shitty dollar lol.

 

[AdInfinitum]

Beautiful things are desirable, rare things are scarce. everyone wants rare and beautiful things that is why they are expensive. When things are expensive people tend to take care of them, this is a good thing because if people don't take care of the rare and beautiful things in this world then we will soon have none left.

Part of the issue is that in reefing as in all other aspects of life, what constitutes expensive is so variable and personal. We cringe and lament someone buying and killing tanks full of rare pieces that we would love to have, the same way watching some billionaire's kid on YouTube wrap his Mclaren around a telephone pole the first time he drops the hammer makes a sportscar nut cry as he works to fix up his old Europa that he saved every dime to buy.

Back at his peak Bill Gates could spend $250000 and it would have the same economic impact on him as an average American spending $2.

 

[sunnykita]

I'm certain I know one specific recent post you are talking about. I had the same first thought then it dawned on me he likely cut and pasted that post. Went to GTA site, and sure enough. A lot of people over there are real pricks so I can see why it would be said. Granted he should have modified the post for here, but he probably didn't even think about it.

ev
I cracked it up to being new here and not realizing that this forum is NOT like the rest, I hope that we don't need that kind of behavior here ever !

 

[Bigfish]

I expect store prices to be high as they have all the overhead of operating, but many people try and charge ridiculous prices for their home frags. Most of the time when someone buys something from me, they end up leaving with a bunch of other free stuff! Just ask zoomster! Lol

 

[AdInfinitum]

The Internet has also had a great impact. With more and more forums being started and such, suppliers overseas see what things sell for here, but more so in the US. If a coral used to be "x" dollars from suppliers before the Internet boom, well they have seen that the coral is being sold for "xxx" in the US, that coral is now "xx" from said supplier.

There is a big difference between giving a coral a name and selling a name brand coral. I like naming corals that I buy and have not seen elsewhere, the name never reflects the price, the amount paid for and overall quality of the coral decides the price. I give crazy names because I like too see things I sell succeed and be refragged to sell, easiest way for me to remember is by a CRAZY name

I am a firm believer in the product is worth what people will pay. Is it right to lie to promote a greater $$ sale...no!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is another significant change in the dynamic that the internet has caused. Back in the day, the place we gained the bulk of our knowledge, met other aquarists, and bought sold and traded things we grew, was hanging at the LFS. No TFT...no kijiji...if you were successful at propagating anything you traded it in to the LFS for credit. If you were new or occasional you got wholesale value and used the credit at retail. If you were a regular with good proven stuff you could get wholesale credits and spend them at wholesale plus 15%. And if you knew other people growing stuff, you traded and generally it was just a trade not about dollars. Since the LFS was the hub of all activity they were making money and getting clean relatively risk free stuff to sell they were very supportive.

Full disclosure...30 years ago I was involved in the wholesale and retail side of the business. It was never my living but that of many of my close friends and a way that I made some money on the side helping them out. But that is a whole world away from the business as it exists today.

 

[heath]

I expect store prices to be high as they have all the overhead of operating, but many people try and charge ridiculous prices for their home frags. Most of the time when someone buys something from me, they end up leaving with a bunch of other free stuff! Just ask zoomster! Lol

that is so true with most reefers, I need to get down to see what you have for sale...

 

[Bigfish]

that is so true with most reefers, I need to get down to see what you have for sale...

I don't usually have much until things get to the point of needing to be scaled back. That anemone did split though last night and you have first dibs if your interested?

 

[heath]

bonus, pm sent...