A Little Unimpressed This Year

[Magellan]

At minimum one would think that there would be some effort towards growing the hobby. Great pricing on entry-level (but not poor quality) equipment, paclave deals, etc. The more reefers there are the more items they sell, especially since we all know that bigger/better setups are typically on our minds as our experience grows.

This would make too much sense.

 

[sfin52]

I agree. In past years the BF sales have been huge for stores like BRS. This year they barely mention it or post in their threads. I also wonder if sales tax has something to do with it. The big savings online used to be sales tax, but now with the prices more leveled, I assume the sales are down considerably? I know last year I was not charged sales tax, but they started collecting soon after.

There are lfs who are matching brs adds. An example is the corner reef in St Louis. They had a FB post saying we will match online prices. That cuts down sales as well

 

[SDK]

Tariffs are most likely playing a role this year.

My company, and most likely many others that import have been doing everything possible to avoid passing these costs on to consumers. A big part of that strategy has been running with smaller margins.

It's probable that there is less room to mark these items down than there has been in years past...

 

[lavoisier]

Dude, it's not even black Friday yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Exactly. Be patient. As consumers we bear some responsibility for pricing. Why would a seller discount more than 10% if we are all willing to buy at that price. I'm waiting for Friday and if I don't see 25% to 40% I'll keep my card in my wallet.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Also keep in mind pricing changes. Reactor replacement pads were on my shopping list. Not expensive, but it all adds up right? Last week they were $3.99/2. This week they are $4.49/2 discounted by 15% to $3.82/2. Lack luster discount...

 

[MTBake]

I've ordered a couple small items. Di resin, and a couple new heaters as mine are reaching 2.5 years of use. Nothing big has caught my attention though.

 

[trmiv]

I was going to buy a tunze 9410 DC for Black Friday but then found a great deal for a barely used one. So that’s my Black Friday.

I’m still tempted to pickup the Skimz MBR127 algae reactor doorbuster that BRS has but I can decide how worth it an algae reactor would be.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Going to wait till Friday to see if some big stuff (mp40s) pops up for a good price for my build. So far I just picked up a pair of 300 BRS heaters and a tunze scraper. Was in the marker for a VarioS6 and there's one on sale now on BRS for 295, but I was able to snag one here on R2R, slightly used, for 2/3 of the price....better than any BF sale I'm likely to see on it any time soon.

Guess we'll see how it goes...I'll either get a good sale on MP40QDs or I'll just hold on to my $$ till I can snag them here. Win Win.

 

[fcmatt]

I get the feeling the high end stuff we all want is sold in such small quantities compared to massed produced stuff that it is not worth marking it down. Either the people who want it will buy it... and those who wait for a sale will be disappointed and buy it anyway eventually.

If you mark ghl stuff down 30% you might as well admit u wont sell anything for the next several months for example. Not a good biz decision for them

 

[Greybeard]

Not reefing related but I nailed a 3500 new beef gaming PC for 1500.
I think that's a great deal

Oh, well, if you wanna go outside of reefing... picked up a DeWalt 20v Drill + Driver combo -w- charger and a pair of batteries for less than half of suggested retail. Yup... there's deals to be had, just not in the reefing world, so far.

BRS is doing 25% on Skimz skimmers. I have no need of a skimmer at the moment, but it's a good deal. A friend is running Skimz skimmers in two tanks. Seem like solid skimmers. I've got a Skimz Zeo reactor, but haven't turned it on yet. Looks good, anyway

 

[LadyTang2]

15 - 20 percent which is what I'm seeing on most sites just is not enough to really entice people. They're in good positions I guess.

 

[Silverfish]

Stocked up on sale items that I use often. Try to save money anyway I can!

 

[JT2418]

Thinking about getting the skimz algae reactor as well.

 

[rocsec1]

I picked up a new iPad for $80 and new heaters. Nothing else caught my eye.

 

[Curtis Rose]

Bought a skimmer on sale on marine depot. The list price was too much then the sale was better then I had reward points adding up to 30 dollars so I didn’t do too bad. Marine depot only because BRS didn’t carry it. Other than that no sale jumped at me saying buy me....seems overpriced to begin with and then they discount 10-15% what happen to those sales where u couldn’t resist because it was too good to pass up. I can get over lighting prices. Leds are cheap drivers are cheap wiring is cheap yet some of these lights are out of control. I get it development and such but come on...speciality hobbies tho that’s the price we pay

 

[Curtis Rose]

Some consumables are reasonably priced on sale tho happy with that

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Picked up 2x AI Hydra 26 for 40% off. I couldn’t care less that its now the older generation, I’m elated that I was able to snag those.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Snagged an Aquamaxx Cones Q2. Been eyeing it for a while and it finally got to the range where I pulled the trigger.

Now just waiting on MP40QDs.... Will see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Tamberav]

The best deals were at my LFS tbh...

Lots of salt deals, IO was $35 a 200g box.

20% off all coral/fish/inverts and they already have very low prices. They had some cool stuff in stock like white tail tangs, kuteri wrasse... etc... too bad the china wrasse sold or I would have brought it home. They have a frag tank full of Boom Corals too

Ofc being a LFS if there was something you were looking for they said to email them and they could see what kind of deal they could offer.