Anyone else hate live sales?
- Thread starter michealprater
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I’ve flip flopped. Repeatedly. I’ve participated, even recently. But it wasn’t because I wanted that $1 or $5 coral. I was looking to see if what I wanted actually became a reasonable price, which it did but I sat and hemmed and hawed and thankfully it didn’t sell until I bought it a couple hours later.
That said, I’m much more for a true flash sale than live sale where everything is posted at once and may the odds be forever in your favor.
That said, I’m much more for a true flash sale than live sale where everything is posted at once and may the odds be forever in your favor.
ReefDreamz
Active Member
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Yeah I don't like the live sales or any auction type sales with bidding. Just put a price on it and let me buy it normally. I don't want to compete with a bunch of other people in real time to buy something. My favorite way to buy coral is when vendors send an email with their new pieces or post an instagram photo of a new piece with a link.
Northern Flicker
Valuable Member
They are a micorcosm of the worst side of this hobby.
Mhamilton0911
BitterSalty
I've participated in many live sales. Each one I set myself a budget and don't go over it. Usually about 300$, which is to me a lot, but to others, just one piece. Only one time did I end up kinda striking out and only getting one thing I really wanted and a bunch of filler pieces to make the shipping worth it. But most of the time I come out great, last one I did I got a ton of rfa's, like 9 of them, each one 30$ or under. That sale in particular I scored several gift codes/cards for 25$each so I got many things for free because of it. It's good for me when I want coral but not sure what type I really want. So I use them to show me pretty things and if I like the price I'll grab it.
I do want to add that I do not have a lfs that does coral, only fish and inverts. So if I want coral I must find it online. I'd likely not do the sales if I could just walk into a store and buy the pretties.
I do want to add that I do not have a lfs that does coral, only fish and inverts. So if I want coral I must find it online. I'd likely not do the sales if I could just walk into a store and buy the pretties.
Stevorino
Well-Known Member
I love’em, but not all live sales are equal.
I always keep an eye on them for a bit to see if the coral types and prices are aligned with my current ‘needs’.
Sometimes it can feel like a clearance sale of crappy corals, other times it can be a great deal.
Ex: this past weekend @Jersey Corals had a ton of torches on sale, which I’ve been looking for. I had a great time and also snagged a $300 gem tang and purple tang (both on wishlist). If I had gone to my LFS and bought this stuff I would have spent at least 5x as much for the same haul.
Also, the traffic a live sale gets can vary wildly. Sometimes I feel like I have no shot at prizes or super sales , and other times I am winning stuff left and right and don’t have to race to click as bad.
I always keep an eye on them for a bit to see if the coral types and prices are aligned with my current ‘needs’.
Sometimes it can feel like a clearance sale of crappy corals, other times it can be a great deal.
Ex: this past weekend @Jersey Corals had a ton of torches on sale, which I’ve been looking for. I had a great time and also snagged a $300 gem tang and purple tang (both on wishlist). If I had gone to my LFS and bought this stuff I would have spent at least 5x as much for the same haul.
Also, the traffic a live sale gets can vary wildly. Sometimes I feel like I have no shot at prizes or super sales , and other times I am winning stuff left and right and don’t have to race to click as bad.
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Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
I like 'em! It's a rush, and I generally get good deals. As for which ones to frequent, I think every hobbyist has their preferred vendors, so shop from the vendors you know and trust, and maybe every once in a while, give a new vendor a try. I think if you like 'em, enjoy 'em. If you don't, don't stress over 'em. The beauty of this hobby is in the variety of everything. There are plenty of different sale formats that pretty much all of us can enjoy some mode of buying. If live sales aren't your preferred mode of sales, there are lots of other ways for you to enjoy shopping for your additions to your reef.
Derrick0580
Valuable Member
My lfs sells me gold torches all day long for under $100, double heads for $100. I’ve spent enough money that they take care of me when I ask for something specific. Usually it involves me agreeing to sell them frags of said coral when it grows large enough to frag. I just don’t have time to sit around waiting for that one specific piece to pop up and then risk being beaten to the punch.
We have something similar, with a twist. We have a livestream every Monday from 4 - 5pm CST, called "Live Dive" on our YT Channel. We showcase 14-16 various species of fish and coral with discounts and free shipping on all items offered (regardless of price). You'll find: zero filters, zero editing, and a few cheesy Wisconsin jokes throughout the hour to help make Monday's fun. Here is this past Monday's Live Dive: https://bit.ly/3PKXbD7 Let us know what you think of this take on live sales, all feedback is welcome!
Tangs-A-Lot
Active Member
I’ve only done 3 live sale/auctions. One time I didn’t get anything. The one time I did well, I got about 6 items and the other was 3 items. It was close enough in time and from the same website, so shipping was combined. They forgot to send me 1 item. They made me pay shipping again to send it, however they were going to send me a free torch. The torch ended up being the most expensive of all items and had 3 heads. One item was cheap $15 rock flower anemone, however it was such a dull color I recommend to only buy ultras. The Florida Ricordea were great.
I strongly recommend to seek out local reefers and local clubs. I was able to get nice “colonies” of a zoa, an alveopora and a duncan for $140. In terms of the numbers of polyps it was a home run and would have probably cost triple. And, he gave me 8 free items which probably would have cost $140 anywhere else.
I strongly recommend to seek out local reefers and local clubs. I was able to get nice “colonies” of a zoa, an alveopora and a duncan for $140. In terms of the numbers of polyps it was a home run and would have probably cost triple. And, he gave me 8 free items which probably would have cost $140 anywhere else.
Derrick0580
Valuable Member
I prefer gathering a wish list and waiting for a frag swap. Feels pretty stupid to pay a sale price that’s still 3x’s the price I can pick something up in person at a swap for.
Ben's Pico Reefing
Valuable Member
I have done one and it was actual good deal. Was not dissappointed. Made me want to try others. But when I start reading the rules that 1 or 2 special deals turns into easily 200. They make you buy a higher price frag per each low price frag so prices are flipped and not even getting a deal. They just swap prices. Others you have to follow this long list of rules where you must stand on your chair while juggling 5 chainsaws without dropping.. you must also purchase pre shipping package on your cell phone while kite surfing while winds are between 20 and 21 knotts. And if you dont do this while sending in video and digital satellite proof after you bid, your purchase is forfit. Lol but again, there are some good businesses that dont have all these hoops and do just need to prepurchase shipping and deals are what they are and actual deals. Not just number shifting.
Reefer Matt
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They are a good advertising and sales gimmick. When they have games, people comment to win prizes which actually keeps the sales post at the top of the feed. I have never bought from one, but the secret I was told is to use a computer, not a phone or tablet. Then preload your account and refresh the page a lot.
Rusty_L_Shackleford
Active Member
Jamrock Corals is 15 min from my house and they're my closest lfs. They do an auction every 2 weeks (they ship but I just pick it up). I also make the 90 minute trip to wilmington to shop at Coastal Reef once or twice a month. We usually also hit up big fish for my wife's freshwater tank while we're there. I can see the appeal for people without a good lfs, but personally I would be extremely wary of buying something I couldn't see in person first. Especially with how many vendors crank the blues and post heavily edited pictures.
d2mini
5000 Club Member
I don't go anywhere near them. No interest in dealing with all that.
I’ve always been kind of vocally obstinate about these things to a fault I’m sure. But the frequency of them seems more like a greed driven cash grab than any sort of customer minded, honest discount. clearly they rule the roost these days. So we are the minority for sure. Lol. I have always felt that sales that start with pricing really high and drop as they go are kind of a slap in the face to anyone who did pay the higher price early on. I mean I feel guilty if an order comes in the day before I have a sale.
