Are these prices a joke?!?!

TannerC91 · Dec 5, 2023

ninjamyst said:
But you making it sound like BRS is up charging you when they don't set the price. The manufacturer sets the price. You barking up the wrong tree.

He showed aquacave too. I don't think he's singling anyone out here?

ninjamyst · Dec 5, 2023

TannerC91 said:
He showed aquacave too. I don't think he's singling anyone out here?

He updated the thread title and content. He explicitly called out BRS in the title and opening post initially.

Bruttall · Dec 5, 2023

Cichlid Dad said:
Hello, if people did not pay that price, then they would not charge that price. They would use cheaper material and produce the same garbage every one else makes. Capitalism. If you were running a large business you would be doing the same thing. There is no reason to be in business other than to make as large of a profit as possible. You can't say no I would not unless you are in that business and are only charging exactly what is needed to keep your company alive.

make as much money as possible? What about keeping your customers happy? Without happy customers, you have no business.

Making as large a profit as possible is the reason why we have High Fructose Corn Syrup in EVERYTHING. Our food industry uses this Profit at all Costs above PUBLIC SAFETY and HEALTH!!

Cichlid Dad · Dec 5, 2023

Bruttall said:
make as much money as possible? What about keeping your customers happy? Without happy customers, you have no business.

Making as large a profit as possible is the reason why we have High Fructose Corn Syrup in EVERYTHING. Our food industry uses this Profit at all Costs above PUBLIC SAFETY and HEALTH!!

If you read the first part of my tread and understood it, that goes to your example of using high fructose corn syrup. You can buy items without it. It just cost more. You just proved my point. Capitalism. You have choices. If you choose to eat crap, and not pay extra that is on you.

Court_Appointed_Hypeman · Dec 5, 2023

Woah I had no idea the big magfloat was that expensive!

I am not impressed with mine, but it came with my ta k so I do not know the age.

workhz · Dec 5, 2023

Cichlid Dad said:
If you read the first part of my tread and understood it, that goes to your example of using high fructose corn syrup. You can buy items without it. It just cost more. You just proved my point. Capitalism. You have choices. If you choose to eat crap, and not pay extra that is on you.

HFCS isn’t inherently worse than sugar. Drinking a 200 calorie coke made with sugar vs a 200 calorie coke made with corn syrup is pretty much the same health effect.

Companies do what companies do. Some want a consumer for longer. Some want to strike quick because they sense they have a finite window. Both want to maximize profits. Just different strategies

As for the consumer deciding, great in theory but it’s not a level playing feed. Large companies employ smart people from marketers to lawyers to lobbyists. Then government steps in to try to level the playing field. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes worse. Where do you think those corn subsidies came from that enabled HFCS in the 70s?

Anyway, last I checked no one put a gun to anyone’s head to buy a mag-float. There are cheaper alternatives and we’re talking about a hobby. Where we get into trouble is when we start losing alternatives on what becomes essential.

Just my 2c.

Reefing102 · Dec 5, 2023

To get back on topic, I agree, I had no idea they were that expensive. I use Flippers but one was a gift and the other came with my tank soo yea.

I personally would never want to pay that much, but I’ve bought my share of small cheapies that were $20-$30/each and were absolute garbage.

I may have to look into the Tunze for my next project. Didn’t realize they sold scrapers

workhz · Dec 5, 2023

The cheap $10-15 razor scrapers on a pole/stick seem to work the best. I have a mag-float, tunze, tried magic eraser. They all kinda work but somehow the cheap razors work best.

Reefing Madness · Dec 5, 2023

Easy now folks, its a discussion and points of views.

albano · Dec 5, 2023

jackson6745 said:
I'll be cleaning my glass with a pair of the old lady's underwear

Please leave my mother out of this!

Cichlid Dad · Dec 5, 2023

Reefing Madness said:
Easy now folks, its a discussion and points of views.

Bpones · Dec 5, 2023

ninjamyst said:
He updated the thread title and content. He explicitly called out BRS in the title and opening post initially.

I really wasn’t trying to single out BRS. I was just commenting on the prices I was seeing. I didn’t put that much thought into the title when I posted. I just wrote it after looking up scrapers…. didn’t think it would go this far lol

Cell · Dec 5, 2023

I can't speak to the actual costs and necessary pricing that can make a business a fair profit while not gouging its customers, but given the current economy, I fear the the cost of reefing is pricing a lot of would be reefers out. If this hobby is going to grow, it's entry point needs to remain somewhat reasonable. The irony is that with our knowledge and technology, reefing has never been more accessible, but the startup cost remains a significant barrier.

Reefering1 · Dec 5, 2023

To add another perspective to the conversation... my next tank looks like its going to cost between 7 and 10 thousand, just for the glass box(a really, really nice one). I'm pretty sure I would'nt hesitate a second to spend a few hundred to keep it clean without damaging it. What its worth is not necessarily a sum of its parts, but the value to target consumer. Truth is that I would spend 500+ if it was guaranteed to not scratch the glass, and has a record to back it up. I have the tunze, multiple flippers, used razor blades, blades on a stick- they all have scratched my current tank. This is what's stopping me from buying/ starting the next tank, I need to finish learning how to clean glass without damaging it.(Accepting tips/ recommendations/suggestions.PLEASE) that said..., if a company preys on that for a one time purchase, with a subpar product, they won't last. However if they meet and exceed expectations of their customers, they can charge whatever they want. If you think it's too high, its not for you. Nobody's forcing anyone to buy anything. Its like if I tell someone its $2000 to fix the a/c on their mercades, and they agree, but someone else quoted 1000$. As long as install the promised parts, it works, and i back up my work- its not ripping anyone off. They had a choice. Sometimes you pay for the headaches you avoid.

Reefering1 · Dec 5, 2023

Cell said:
I can't speak to the actual costs and necessary pricing that can make a business a fair profit while not gouging its customers, but given the current economy, I fear the the cost of reefing is pricing a lot of would be reefers out. If this hobby is going to grow, it's entry point needs to remain somewhat reasonable. The irony is that with our knowledge and technology, reefing has never been more accessible, but the startup cost remains a significant barrier.

As far as pricing new reefers out... this is a different issue. Where advertising and lack of knowledge make people think they need to spend that money. What happened to all the diy, custom, and retrofitted gear to run a tank. DIY went from putting street lights above a tank to diy ing led panels; skimmers and reactors made from a pcv pipe for $20. Nobody wants to experiment, improvise, or put in the work. Now, most people want a ready to run system and step by step instructions on how to make it work- that's your choice, but it will cost you (and its still no guarantee of anything)

rtparty · Dec 5, 2023

Cell said:
I can't speak to the actual costs and necessary pricing that can make a business a fair profit while not gouging its customers, but given the current economy, I fear the the cost of reefing is pricing a lot of would be reefers out. If this hobby is going to grow, it's entry point needs to remain somewhat reasonable. The irony is that with our knowledge and technology, reefing has never been more accessible, but the startup cost remains a significant barrier.

The hobby reached its height during the “pandemic” and will continue to shrink. Especially when governments all over the world continue to screw things up.

Getting into reefing has likely never been cheaper. Mostly thanks to China and their lack of acknowledgement for patents. Grab a 40B for $55 on a Petco sale, build or find a cheap stand, throw a $100 Amazon light over the tank, and some Amazon pumps.

The hard part is the knowledge to start a tank cheaply. My very first setup in 2005 was over $1000 and was horrible. LFS totally screwed me. A 38g tall with a T8 light. That was “normal” back then though. That $1000 back then is likely $2000+ in today’s dollars. I could easily setup a 40B for less than $2000 today and have way more than I did back then.

People forget how expensive things actually were back in the day. Metal halides were well over $1000 for a decent looking setup, came with bulb replacements every 6 months, and a chiller.

Bpones · Dec 6, 2023

rtparty said:
The hobby reached its height during the “pandemic” and will continue to shrink. Especially when governments all over the world continue to screw things up.

Getting into reefing has likely never been cheaper. Mostly thanks to China and their lack of acknowledgement for patents. Grab a 40B for $55 on a Petco sale, build or find a cheap stand, throw a $100 Amazon light over the tank, and some Amazon pumps.

The hard part is the knowledge to start a tank cheaply. My very first setup in 2005 was over $1000 and was horrible. LFS totally screwed me. A 38g tall with a T8 light. That was “normal” back then though. That $1000 back then is likely $2000+ in today’s dollars. I could easily setup a 40B for less than $2000 today and have way more than I did back then.

People forget how expensive things actually were back in the day. Metal halides were well over $1000 for a decent looking setup, came with bulb replacements every 6 months, and a chiller.

What’s funny is I actually set up my newest tank for zero cost besides the two fish. But I felt it would be nice to purchase a nano mag float for it and that’s what started me looking at their prices on line.