Average cost per coral?

BigBadZoaDaddy · Jan 9, 2008

Anyone have any Idea? I use to sell a bit on my local fourm, then sometimes here.

I have some really nice stuff that has been posted here many times, so I am not posting this for spaming or anytihng.

I am honestly curious what you guys think or how you come up with fair market value?

I person on my home board that I know had a tank break/split a seam!
He took a bunch of stuff to an LFS and they told him ha could sell out of there tank at no charge? Strange IMO, but some people are better than me I know.
He has some amazing stuff but in metro d-town, MI I can't see a serious amount of those corals gong for more than $10 per inch? He is thinking he is gonna get $60 an inch and sell a ton, for a Cali-Tort? It's one thing when you have a sweet coral and the folks around have the $$ to nuy but no matter how sweet if ya don't have $1, it doesn't matter how cheap ya make 1".

I have some stuff atlantis sells for TONS! I can't figure it out? I have a hard time getting 1/2 what most on-line sites might offer let alone an LFS?
:homework: (new smily figured I'd use it)

revhtree · Jan 9, 2008

It's all in the pics.....

BigBadZoaDaddy · Jan 10, 2008

SO there corals cost more cause they have better cameras and need to cover the cost of the camera

Where do ya go to base the cost of a coral? I ususally do most stuff localy for $10 an inch? Cause I am not out to **** anyone just help cover the cost of salt and lights?

surfn · Jan 10, 2008

revhtree said:
It's all in the pics.....

completely agree. its all about how nice the pics are, and how much color is in the coral. so the use of XM20k's and Radiums to color corals up is almost a MUST.

BigBadZoaDaddy said:
SO there corals cost more cause they have better cameras and need to cover the cost of the camera

Where do ya go to base the cost of a coral? I ususally do most stuff localy for $10 an inch? Cause I am not out to **** anyone just help cover the cost of salt and lights?

not necessarily to cover the cost of their camera, but b/c people pay more money for things that look colorful. if it doesn't look colorful, no one will buy it regardless of what it is or what lineage it has.

i've seen people sell random orange caps for over $20 an inch, normally you can't even give that stuff away for free....its all about the pics.

my camera and lens have both paid for themselves in selling a few frag packs.

Hopkins · Jan 10, 2008

revhtree said:
It's all in the pics.....

I agree as well. I have seen your stuff in person at swaps and it looks 110% better than in your pictures.

NapoliNewJersey · Jan 10, 2008

I just want to add something ... i've gotten to become friends with the owner of my LFS, where we talk about business alot more than just the regular "can you believe the weather" talk.

Anyway I have a macro lens and Digital SLR that I let him borrow to post on his website and NJRC's website. There's been corals in his store for months without people even looking at it let alone asking the price.... there was this one Cyphastrea coral that was sitting there for at least 3 months and it was just gorgeous. Well, I took my camera in the store and I took these photos:

I posted the pics on NJRC's website at the store
With the subtitle: "Who wants to split this with me." .. then i went home.

By the time I got home, within 5 minutes (I live around the corner from the LFS), I had 3 or 4 offers to split. I had to call him and tell him to put it aside for me before the scavengers showed up.

It's all in the pictures.

NapoliNewJersey · Jan 10, 2008

Oh yeah ... the Cyphastrea was about 6"x3" and I paid $120 ... $60 because I split with someone else.

Hypertek99 · Jan 10, 2008

Yep it's all in the pic. You don't have to have a nice camera to take good pics. I think my pics are very attractive and i only have a point and shoot camera. I'm dying to get a canon xti though. But i've taken photography so i have some picture taking skills.

reefboy · Jan 12, 2008

I will agree to a point on good pic's gets you a higher dollar amount but if the cam makes coral better then what it is you wont be selling long as you can get a bad rep.So id say use a cam that takes good clear shots that shows the coral as close to its actual color if not a little less ive goten more repeat sales due to the fact my stuff looked good but once in there tank look's great then you get the main factor that really helps sales is trust.

NapoliNewJersey · Jan 12, 2008

reefboy said:
I will agree to a point on good pic's gets you a higher dollar amount but if the cam makes coral better then what it is you wont be selling long as you can get a bad rep.So id say use a cam that takes good clear shots that shows the coral as close to its actual color if not a little less ive goten more repeat sales due to the fact my stuff looked good but once in there tank look's great then you get the main factor that really helps sales is trust.

That's why Macro is the devil.

ReefDoctor · Jan 13, 2008

IF selling coral... YOU MUST HAVE A good camera and Macro

One good sale will cover its cost

MUST

It is all about the pics

surfn · Jan 13, 2008

ReefDoctorMicromussas said:
IF selling coral... YOU MUST HAVE A good camera and Macro

One good sale will cover its cost

MUST

It is all about the pics

actually, you don't *have* to have a good camera and macro. problem is most people just use full auto mode on their point and shoot cameras, and don't use a tri-pod. if people took the time to read their instruction booklets and understand aquarium photography, you can do fine with a ~$200 camera.

a dSLR and macro lens just makes the whole process of getting a nice pic allot easier IMO. but you still have to learn a more complicated camera.

you can still take very good pics without a macro lens if you have a decent zoom lens.

ReefDoctor · Jan 13, 2008

Yes absolutely! my Carl Wiess macro is built in and I just use the auto feature LOL agreed I do not want to make it harder than it already is.. you CAN get a VERY good Camera for $200 heck its the 21st century