Do you allow "reef strangers" in your house?

[MattL22]

Yes my wife hates it but now I'm having a baby so I'll only let the guys I know over! 90% of them where very nice other 10 weird only 1 made me uncomfortable ! That's why swaps r great u get too meet all the locals make buddies then feel more comfortable if they wanna come over!!

Anyone have horror stories vie heard of a lot of guys showing up then trying to negotiate after price was agreed on!

 

[ritter6788]

I have in the past but now I'm really selective on who stops by the house. I'd rather meet in a public place to swap corals and such.

 

[Acropora52]

This is making me reconsider having people over. For the most part, I've had good interactions but I think I'm not doing any more pick up of sold frags anymore. People bring up good points about safety. Unfortunately, the hobby has shifted in the 10-15 years since I first started. There is a lot more of these "designer" corals and fish and prices have gone way, way up, for no real reason that I can see. Because of this (in part), there are people who aren't really in this hobby for fun but rather for the potential profit (again, just my opinion). Given the number of thefts I've heard of from LFSs and the shady things I see online, as well as a couple interactions I've had with people coming over and then either spending time haggling over prices or overstaying their welcome, I think I'm going to a new policy of just having over people I at least have had some contact with before.

Sid, what you described is terrible. I'd be so ****** if that happened. I can't imagine any decent person, even if they have a disagreement with you, poisoning corals!

 

[scrapz]

There are more good people than bad people in the world so yes I let them in. If you're going to steal from me, that's your karma down the road.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Am I that creepy. Lol

 

[dsmhero]

If someone wants to see my tank that I haven't met befoe, chances are my LFS owner knows them and I can get an idea on whether or not I will allow them to come over. My glock 19 is my sidekick...

 

[Wy Renegade]

Have to say there are time when its pretty frustrating to live where I do - major issues any time I want to ship things in or out. But then I read through something like this and I just have to smile and say, man I love were I live. All you talking about your guns is a little bit scary to say the least. We've had some local tank tours in the past, and I never even really thought about it, course for the most part everyone was part of the local club, so not a big deal. Now days I'd probably be a little more selective, but still not a big deal. Course I can't imagine anyone even being able to drive up to my house without the locals noticing, so we don't worry about it much.

 

[KJAG]

Not trying to act the part of a tough guy bragging about how I have a gun, but it is critical to have in the waistband if you sell anything to anybody you don't know and they are in your house with your family. Some pretty gnarly craigslist stories out there. Can't imagine letting somebody I dont know into my house without a loaded firearm.

 

[WDLV]

I've probably had a good hundred people in and out of my basement to do tank tours, buy, trade and sell. It only took one awkward individual to make me start screening the people whom I allow in my home and stop having online arguements. I'd rather be safe than be "right."
I've met a lot of really cool people, a few less interesting people and very,very, very few weirdos.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

reading this thread makes me rethink about buying corals from people in public or at there house. lol

 

[pumarjr]

i'm cool with it, so is my SS .45 ACP. We will let just about anyone visit.

 

[brahm]

I do, always have. I also spent a large portion of my life living in ski towns, and working on cars. So if it's not reefers coming over it's some ski bum looking for a couch to crash on for the weekend, or some friend of a friend needing help working on a car, or welding a bike frame.

Never bothered me, all the reefers I've met are harmless (maybe weirdos) but harmless. As far as the gun talk what a joke nobody is taking anybodies life. Owning a gun and having the galls to take somebodies life with it are 2 different things. Let alone being in that "perfect" situation where you have the opportunity to use it without endangering anybody else or your self in a small enclosed area is pretty unlikely.. Unless you plan on getting your butt kicked then limping to your safe and then chasing them down the street as they drive off guns a blazing what are you going to do splat some guy against the wall for haggling with you over a tort in front of your children? I don't own any guns but I do enjoy shooting them at inanimate objects. I've had more then my share of parties go-awry, and unwanted strangers in my place over the years. A little talking down, usually gets everything back where it should be. Only issues I've ever had w/other reefers has been over the net and even then way more positive then negative so it's not a big deal.

 

[redtop03]

Let's just call those people who are in the hobby who you really don't know, "reef strangers."

Do you allow them over to your house?

I've never turned a stranger away that comes to visit,I probable wouldn't turn my back to 'em though...there are a few people that I've known for years that I wouldn't allow in my home though LOL

 

[Troylee]

Idk about you guys haha... Having a pistol strapped to your hip is a little over board to sell corals IMHO... If that is the route you use I wouldn't be selling corals lol... I know if I pulled up to someone's house and dude is packing when I walk to the door I wouldn't even enter... Guess I don't sweat stuff like that since if I showed up at your house I would be the one you worry about lol!!! The bald head and covered in tattoos always makes a great first impression.. Besides I'm very quiet in person.... Just don't get me typing lol lol. "check my post count" need I say more..:tongue:

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Make you wonder how stable that person is when you come to there house to get some frags and see them armed. I mean you are bring money to there house and in some cases it is a lot and they have a gun. They could rob you right in there house with no witnesses. I think I will just start meeting some where. Lol

 

[hbboarder87]

Yup I do

 

[dsmhero]

I think for the most part people are over reacting to the gun thing. I always carry concealed and you probably would never know its on me, but I do live in Montana where it is probably much more commonplace than say California or Vegas.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Me personally I don't worry about the gun it is the person with the gun. If it is my time to go, it want matter but I'm don't do anything to help it along. If a person is more comfortable during a sell or trade then I'm fine with that. I have thought about getting my permit so I can protect my family if needed. All I'm saying is that it doesn't hurt to be cautious and both end of a sell or trade with someone you don't know. That includes me, I have no bad intentions but until you know me don't do take caution. I don't take it personal.

 

[cdness]

Idk about you guys haha... Having a pistol strapped to your hip is a little over board to sell corals IMHO... If that is the route you use I wouldn't be selling corals lol... I know if I pulled up to someone's house and dude is packing when I walk to the door I wouldn't even enter... Guess I don't sweat stuff like that since if I showed up at your house I would be the one you worry about lol!!! The bald head and covered in tattoos always makes a great first impression.. Besides I'm very quiet in person.... Just don't get me typing lol lol. "check my post count" need I say more..:tongue:

Well said Troylee. I would probably wait at the door if I saw someone (other than a police officer) answer the door packing heat of any kind. All this gun talk has me worried about going to other people's houses now (outside my area) as we can see in the media some people are getting trigger happy and laws are passing to protect the trigger happy. Talking can solve 99% of disputes and police can solve the other 1%, having a gun within arms reach that's loaded is just asking for trouble.

Honestly I look past the bald head and tattoos. I am as clean cut as it gets with no piercings, tatoos, etc. I have had many people come over who are head shaven, tattooed, pierced, wacky hair, chains, etc and I look past it as it is just an appearance. I can say that of all the people who have stopped over to my place to get corals, the ones with all the tattoos are the nicest people I have ever met. They surely shouldn't cause someone to be instantly on the defensive based on appearance.

I know this situation may be different in the larger cities and I am not going to try say I understand the situation in large city life. I am also by no means against possession of guns (I own them too) or the right to use them for self defense, hunting, etc. But one thing people need to open their eyes and remember is on the media we hear of the one or two incidents that went bad out of the 1,000,000+ sales that happen every day on Craigslist, forums, and newspapers around the country. This is by no means a reason to go "Old West" on the world keeping your six shooter on your hip at all times.

But this is probably well beyond where Rev wanted to go with the thread so rant over...

Welcome Reef Strangers to Fargo, North Dakota!

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

You got that right. It is a scrazy world lets live it at that. Lol