Does anyone else hate these fish prices these days

[vetteguy53081]

How much were they when they were the "cheap fish"

I have six. Two were $24.99, three $29.99 and other $49.99
On the other hand, Gem tangs were first $799 and $899 and now you find them at $349 to $499

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Just curious if you actually read the articles you are using as a comparison. Only thing really down is durable goods

Yes, I did. 'Durable goods' is a non-negligible part of 'everything', thus everything is not more expensive. It was offered as a counterexample to a universal generalization (universal generalizations are remarkably easy to undermine, BTW).

my personal economic position.

skewed to favor a desired outcome

Umm...

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Three decades ago while working on my doctorate in research and during the subsequent 25 years of utilizing it,

If a person has to wave their PhD to prove a point, they've run out of topical evidence and have descended into browbeating. That's a pretty petty move, really, and really undermines itself.

You'd apparently be surprised how many people in this (and similar) hobbies have terminal academic or professional degrees.

 

[NanoNana]

If a person has to wave their PhD to prove a point, they've run out of topical evidence and have descended into browbeating. That's a pretty petty move, really, and really undermines itself.

You'd apparently be surprised how many people in this (and similar) hobbies have terminal academic or professional degrees.

Again, you miss the point.
I can do math
I was in a profession where statistics were manipulated to serve someone’s agenda or wallet on the daily. I “whip out my degree” because you are the one behaving as if anyone who disagrees with business week is less than informed or educated.

On another note. I’m never surprised by the number of well educated ppl in this or any other hobby whether their education be academic or experience based. There are many many intelligent people in this world.

You can stop pushing your point anytime you’d like. Basic math that one doesn’t need a degree to perform is indicative of higher prices for most consumables.

Yes, I did. 'Durable goods' is a non-negligible part of 'everything', thus everything is not more expensive. It was offered as a counterexample to a universal generalization (universal generalizations are remarkably easy to undermine, BTW).



Umm...

Not sure what your point is. Didn’t you say something about cherry picking earlier?
And you’re seriously arguing semantics with the durable goods analysis. “Everything is more expensive” will absolutely apply to certain time frame situations especially given that we were discussing prices from a decade or more ago. If I amend my statement to “most everything I need to use to run my farm on a daily basis has increased in price” will that satisfy you? Very few ppl would take the term “everything “ in the context of the discussion literally.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Consumers are being forced to seek alternative goods to afford living. Yet some will still pay $300 likely because they’ve never know prior prices. The young are targeted due to lacking historical perspective. No way I’m paying $800 for a Shroom with warts and I can afford it but that’s just dumb. $500 yellow tangs - no way. It would have to crap reef safe vibrant before I’d pay that. Were the beginner fish when I got started now damsels fetch $12 plus and that’s just crazy. Although I get it. Everything costs more today but some of this just outright gauging because some lack history or must have regardless.

That's thinking from a hobbyists perspective.

The insanely high prices are already having a massive effect on the trade/hobby and the end result of that isn’t fully realized or understood yet. What is certain is that if prices keep going up, this hobby will become out of reach for most people and this will cause a further retraction, which will further effect supply/logistics making it worse. I often hear some people say “I’ll pay more” well, that’s you and your situation, but I’ll counter with the fact that most people are struggling and reef tanks are luxury items. When you need to make cuts in your household budget, the Ferrari has to go

Yep, not sure why we still see hobbyists defend high prices, it just doesn't make sense.

and then you got these pro aquaculture guys saying the price needs to go 4 times higher!! It’s outrageous!!

Hmm, it makes you wonder, is it because they're trying to extract as much from the consumer as they can by throwing these statements at the wall to see what sticks?

I conclude that there are a lot of forces in this hobby that masquerade under the guise of hobbyists that nudge popular opinion towards the idea that this hobby needs to be expensive. The subtle suggestions that connect our success and longevity with profitability of the industry as a whole is clever, when in fact we can be successful no matter who fills the industry role.

I find that for the most part reefing hobbyists are a smart group but it's easy to be persuaded into thinking about something in a manner that is in complete contradiction of our own values as hobbyists.

 

[NanoNana]

That's thinking from a hobbyists perspective.

Yep, not sure why we still see hobbyists defend high prices, it just doesn't make sense.

Hmm, it makes you wonder, is it because they're trying to extract as much from the consumer as they can by throwing these statements at the wall to see what sticks?

I conclude that there are a lot of forces in this hobby that masquerade under the guise of hobbyists that nudge popular opinion towards the idea that this hobby needs to be expensive. The subtle suggestions that connect our success and longevity with profitability of the industry as a whole is clever, when in fact we can be successful no matter who fills the industry role.

I find that for the most part reefing hobbyists are a smart group but it's easy to be persuaded into thinking about something in a manner that is in complete contradiction of our own values as hobbyists.

We just like pretty stuff. Lol

 

[VintageReefer]

I don’t care what any article says. Almost everything now is significantly more than it was 5 years ago. Dinner for 4 at Taco Bell 50-60$ My families groceries are almost $600

These are almost double what they cost 5 years ago

Sure things like gas go up and down and are highly variable but many things have increased and not returned

 

[klc]

Yellows used to be $9.99 when I started to keep marine fish, 1988 or so. And yes, sometimes fish are overpriced, the reality of it is, in 2024 prices are what they are and there's not too much we can do about it. You can always just not buy them...

I always shop around for fish deals, I get the same satisfaction out of a cheaper or more common fish than I do an expensive one. Here in Phoenix we have the luxury of having 7-8 good LFS all within driving distance from one another. I can still buy damsels for $6, goldspot rabbitfish for $59, convict tangs for $39, tomini tangs for $59, sm to med angels for $59-$99 and some of the trendy wrasses for $99. Perhaps you can join a local reef club if there is one near you, our local reef club has auctions at every monthly meeting and corals go for sometimes next to nothing. Reefing doesn't have to be outrageously expensive, it's all a matter of what you want out of it. But for the majority of us this is just a hobby, there are many more important things in life to save for and spend money on. Education, housing, a nest egg etc. all come to mind. I don't expect anyone to listen to me, no one ever does lol. I do recommend spending some of your spare time listening to Dave Ramsey though.

Reef on friends!

 

[VintageReefer]

regarding food and beverages inflation between 2016 and present

Using 300$ as a baseline

Year | USD value | Inflation Rate

Inflation typically is less than 4%. Ive been in charge of employees raises for a long time and the annual “cost of living” raise is always in the 2-3% range to cover annual inflation. Typically that’s enough to make it so that an employees pay is equal to the inflation and they aren’t outcompeted.

However what happened in 2022-2023 is we got 15% inflation and that’s understandable due to the situation but now that that’s stuff is over and we’ve returned to business as usual, the market has not corrected itself, and instead keeps increasing. There should be a few years with very small amounts of inflation to make up for the large jump we had, but few things have “returned” to normal and many things continue to increase

Most people continued to get their 2-3% raise (if they were lucky and able to keep their job) despite inflation being significantly higher

 

[Reef By Steele Verified Sponsor]

Yes, I did. 'Durable goods' is a non-negligible part of 'everything', thus everything is not more expensive. It was offered as a counterexample to a universal generalization (universal generalizations are remarkably easy to undermine, BTW).



Umm...

Actually if you again look at the article and the chart. Even durable goods are more expensive today than 2 years ago. Chart shows they possible went down 1% this year. So yes, everything is more expensive today than it was just 2 years ago. So no you really didn’t make your point in over generalization. A person would be hard pressed to find anything for sale (excluding a discontinued or such discounted to clear inventory well below market value) that does not cost more today than 2 years ago.

Fuel prices dropping, although not mentioned in the article, are being reduced by a release of strategic reserves coupled with less travel over the Memorial Day holiday probably due in part to the extremely high fuel costs.

But rather than consider alternatives to your assertion, you instead reply attempting to justify your previous position.

 

[VintageReefer]

My water softener / filtration system was $650 about 3 years ago. I was looking to replace it with an identical unit. Same exact brand and model. 100% identical. Cost today…$950

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I got a feeling prices will go down this summer. Livestock inventory is still high, and demand just took a dive for the season. You’ll see even more “sales” too.

 

[William Chiavetta]

I have six. Two were $24.99, three $29.99 and other $49.99
On the other hand, Gem tangs were first $799 and $899 and now you find them at $349 to $499

I guess it's really fish to fish

 

[William Chiavetta]

I got a feeling prices will go down this summer. Livestock inventory is still high, and demand just took a dive for the season. You’ll see even more “sales” too.

Im looking forward to it

 

[jtf74]

How much were they when they were the "cheap fish"

I bought yellows for 19.99

 

[Naekuh]

My dad, when he had a reef tank 20ish years ago, would always tell me, " I remember when yellow tangs were the cheap fish to buy."

I can 100% confirm this.

I remember buying yellow tangs at $20.00 at my LFS in 95'.
Panther Grouper at $20.00
Infact a lot of the fish were at 20 dollars.
It was the corals which was expensive tho.

I paid 30 dollars for a colt coral... Although i don't think its expensive now, but back then it costed more then a Tang!

 

[SpyC]

I worked at a lfs in college and a but after I graduated in the late 2000s. I paid cost for everything. It makes paying these prices even harder to swallow

 

[William Chiavetta]

I bought yellows for 19.99

so jealous

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I wanted to say just that. While it definitely sucks to pay so much for fish and corals, what it does is create financial incentives to invest in farming and on the long run this should replace caught livestock entirely. If large scale fish farms become feasible for many species, it might even be possible some day to restock wild populations with farmed fish and therefore ensuring their long term survival.

***Corrected*** You are right, I hope so too

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Double post