FS BPC Flamethrower

[aquariumclown]

There's a lot of knock-offs now-a-days and it's really hard to tell from just a small 1 eye frag if it's the real deal or not. Anyone can say they got it from so and so. For example, someone can buy a pink watermelon frag off of ebay for about $50 and turn around and sell it for $150 and claim that they got their Bazooka Joe from so and so who got it from so and so who got it from Tyree or what-not...to only find out that they just got rip'd off a few months down the road. I wouldn't call the guy on RC dumb...I'd call him a smart investor looking out for his investments...that's a lot of $$$ to drop on just a one eye frag. Yes, if you really want it, you'd pay the price for it just like the My Miami...but with that, you're getting it directly from the source. All the other frags, you're getting it from 2nd hands or 3rd hand owners and what-not.

You are right and I agree with the point your making. I just have to add that at the end of the day, everyone is left to their own judgement as the coral they are buying whether it's $15 or $500 or $1500. Corals can change colors, people can lie, sources can be false. Even though it's unlikely that 5 other people are all lying, there's no absolute truth. Until they start doing coral tagging like they do cats and dogs (even so, there's still a way around that too!), your going to have to trust somebody, or you can trust only yourself, even your own eyes can betray you these days. Another thing is certificate of authenticity won't help you unless you intend to take someone to court. The coral could be bone white, but he has a certificate of authenticity, would you still buy it? Bottom line, buy what you feel like you can trust with all that's presented, then feel that whatever money you spend on it there's a degree of risk. Risk that it might not be what you thought, risk that it might get shipped to the wrong side of the country (that's never happened to me, but god forbid), risk that it might die for some unknown reason 24 hours later. These are the risks that every single person involved in coral exchange/business faces from the big guys like Walt Smith to little guys like me who just hopes to have a few nice frags to treasure that are within budget. Now with that being said, whoever the lucky dog that gets this coral is truly blessed.