How to price SPS frags?

[kazikage42]

How do I correctly price sps frags? For example, Is it wrong to price a high end coral such as a 1" HW frag for $100? Or $200? $300? I get it if you're a business but as a local reefer, is it fair to me to sell way cheaper frags or sell higher base off the name of the coral to locals?

 

[DancingShark]

Local demand will tell you. You will adjust from there.

Are you asking from a ethics point of view?
Personally I try to give stuff as close to free as possible.

 

[kazikage42]

Local demand will tell you. You will adjust from there.

Are you asking from a ethics point of view?
Personally I try to give stuff as close to free as possible.

Like is it wrong to sell any high coral for way cheaper than others asking price. If I I sold a 1"+ HW for $100 for example, will I look bad for selling so cheap compared to others $200+ prices for nubs. Bc I do sell corals to locals pretty dirt cheap regardless they low or high end.

 

[jrill]

This hobby was built by folks selling frags for cheap. Now it seems every goof wants to get rich selling coral fast that will be a fraction of the cost a year from now .

 

[Rakie]

This hobby was built by folks selling frags for cheap. Now it seems every goof wants to get rich selling coral fast that will be a fraction of the cost a year from now .

Been in the hobby since middle school. There were always the high end stuff, it just wasn't as common.

@kazikage42 -- sell for whatever you want. If you want to get an idea of local value search. If you want to get a grip on internet value search the sales thread. Otherwise if you want to sell something cheap just sell it cheap. I've given away thousands in corals over the years.

 

[kazikage42]

This hobby was built by folks selling frags for cheap. Now it seems every goof wants to get rich selling coral fast that will be a fraction of the cost a year from now .

Exactly!! I like to see frags come from big mother colonies instead of seeing a frag come from a 3" mini colony. That's just people wanting to get a easy couple hundred.

 

[kazikage42]

Been in the hobby since middle school. There were always the high end stuff, it just wasn't as common.

@kazikage42 -- sell for whatever you want. If you want to get an idea of local value search. If you want to get a grip on internet value search the sales thread. Otherwise if you want to sell something cheap just sell it cheap. I've given away thousands in corals over the years.

I do like to sell whatever coral for a affordable price that wont cost an arm or a leg. I get asked alot by local reefers why am I selling so cheap. I just tell them I'm not here to get rich off one coral. The extra money is nice but it feels wrong to charge that much unless it is reasonable.

 

[This guy is Extra Salty]

For 1-2in frag 40$

 

[This guy is Extra Salty]

If you get 100$ for what you’re selling then get your 100$, but don’t be surprised when you get people wanting it cheaper.

 

[jda]

First, give a frag away to a close/good friend to have as a backup if you lose yours. Then, sell them for whatever you want. Don't worry about being cheaper than other people. There is a local who has a massive amount of WD and he sells it for $40 a large frag right now, but our market is saturated with few people who want it who do not have it - in other parts of the country, people would buy him out in a few minutes.

I will often sell nice coral for really cheap, but also give stuff away. Over time, I do get a lot of nice coral from people who return the favor when they get something nice. Not everybody gives back, but I remember these people.

Lastly, you cannot overcome the karma of being greedy as a hobbyist. This seems to always come back and get people.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Like is it wrong to sell any high coral for way cheaper than others asking price. If I I sold a 1"+ HW for $100 for example, will I look bad for selling so cheap compared to others $200+ prices for nubs. Bc I do sell corals to locals pretty dirt cheap regardless they low or high end.

No you will be praise by your buyers and force everyone else to start making things affordable

 

[BigJim]

Don't he greedy, but don't be a sucker either. There are a lot of people who will buy your $100 HW and post it on Facebook for $400 the same day.

 

[theKoolAidMan]

If you're making it a business, then take a look at the local market. If you're just a hobbyist looking to get rid of some extra corals and maybe get a bit of cash to help offset some of the costs of the hobby, then ignore the market and think what you'd be happy paying a fellow reefer. This hobby grows thanks to reefers willing to share frags of their colonies with other reefers for simple trades or low cost purchases.

 

[theKoolAidMan]

Like is it wrong to sell any high coral for way cheaper than others asking price. If I I sold a 1"+ HW for $100 for example, will I look bad for selling so cheap compared to others $200+ prices for nubs. Bc I do sell corals to locals pretty dirt cheap regardless they low or high end.

Of course not. Sell it for whatever you want. The "high end" of corals has little to do with anything other than scarcity. There's nothing special about a $200 coral vs a $20 coral other than that $200 coral is hard to find. There's also no such thing as an "official" price. Businesses will sell something for the highest price that the market will bear, but there's no rule saying you need to adhere to what an LFS sells something for.

 

[medicw131]

One of the biggest impacts on me as a hobbyist was a guy that sold frags for super cheap. He didn't have the most high end stuff, but would still sell for $5 to $10 a frag. Each frag was always pretty big on top of that. He also regularly gave stuff away whenever he would trim things up. From there on, I decided that I'd follow in his footsteps. Theres no reason to charge out the behind as a hobbyist selling frags. I've always considered frags as a side effect from keeping a healthy reef.

 

[theKoolAidMan]

One of the biggest impacts on me as a hobbyist was a guy that sold frags for super cheap. He didn't have the most high end stuff, but would still sell for $5 to $10 a frag. Each frag was always pretty big on top of that. He also regularly gave stuff away whenever he would trim things up. From there on, I decided that I'd follow in his footsteps. Theres no reason to charge out the behind as a hobbyist selling frags. I've always considered frags as a side effect from keeping a healthy reef.

This times 1,000,000. There is nothing wrong from wanting to get something for your hard work with growing frags, however at the same time it's important to the healthy of the hobby locally to share or sell for a reasonable cost to help out other reefers. Just because you have a tank in your living room doesn't turn you into an LFS owner.

 

[Monkeytank]

I sell them cheap or trade for store credit to a local fish store who then sells them for fair prices. That way I don't have to deal with people saying they will show up but not doing it, all the hassle, etc.. and I am supporting a local guy trying to make a living. I trade some with friends to have an insurance policy in case mine dies, and I donate some to a local club from time to time.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Im really big on frag swapping for stuff you do have an want to other local reefs or LFS. If I am selling frags locally on a small scale as a hobbiest I sell them for cheap no matter what I paid for, like $10 per inch. Helps others in the hobby get great corals, drives the price of over priced corals down and increases amount of these corals in trade. I blame the rise of LED for all the crazy high priced corals. Until blue LEDs we never saw the crazy colors that fluoresce under these lights, many plain corals look stunning under blue LED. So take away the blue lighting and corals like Walt Disney looks not so special. For coral farms, importers ect price is determined by rarity, color, growth speed, easy of propagation and demand. For example easy plain Fiji green birds nest is now pretty costly compared to 10 years ago I could not give the stuff away at one point. Fiji shutting down has driven up the price of all Fiji corals.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I personally find the trend of people buying corals for the purpose of growing them and making money a little disturbing. I mean, I get it, some people make a living off of it and that is all fine and dandy but if your a hobbyist then you should absolutely be spreading the joy around. Not everyone is a vascular surgeon and can afford $300 frags. I can remember a time that you would have been laughed at trying to sell a 1/4" frag.

What goes around comes around. We have a LFS that has great corals and always gives us great deals, there is another guy that will remain nameless as he is a prominent internet guy and he wouldn't give you a deal if you saved him from a burning house. People have given me frags and I always return the favor.

I would much rather look at my tank and say "wow, that colony looks awesome, it was soo cool of Jerry to give that to me" Instead of "hey, I bought that for $200 and now look at it!"

Just my 2 cents.... which started as 1 cent until I fragged it in half.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

While I certainly agree that trading or giving away some frags is great for the hobby community, I see absolutely nothing wrong with charging whatever you want. It's really completely up to you. I have no problem giving away a frag of my Green Slimer or Red Planet, but you can bet your butt I won't be giving away a frag of my RRC Jawdropper. I may not charge what Cornbred would, but it ain't going to be cheap considering what I paid for it Now if someone wants to trade a comparably high end frag that I don't have for one of mine, I'm all in!