Instant Ocean Salt Price Increase, +20%

[wesman42]

So, recently, 200 gallon boxes of Instant Ocean are up 20%. Within a month's time the price rose from ~$40 a box to now >$50.

Does anyone have a comparable salt to Instant Ocean in the same price range? If not, then I guess I'll finally switch away from it and pay the 20% premium somewhere else.

 

[TheHarold]

@wesman42 there is a 15% coupon code on Instant Ocean (and all sale items) at DrFosterSmith with code SITESVGS

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4685+40651&pcatid=40651

 

[408Dartfish]

That stinks I got a box in December off eBay for 35$.

 

[dylana407]

Looks like they want us to use Reef Crystal instead.

 

[Instigate]

Shows $52 on amazon atm. Seems normal. I see it fluctuate anywhere from $47 to $57 on amazon all the time. I've had two boxes in a row now with messed up parameters so I'm going to be buying HW next time.

 

[TheRealDmorty217]

Get with a local reef club and do a group buy through a LFS and you will get it much cheaper than $47

 

[wesman42]

Shows $52 on amazon atm. Seems normal. I see it fluctuate anywhere from $47 to $57 on amazon all the time. I've had two boxes in a row now with messed up parameters so I'm going to be buying HW next time.

For reef crystals...but instant ocean salt has always been $10 less.

 

[Instigate]

For reef crystals...but instant ocean salt has always been $10 less.

I've been using regular IO for the past year and a half. I've never seen it cheaper than $47 on amazon. Where are you getting it cheaper than $47?

 

[wesman42]

I've been using regular IO for the past year and a half. I've never seen it cheaper than $47 on amazon. Where are you getting it cheaper than $47?

Literally in October.

 

[Instigate]

Literally in October.

But how many times have you gotten it that cheap? I just checked my order history and I did get one at the $38 price in November but 10 boxes and counting before that I paid $47-$52. I know I've seen it as much as $57 on amazon.

 

[Rakie]

I've been using regular IO for the past year and a half. I've never seen it cheaper than $47 on amazon. Where are you getting it cheaper than $47?

It USED to be $35 on Amazon for years and years. Not for awhile now. Instant Ocean did something to raise their prices well over a year ago, apparently it was selling for too cheap to them.

 

[Instigate]

It USED to be $35 on Amazon for years and years. Not for awhile now. Instant Ocean did something to raise their prices well over a year ago, apparently it was selling for too cheap to them.

Ya, the price definitely fluctuates. I just looked at the past 12 boxes I purchased on amazon and they are all around $47 except one in November I got the $38 deal. But I think more often than not it's at the $47 price. At least for the past year and a half I've been using it.

 

[Rakie]

Ya, the price definitely fluctuates. I just looked at the past 12 boxes I purchased on amazon and they are all around $47 except one in November I got the $38 deal. But I think more often than not it's at the $47 price. At least for the past year and a half I've been using it.

Well it doesn't exactly fluctuate, more like they raised the MSRP so now it became more expensive everywhere all the time, and then introduced sales. But for years, it was a flat $35-ish on amazon, zero fluctuation ever. It was just a year or two ago they raised the MSRP. It sounds like you started using it shortly after the MSRP increase.

 

[Instigate]

Well it doesn't exactly fluctuate, more like they raised the MSRP so now it became more expensive everywhere all the time, and then introduced sales. But for years, it was a flat $35-ish on amazon, zero fluctuation ever. It was just a year or two ago they raised the MSRP. It sounds like you started using it shortly after the MSRP increase.

I just started using it about a year and a half ago. But the thread is saying it went from $40 to $50 and I'm saying according to my purchase records it seems like normal fluctuation I've always seen on Amazon.

 

[KrisReef]

Is it that cheap now? IO used to be $19.99/50 gallon bag in 1977, with a box of 3 (150-gallons) going for $39.99 at discount LFS, and regular stores sold 150-gallon boxes for $50.00+ every day back then.
Weren't alive then?
"In the year 1977, the average retail price of gas in the U.S. was $0.62. This is equivalent to $2.68 in 2019 dollars." (www.dollartimes.com/)

 

[wesman42]

Is it that cheap now? IO used to be $19.99/50 gallon bag in 1977, with a box of 3 (150-gallons) going for $39.99 at discount LFS, and regular stores sold 150-gallon boxes for $50.00+ every day back then.
Weren't alive then?
"In the year 1977, the average retail price of gas in the U.S. was $0.62. This is equivalent to $2.68 in 2019 dollars." (www.dollartimes.com/)

hahaha! I suppose that's a different perspective.
I just got a couple of boxes of LA salt for $39.99 a box. 205 gallons.

 

[dylana407]

hahaha! I suppose that's a different perspective.
I just got a couple of boxes of LA salt for $39.99 a box. 205 gallons.

How?

 

[wesman42]

How?

There's an add-on called Honey that automatically checks coupon codes found on the web. It used a 20% coupon code....and I don't remember it :/

 

[TX_Punisher]

I should have gotten 5 boxes when it was $31 a few months ago.

 

[doughboy]

stock up when it goes on sale. it does not go bad as long as it is sealed.
it does not matter what the price was in the past, you cannot turn back time to get it at that price.