Jacked Up SPS prices

[tautog83]

IMO price is up to the vendor and they can charge what they want. One vendor or store might sell an ORA bird of paradise for 80 dollars while our LFS sells them for 40 dollars. I wouldn't compare the ORA name to the latest unicorn rainbow spit acropora, not even the same. This debate can go on forever but the main point I think is everyone has the right to sell the coral for what they want. Instead of it ruining your day just shop else where. One person sells a Walt Disney frag for 300 dollars, so what. When you find a frag for 99 from a reputable vendor it just makes that purchase so much sweeter.

i agree vendors can charge what they want and i do shop elsewhere, its just sad that to see those places get praise for price gouging . " what a great live sale , i scored a $1 xenia frag and paid 59 bucks for a green slimer ". lol

 

[DSC reef]

i agree vendors can charge what they want and i do shop elsewhere, its just sad that to see those places get praise for price gouging . " what a great live sale , i scored a $1 xenia frag and paid 59 bucks for a green slimer ". lol

Lol, yeah but that xenia frag is limited edition! It waves when you walk by the tank

 

[Mattrg02]

Lol, yeah but that xenia frag is limited edition! It waves when you walk by the tank

Then it smothers the green slimer after a month of unchecked growth.

 

[chris3del]

i agree vendors can charge what they want and i do shop elsewhere, its just sad that to see those places get praise for price gouging . " what a great live sale , i scored a $1 xenia frag and paid 59 bucks for a green slimer ". lol

Don’t get me going on the live sales that is a different issue and whole other topic for another day lol!!!!

 

[Mattrg02]

I see a lot of people here, justifying their purchase of $100 and up frags. The point that I made, and a few others, are that those RR Medusa acros and Zs whatever are just common corals like the shortcake acro.

Just wait till I grow out my PC rainbow, going to make ALOT of money! :-D

 

[cnseekatz]

Capitalism baby! Your product is worth whatever someone is willing to pay. If the price goes up too high, demand will fall, or someone will undercut the price. That's how the world works. I think dealers should do whatever keeps them in business, as long as they are not misrepresenting their products (with Photoshop, etc.).

 

[Luno]

I see a lot of named, designer, corals that cost hundreds that are nothing more than well taken care of wild corals.

Look up Bali Shortcake acro. Looks quite a bit like a typical $200 frag that gets sold here, under different names, yet is common. My LFS gave me a great sized frag of it for $20.

Just wait, once mine colors up, I'll be renaming it and selling for $200 for a nib of it. ;-)

MattG corals, coming soon. "No, that's not a pc rainbow, thats a whambamthankyoumam from MattG"

Does it look anything like this?
This is an Aussie strawberry shortcake honestly one of my favs! And a good pick up for $20!

 

[Mattrg02]

Capitalism baby! Your product is worth whatever someone is willing to pay. If the price goes up too high, demand will fall, or someone will undercut the price. That's how the world works. I think dealers should do whatever keeps them in business, as long as they are not misrepresenting their products (with Photoshop, etc.).

Except they ARE, in many cases, misrepresenting their products. Taking a $20 frag and renaming it as something new is unethical.

 

[Mattrg02]

Does it look anything like this?
This is an Aussie strawberry shortcake honestly one of my favs! And a good pick up for $20!

Could be anything, could be Tierra del Fuego that needs to color up ;-)

Here is a Bali shortcake.

 

[Luno]

That's nice! It's funny the different things between countries too. My one is pretty much exactly what we call a shortcake in Australia. Well at least in my circles of reefers. How's your frag of that acro going??

Also to keep on topic unless something was stunning and completely different to anything I've seen before I wouldn't pay more than $60 for a frag.

 

[Mattrg02]

That's nice! It's funny the different things between countries too. My one is pretty much exactly what we call a shortcake in Australia. Well at least in my circles of reefers. How's your frag of that acro going??

Also to keep on topic unless something was stunning and completely different to anything I've seen before I wouldn't pay more than $60 for a frag.

My Bali is still alive, that's how it's doing ;-)

I don't take issue with paying "a lot" for something truly unique. I haven't seen another Walt Disney or Homewrecker. I can't spend that kind of money, but don't knock those that do.

 

[Luno]

We don't really have walt disney's here none that I've seen if I found one I hate to admit I'd write a blank check so to speak haha! But I am with you there are so many designer corals that are not to different to something very similar looking for a much cheaper price.

I'm lucky enough to live off the coast of the the largest reef In the world. So we generally are spoilt for choice and if smart get some really good deals.

 

[BoomCorals]

As a hobbyist, what makes a coral high end? I've had a few people ask me what "high end" corals I have and I never know how to answer that. Does it have to be expensive to be high end? Or does that coral itself justify the price? I have plenty of SPS that are very nice but, I bought a full colony at a reasonable price and grew it out to look like that. Should I charge a premium now for that coral? For my overhead? For my staff(my dog?)? Am I going to pay tax on the income from the coral? How come the prices from the online vendor is the same as a fellow hobbyist? I might be off my rocker but, I believe we, the hobbyist are to blame for this. The market dictates the price...Is it unethical for property in CA to be exponentially higher in cost than property somewhere else? The market dictates the price.

In my opinion, coral that are in high demand but low supply and/or are a rare aquacultured beauty fit that "high end" description, and also would be more expensive.

Sorry I missed that! I totally would have been willing to try one at $99. I've avoided them so far because it sounds like the Disney really shows off mostly under a lot of blue light and I really like the look of halides over LED; therefore shying away from the really blue loving stuff (and not trying to pick a fight on lighting as well!)

My flat out advice then is do not buy a Walt Disney. Under halide they look boring. The WD is great for your average LED tank as many run heavy blue such as the radion AB+ profile. But under halide T5 it looks just ok. Nothing special.

 

[BoomCorals]

Then it smothers the green slimer after a month of unchecked growth.

Only a month?

 

[Servillius]

In my opinion, coral that are in high demand but low supply and/or are a rare aquacultured beauty fit that "high end" description, and also would be more expensive.

My flat out advice then is do not buy a Walt Disney. Under halide they look boring. The WD is great for your average LED tank as many run heavy blue such as the radion AB+ profile. But under halide T5 it looks just ok. Nothing special.

Perfect, thanks. I got a hint of that and much appreciate the confirm!

 

[Servillius]

As a hobbyist, what makes a coral high end? I've had a few people ask me what "high end" corals I have and I never know how to answer that. Does it have to be expensive to be high end? Or does that coral itself justify the price? I have plenty of SPS that are very nice but, I bought a full colony at a reasonable price and grew it out to look like that. Should I charge a premium now for that coral? For my overhead? For my staff(my dog?)? Am I going to pay tax on the income from the coral? How come the price from an online vendor is the same as a fellow hobbyist? I might be off my rocker but, I believe we, the hobbyist, are to blame for this. The market dictates the price...Is it unethical for property in CA to be exponentially higher in cost than property somewhere else? The market dictates the price.

I consider lots of things high end. If a coral has some amazing colors I can’t find elsewhere that sure is high end. When enough folks grow it out, won’t be so high end any more. That’s normal. My first computer was car priced.

I also consider corals that are hard for people to keep high end. I enjoy the challenge and if that means there are things in my tank others have trouble with I take pride in the accomplishment, regardless of price. Supply is low but demand isn’t high so the price is relatively okay.

Corals with unique growth forms fall into the caragory for me. They’re not wow corals but they’re rare. I love em. They’re interesting to point at and talk about and watch change shape.

The best place to get a frag is a fellow hobbyist with a healthy tank. Particularly a local one. They’re going to be cheaper because the overhead is a sunk cost. I want my tank so I’m not pricing it into the sale. Heck, I don’t really sell. I trade in for supplies or give away. But that also explains the cost of frags. The guys finding and bringing these to market need to get their money early or they’re wasting their time. Eventually everything will be available for less. The premium is on getting that new thing early. It’s perfectly reasonable to look at a coral and decide it can wait until it’s cheaper. I just don’t think it’s unreasonable to see a coral, do a little research, and decide you’d really like to be one of the early guys with it.

Nothing that’s rip-off is high end. We all agree the folks who are fishing for suckers are spoiling it for everyone else. There are many reputable vendors however and it’s good for everyone that they have some high end stuff they make available for the early adopters. That’s how we get the price to come down for everyone else.

 

[Steven Garland]

From what experienced when I first got into the hobby was,no matter what lfs you got to,its all going to be the same. But I never understood where they came from in terms on they habe to actually spend until they able to get that 1 single colony they want that they can even sell. But in some cases they have to spend $1500-$4000 just to get a few nice pieces to even make any money,while the other stuff they get in that purchase may sit around for months waiting for that person who likes tyat particular piece.

I can agree with yes,some piece are stupidly priced,and out of the grasps of most of our wallets limits. Like when I went to WWC's farm opening,the dude next to me dropped $1800 on a chalice frag that was the size of my pinky finger nail,but thats one him and I can't knock them down to try and justify the cost,but the other person might. So kudo's to both parties for having deep pockets and frags people want.

But I can day,I have gotten so many stupid good deals on Acro's ans Zoa's. I've learned that you spend money,eventually they pop off deals on pieces you can't refuse. Like one time I got a huge chunky frag of PC Rainbow for $5 !!! You won't find that on any vendors site. But,spending money,spending houra chatting and making friends and jusy being genuine can eventually lead to tastey deal.

Just don't let it discourage you because 1 person "screwed" you over. There are tons of people and stores who won't even given the chance. Some people just have different agendas when it comes to this hobby #1- perserve the reefs and are here to actually help you and give you quality pieces and #2- just in it for the money. Both people are EVERYWHERE,just gotta learn which type is which.

 

[silvernblackr35]

It's pretty simple really. The places or vendors that know how to grow coral and they enjoy doing it always have fair prices. The places that chop things up and complain about their overhead and other blah blah blah nonsense really are just in it for the money and come and go.

 

[Mattrg02]

It's pretty simple really. The places or vendors that know how to grow coral and they enjoy doing it always have fair prices. The places that chop things up and complain about their overhead and other blah blah blah nonsense really are just in it for the money and come and go.

Same could be said for puppy mills. I hate seeing chopped up corals and frags made from frags, like many here seem to think is okay. The only way to combat both is for everyone to stop buying from these sellers.

 

[DSC reef]

It's pretty simple really. The places or vendors that know how to grow coral and they enjoy doing it always have fair prices. The places that chop things up and complain about their overhead and other blah blah blah nonsense really are just in it for the money and come and go.

Overhead for any small buisness is real and a lot of people that have never owned a buisness don't realize the percentages to cover overhead versus profit margins. I agree, chopshops everywhere and that's on them but I wouldn't throw every vendor who talks about overhead are in it for the money? Why start a buisness if your not gonna make money? Also, I support vendors I want to support and everyone here mad about high dollar prices have the power to not support those vendors as well.