Just ranting here

Lbrdsoxfan · May 20, 2023

jmichaelh7 said:
Can’t lie that white tang is beautiful lol . Like a piece of Picasso

I admit its gorgeous, but worth the price of a new/used car?!

vetteguy53081 · May 20, 2023

Lbrdsoxfan said:
I think I know who it is... Noticed their prices go wonkey since the beginning of the year.

Im sure some of us do.

Goaway · May 20, 2023

I grew up with a dad who taught me how sales work. I've never been able to unsee it.

We have had several retail stores close down. Onsale prices were still more expensive than online prices. A bread machine for 450 marked down to 340, onsale at another store for 325....

These online coral sales aren't much different. They make a price, if it sales. Awesome. They're banking on the live sales hype that is dying. Kind of. We still got people paying 200 for a normal frag of common (20 to 40) max that's been souped up in colors they don't possess.

A_Blind_Reefer · May 20, 2023

Devils advocate, kinda… typically when you buy local there isn’t much recourse for death after you leave. Reputable online vendors have a doa policy, as well as a few to ten days replacement. With shipping, not just the cost but the delays and damage, the vendor takes a hit every now and then that they have to build into pricing. Insurance doesn’t really work with livestock, so it’s not like the vendor gets anything when there’s a loss. There’s also slow growers that a local pruning their tank doesn’t care about, but a vendor dedicating real estate to needs to account for. Plus if people continue to pay up, the pricing won’t go down. Some online vendors do have decently priced beginner packs to get you started if you’re on a budget. That said, I totally agree, it’s totally nuts! There are great pieces out there that are phenomenal but aren’t the hyped up craze of the day that are reasonable.

edit. I forgot about all the vendor sales on here! You are so right! It’s daily. It reminds me of the old going out of business sales tactic. Stores would have a twenty year old, faded, tattered, going out of business sale banner out front. That’s a heck of a long time to fold up shop.

Fort Salty · May 20, 2023

Prices have gone up around town since I started, and that was in the fall last year! I can't imagine having to buy online. I don't think I could have afforded to stock my tank based on the couple of websites I have seen.

FS

Lbrdsoxfan · May 20, 2023

jmichaelh7 said:
It’s all about growing and trading with your locals or selling at reduced price.

Keep the hobby enjoyable!

Getting more involved with local facebook reef groups (as much as I avoid FB). Some price well, some price a bit on the stupid side. You learn quick who moves frags that are priced right and follow them.

Townes_Van_Camp · May 20, 2023

zoomonster said:
little rocks of green star polyps for $150. I'm just done with them </rant off>

Huh? I wouldn't pay a wooden nickel for green stars. Who would?

Townes_Van_Camp · May 20, 2023

A_Blind_Reefer said:
Devils advocate, kinda… typically when you buy local there isn’t much recourse for death after you leave. Reputable online vendors have a doa policy, as well as a few to ten days replacement. With shipping, not just the cost but the delays and damage, the vendor takes a hit every now and then that they have to build into pricing. Insurance doesn’t really work with livestock, so it’s not like the vendor gets anything when there’s a loss. There’s also slow growers that a local pruning their tank doesn’t care about, but a vendor dedicating real estate to needs to account for. Plus if people continue to pay up, the pricing won’t go down. Some online vendors so have decently priced beginner packs to get you started if you’re on a budget. That said, I totally agree, it’s totally nuts! There are great pieces out there that are phenomenal but aren’t the hyped up craze of the day that are reasonable.

Which means we should learn to evaluate corals before we buy. I think buying online has robbed people of that

Lbrdsoxfan · May 20, 2023

Townes_Van_Camp said:
Huh? I wouldn't pay a wooden nickel for green stars. Who would?

Again, there is a sucka born every minute. Just market it as some resilient gsp and it WILL sell.

Lbrdsoxfan · May 20, 2023

Townes_Van_Camp said:
Which means we should learn to evaluate corals before we buy. I think buying online has robbed people of that

Online is a total dice roll.

A_Blind_Reefer · May 20, 2023

Lbrdsoxfan said:
Again, there is a sucka born every minute. Just market it as some resilient gsp and it WILL sell.

Nuclear, atomic, fireball, universal studios, marvel, dc, Star Wars, techno, gsp…..today only, one millllliiiiooon dollars

Uncle99 · May 20, 2023

“Rainbow” adds hundreds to the price.
“Master” can be a thousand.
Easy to puff.
What someone will pay will always be the price sold.

i_SPS · May 20, 2023

Another irritating aspect is price per frag size seems to have dramatically changed. I’ve been in the hobby 15 years, and a “frag” used to be at MINIMUM 1”. Most had a branch or a few branch tips.
Now I see 1/2” nubs for 100$ etc.

I highly encourage local trading/selling/swapping. Though now I’m starting to see people do the same thing as the store, they charge almost retail for used equipment etc.

sadly I have some circumstances where I’m having to get out of the hobby, but honestly the shift in this scene since I’ve started is highly discouraging enough.

Hankcorals · May 20, 2023

When I first got into the hobby I spent so much time doing the live sales and watching for holiday sales. After you look at the same corals so often you realize the so called live sale prices are not much lower then normal everyday prices unless its a $5 frag.. I agree with you all as well the frags seem to be getting smaller while prices rise. I enjoy the sales on FB more now. You actually get to see the coral you are buying in real time without the macro shots and goofy filters. Lots of these folks sell the corals live while showing you the corals in their frag beds. Its the best wysiwyg experience short of visiting a LFS that I have found imo

JoJosReef · May 20, 2023

1000%

My go-to vendor has had hugely discounted sales lately but jacked up the normal price so that the sale price is way more than before. Bought a crocea from them in 2022 on live sale for $60. Croceas up right now are $300 and look like mine did, so at 30% off, still >$200. I have a credit for a replacement torch from them that will ship with my next order, but so far I haven't seen any sales that are good value.

All my recent acquisitions have been locally. Utter chaos for $10. Traded a cleaner shrimp that needed rehoming for a nice toadstool. Mystique monti cap and a goldenrod anacropora for $10 each. I actually find this more enjoyable than spending an entire day refreshing live sales to pay 5x those prices.