Online vendor Acro frags are sure getting pricey$$$$$$$$$$

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You think that’s bad this summer I bought a 400.00 rc jet. Took me a week to build and about 5 min to crash! I had Interference from a fellows remote that should of been off. On top of that it is still up in this evil tree taunting me. I could of fixed it if I could of gotten to it but oh well it’s not worth falling out of a tree for. So minimum 400 bucks and about 40-50 hours gone In 5 min. I just think it’s the nature of the good hobbies. The cool ones are expensive. My brother is a caver and holy cow his stuff is expensive. I will spend within reason and say no ( most times) when it gets crazy costly that’s just the way it is I guess. Crappy hobbies are cheep and not as fun or nice to look at. I will pay for the ooooh’s and the ahhhh’s though. Don’t even get me started on what we spent for the Fourth of July I am a bit of a Pyro and all but that stuff is crazy expensive
been there. many many years ago. Spent hundreds on an RC copter. took me a week to build it and all. First lift off crash and best part was crashed into me HAHA. I stuck with ground vehicles then on LOL
 
To me it's a shame that many of the premier online vendors focus mainly on the "high end" with little, or no, availability of "classic" SPS corals that likely have higher survive ability and growth rates, stuff people will ultimately be happy and successful with. They'll be more likely to stay in the hobby and continue purchasing in the future. I'm not talking about worthless chunks of orange monti caps but things like older ORA stuff, red/green planet, slimer, garf bonsai, torts, generic milles, etc.

I have no issue spending $300 or $400 on an order if the quantity is right. I wish there were more quality vendors participating in the low to mid range, specifically in SPS. It's my opinion that the WWC's of the world are missing out on a decent section of the market and pricing themselves out of a good chunk of potential customers like myself.

You'll personally want to check out their store than. Their online catalog is not their entire inventory.
 
If people didn't pay the high prices then the prices will come down, its as simple as that. It all goes to whatever is the hot thing people are paying for. When I started chalices were all the rage, then zoas going for $40-$50 a head, ricordeas and now SPS. I live around the corner from WWC and while they do carry plenty of pricey frags there is just as much if not more normal/lower/standard priced frags. If I see something I like that is out of my price range I'll shop around. I've picked up plenty of frags from their ebay sales for half or less of the what they sell for in the store.
 
I didn't read the whole thread... But if people are willing to pay the prices they set, the price will never fall. If we get some people to trade, swap, whatever to get frags out in the field cheaper, the price should come down. It may save a reef if people were willing to donate frags. Some store may feel the pinch, lower prices, or simply shut down because of operating cost.
Sorry I'm all over the place. [emoji849]
 
I’ve only bought time from an online vendor one. They were a well respected dealer who got good/great reviews here on R2R. Was running a package special and I bought five frags. When they arrived all were sort of brownish in color; from the shipping I was told. Put them in QT and within a week or so two were in pretty bad shape. After supplying photos, vendor did refund $$ on those and I kept the other three in QT for the recommended 76 days.

All in DT now and I’m optimistic about one, hopeful on one and pretty sure the third one is dead, but we’ll see.

Gonna stick to buying from my LFS from now on. At least I can see for myself what the coral looks like and select the exact frag I want. Might be somewhat limited in selection compared to big online vendors but I can get the frag dipped and into QT within a hour or so of purchase.

Discounted frag pack offers like this (selected at the vendor's discretion) tell you everything about their business. We convince ourselves that they have coral overstock, corals that grew so big, so quickly that they need to be pruned to make room for the others.
The reality is that they're selling you frags of corals that are headed to the trash can.
 
I think what we need to do is create demand for other things so acro prices fall. So inline with that...

THURSDAY FLASH SALE !!!

Aptasia.. 40% off!!
Green star polyp blow out! Buy one, get 3 free!!
Birdnest BOGO!!
Cultured ultra manjano 50% off!

Minimum bid $1. $.05 bid increments.

(shipping free within greater Fargo, ND area - other zones $79.99)
 
Discounted frag pack offers like this (selected at the vendor's discretion) tell you everything about their business. We convince ourselves that they have coral overstock, corals that grew so big, so quickly that they need to be pruned to make room for the others.
The reality is that they're selling you frags of corals that are headed to the trash can.

Hmm, Good point. Hadn’t thought about it that way.
I saw photos of maybe 25-30 different acro frags. Deal was pick 5 for $150 delivered. They all looked pretty nice.
 
I support this 100%! I charge $35 for shipping but actual cost usually ends up more like 45-55. That's just FedEx costs, not including box/styro/heat packs. And when you spend over 250, I cover shipping completely. That's like getting a 20% discount on a $250 order.

Sadly, I don't see prices going down on shipping anytime soon.

What, the Federal Government (i.e. tax payer) doesn't subsidise your shipping like they do for Amazon? Bah! (I'm teasing - I know they don't)

In all of my comments it should be assumed that shipping is extra or paid by the buyer. I do not expect any business to pay for shipping unless it is Amazon for the very, albeit snarky, comment about subsidised costs. Business is business and if you can work shipping in than that is a bonus. Shipping costs though are not a go no go decision for me. I would assume others are in the same camp but understand if they are not.
 
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You think that’s bad this summer I bought a 400.00 rc jet. Took me a week to build and about 5 min to crash! I had Interference from a fellows remote that should of been off. On top of that it is still up in this evil tree taunting me. I could of fixed it if I could of gotten to it but oh well it’s not worth falling out of a tree for. So minimum 400 bucks and about 40-50 hours gone In 5 min. I just think it’s the nature of the good hobbies. The cool ones are expensive. My brother is a caver and holy cow his stuff is expensive. I will spend within reason and say no ( most times) when it gets crazy costly that’s just the way it is I guess. Crappy hobbies are cheep and not as fun or nice to look at. I will pay for the ooooh’s and the ahhhh’s though. Don’t even get me started on what we spent for the Fourth of July I am a bit of a Pyro and all but that stuff is crazy expensive

Be glad it was not in the thousands range. Buddy of mine years ago before jets are what they are today, we are talking 91 here, built a very large F20 Tiger Shark jet. We all gathered on a no-fly day at one of the Marine bases in Okinawa which I forget the name of. Anyway clear blue skies but a bit of wind. We called up to the tower to see what the weather was like since they have more accurate information and was told what it was, cross wind, etc. We sent up a couple small planes - I had a piper cub with a 10' wing span - which did find (wing span, big prop, lots of lift - wrong choice to use). Anyway long story short he fired up the bird and started take off. No sooner than weight off wheels (air born) a light 5 - 10 mph cross wind caught his jet, he over corrected, and proceeded to plow it into the runway. Shattered plan, fiberglass, engine parts littered the runway. Good thing it was closed because we had FOD all over that dang runway. That is another expensive hobby you have there. I had to get out for that very reason.

I was starting too many. So I swapped to scuba diving and gave up RC's.
 
been there. many many years ago. Spent hundreds on an RC copter. took me a week to build it and all. First lift off crash and best part was crashed into me HAHA. I stuck with ground vehicles then on LOL

Ouch! I have seen that at the club last summer. I did not know wood blades could require so many stitches. That’s why I stick with corals now, I am the god in my world...till I’m not[emoji22]
 
Ouch! I have seen that at the club last summer. I did not know wood blades could require so many stitches. That’s why I stick with corals now, I am the god in my world...till I’m not[emoji22]
fortunately mine was an electric one and not gas. Coulda gone real bad if it was a gas copter. It was when the first electric started hitting the scene and I was in my teens and looked like an Apache so i wanted it
 
I think online vendors are mostly used by people who don’t live nearby a lfs or not around a big reefing scene. I would never order online for sps frags. The price is outrageous and the shipping to add to that.
 
Acros are worthless without ******, recognized names.

Here are two mariculture gems of mine that get over looked because a girl has no name.
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20181103_173410-01.jpeg
 
You'll personally want to check out their store than. Their online catalog is not their entire inventory.

To me, the fact that they sell run of the mill SPS in their shop but not online only advances the argument for artificial price inflation. What motivation is there for a business to NOT sell inventory on hand - through a web store that already exists? What additional cost would it incur them to add more photos and listings of lower and mid range SPS? The problem is - how many customers would buy "super expensive fancy name blue frag" for $250 when the other "generic" blue frag, that maybe looks somewhat less special but is still beautiful, is $50?

Not trying to bash WWC here, just using them as an example since their name has come up in the thread. They run a solid business, as evidenced by their success and I'm sure they're great people.

I just believe there is a section in the lower/mid range of the market is almost completely unrepresented online. For those of us like myself without a great LFS, it leaves us with little options. There's reasonable money in my pocket, but nowhere to spend it, if that makes sense.
 
Hopefully a few vendors see this, doubtful, BUT I know if I did, I would lower prices to beat and then out sell competitors...but that’s just me.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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