Prices are too dang high!!!

[Brew12]

This basic 5 gallon container cost $99

This exact same container in red cost $114

It's expensive at $99 for an acrylic box. Is it worth an extra $15 to have the same exact box in red tint?

Check out this beautiful 10 gallon basic acrylic ato container for $145

Now here's the delux version in stunning green for $169.99

It's the exact same container but now it's tinted green!


No matter what, at the end of the day, i'ts still just a plastic box that holds water.
There is no good justifiable reason for the prices to be so high for what in reality is...
An acrylic box.

If you want to pay those prices then by all means, go for it but I'm not a fan of paying that much for a product that has a fancy name on it.

In my opinion, it is a matter of personal preference and use. If I had a basement sump or a fish room I wouldn't pay for a container like this. I love the chemistry side of this forum. I have my dosing system and dosing containers set up for public viewing so people can easily see some of what is involved in maintaining a reef tank. I don't want a $20 tub, I want something that looks nice. I have it completely color coordinated, even up to the point that the indicator lighting on my doser matches my dosing tanks.

I see it as similar to furniture. For a kitchen table you could get a folding table for $30, a pressed wood table for $150, or a solid wood table for $800. What makes sense for each individual will be different. If you hardly eat at yours but use it for crafts you may want the $30 version. If you have company over regularly, the more expensive version may make sense.

 

[Gareth elliott]

This basic 5 gallon container cost $99

This exact same container in red cost $114

It's expensive at $99 for an acrylic box. Is it worth an extra $15 to have the same exact box in red tint?

Check out this beautiful 10 gallon basic acrylic ato container for $145

Now here's the delux version in stunning green for $169.99

It's the exact same container but now it's tinted green!


No matter what, at the end of the day, i'ts still just a plastic box that holds water.
There is no good justifiable reason for the prices to be so high for what in reality is...
An acrylic box.

If you want to pay those prices then by all means, go for it but I'm not a fan of paying that much for a product that has a fancy name on it.

I recently bought one of those lol.

. Went with this one, matched my plumbing.

I had a finite space it would fit in and the 2 gallon i was using didnt hold enough water. I was contemplating building my own and buying sheets of acrylic. But the cost when i added my time spent was similar enough that there was limited benefit.

I did make my own dosing containers, glass bottles and some acrylic paint pens go a long way, and saved me about $80 and looks presentable when i open my electrical cabinet. I also built the cabinet saving me another $90 or so. Seconds as a stand for a terrarium.

 

[Dj City]

For what it’s worth colored acrylic is more expensive than clear acrylic, thus the cost differences you pointed out.

It is also worth pointing out that current manufacturers pricing strategies allow for the research and development that results in all the new innovations we see every year.

As others have noted if people stopped paying these prices then things would change. I happen to be one of the people that thinks that kind of change would be bad for the hobby.

What possible research and development is there for a box that holds water?
Is it the heavy decision on the shape?

CEO
"We need to develop something. Some product for the aquarium trade.
They use water right? We need to come up with a product that people can use to hold fresh water. "

Board member
"Oooh... I have an idea. We can make a plastic container of some sort. "

CEO
"Hmmmmm. A container. That sounds like a good idea. What do you suggest?"

Board member
"Well, it has to have a top but the top must be removable. It also should have a hole in the top so the people can run their tubes through. I think we should make it round."

CEO
"A round container, that's absurd! We will make it square. Better yet, we will make it rectangular! "

Board member
"That's brilliant! "

CEO
"Yes. It is rather brilliant isn't it. "

 

[pscheel2]

Had an orange setosa frag listed on Craigslist for $10 and it didn't sell. Relisted at $5, but accidentally put in as $55. Sold in 2 days and had other buyers wanting it. Go figure

 

[Dj City]

Board member
"I still think we can do something with the round container idea"

CEO
"A round container is a dumb idea. It's just a cylinder. What could people in the aquarium world possibly do with a round cylinder with a removable top with a hole in it? "

Board member
"I'm sure we can think of something sir. Maybe they can put things like carbon or GFO in the round one? "

CEO
"I just had an idea! We can make the round one and people can put media like carbon and GFO in it. We can add 2 holes to the top of it and call it a
media reactor"

Board member
"You are brilliant sir! That's the best idea I have ever heard of since you came up with the idea of a box to hold water in. "

CEO
"Thank you. That's why they pay me the big bucks. "

 

[Dj City]

In all honesty,
I wish I had the Capitol to start making products in mass for our hobby.

I would make quality gear for fair prices. I believe you can do better being honest and fair to your customers.

This has worked for me in my personal business for over 20 years.
Im not rich. Not even remotely close but I manage to pay my bills for the most part.

It just irks me to see companies take advantage of their customers.

I ride motorcycles. Sports bikes to be more specific. The plastics you see on those bikes are extortionate.
Everything in the motorcycle world is way overpriced but people need what they need so they spend what is charged.

The difference in our hobby is we can often build what we need for a fraction of what the cost is for buying it from a company.
In that respect, we have an advantage and a choice.

I highlighted the ato containers because it's the shiny glaring example of extreme overpricing that just about everyone can plainly see.

They are pretty. They do what they are supposed to do. They are convenient but they should not cost in the hundreds and just about everyone knows that weather they choose to buy one or not.

Im not knocking anyone for buying whatever they want an whatever price.
Im Just pointing out the fact that...

THE PRICES ARE TOO DANG HIGH​

 

[User]

I guess you missed the two posts explaining in detail exactly why they are priced the way they are and the work involved in making them.

Having priced acrylic and factored in the time and resources needed to make an ATO container, $99 is only like a $15-20 mark-up. Personally, having 2 girls under 3, I’d rather take the 4-5 hours it would take me to make one and spend it with them.

But like I said above- I don’t need the aesthetics or that particular form factor. I use a 20g brute under my sump stand in my fishroom.

 

[mrpizzaface]

What possible research and development is there for a box that holds water?
Is it the heavy decision on the shape?

CEO
"We need to develop something. Some product for the aquarium trade.
They use water right? We need to come up with a product that people can use to hold fresh water. "

Board member
"Oooh... I have an idea. We can make a plastic container of some sort. "

CEO
"Hmmmmm. A container. That sounds like a good idea. What do you suggest?"

Board member
"Well, it has to have a top but the top must be removable. It also should have a hole in the top so the people can run their tubes through. I think we should make it round."

CEO
"A round container, that's absurd! We will make it square. Better yet, we will make it rectangular! "

Board member
"That's brilliant! "

CEO
"Yes. It is rather brilliant isn't it. "

I appreciate your attempt at humor.

As I have already pointed out earlier in this thread I feel the price for acrylic goods is fair. I think using acrylic goods as the example to illustrate your point is wrong headed.

That is why when mentioning R and D,
I was referring to the general spirit of your initial post about prices being too high . I was thinking about DC pumps , controllers, and par meters. Et cetera.

I challenge you to make an Ato container using acrylic, and still not see the value in $99 price tag.

I think the premise of your post under values the cost of labor.

 

[User]

Here in Charleston we’ve had very little weather at all. The town has been on lockdown since Thursday for basically nothing.

>> for basically nothing.

not really for nothing. The risk was very very real, the hurricane just happened to change direction. Might seem like no big deal in hindsight, but it would be different if it had hot as predicted and a bunch of people were killed or injured.

 

[User]

'Cause of the sticker in the bottom corner. If it said "Rubbermaid" on it, it would be $5.99

Feel free to buy the $5.99 version if you can find a 5g Rubbermaid that has those dimensions.

If you can find it. Which is the thing. These are expensive because they are niche. No one wants a Rubbermaid next to their tank and stand because it won’t fit under the tank

 

[Dj City]

I appreciate your attempt at humor.

As I have already pointed out earlier in this thread I feel the price for acrylic goods is fair. I think using acrylic goods as the example to illustrate your point is wrong headed.

That is why when mentioning R and D,
I was referring to the general spirit of your initial post about prices being too high . I was thinking about DC pumps , controllers, and par meters. Et cetera.

I challenge you to make an Ato container using acrylic, and still not see the value in $99 price tag.

I think the premise of your post under values the cost of labor.

Naw.
I understand completely. I've made two sumps myself with acrylic. It was a pain in the butt!
I own and use an eshopps r300 sump. Less expensive than trigger by far and gets the job done.

This is a for profit business and the goal is to make the largest profit you can.
Im not mad at that.
Im not mad at all.

Just provoking thought and pointing out that prices are too dang high for most everything these days. But especially in nitch markets like aquariums, motorcycles, bicycle or any number of things.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Not the most attractive dosing containers, but doesnt scream walmart water container either lol

 

[Dj City]

I personally have a 20 gallon fish tank for my ato container and it works for me. I have a standard glass lid.

Is pretty, it's functional, it's practical and it cost me $20 for the tank.

 

[Dj City]

Not the most attractive dosing containers, but doesnt scream walmart water container either lol

It's much nicer looking than a lot of commercial units imho.

 

[Dj City]

I appreciate your attempt at humor.

Attempt?
I thought it was down right funny!

Read it again but this time, imagine it as a TV commercial.

 

[mrpizzaface]

Naw.
I understand completely. I've made two sumps myself with acrylic. It was a pain in the ***!
I own and use an eshopps r300 sump. Less expensive than trigger by far and gets the job done.

This is a for profit business and the goal is to make the largest profit you can.
Im not mad at that.
Im not mad at all.

Just provoking thought and pointing out that prices are too dang high for most everything these days. But especially in nitch markets like aquariums, motorcycles, bicycle or any number of things.

Is eshopps USA made?

 

[Ghost463]

Funny i stumbled on this thread. I jist had a convo with my local petshop. Told them i was boycotting the freshwater rummies and tetra. 10 for 19.99 jumped to 10 fpr 59.99??!!!
I think not.
Of course helping keep that store in business the floor manager reset the price to 39.99....

When it comes to corals i have learned to walk into my petshop. They sell nice peices for 75$ that are not frags.. Or.. Fragbox size frags.

 

[WVNed]

LOL

Supply and demand baby.

OOh color coordinated.

Hey my trashcan for the ATO is white just like the PVC pipe from Lowes.

 

[User]

Is eshopps USA made?

That really matter? Then pay the premium.

 

[mrpizzaface]

That really matter? Then pay the premium.

I only think it matters if eshopps isn’t USA made, and it is being compared price wise to something that is made in the USA. It costs more to manufacture in the USA or Western Europe. That is a premium I am generally happy to pay.