Reefapalooza Orlando 2019 question!

[Zeal]

SO.. Whos going! Its going to be my first ever reef convention. Got a couple questions though...

Is it worth it to go Saturday or Sunday? Coming from Miami so im probably going to only go for the convention stay for a bit and come back home.

Do sellers hold coral if you buy it? Lets say I go Saturday and will like to take it home Sunday...

Are the prices typically any different from online and what we see at the store for coral and dry goods?

Thanks, Sorry mods not sure where to put this

 

[PatW]

This is what I have heard. If you want first crack at “the good stuff”, Saturday is the day to go. But the venders are optimistic on Saturday and prices reflect that. On Sunday, the venders don’t want to haul the stuff back home if they can help it. So they are willing to cut better deals. But you probably will not have the selection you might want. I would think that a vender will hold things for you until Sunday if you pay for it. But be sure to not show up at the last minute. If I were a vender, I would not like to have a pile of inventory waiting around for the buyer to pick it up on late Sunday when I could be packing stuff up.

 

[rcpalmer1]

I have been the last two years. You will find some corals at great prices and you will find some corals at ridiculous prices but ridiculous corals that you may not ever see at you lfs. It is so large that you'll find something both days in both categories.

 

[Zeal]

This is what I have heard. If you want first crack at “the good stuff”, Saturday is the day to go. But the venders are optimistic on Saturday and prices reflect that. On Sunday, the venders don’t want to haul the stuff back home if they can help it. So they are willing to cut better deals. But you probably will not have the selection you might want. I would think that a vender will hold things for you until Sunday if you pay for it. But be sure to not show up at the last minute. If I were a vender, I would not like to have a pile of inventory waiting around for the buyer to pick it up on late Sunday when I could be packing stuff up.

I would of course pick it up in the morning. But good to know.

I have been the last two years. You will find some corals at great prices and you will find some corals at ridiculous prices but ridiculous corals that you may not ever see at you lfs. It is so large that you'll find something both days in both categories.

Do they have those 5 for $100 you usually see at FragSwaps?

 

[Eggs]

I’ve seen sellers hold corals until Sunday if bought/paid for on Saturday.
Also recall seeing quantity discounts (i.e. 5 for $100).
Some sellers will give you a better deal if paying in cash.

 

[Zeal]

I’ve seen sellers hold corals until Sunday if bought/paid for on Saturday.
Also recall seeing quantity discounts (i.e. 5 for $100).
Some sellers will give you a better deal if paying in cash.

Good to know.... Really hoping they can hold coral so I can enjoy orlando

 

[rcpalmer1]

Do they have those 5 for $100 you usually see at FragSwaps?

Yes there is a company that is always there that does that every year. I haven't checked but if Your Reef is there he have some great corals even cheaper than that.

 

[Prestigereef]

I'm going

 

[Prestigereef]

I'm going

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

What did you end up getting @Zeal I'm going to my first show in Chicago next month and have been wondering the same things

 

[Zeal]

What did you end up getting @Zeal I'm going to my first show in Chicago next month and have been wondering the same things

Can you believe I didnt buy anything.... everything I saw was things I could normally find in Miami... but everything was much more expensive...

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

Dang. I dont have a lfs and was hoping to get some good deals. Thanks for the reply

 

[Peace River]

Dang. I dont have a lfs and was hoping to get some good deals. Thanks for the reply

From my experience at RAP, it is a mix of good deals and not-so-good deals. The availability is better at the beginning of the show and the deals are better at the end of the show. Good luck!

 

[BlueDamselReef]

When is it!?

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

October 19 and 20

 

[Peace River]

When is it!?

RAP dates:

Chicago - October 19 & 20, 2019
Orlando - April 25 & 26, 2020
New York - June 27 & 28, 2020
California - August 15 & 16, 2020

 

[BlueDamselReef]

RAP dates:

Chicago - October 19 & 20, 2019
Orlando - April 25 & 26, 2020
New York - June 27 & 28, 2020
California - August 15 & 16, 2020

Thanks Peace, that's what I thought. Title said Orlando 2019 and I thought I was missing something! I don't want to miss anything!