These prices ... really?
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Best not, Facebook is too peaceful of a place for the likes of this thread.
whatever is comfortable
Lonelyreef
Well-Known Member
The whole idea of the insane amount some people charge for corals is really crazy. I understand making money and buisness and overhead but I have yet to see a frag worth over a 100 to me. I think those corals are nice and well colored but not worth that kinda money. I guess its an individual basis with each person deciding what they want to spend money on.
For instance I grew up in keylargo Florida and lived in penny's camp protected waters. I fished and ate the fish I caught and it literally cost us less money to gas up the boat get bait buy a rod drive out there catch the fish drive back and eat it then it does to buy one in a store or online. A childhood friends dad actually collected fish for the marine hobby. He didn't use any special equipment. I actually went out diving with him a few times. Well actually I snorkeld while he dove but it was really cool to watch and see it. He had basically a huge vaccume and sucked up all kinds of stuff came up examined the took it to miami and sold it to a wholesaler. Now granite this is 20 years ago. I know things have changed and hopefully are more humane.
I can't imagine that with most wild caught corals coming from third world countries and there pay next to nothing the most expensive charge they have is shipping. Not only is this an immoral practice on so many levels. It allows people with the right " connections " to buy fresh caught corals and then keep the choice ones then offload all there wild caught corals fast. Since most wild colonies are hit and miss as far as adapting to tank life many die or lose there original color.
It's a buisness I get it. There's far to many hack shops and people not practicing what they preach when it comes to selling corals and being a vendor I would be shocked and amazed if there were more than 5 vendors that sold even 50 percent aquacultured corals. The ones that I feel support that kind of buisness model are those that I support and will continue too while the others I hope change there ways or go out of buisness.
For instance I grew up in keylargo Florida and lived in penny's camp protected waters. I fished and ate the fish I caught and it literally cost us less money to gas up the boat get bait buy a rod drive out there catch the fish drive back and eat it then it does to buy one in a store or online. A childhood friends dad actually collected fish for the marine hobby. He didn't use any special equipment. I actually went out diving with him a few times. Well actually I snorkeld while he dove but it was really cool to watch and see it. He had basically a huge vaccume and sucked up all kinds of stuff came up examined the took it to miami and sold it to a wholesaler. Now granite this is 20 years ago. I know things have changed and hopefully are more humane.
I can't imagine that with most wild caught corals coming from third world countries and there pay next to nothing the most expensive charge they have is shipping. Not only is this an immoral practice on so many levels. It allows people with the right " connections " to buy fresh caught corals and then keep the choice ones then offload all there wild caught corals fast. Since most wild colonies are hit and miss as far as adapting to tank life many die or lose there original color.
It's a buisness I get it. There's far to many hack shops and people not practicing what they preach when it comes to selling corals and being a vendor I would be shocked and amazed if there were more than 5 vendors that sold even 50 percent aquacultured corals. The ones that I feel support that kind of buisness model are those that I support and will continue too while the others I hope change there ways or go out of buisness.
Tphill
Active Member
MBA here. Add greed to the supply side and the formula works.
solar
Valuable Member
I just want a decent priced stick or 20. The naming scheme is ok as long as there isn't a added name to it ill leave it at that. Even hobbyist's charge a arm and a leg alot. I put a post up recently about wanting to buy acros for the next couple weeks id have 50$ a week for 6 weeks i was told to save it up and for 6 frags it would be 250$..... This is local mind you. Rant over. Oh ya photo shop is horrible I see it alot and laugh.
misoldier06
Active Member
I miss south Korea. I didn't realize how lucky I was. At my favorite lfs a colony of spa would cost $35. I kid you not, I saw a 9" X 10" colony of undata cost $80. It was amazing, the most expensive sps colony there was $150. Giant colony's of zoas and paly's would also cost $35. Equipment was more expensive though.
Alyxx
Community Member
I agree with prices being too high, but specifically for things that are named. The LFS I work at lists all our zoa frags for $12 or 5 for $50 regardless of what color they are or we if think we got lucky with a really fantastic piece. And that applies to all our frags.
Our most expensive coral is usually expensive because the shipping is outrageous. Your head would spin if you had to pay to ship coral from Aussie to florida
Our most expensive coral is usually expensive because the shipping is outrageous. Your head would spin if you had to pay to ship coral from Aussie to florida
johnanddawn
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This conversation comes up so often it's funny
Yes there is a small number of reefers who can and do spend big money on some corals
Most probably think that if they spend that much they can grow them out and sell them for big money
Others want the latest and greatest - that's their thing
Many reefers like myself would never spend that much, I would rather have a full display of large and pretty corals named or not - that's my thing
The topic of chop shoppers and over saturated pics is another thing all together
Chopping up wild colonies, taking over saturated pics, and selling based on hype is a scam
But there will always be some who fall for it so it will continue
To each their own, but I will never support anyone who does this
Yes there is a small number of reefers who can and do spend big money on some corals
Most probably think that if they spend that much they can grow them out and sell them for big money
Others want the latest and greatest - that's their thing
Many reefers like myself would never spend that much, I would rather have a full display of large and pretty corals named or not - that's my thing
The topic of chop shoppers and over saturated pics is another thing all together
Chopping up wild colonies, taking over saturated pics, and selling based on hype is a scam
But there will always be some who fall for it so it will continue
To each their own, but I will never support anyone who does this
cdness
2006 - Present
Ha, actually you are somewhat wrong here. I am in a very good job that pays very well, however I disagree with the pricing of some of these corals. I am not complaining and whining as it is in their right as a capitalist market to charge what they feel is the right amount. However I personally voice my opinion to them directly by not purchasing ANYTHING from them regardless of cost. If I feel a certain place is over-photoshopping, hyping to inflate prices, or selling fresh cut wild colonies I will take my money elsewhere. Topics like these do get monotonous as the same grievances are brought up every time. However people need to realize that if you "save up" for a specific coral or purchase the cheaper stuff from the site waiting for the expensive stuff to come down, you are supporting the practice. If you want to make a statement, vote with your dollars as it is the lifeblood of business.
Since there was a politics reference, I am not conservative or liberal and fall more along the lines of common sense. I believe in the free market and that no business is too big to fail. Once people stop assuming that what is the current situation is the norm and must be accepted there can and will be change. Empower people with information and understanding of an issue and they will make the right choice for them. If supporting the trend is what they feel is right, they will make that choice. However if they feel it is not right, they should understand how to make their voice heard.
I must add that I will never drive a vet, a nice Mustang or Corvette (Vette) though would be nice.
mrcoffee2
Valuable Member
For sale: cherry Camaro. Wysiwyg! $20,000
So you plop down that $20,000 and wait for delivery.
You receive this and are told it looks like that because you have different lighting
Pete this cracks me up. Reminds me of what it was like the first / last time I bought an expensive coral online without seeing it first in person.
Sadly it is far too common
Ryan2428
Well-Known Member
Agree and ps love my vette lolHa, actually you are somewhat wrong here. I am in a very good job that pays very well, however I disagree with the pricing of some of these corals. I am not complaining and whining as it is in their right as a capitalist market to charge what they feel is the right amount. However I personally voice my opinion to them directly by not purchasing ANYTHING from them regardless of cost. If I feel a certain place is over-photoshopping, hyping to inflate prices, or selling fresh cut wild colonies I will take my money elsewhere. Topics like these do get monotonous as the same grievances are brought up every time. However people need to realize that if you "save up" for a specific coral or purchase the cheaper stuff from the site waiting for the expensive stuff to come down, you are supporting the practice. If you want to make a statement, vote with your dollars as it is the lifeblood of business.
Since there was a politics reference, I am not conservative or liberal and fall more along the lines of common sense. I believe in the free market and that no business is too big to fail. Once people stop assuming that what is the current situation is the norm and must be accepted there can and will be change. Empower people with information and understanding of an issue and they will make the right choice for them. If supporting the trend is what they feel is right, they will make that choice. However if they feel it is not right, they should understand how to make their voice heard.
I must add that I will never drive a vet, a nice Mustang or Corvette (Vette) though would be nice.
Ha, actually you are somewhat wrong here. I am in a very good job that pays very well, however I disagree with the pricing of some of these corals. I am not complaining and whining as it is in their right as a capitalist market to charge what they feel is the right amount. However I personally voice my opinion to them directly by not purchasing ANYTHING from them regardless of cost. If I feel a certain place is over-photoshopping, hyping to inflate prices, or selling fresh cut wild colonies I will take my money elsewhere. Topics like these do get monotonous as the same grievances are brought up every time. However people need to realize that if you "save up" for a specific coral or purchase the cheaper stuff from the site waiting for the expensive stuff to come down, you are supporting the practice. If you want to make a statement, vote with your dollars as it is the lifeblood of business.
Since there was a politics reference, I am not conservative or liberal and fall more along the lines of common sense. I believe in the free market and that no business is too big to fail. Once people stop assuming that what is the current situation is the norm and must be accepted there can and will be change. Empower people with information and understanding of an issue and they will make the right choice for them. If supporting the trend is what they feel is right, they will make that choice. However if they feel it is not right, they should understand how to make their voice heard.
I must add that I will never drive a vet, a nice Mustang or Corvette (Vette) though would be nice.
Well said!
To me income has little or nothing to do with the price some people will pay for some items. Some consumers are "smart consumers" that will go to the cheaper option while others opt for the more expensive.
OP
OP
reeffirstaid
Active Member
I think people would be surprised at the number of reefers misled by coral sellers and aquarium outlets, charging these inflated and outrageous prices. I was at a shop, near a city, (not naming the shop, or the city) and I watched a sales person explain how bird's nest coral is rarely collected, and only a handful make it into the trade. They wanted $480 for a small birds nest coral. Same guy, same shop, same customer, was told that a "true" Lemonpeel Angelfish they were selling for $ 350, was just like the one's found in the ocean. I watched this for a few minutes, and when the sales associate stepped away, I stepped up to the customer and explained to him that he was getting snow balled. Needless to say, the associate returned, and I was told to leave the store, and oddly enough, the customer was mad that I questioned the prices or the product. This is blatantly misleading the public, to make a killing off something you likely have a few dollars in. These coral vendors are doing the same thing. It's dishonest, it's unfair, and it will have negative repercussions throughout the hobby. Yes, there are the laws of supply in demand. I took multiple economics courses in college. Laws of supply and demand are to work naturally. When you take something, regardless of demand, and charge 300-400x what it is worth, that is greed and dishonestly. It would be like selling an old CRT monitor for $ 2,000 and saying how rare and high tech it is. When this type of thing happens, in any marketplace, it thwarts the natural laws of supply and demand, messes up the market and has terrible repercussions on the industry effected.
here's my 2 cents on the subject. It can take anywhere from 12 to 48 hours on a boat 2 reach a collection site and with that being said we have the ability purchase online and have delivered to our door or go to a local fish store & purchase. Convenient cost more and anything unique or rare is always going to demand a higher price.
OP
OP
reeffirstaid
Active Member
To follow up on my last post. You have to look at what supports the reef aquarium hobby. I would make a guess, that 20% of reefers are hardcore, DIY guys, expert aquarists and take the hobby to the max. 5-8% want a gorgeous tank, with as little effort as possible, full of super colorful corals, at any price. That leaves the other 72% of people, the backbone of the hobby, reefers who will DIY somethings, want decent quality equipment, and are satisfied with a nicely colored, well maintained reef. Every time someone new gets into the hobby, they will end up falling into one of these categories. When they enter a shop or visit a website with ridiculous prices they will either, walk away from the hobby entirely assuming it is way too expensive, jump on board, thinking these are rare corals that nobody else has, or have done some research and realize they are getting misled. Often times, they leave a website or a store, with an overpriced item, that doesn't make it, and become overly discouraged. I don't care how you spin it, pricing corals to the moon and back, isn't good for the hobby. Pricing corals fairly, making a fair profit, and providing customer's with the information they need to be successful, those are the keys to a sustainable hobby. Not some guy making thousands on corals, that they may, or may not have, altered in photoshop.
I have a pack for sale right now that has 13 pieces. And one if them is a mini colony for $200 shipped.
A while back I listed a frag pack of sps unknowns and unnamed
Good price and nice sized frags with descriptions of the color and species
Not 1 person interested. My buddy came over and decided he would name all my unknown pieces. Changed the add with names now added. And my pm box became full real quick.
The names on corals are great for tracking pieces. But when someone just buys a name. It's gone too far
As far as crazy prices. No one is forcing you to buy them. There are plenty of bargain corals out there for dirt cheap. And those same corals had the same price they did 15 years ago. The more colorful and the less it's imported and the more it's gonna cost
And I think someone is exaggerating a little bit about a lfs asking $380 for a birdsnest coral. I have been to lfs in 15 states or more and never seen someone trying to rip someone off that bad. If they were and it's true. Then they aren't worthy of discussion in this thread. Because that's not the norm
Did you ever step back and realize most of the expensive corals are expensive for a reason ? Those
Color combinations and species are not seen very often and supply and demand sets the price.
Everyone constantly says it can't be rare and the only one because the ocean is so huge Look at a few of the more expensive corals in the last few years
Jawbreaker mushrooms. Years later and no one has found thousands covering rocks. Guess they are kinda rare
Krakatoa zoa. Same here.
Jaw dropper acro. Yes this one was ps for sure. But still a pretty awesome color combo without
Ps
The point is. There are limited supplies of some of these corals which makes them more rare and wholesalers and vendors are pricing them accordingly
You have to pay to play
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Had to giggle about this one.
