We Should Vote With Our Wallets!!!

Rakie · Dec 24, 2017

4FordFamily said:
Let’s keep this clean, and refrain from profanity or hidden profanity.

Aww man, it was just getting fun !

Forsaken77 · Dec 24, 2017

Rakie said:
Literally everyone is connected. Maybe it's a geographic thing.. But I don't know anybody who doesn't have a hookup somewhere, be it on equipment, or live goods. Hell. Some SHOPS even have a hookup, meaning if you really want X, Y or Z, you go to a certain shop and tell them, because they have better relationships with the wholesalers and get to walk in before everybody else and cherry pick what they want, or have things held for them before the other shops are allowed in.

This is the kinda stuff I'm talking about. You need to know your location. You need to know your shops. You need to know whats out there.

My whole reason for bringing this up is because this is stuff everybody SHOULD be doing. And everybody DOES have access to. They just don't realize it.. But they need to take notice.

Most shops in NY are very strict with their prices unless you're in their all the time, buying most of your stuff from them. Shops are always more flexible with livestock because there is no MSRP. But even if you have an "in" with a shop, they're not going to sell you hardware for what they pay unless you actually hang out with them or are related to them. They have overhead, employees, rent, ect... So they will always make money on things they sell. They may offer a slight deal on retail, but I would hardly call that a hookup.

Things may be more flexible in Cali because most aquarium facilities and manufacturers are located their, Florida also, but mostly west coast. So retailers there don't have to pay to have for items shipped out of state like they do on the east coast.

Mattrg02 · Dec 25, 2017

Rakie said:
Literally everyone is connected. Maybe it's a geographic thing.. But I don't know anybody who doesn't have a hookup somewhere, be it on equipment, or live goods. Hell. Some SHOPS even have a hookup, meaning if you really want X, Y or Z, you go to a certain shop and tell them, because they have better relationships with the wholesalers and get to walk in before everybody else and cherry pick what they want, or have things held for them before the other shops are allowed in.

This is the kinda stuff I'm talking about. You need to know your location. You need to know your shops. You need to know whats out there.

My whole reason for bringing this up is because this is stuff everybody SHOULD be doing. And everybody DOES have access to. They just don't realize it.. But they need to take notice.

If this were the case, then the manufacturers would be selling their stuff for less. I’d wager that only you, and a handful of others, have the “hookup”. This is a hobby to me, and most of us here, therefore, we can’t be bothered with putting in the time to gain these “hookups”. New equipment I buy at retail because I’m not going to talk up my LFS guy, hoping to knock off $10 here and there.

Rakie · Dec 25, 2017

Mattrg02 said:
If this were the case, then the manufacturers would be selling their stuff for less. I’d wager that only you, and a handful of others, have the “hookup”. This is a hobby to me, and most of us here, therefore, we can’t be bothered with putting in the time to gain these “hookups”. New equipment I buy at retail because I’m not going to talk up my LFS guy, hoping to knock off $10 here and there.

Man... So much assumption going on here.. You think I'm talking about saving "$10 here or there"? lol...

You think manufacturers would lower prices for any justifiable reason? what planet are you from? That's not how the world works, in any country on this planet. Price is dictated by what you will pay -- The items are all built by the lowest bidder in China, often by the same manufacturers that make other items too.

You're wrong kid. Either you live in a one horse town, or you're naive -- Either way, that's your problem to live with. Have a good one, and don't waste my time by responding. Were done here.

Mattrg02 · Dec 25, 2017

Rakie said:
Man. So much assumption going on here.. You think any of this work is worth saving "$10 here or there"? lol...

You're wrong kid. Either you live in a one horse town, or you're naive -- Either way, that's your problem to live with. Have a good one.

“Look at me, I’ve got the hookup on tank pumps, I’m so awesome!”

Look here dudebro, I take offense to you coming on here and talking to us like we are a bunch of stupid backwoods idiots. Just because you have some rediculous “hookup” doesn’t mean that we all should all have one too else we are naive kids or that we live in some town full of ignorance, too stupid to know that we should haggle over a GD powerhead, like you. It’s great that your skill is finding the hookup on aquarium equipment, mine are far more important to me than to waste time getting THE EDGE on fish tank crap.

Now, when you can show me a way to get my next Porsche 911, brand fricken new, for $100k off, tell me about it. Until then, go gang busters on the next Black Friday event.

jduong916 · Dec 25, 2017

Unlike when i first started, i tend to buy the higher priced stuff now because the equipment typically works better. What annoys me is the quality is not any better, or just a tad better. Mp40QD and the vectras break down just a little less than jebaos, but the price is so many times more. Same with skimmers, the pumps break and the replacements cost as much as the skimmer itself, with the exception of bubble kings. I hate it when i have an expensive piece of equipment break, yet i keep buying. Guess it's the same for every BMW and Mercedes owner, nice car, but a piece of crap. Thats why I only buy lexus

.

jduong916 · Dec 25, 2017

Unlike when i first started, i tend to buy the higher priced stuff now because the equipment typically works better. What annoys me is the quality is not any better, or just a tad better. Mp40QD and the vectras break down just a little less than jebaos, but the price is so many times more. Same with skimmers, the pumps break and the replacements cost as much as the skimmer itself, with the exception of bubble kings. I hate it when i have an expensive piece of equipment break, yet i keep buying. Guess it's the same for every BMW and Mercedes owner, nice car, but a piece of crap. Thats why I only buy lexus

.

jasonrusso · Dec 25, 2017

jduong916 said:
Unlike when i first started, i tend to buy the higher priced stuff now because the equipment typically works better. What annoys me is the quality is not any better, or just a tad better. Mp40QD and the vectras break down just a little less than jebaos, but the price is so many times more. Same with skimmers, the pumps break and the replacements cost as much as the skimmer itself, with the exception of bubble kings. I hate it when i have an expensive piece of equipment break, yet i keep buying. Guess it's the same for every BMW and Mercedes owner, nice car, but a piece of crap. Thats why I only buy lexus .

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm sure the MP stuff is great, but look in the classifieds. There are wet side and dry side parts. Why, because they break too! You pay more, it may last a bit longer, but I don't think you will ever justify the cost over a jealous.

I'll stick with my Current 660 wave setup I got on black Friday for $105. I can also adjust the direction, MP pumps are straight ahead and to be honest, the look is a bit obtrusive.

jduong916 · Dec 25, 2017

jasonrusso said:
I wholeheartedly agree. I'm sure the MP stuff is great, but look in the classifieds. There are wet side and dry side parts. Why, because they break too! You pay more, it may last a bit longer, but I don't think you will ever justify the cost over a jealous.

I'll stick with my Current 660 wave setup I got on black Friday for $105. I can also adjust the direction, MP pumps are straight ahead and to be honest, the look is a bit obtrusive.

I wouldve went all tunze for powerheads but they are the ugliests pieces of hardware known to man lol

jasonrusso · Dec 25, 2017

jduong916 said:
I wouldve went all tunze for powerheads but they are the ugliests pieces of hardware known to man lol

What? I have 4 in my 210, you barely notice them. They are 3 inch black spheres. The Koralia are ugly.

jduong916 · Dec 25, 2017

m

jasonrusso said:
What? I have 4 in my 210, you barely notice them. They are 3 inch black spheres. The Koralia are ugly.

maybe i got them mixed up, tunzes last forever so ive heard

jasonrusso · Dec 25, 2017

jduong916 said:
m

maybe i got them mixed up, tunzes last forever so ive heard

Maybe, I think that the Tunze are the least noticeable powerhead and you can point them anywhere. The Koralia are junk. I had 2 crack open and trip my GFI.

JonPhillips · Dec 25, 2017

Another element is how you define success for yourself in this hobby? If it’s growing high end SPS? Better get the best equipment and backups to protect your investment. Doing a softy tank and consider yourself running a DIY experiment? Then equipment and prices will matter more.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 26, 2017

Ok guys, the masked (and unmasked) profanity in this thread has to stop. This is a good discussion, but keep it family-friendly.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 26, 2017

Btw, as someone already said, we already DO vote with our wallets. It's the way that vote is going currently that many people don't like. As long as there's demand, supply is going to base price on it.

Forsaken77 · Dec 26, 2017

mdbannister said:
Ok guys, the masked (and unmasked) profanity in this thread has to stop. This is a good discussion, but keep it family-friendly.

That could mean "Good" also

revhtree · Dec 26, 2017

For me I have found that when it comes to aquarium gear that more times than not the more expensive options out last and out perform the cheaper models. It's NOT always the case but I have wasted my fair share of money.

Forsaken77 · Dec 26, 2017

mdbannister said:
Btw, as someone already said, we already DO vote with our wallets. It's the way that vote is going currently that many people don't like. As long as there's demand, supply is going to base price on it.

Perhaps I should've titled it differently. Maybe not voting with our wallets, but supporting OVERPRICED equipment. Because when you pay for something that is overpriced, by a long shot, you're telling the manufacturer that you're ok with that price. Especially when year after year the quality drops and it seems that the general public are the beta testers.

That's in essence what I was getting at. Not the fact that people want high-end equipment. I do to, but it should be worth the price of admission. Pieces shouldn't need replacement in less than a year. I mean two MP60's, which is roughly $1,300, is around the price of a pool filter. That's not a justified price, imo.

This hobby is already expensive. But supporting those ridiculous prices doesn't help consuners, any of us.

Forsaken77 · Dec 26, 2017

mdbannister said:
Btw, as someone already said, we already DO vote with our wallets. It's the way that vote is going currently that many people don't like. As long as there's demand, supply is going to base price on it.

Perhaps I should've titled it differently. Maybe not voting with our wallets, but supporting OVERPRICED equipment. Because when you pay for something that is overpriced, by a long shot, you're telling the manufacturer that you're ok with that price. Especially when year after year the quality drops and it seems that the general public are the beta testers.

That's in essence what I was getting at. Not the fact that people want high-end equipment. I do to, but it should be worth the price of admission. Pieces shouldn't need replacement in less than a year. I mean two MP60's, which is roughly $1,300, is around the price of a pool filter. That's not a justified price, imo.

This hobby is already expensive. But supporting those ridiculous prices doesn't help consuners, any of us.

Mattrg02 · Dec 26, 2017

Well, given all of the scary stories that I’ve read about the popular Jebao dosers, I could say that THEY are overpriced. One must add in the TOTAL cost of a product in order to determine if it is a good deal or not.

Guess what happens to a tank with $10k corals and a Jebao that has a hiccup with your alkalinity dosing?

Forsaken77 · Dec 26, 2017

revhtree said:
For me I have found that when it comes to aquarium gear that more times than not the more expensive options out last and out perform the cheaper models. It's NOT always the case but I have wasted my fair share of money.

But that should be a given and expected because that's what you're paying for. But it's when that high priced gear fails almost as frequently or is just ridiculously priced for what it is. I know in your position you shouldn't single out specific items, but there are those that don't deserve the asking price.

I mean two powerheads for $1,300? That's almost insulting. Something on that price level should not need replacement parts and SHOULD last the life of your tank. That's the level of quality that should justify that premium price. There has to be something besides a name making the product worth it's cost. That's what I was trying to bring to peoples' attention. Not to keep supporting overpriced items, or items that don't back up the asking price with performance.

It's almost like we've become indoctrinated to accept that certain brands are automatically the best, regardless of quality.