Why are zoa's so frikin expensive?

[Amphibious]

Because someone will buy them

I think the prices are outrageous too. I paid $35 this weekend for 3 blue hornet polyps. They will most likely grow like wild fire and I'll get nothing in return, in the long run.

Because someone will buy them at that inflated price is right. Let that person buy them in my opinion. Patience in your search is key. You don't have to have them NOW at that price.

Supply and demand, I sell blue hornets for $5 per polyp!

Certainly part of the equation. Another part is some online and swap vendors have built up a reputation as having the newest color morph, consistent best quality and command high prices. As long as there are people willing to pay those prices can you blame the vendor? Buy what you can afford and leave the overpriced to the deep pockets.

You can Frag them and Sell Them and Get Return.

Not a bad idea. However, your market will not likely be what their market is. They spend money on high tech websites and marketing to reach deep pockets. Are you willing to do that? Can you do that? It takes money to get it going, marketing savvy to pull it off and patience. All this is predicated on the polyps NOT melting away. I've experienced this in my foray into the market.

Expensive at LFS, Yes. But they are even more Expensive Online. I get all my Zoanthids at Frag Swaps. Lots of Beautiful Zoanthids and the Best Prices all in One Spot

Can't beat Frag Swaps!

This is mostly true IF you are at local small frag swaps. But shows like MACNA and the latest phenomena Reef-a Palozza it's mostly the online elites that show and they command the same high prices there. The best bet is to wait till the end of the show and bargain with them. HOWEVER, if you try bargaining for ONE coral don't expect to get much of a price drop. Talk to them about 8 or 10 frags and you will have better luck.

Take this advice from a guy that's been in the marine aquarium hobby and business for 50 years.

Dick

 

[TheEngineer]

I'm on the bandwagon for patience. I would love to snag some higher end stuff for my tank but $40+ for a polyp? Nope, not for me. Most I'll spend is $15 per.

Frag swaps really are your best bet. I picked up a giant rock with over 100 tubbs blue for $40. I expected over $100. When he said $40 I didn't hesitate. Actually the guys I bought it from are on here. They were still opening up in this pic.

 

[Amphibious]

That's exactly what I was talking about. Good purchase.

Dick

 

[TheEngineer]

That's exactly what I was talking about. Good purchase.

Dick

Guy in my club tried for the last minute deals. Don't low ball or you'll get the same response he did over and over "No thanks, I'll take it home with me"

 

[that Reef Guy]

Because someone will buy them at that inflated price is right. Let that person buy them in my opinion. Patience in your search is key. You don't have to have them NOW at that price.




Certainly part of the equation. Another part is some online and swap vendors have built up a reputation as having the newest color morph, consistent best quality and command high prices. As long as there are people willing to pay those prices can you blame the vendor? Buy what you can afford and leave the overpriced to the deep pockets.




Not a bad idea. However, your market will not likely be what their market is. They spend money on high tech websites and marketing to reach deep pockets. Are you willing to do that? Can you do that? It takes money to get it going, marketing savvy to pull it off and patience. All this is predicated on the polyps NOT melting away. I've experienced this in my foray into the market.




This is mostly true IF you are at local small frag swaps. But shows like MACNA and the latest phenomena Reef-a Palozza it's mostly the online elites that show and they command the same high prices there. The best bet is to wait till the end of the show and bargain with them. HOWEVER, if you try bargaining for ONE coral don't expect to get much of a price drop. Talk to them about 8 or 10 frags and you will have better luck.

Take this advice from a guy that's been in the marine aquarium hobby and business for 50 years.

Dick

I know lots of people that sell lots of coral that Do Not have Fancy Websites, Do Not go to MACNA or RAP, and Spend Zero Dollars on Marketing.

They Sell at Frag Swaps, Sell on Local Websites, Sell to the LFS, or Do Facebook Auctions.

So it can be done

 

[Amphibious]

Most of the elite dealers won't fall for low balling. That's not what I meant when I said bargain. You need to tactful and realize these guys are pros in their own mind. You need to deal in volume. Eight to ten corals from one dealer. The last time I did this I wanted a couple of frags from a Miami dealer who was known for his high price attitude. I asked for a discount as he was tearing down his display. If you've been to any number of shows you know that is like a sea of employees bagging and stashing corals. He said no deals, he'd take them back. I said, "I'm not talking about one or two corals". He said, how many? Without thinking much about it I said ten or twelve. He grabbed one of his employees and said bag this guy's choice of corals.

I began picking, he began bagging. In the confusion, things got a little crazy. There was only two I really wanted BUT, I sell corals and i'd just move the rest. So I wound up with 10 bagged up. He looked at them and said $350. I said no deal, $200. He said to his employee, put them away to take back. I said $250. He said, okay put them in his styro. This was $500 worth of corals at the beginning of the show. It works. You just have to know how to handle a deal under pressure. He didn't really want to take them back. No dealer does. But you can't low ball them on one or two corals. That's an insult. He had a decent show, money wise because I had talked to him the end of the first day. Here was a $250 added shot to his ego at the last minute. It was a win/win situation. That's what you have to offer.

 

[Amphibious]

I know lots of people that sell lots of coral that Do Not have Fancy Websites, Do Not go to MACNA or RAP, and Spend Zero Dollars on Marketing. They Sell at Frag Swaps, Sell on Local Websites, Sell to the LFS, or Do Facebook Auctions. So it can be done

I didn't say it can't be done BUT they are not getting top dollar. They low ball the market. Nothing wrong with that. That is why I stated above, "Patience in your search is key."

Dick

 

[rock_lobster]

zoas are pretty cheap... chalices and shrooms are way more pricey. Not to mention zoas are also pretty volatile. Whole colonies can melt away overnight the supply on some zoas is getting quite tight. Its nearly impossible to find true bowsers or stratosphere.

 

[that Reef Guy]

zoas are pretty cheap... chalices and shrooms are way more pricey. Not to mention zoas are also pretty volatile. Whole colonies can melt away overnight the supply on some zoas is getting quite tight. Its nearly impossible to find true bowsers or stratosphere.

I disagree.

There are cheap and expensive everything.

You can get a Wild Rock of Zoanthids for like 10 Cents a Polyp.

And a Single Polyp Sold for $2,500

I can get Chalices Cheap ($10) and I can get Mushrooms for $1 Each.

And there are Chalices and Mushrooms that Cost Thousands.

So I do not get why you call Zoanthids Cheap?

I also have lost a ton of Chalices and Mushrooms but it is very rare for me to loose Zoanthids so I have to disagree on that statement too.