$50 a polyp rant

[k2parkstar]

This is just a dead horse. Not to be rude to the OP, but this topic pops up every month or two. I don't think there is anything greedy about this hobby. First this is a business for some, if your not in business to make money there is no point having a business. Secondly, we are talking about taking a living organism out of somewhere tropical and transport to the USA. You have to think about time to pay a diver to find coral, boat to get him there. Pack and ship to the US. All cost big money. Then for vendors to get these colony's from wholesalers they pay more than you think. Wholesalers know what corals are going to be popular. No one wants brown stuff. These vendors have to spend a lot on bread and butter corals to even have the opportunity to buy the really nice stuff...which most people want. This is very much a divided hobby. People who have money or are just willing to skimp on other things to spend a lot of money, and then you have people not willing to spend a lot or can't afford it. On R2R you have a solid mix of both people. You can't ask for everything to be in your price range and complain when it's not. Other wise every man would have a Ferrari, a big house, and a huge fish tank with rainbow colors.

 

[OurReef]

Prefer a Diablo not a Ferrari.

 

[KJAG]

This thread is reincarnated every few weeks it seems. The solution is utterly simple: dont buy if you think the price is too high.Problem solved!

 

[SeymourDuncan]

how bout an intrepid w/ a paint job?

 

[OurReef]

how bout an intrepid w/ a paint job?

Lol, nice.

 

[solar]

Im with the op i had a very stocked tank back in 2004 when colonies were not more than 60$

Now the frags of the colonies I had are 60$ if not more.

Im talking about polyp rocks with 60+ polyps, favias the size of softballs,acans that were equally big,sps colonies that were 5-6"..ect

It has become a stupid cycle of naming said item and charging 400% markup imo.

It needs to go back to a normal priced hobby also imo i just started reefing again like 7 months ago and im justed wowed by all the $$ people are charging for things.. Makes me wish i would have kept my tank this whole time id be a millionaire!!!

But not really cause once again i can't see charging more than 60$ for a colony imho.

 

[MimicOcto8]

I do agree about prices being too high. I grow tired or "named" corals. "LE" also drives me crazy, but here's the facts. I've boughten a $150 polyp and the "potential" first 2 baby polyps sold before I even got the $150 polyp in my system.

Some people are extremely talented in this hobby (fantastic frags to name just one of them) other people or most people can't duplicate corals like these pros. So yes they can charge what their skill is worth.

Think of it this way...when you take your broken vehicle to the mechanic and he pops the hood, takes out a screw driver and turns a screw which fixes your problem, then looks at you and says "that'll be $200 please." You don't say "well wait a minute, I could have done that." Of course not. You're not paying for what the mechanic did you're paying for his knowledge and skill.

To make matters worse for the hobby,
Wholesalers caught on to the mark up of corals. I do have to spend 1000's in a order just to find a good "seller" and on top of that the wholesalers like to cherry pick their own corals. Then they frag their corals and try to sell them for Retail prices to businesses. This means the business guy that buys them now has to charge an outrageous price just to make a living.

So for the most part, when a coral has a price tag there's a reason why.

A true "LE" coral has a price tag because the "pro" can barely grow it out himself. For example the Planet Earth tenuis. It's been in grow out for a year and its still not even close to being ready to frag.

In closing,
Skill, difficulty, and rising prices from the source is the reason for high price tags.

By all means wait for a fellow hobbyist to buy it and grow it out for you if you can't afford it right now.

 

[shecter]

Another thing I usually see missed is the fact that if everyone had everything cheap there would be no drive in the hobby for better looking corals. Everyone would have the same cap the same clam sitting next to the same zoas the last 300 people put up. I like a lot of the high end zoas. I can't afford them so I wait or I buy a larger piece and split it with a friend or whatever.there's always ways around the huge pricetag. And like others have said. Nobody is forcing me to buy even though those new rainbow acros are sweet looking. Ill wait until they come down to 60 for a frag or until a friend has one. I liked the car analogy it works well. Id love a diablo as well but drive a subaru lol.

 

[Andrew L]

I think it just depends on fades, cost to get here, rarity etc are why the prices are so high... Also people try to make this a busines which i see is not the best business to have. the cost of matinence time and overall work to keep them alive and sell them out weighs the cost of profit IMO. I think whats better is to grow out your corals keep your main frags and try and prosper the coral through out the hobby while getting some money back. personally I buy corals on color and health sometimes name brand. It just so happens that the ones with most color and beauty are the ones I like and they are the expensive ones.

 

[Bubbles_B]

It is what it is. Nike or ProWings? Hmmm I like Nikes. Its like a financial status. Either your low income, middle-class or wealthy as hell.

 

[dirtycontour]

It is what it is. Nike or ProWings? Hmmm I like Nikes. Its like a financial status. Either your low income, middle-class or wealthy as hell.

That kinda goes against your signature. Just sayin.

 

[Bubbles_B]

That kinda goes against your signature. Just sayin.

That's just opinion. I would kindly go on and say small businesses charge a premium as well. Starbucks is the largest small business and they charge people a huge amount for their products. And a majority are happy with it. I support all small businesses both large and small. So in essence, my signature doesn't really go against itself. IMHO

Did you happen to buy something that passed on? I know the feeling. If it were a perfect world we would barter for such things. Thanks for replying it has opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking.

 

[dirtycontour]

That's just opinion. I would kindly go on and say small businesses charge a premium as well. Starbucks is the largest small business and they charge people a huge amount for their products. And a majority are happy with it. I support all small businesses both large and small. So in essence, my signature doesn't really go against itself. IMHO

Did you happen to buy something that passed on? I know the feeling. If it were a perfect world we would barter for such things. Thanks for replying it has opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking.

I'll assume you are not being sarcastic.

I've never bought any pricey, name brand frags for the fear a $50 zoa polyp would melt away. Some of these frags are absolutely beautiful, but IMO some of the prices are crazy. When vendors sell these frags-OK. When hobbyists sell frags for large amounts of money, it get's under my skin.

 

[swannyson7]

The solution is utterly simple: dont buy if you think the price is too high. Problem solved!

This cannot be reiterated enough!

 

[Macrofan]

My rule of thumb is, if it's more expensive than an Ipad, an Iphone, or even a Kindle Fire ($200), then I'd rather buy one of those electronics because for me they give me more bang for my bucks. But that's just me, I don't judge people who are willing to pay for what they want.

 

[k2parkstar]

When vendors sell these frags-OK. When hobbyists sell frags for large amounts of money, it get's under my skin.

So you are ok with vendors selling these frags at premium prices to fellow hobbyist, but then you wanna buy from them for cheap? How is that fair to your fellow hobbyist? I've bought plenty of high end zoas, and sold many at discounted rates, but I don't sell them cheap. This is an expensive hobby and I use the funds from coral sales to buy more. I would be appalled if I spent $50 per polyp and then you expected me to sell it to you for $10 per polyp just because I'm a hobbyist! I don't charge retail, but I don't give them away either. You say hobbyist should help each other out, how about you help out your fellow hobbyist and pay the $25-$30 per polyp we ask when we've paid $50+ per polyp.

 

[dirtycontour]

The solution is utterly simple: dont buy if you think the price is too high.Problem solved!

I don't.

So you are ok with vendors selling these frags at premium prices to fellow hobbyist, but then you wanna buy from them for cheap?

Yes

 

[Reefer831]

Are you also mad that they make $500 jeans, $10,000 purses, and $1,000,000 Cars? What about multi-million dollar artwork? Etc. Etc.

This is how the world works. A small percentage of people are willing to buy "luxury" items and the rest aren't. It's simple supply and demand, there is nothing to complain about or get worked up over. The only reason someone can possible be angry about the prices is that they are mad they now can't afford a coral they really want(not saying this is you).

Awesome way to put it +1

 

[OurReef]

^^^ I do

And I won't.

 

[dgiglio3087]

Makes sense. I guess I still cling on to the delusion that reefers want to help each other out and it's not just a business.

I cant speak for everyone, but for me personally the most i will charge for a frag is what i paid( usually i can barely get half of what i paid). Meaning if i bought some rastas for $10 per polyp, then the most i will sell frags of that colony for is $10 per polyp. So lets then say i buy some zoas for $50 per polyp, then sell them for $50 per polyp, does that make me money hungry? Obviously i thought it was worth $50 when i bought the first one.

To me the only time this becomes a problem is when someone goes out looking for someone who doesnt know any better, then misrepresents the product with the intent of screwing a beginner over basicly putting a bad name out for the hobby

But honestly i dont see that happening especially on here. Most of the people who do that kind of thing arent around long anyways.