Has Supply Exceeded Demand?

[GARRIGA]

Be nice if one were able to buy small colonies for $99 regardless what fancy name they had

 

[eja99]

I’d say it’s a 2 fold problem. One is the supply is way outstripping demand. In the Bay Area there is a new shop that has tons of torches for sale. Starting at $80/head up to $350/head. I don’t mind paying up for something but I’d like it to be unique or something I find interesting. When I see an entire tank of the same coral priced at a premium, I cant imagine what the business strategy is. And this artificial inflated pricing keeps all the prices high/inflated.

The 2nd piece is at some point most hobbyists became side vendors. They would be willing to pay $300, $400, $500 etc for something they could grow, frag and sell later to recoup the cost. I think that mentality has just become the norm now. Recently I saw an ad on CL (posted by a hobbyist), selling some coral. He had nice pieces posted at retail(ish) prices and I was curious to see the coral in person. When I got there he had raised the prices 2-3x. I showed him his own CL ad and noted the prices he had listed, he told me, “oh I’m not selling at those prices.” I said thanks and left. Contrast that with when I first moved here in 2009, I’d go to buy a frag or 2 and leave with like 5 pieces and a new reefing buddy.

It’s a totally different hobby now….

 

[cvicente]

Wholesalers relaxing their requirements for entry is another sign that interest/business is waning.

True !

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

sad that people can’t figure out to give and trade a bit, I find it comes back multiplied I still give out frags to people all the time.

 

[jda]

What has happened the last few downturns is that many of the hobbyists who tried to have basement businesses also quit the hobby when their business was shut down.

 

[OrlandoReef]

Yup, that used to happen a lot with me as well. But now I can't even give coral away in my area because so many people already have frag tanks full of coral, or it is not the expensive "high end" stuff they want.

You in Florida?

 

[Reefer Matt]

You in Florida?

No, lonely Michigan. Surrounded by freshwater.

 

[OrlandoReef]

I have trouble selling gold torch for $50 in Orlando. People rather pay $200 at WWC. LoL. I don't do it for the money. I just have 5+ years old colonies I need to trim. I give out free monti and softies all the time.

I live in Orlando and cycling a tank now 130 gallon I need to stock

 

[ninjamyst]

I live in Orlando and cycling a tank now 130 gallon I need to stock

Hit me up. I got so much stuff at hobbyist price. Example of a $50 torch. Cell phone photo. No orange filter.

 

[katonge]

So the Ocala Reef Club stopped meeting because of Covid but we are working on starting up again, we have members that still chat here. Since we are centrally located between Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa if you guys wanted to join us for a true no sales, trade only frag swap we'd be up for hosting. Just let us know.

I would love to be kept in the loop. Unfortunately at this point the only thing I have to trade is zenia or anthelia.

 

[santeeeyyy]

Then you're not tapped in, or not in the right location. Herr in phoenix there's a healthy community.

Really? I only managed to find myself in the freshwater hobby side of things

 

[santeeeyyy]

We have an active local club azfrag.org if your not a member we’d love to have you

oh yea, I rememmber I tried applying awhile ago but I think the website was broken because I never got a confirmation email or a response or an invoice. I think it was just stuck on the apply page when I filled out all my information

 

[Ef4life]

oh yea, I rememmber I tried applying awhile ago but I think the website was broken because I never got a confirmation email or a response or an invoice. I think it was just stuck on the apply page when I filled out all my information

Bummer, try joining again, next meeting is Nov 18th - we would love to have ya

The Phoenix coralfarmersmarket.com show is also nov18.

I plan on being at both.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Be nice if one were able to buy small colonies for $99 regardless what fancy name they had

I traded 8 nudibranch for the Seattle sparkler top center and the no name green acro to the top left was thrown in with the deal. The deals are out there. By the way, this is someone who sells coral from their house.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Really? I only managed to find myself in the freshwater hobby side of things

There's a meeting this weekend, plus coral farmers market. It's going to be a busy Saturday.

 

[ClayPigeon]

There's a meeting this weekend, plus coral farmers market. It's going to be a busy Saturday.

This weekend? or next weekend? it will be my first meeting as well.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

This weekend? or next weekend? it will be my first meeting as well.

November meeting is at Fate's.

Meeting Dates

Meeting Dates

www.azfrag.org

 

[Ef4life]

This weekend? or next weekend? it will be my first meeting as well.

Nov 18th

 

[Kasrift]

I was thinking about reefing today and how easy it has become to grow coral out for fragging. It seems more and more Reefers are starting coral fragging businesses these days.

I know not everyone shares the same success, but I think those that stick with it will eventually become successful.

With that said, do you think that the coral frag market is oversaturated, balanced, or not enough?

To be honest, there are lots of vendors both local and online nowadays. That being said, it isn't an oversaturated market until prices come down. Still expensive, think about what people charge for a Duncan or easily propagated Bizzaro cyphastrea or Beach bum montipora.

 

[santeeeyyy]

There's a meeting this weekend, plus coral farmers market. It's going to be a busy Saturday.

Coral farmers market??? and also this saturday I will be attending a veterans day parade and I think I will not be available until later in the day around 4-5 pm.