tzsetzse
Community Member
Ok. This post is most likely going to receive severe criticism and that's ok. Why? Because what I'm about to say is almost always true and will be seen as naive by those that cater to the tech, the flash and the desire to, "be-the-first" to possess.
Let's begin. I'm 61, started my 1st marine system back in '89. I read everything Albert Theil ever wrote on the subject. Bought books, magazines, visited Tropicorium in Romulus, MI, the Waikiki in Honolulu, the Shedd in Chicago and bunches more. I read, questioned and posted in online forums, (The Mining Co, remember them?) and many others.
All this was before I set up my 55 gallon, FOWLR.
I had to have O-3, a controller, learn ORP and spend TONS of dollars insuring I didn't "waste" money with failures.
I read FAMA every month. Scanned all the ads and invested in new stuff all the time. Eventually, I spent myself right out of the hobby and took a 10 year hiatus.
Just as metal halide lighting was over-the-top in pricing, so too, is LED technology today. Six hundred dollars for LEDs on an aluminum strip with twenty dollars worth of electronics. Manufacturers are once again setting the price bar so high the average fella, (or gal) can't afford the hobby, (or so they are believe). Cashing in on the "fad-craze" of 50, 000 hrs of accurate color rendition is SO tempting..."Let's 2nd mortgage the house and buy the top-of-the-line everything". LMBO. Been there and ALMOST done that!:tongue:
With environmentalists creating headaches, passing legislation banning collecting/shipping of more and more species, REEFERS and FO gurus need to be CULTIVATED not INTIMIDATED by the very industry that support them. More rational pricing on better tech is the KEY to introducing MORE hobbyists and MORE revenue into the industry than by creating a NICHE market for the wealthy and/or the insanely hooked, lol.
I'm an old retailer. I would always train my people to turn inventory with fair and competitive pricing. Better to sell 10 @ $100 than only 1 @ $1000! Traffic was our mantra. Today, LFS's hardly carry the high-end dry goods. They are smart. They turn larger margin goods and sell LIVESTOCK. They know folks, "shop" them and then buy from BIG catalog houses online. Today however, those big catalog houses go for the glam and glitter of new tech at outrageous prices. A very efficient skimmer can be made from dull, drab PCV and sold at a modest price but lacks the sizzle of colored plastics, exotic names and claims of mystical performance, all for just $799.00! I'm simply using this as illustration.
I fear that the hobby I loved, (and still do) has become yet another industry money-target. Just look at the thousands of companies vying for your income. When I started, there were very limited sources and products. It's GOOD that today we have such innovation in our market but c'mon....Get the prices in line with the economy, the new guy, (or gal) wanting to START-UP or IMPROVE/UPGRADE thereby broadening the voter base, (against insane lobbying) and create VOLUME sales.
Now, I'll address those that support the "enormous" R&D that go into creating these marvelous, new innovations. Fellas, it ain't rocket science. Water only flows down hill. Spread your R&D costs out over the projection of sales your expensive Marketing/Advertising companies charge you. Oh. Hmm. That new top-off gadget is set to sell @ $399. Probably won't sell that many, huh? Better grab the margin while it's still a "hot" item. Crank up the 4-color glossy ads and CHARGE!
All this is in my opinion, of course.
Let's begin. I'm 61, started my 1st marine system back in '89. I read everything Albert Theil ever wrote on the subject. Bought books, magazines, visited Tropicorium in Romulus, MI, the Waikiki in Honolulu, the Shedd in Chicago and bunches more. I read, questioned and posted in online forums, (The Mining Co, remember them?) and many others.
All this was before I set up my 55 gallon, FOWLR.
I had to have O-3, a controller, learn ORP and spend TONS of dollars insuring I didn't "waste" money with failures.
I read FAMA every month. Scanned all the ads and invested in new stuff all the time. Eventually, I spent myself right out of the hobby and took a 10 year hiatus.
Just as metal halide lighting was over-the-top in pricing, so too, is LED technology today. Six hundred dollars for LEDs on an aluminum strip with twenty dollars worth of electronics. Manufacturers are once again setting the price bar so high the average fella, (or gal) can't afford the hobby, (or so they are believe). Cashing in on the "fad-craze" of 50, 000 hrs of accurate color rendition is SO tempting..."Let's 2nd mortgage the house and buy the top-of-the-line everything". LMBO. Been there and ALMOST done that!:tongue:
With environmentalists creating headaches, passing legislation banning collecting/shipping of more and more species, REEFERS and FO gurus need to be CULTIVATED not INTIMIDATED by the very industry that support them. More rational pricing on better tech is the KEY to introducing MORE hobbyists and MORE revenue into the industry than by creating a NICHE market for the wealthy and/or the insanely hooked, lol.
I'm an old retailer. I would always train my people to turn inventory with fair and competitive pricing. Better to sell 10 @ $100 than only 1 @ $1000! Traffic was our mantra. Today, LFS's hardly carry the high-end dry goods. They are smart. They turn larger margin goods and sell LIVESTOCK. They know folks, "shop" them and then buy from BIG catalog houses online. Today however, those big catalog houses go for the glam and glitter of new tech at outrageous prices. A very efficient skimmer can be made from dull, drab PCV and sold at a modest price but lacks the sizzle of colored plastics, exotic names and claims of mystical performance, all for just $799.00! I'm simply using this as illustration.
I fear that the hobby I loved, (and still do) has become yet another industry money-target. Just look at the thousands of companies vying for your income. When I started, there were very limited sources and products. It's GOOD that today we have such innovation in our market but c'mon....Get the prices in line with the economy, the new guy, (or gal) wanting to START-UP or IMPROVE/UPGRADE thereby broadening the voter base, (against insane lobbying) and create VOLUME sales.
Now, I'll address those that support the "enormous" R&D that go into creating these marvelous, new innovations. Fellas, it ain't rocket science. Water only flows down hill. Spread your R&D costs out over the projection of sales your expensive Marketing/Advertising companies charge you. Oh. Hmm. That new top-off gadget is set to sell @ $399. Probably won't sell that many, huh? Better grab the margin while it's still a "hot" item. Crank up the 4-color glossy ads and CHARGE!
All this is in my opinion, of course.
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