REEFERS: I'd like to hear what frustrates you most about buying corals online

What frustrates you most about buying corals online?

  • Misleading photos

    Votes: 35 77.8%
  • Lack of price transparency

    Votes: 3 6.7%
  • Poor customer service

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Other (please share)

    Votes: 6 13.3%

  • Total voters
    45

Oscaror

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In my time spent in this hobby, by far the most fun I've had is my time spent shopping for corals, and while I always loved shopping at my LFS there is a kid on Christmas morning feeling I always got shopping online.

But as great as buying corals online can be, it's not without its difficulties at times. I know I've run into my fair share and I'd like to hear yours.

1738573251108.png
 

JonoH

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Flipped too fast, as in being sold too quickly to buy or corals being resold for markups?
Yes, there are commercial coral farms here in AUS, and the ones that have permits to take from the reefs.
Some online retailers will get them in and sell them straight away, so there is no chance for the coral to settle in a tank until you get it home.
I have had so much more success from local aquacultured stuff.
 

JonoH

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photoshop, that is the worst.
I ordered a Hammer on-line in Australia from a guy that was Blue coloured on their website.
Turns out it was heavily edited and looked Brown...

Now i look for the background and Corraline colouring, you can really tell from that.

The other issue i find is corals that are clearly cut and only just glued onto a plug - literally no encrusting at all!
 

PotatoPig

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I’ve done a few live sales for pickup in person, which I feel is, or at least should be, the best case for buying online.

Even then I found a lot of the corals showed up real differently when not under high blues, but the lighting used isn’t obvious though the camera…
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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Yes, there are commercial coral farms here in AUS, and the ones that have permits to take from the reefs.
Some online retailers will get them in and sell them straight away, so there is no chance for the coral to settle in a tank until you get it home.
I have had so much more success from local aquacultured stuff.
Yeah definitely too much going on too quick I can see why wild caught coral tends to do worse, probably just trying to sell it ASAP to lower the risk on their end since if it dies in the buyer's tank they at least made their money even if it's at the buyer's expense :/
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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Colors and size are so misleading with websites. I’m usually disappointed. I typically will only buy from my LFS or through members here with excellent feedback and ratings.
Definitely feel you on that lol, been a lot of times I bought a zoa frag taken under a macro lens not realizing it'd be smaller than my pinkie nail can't even see the thing from a few feet away
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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Shipping is too hard on the corals.
Puts them behind for a good start in your tank.
Has that been the case for everyone you ordered from? I've had better experiences with some than with others, I can't buy from them as a canadian but I really like how tidal gardens packages their frags
Screen Shot 2025-02-04 at 1.01.51 AM.png

Extreme weather cold/hot is a different story though, some months definitely harder to ship than others especially if a seller doesn't insulate the packaging well
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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Charging f ull shipping rates yet refusing to deliver until you buy a minimum of a hundred dollars.
What do you mean, like you place the order but they won't deliver it? Or just making you buy a certain amount to even place an order? Either way sounds scummy lol
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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I ordered a Hammer on-line in Australia from a guy that was Blue coloured on their website.
Turns out it was heavily edited and looked Brown...

Now i look for the background and Corraline colouring, you can really tell from that.

The other issue i find is corals that are clearly cut and only just glued onto a plug - literally no encrusting at all!
Yeah chop shops suck, last thing a coral needs right after getting fragged is the stress of shipping and being thrown into a new system
 
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Oscaror

Oscaror

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I’ve done a few live sales for pickup in person, which I feel is, or at least should be, the best case for buying online.

Even then I found a lot of the corals showed up real differently when not under high blues, but the lighting used isn’t obvious though the camera…
Do you wish sellers would always provide a view of the coral under daylight?
 

Vetekli

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I hate the misleading photos, about half of the retailers that i can order from manipulate the images way too much imo. Feels like a scam. When i was new i was disappointed when i got the corals, now i know better though.
 

Johnd651

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Other... rip and flip practices

I can deal with a coral not looking 100% the same, as long as it survives.
 

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