That one store..

[powdermonkey]

You keep going back to for "named" sticks. In all the threads and pics being posted makes me ask the question. I've done some looking around and the pics just make me second guess if they are authentic. Also you just don't find to many in one place. I've thought about buying from probably the biggest name out there but their frags look to be in the 1/2-3/4" range and just glued.

 

[Pappy]

Not sure what the question is but my interpretation is.....
Just because its a big name doesn't necessarily mean the quality is better than others. It generally means overpriced for a name and ok quality. No one should sell fresh cuts IMO. My personal experience has been this (please remember I am in Florida and surrounded by lfs's everywhere) buy from a reputable hobbyist versus an Lfs. Prices are always better and almost always better quality. A hobbyist tends to take better care of their stuff versus turn and burn. Just my opinion as I often am disappointed with online vendors and pricing.

 

[Spongie]

Honestly my personal advice, and you may take it or leave it. If you really like something from a reputable seller (be it online, lfs, or hobbyist) buy it. When it comes to a branded product (named coral) there are usually two ways that this is done:

1. A hobbyist or business buys/imports a beautiful and sought after color morph/growth pattern of a certain type of coral and they want to differentiate it from the typical morph/growth if that species. In other words a Tyree coral may have a slightly to drastically more appealing look than the typical imported version of that same species. The name is to show lineage to a (usually) tank tested variation, so that they know precisely what they are going to get. There are other factors t consider but I won't get into all the ways that a setup or photography can affect the appearance of a coral. However ORA Red Planet will look similar in most peoples tanks, therefore you know what you are getting when you buy.

2. A hobbyist, lfs, or online vendor buy/import a coral that has similar but not identical properties to that of an already branded coral. That coral is then re-branded as "the sellers" ... E.G. Meng's Mummy Eye or Cornbread Trash's Mummy Eye. These are no less beautiful (and in some opinion's more beautiful) than the original Mummy Eye. It is a distinguishing mark to let the current buyers or future buyers know which morph they are getting. It isn't meant to be dishonest, it isn't meant to deceive, it is just a marketing tool and ultimately helpful to the hobbyists. Why helpful? Because maybe I like one sellers version of a coral more than I like someone else's version. Maybe I don't want to end up with a slightly drabber version of Mummy eye because someone doesn't specify where it came from.

Like I said though, if you truly like it. Buy it. From a reputable seller. If you aren't comfortable buying fresh cut, ask the seller (if they have the particular version that you are looking for) if they would be willing to hold (with at least partial payment) until the coral has encrusted. The worst they can say is no. Many store fronts and online vendors might not be willing to do this though, as they are relying on paying their bills with throughput (most of them don't make insane markups contrary to popular beliefs). It costs money to keep a large system up and going and that means that the longer a coral sits there, the more money the business has in it. Therefore the more that they would need to charge to turn a profit and feed their children, pay for electricity, and buy those fancy new LEDs.

If you truly don't believe something is legit or has been falsely branded, then don't buy it or at least ask for the lineage. That should remove any doubt, as people who keep track of such things usually remember where/when/from whom they bought a particular coral.