I think the rise in prices has less to do with the Indo ban and more to do with the interweb...
When I first got into the hobby in 2014, sites like R2R, RC, Nano-Reefs, etc. were already big. And the majority of the talk was how to do this, how can I do that, and hobbyist selling to hobbyists.
Today, to me at least, these communities feel even BIGGER. And I while there's still a lot of how to do this, how can I do that ... but I also see a LOT more 'check out this coral', 'look at that coral' posts as well. And a lot more business/sponsor related auctions, events, sales ... and even just more sponser presence in general.
Bigger community. Better cameras (a lot easier to snap and post a good pic today than it was 10-2 years ago). More retail sellers vying for more online attention. THAT, imho, is the real reason for the sharper price rises in the past few years. The ban just added an extra little drop of fuel onto the fire. Like others have said you want what you can't have.
If Indo reopened and Aussie shut down, I'll bet you we'd miss Aussies and want Indo less. and the price for both would still go up.
When I first got into the hobby in 2014, sites like R2R, RC, Nano-Reefs, etc. were already big. And the majority of the talk was how to do this, how can I do that, and hobbyist selling to hobbyists.
Today, to me at least, these communities feel even BIGGER. And I while there's still a lot of how to do this, how can I do that ... but I also see a LOT more 'check out this coral', 'look at that coral' posts as well. And a lot more business/sponsor related auctions, events, sales ... and even just more sponser presence in general.
Bigger community. Better cameras (a lot easier to snap and post a good pic today than it was 10-2 years ago). More retail sellers vying for more online attention. THAT, imho, is the real reason for the sharper price rises in the past few years. The ban just added an extra little drop of fuel onto the fire. Like others have said you want what you can't have.
If Indo reopened and Aussie shut down, I'll bet you we'd miss Aussies and want Indo less. and the price for both would still go up.