How can we aford to stay in this hobbie

The best way you can get lots of cheap corals, is by trading. Many
LFS's will take your corals in trade, as will other people in the hobby.
Find out if there is a local club in your area.

Plus you will find that different stores have different markups. In
general around here the normal markup from wholesale price on livestock
is 200 to 350%, now this is from the base wholesale price and does not
including shipping charges, box charges heat pack charges ice pack
charges etc.

On the $60 brown coral, one thing to remember is that most LFS's do not
have good conditions to keep corals and they will loose color the
longer they are in the LFS's tanks. That brown coral could be the
brightest blue coral you ever saw in a better tank. Now $60 is to high
depending on the size, but as Wayne said LFS's have a lot of overhead.

The Best suggestion I can give you after finding the club is to find a
good LFS and work with them. If they can help you keep your tank going
well, spending a few more dollars with them can be a good investment
Plus if you ebay a coral for $15 and then pay 40 for shipping, you are
right at that same 60 price.....

kim Gross
www.jensalt.com




I understand what you are saying W.
So what is the typical markup on a coral that costs $25 mail order ?
It just seems that my guy down in FL can get me more for
the dollar versus the guy that's 20 minutes away.

It's frustrating because I do believe in supporting local business but
within reason. I think $60 for a colony of zoo's or $35 for a 2" frag
is to much.

Sorry just venting : )
I am more interested to hear what others do to get $1000's of dollars worth
of corals without spending that much...or do you in the end spend that much
?


"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...

A good pet store will spend time with the customer explaining how to take
care of the aquarium. Pet stores often have to pay almost as much for the
product as one can get mail order. Imagine if you had a pet store, and it
took you 15 minutes to help a customer decide which $2.00 fish they wanted.
Now imagine trying to pay rent with that. Mail order businesses spend very
little time with the customer, and have much lower rent, in fact customers
will often ask for advice at the local pet store, and then use that advice
for purchasing mail order. Most pet stores are not ripping people off with
the price, but most pet stores *are* ripping people off with dishonesty.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



TheRock wrote on 5/12/2006 5:38 PM:

As you can all see by the last post: $400+ dollars for dead rock.

I'm having a dilemma right now. My tank is looking pretty sweet right
now.
However I would like to get more diversity in the tank
by buying different corals...color and form.

WHY DO THE LOCAL FISH SHOPS SELL LITTLE PIECE OF
CRAP CORALS THAT ARE MOSTLY BROWN FOR $60+ DOLLARS.
EBay is getting ridiculous as well...$10 for the coral and $50 to ship.

Don't think I expect to pay $10 for little coral frags all the time
but where does a guy like me look for good deal ?

I feel like these pet shop guys are taking advantage of us more and more
everyday.

Example: Purple up LFS $19
Bigalsonline.com $12

Filters...$60+ dollars
Online ...SAME FILTER NEW...$25

What's up and where do we turn ?

Thanks