Prices - discussion thread!

[ElGuappo]

i was told earlier we could use "used" ls.

[Ryan_Lap]

So buying livestock from a vendor makes it "new", but from someone else its "used"?

[ElGuappo]

no just using something you may already have.

[michika]

"Used" being anything not coming directly from a vendor. So coming from your own tank, someone else's, etc.

[rocketlily]

I also have a question about rics and mushrooms. The LiveAquaria package of 7 mushrooms/rics contain both. What do you think the value of one mushroom or a rock with 4-5 mushrooms?

[JDigital]

The 75% thing was for hardware only

Livestock pricing was to be based on the J&L or LiveAquaria prices.

This has been in the Rules/Guidelines since the beginning as well.

ADDENDUM A:
Calculating "cost" for livestock/coral that was free (fragged from an existing tank, etc), received in trade, or purchased at wholesale prices, etc.
-Items received free-- an amount will be deducted from your budget equivalent to what that livestock/coral would commonly be sold for in Livestock Classified Forum of Canreef.com or J&L Aquatics if it can not be found in the Buy/Sell Section. If you can not determine a "fair market value" please PM michika or JDigital a pic, along with common name, and we will do our best to give you a "price".
If you don't feel this is satisfactory, you would probably be better off not competing in this contest.
-Items received in trade - Same as above.
-Items purchased at wholesale prices - Same as above.
-Items on which you scored a "good deal"- If you can provide proof of the price you got, cost will be figured at the actual price you paid. If it was a transaction with a private individual, have them hand-write you a receipt, scan it, and post it on your thread.

[sphelps]

Question

If a piece of livestock were to parish or perhaps just removed because of compatibility issues or some other reason can the cost of that piece of livestock be deducted from the budget?

Also same deal with equipment, if something needs to be replaced or removed can it's cost be deducted from the budget?

[AndyL]

I would hope with equipment we would be able to work around problems. After all we're all relying on notorious heaters (I don't think i've heard of a single >100w with a stellar reputation for reliability). And most of us are cutting corners to make the budget work... However there's something to be said for warranty replacement vs upgrading - maybe a 'restocking fee'?

Livestock is a damn good question though, no clue where to go with that one...

[sphelps]

Not to jump the gun here but I would hope that as long as by the end of six months all that matters is that the tank as is, is within budget. After all people who broke tanks didn't count them so... And if you feel livestock shouldn't work the same and someones tank were to crash or something similar they would have no choice but to drop out.

I'm also inquiring because to be honest I've only recently become aware of the whole theme thing and I'm considering removing all livestock and starting over (just livestock though).

[AndyL]

Steve,

I'm not arguing with ya; in fact we share the same point of view, however I'm trying to look at it in terms of the other contestants... I'd love to know that I might be able to toss that mag3 out for an OR3500 - however I'm sure other contestants would be quite upset if I went down that road, especially when the OR's by liveaquaria are cheaper than my used mag3...

Andy