SPS frag selling guidelines v1.2

[DiverDude]

While I applaud what you're trying to do here (really !), I just can't see this flying. Point-by-point remarks:

1. Good idea but useless unless there is some way of expressing the lighting conditions in a standardized manner and in which people can understand.

2. The size is the size. If someone wants to offer something rare and people are willing to buy it, then that constitutes a market. It might make more sense to simply say that an accurate size measurement should be posted.

3. Price is what the market will bear. Period. Ridiculously priced frags won't sell. If they DO sell, then the price wasn't ridiculous to someone.

4. Sell should declare if they have been dipped. I prefer to dip my own stuff. Dipping prior to shipment would be a bad idea and causes issues of stress/survivability.

5-9 I more or less agree with.

For what it's worth, I might consider refering to this guide as more of a 'code of ethics' since that's really what it's all about.

<dismount soapbox>

Originally Posted by fencer

The last reefers meeting we talked about some hobbyist selling gudelines for frags. Below are some suggestions. Please feel free to comment and I will compile the ideas:

Guidelines for SPS Frag selling/buying V 1.1

1. Declare lighting conditions picture was taken
- the camera can also make a difference, with white balance
2. Frags should be at least 1/2 inch or larger
- helps the survivability
3. Price is what the market will bear
- guideline for pricing is approximately 1/2-2/3 market value
- price should not be ridiculous
- hobbyist prices should not be over 30.00/Frag...anything over...it better be rare
4. Frags should be pest free / iodine dipped ( at the buyer or the seller end )
- dipped the corals before packaging since this would increase the corals' stress during shipping
5. Frags should be on established bases( sometimes not possible)
- frags should be established and healed before being sold
- Coral growing on the plug is a good indication of health
- Sometimes it is not possible to establish growth on the plug...sometimes I frag/mount/sell this is
more a time issue.
- unmounted frags are less stressed
6. Return policy up to the seller / buyer
- agreed on the communication is key idea and if I knew the person I would be more keen on giving
another frag should the original have problems.
- For private buying and selling there is always risk on each side of the fence, and there should always
be an agreement of expectations before the transaction is made.
7. Picture of the mother colony if possible
8. Disclosure if picture was "photoshopped"
9. Buyer beware. ie: you going to buy a frag from a member that has no pics or reputation. Word of mouth is probably the best thing.