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.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

You could have just summed this up in one phrase..."common sense".

Why do private sellers get the short end of the stick so to speak when it comes to selling frags? Especially (unless I am reading this wrong) how you mention frags cannot be over a certain price. Ridiculous. IMO frags from a private seller should be worth more than a stores in most cases. I have never understood how livestock depreciates so much in our aquariums.

Just let people sell and make deals among themselves. If these things are important to you then ask them of the seller. If they are important to the seller then he can implement them.

[fencer]

Would you pay 50.00 for a 1" frag? if you are I have plenty to sell to you

I think hobbyist should get a price break amongst their peers. We know what we've sunk into this hobby/addiction. Sharing the wealth is not a bad thing. The difference is that a store has to make a profit to survive. A hobbyist makes money to cover supplies or utilities if they are lucky. The commercial guys sell good product and I support them when I can

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

You could have just summed this up in one phrase..."common sense".

Why do private sellers get the short end of the stick so to speak when it comes to selling frags? Especially (unless I am reading this wrong) how you mention frags cannot be over a certain price. Ridiculous. IMO frags from a private seller should be worth more than a stores in most cases. I have never understood how livestock depreciates so much in our aquariums.

Just let people sell and make deals among themselves. If these things are important to you then ask them of the seller. If they are important to the seller then he can implement them.

+1 There is no way to circumvent the supply demand aspect of the market, if you are making these as a guideline for people to follow I see this failing very fast (As Tony stated due to lack of enforcement). Besides, If I spend $250.00 on a chalice frag that has a single eye I'm not going to charge $30.00 for a frag just to be "Nice". If no one buys the frag I'm selling for $250.00 then the price will be lowered until someone will take it, this is basic supply and demand or as Green stated "Common sence".

It would be like posting on a luxury car forum that you think all cars sold from individual seller to individual seller should be 35-50% off market price. No one would ever even contemplate that so why would it work here? Supply and demand dictates price because that's what works, if you would like to try and change Capitalism while your at it be my guest .

[fencer]

These just guidelines not rules...something to think about

Your absolutely right...price is based on what the market will bare

[kien]

A year ago I bought a little 1" frag of something and thought it was the greatest thing. Cheap little piece of SPS to start my collection. My wife took one look at it and said, "WTF?? You bought that little twig for $15? What a rip off!!"

I like buying skin flaps..

[Jeff_]

I think the main point about pricing frags is to be reasonable about it. A 1 eye chalice frag may be worth $250 but keep in mind that it is mostly non limited sps (ie not ORA, Tyrees, GARF Purple Bonsai etc) we are talking about, just colourful pieces without a "special" name. The rare LPS supply is still quite small and theres a substantial demand for pieces and that would justify some of the prices. IMO I don't think its fair to give someone a single polyp and hope it survives for some ridiculous price even if it was well established and personally I wouldn't blow $250 on a single polyp, eye, etc "rare" frag no matter how pretty it is. Livestock doesn't depreciate in our tanks but the point is supporting others in the hobby and keeping the private trade alive by offering pieces at non retail prices.

[fencer]

v1.2 is up

[muck]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

You could have just summed this up in one phrase..."common sense".

Why do private sellers get the short end of the stick so to speak when it comes to selling frags? Especially (unless I am reading this wrong) how you mention frags cannot be over a certain price. Ridiculous. IMO frags from a private seller should be worth more than a stores in most cases. I have never understood how livestock depreciates so much in our aquariums.

Just let people sell and make deals among themselves. If these things are important to you then ask them of the seller. If they are important to the seller then he can implement them.

I have to agree with you Justin. Common sense goes a long way.
Personally I think the whole idea of a guideline is "Bunk".