You get what you pay for?! A marketing hype or a reality?

[Aquattro]

I've decided that anyone complaining about my moderating in the future is getting "you get what you pay for" as a reply -lol

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've decided that anyone complaining about my moderating in the future is getting "you get what you pay for" as a reply -lol

Finally something effective came out of this thread.

[Reef Pilot]

Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't. And sometimes people are hesitant to admit they did not get a good deal or made a mistake. But no shortage of opinions from people who have never even used a product, and just spew what seems to be popular. Myself, I would rather just hear from people with direct experience, and wish the others would just listen and try to learn something.

And then there are those that blame a product, instead of their own ineptness. What works great for one person might bomb for someone else.

What would be far more useful is people giving their experience along with some facts and explanation of how they were using a product (or method). And let everyone else make up their own minds about what they want to do. Plus we could better assess whether the person knows what they are doing or not.

Reminds me of stock trading. Worst thing people can do is run with the herd, or listen to popular opinion. Then when they lose all their money they blame the banks, brokers, corporations, markets, etc, and say the system is crooked. In reality, it was their own greed and laziness (lack of analysis and due diligence) that did them in and they got what they deserved.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't. And sometimes people are hesitant to admit they did not get a good deal or made a mistake. But no shortage of opinions from people who have never even used a product, and just spew what seems to be popular. Myself, I would rather just hear from people with direct experience, and wish the others would just listen and try to learn something.

And then there are those that blame a product, instead of their own ineptness. What works great for one person might bomb for someone else.

What would be far more useful is people giving their experience along with some facts and explanation of how they were using a product (or method). And let everyone else make up their own minds about what they want to do. Plus we could better assess whether the person knows what they are doing or not.

Reminds me of stock trading. Worst thing people can do is run with the herd, or listen to popular opinion. Then when they lose all their money they blame the banks, brokers, corporations, markets, etc, and say the system is crooked. In reality, it was their own greed that did them in and they got what they deserved.

Nicely put and I totally agree Forums are all about sharing experiences. Suppose someone comes forth and ask "I am buying a bubble magus, will it work" and someone posts "that's a piece of crap, buy a bubble king"...how helpful is that?

Yah I am a victim of that myself....I have been through lots of bashing for buying less expensive stuffs. I have heard "if you cant afford a refractometer, this hobby is not for you"...really??!! There's certain things that scares off many people, and "you pay what you get for" is one of them. I believe I have no less of a success in my tank with moderate end products than tanks with high end product. Isn't this hobby about taking it slowly? Not everyone starts with big pocket and certain people don't need to scare them off. In the end, its about the husbandry and not on how expensive the equipment are. You shouldn't buy an ebay HOB skimmer but you certainly don't have to buy a deltec.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

You shouldn't buy an ebay HOB skimmer but you certainly don't have to buy a deltec.

I love my Deltec skimmer. So much so I bought another for my next tank build Used of course

Anthony

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

I love my Deltec skimmer. So much so I bought another for my next tank build Used of course

Anthony

When is the thread for new tank build going up?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

As soon as I get the last couple pieces of equipment for it (Jebao)

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

There's certain things that scares off many people, and "you pay what you get for" is one of them. Isn't this hobby about taking it slowly? Not everyone starts with big pocket and certain people don't need to scare them off.

This is an exclusive hobby, like having to own an F40 and an F50 before buying an Enzo, you can have a $h!tload of cash, but if you don't have the creds, money is only going to get you so far.

That being said, I think it tends to be a little too exclusive sometimes. There is this inordinate amount of pressure to upgrade when you have the ability. Raied, I remember the pressure on you to install a sump even though you didn't have the real estate.

I've been frowned upon for trying to ship livestock in many differing ways North, only to have more DOAs than successes. "Then maybe you shouldn't have anything but the hardiest of corals" its been said. Really?!?

Mental health is crucial and making a hobby inaccessible due to x,y and z is a form of exclusivity and I think we should try to be a little more accomodating/understanding to those in the hobby who face challenges. My $0.02.

[Slick Fork]

MRHasan: I'm not really sure what you're looking to achieve with this thread? Vindication that you can get by with budget equipment? A resounding chorus from budget reefers saying "Those who pay premium are idiots"?

There's nothing at all saying a cheap maxijet or some Chinese knockoff can't provide good flow. The difference, for me at least, is that when I buy Tunze equipment I'm buying a history of rock solid performance. I won't be worried that my pump will fail at 2am on a Saturday of a long weekend leaving me scrambling and in a panic. It's not the performance when it works that's the deciding factor for me, it's the peace of mind knowing that I bought a quality product that is statistically less likely to cause a catastrophic failure in my tank. Furthermore, if something does occur I've bought a product with warranty service that is second to none. Some people see more value in buying two cheap pumps in case one fails. Both are valid viewpoints and it comes down to where an individual sees the value.

Same with LED's. My AI SOL's work fine for me for now. They grow coral, they have a measure of controllability. That doesn't mean that there is ZERO value in the extra features of higher end fixtures such as better controllability, less disco effect, a better more metal halide-like shimmer, etc.

We get it, you don't have money because you're a student. Honestly, most of us have been there before and can sympathise. Just because some of us see the value in higher end gear doesn't make us idiots for spending more, and to be honest I'm sure most of us don't care if you want to spend less. To each his/her own.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

MRHasan: I'm not really sure what you're looking to achieve with this thread? Vindication that you can get by with budget equipment? A resounding chorus from budget reefers saying "Those who pay premium are idiots"?

There's nothing at all saying a cheap maxijet or some Chinese knockoff can't provide good flow. The difference, for me at least, is that when I buy Tunze equipment I'm buying a history of rock solid performance. I won't be worried that my pump will fail at 2am on a Saturday of a long weekend leaving me scrambling and in a panic. It's not the performance when it works that's the deciding factor for me, it's the peace of mind knowing that I bought a quality product that is statistically less likely to cause a catastrophic failure in my tank. Furthermore, if something does occur I've bought a product with warranty service that is second to none. Some people see more value in buying two cheap pumps in case one fails. Both are valid viewpoints and it comes down to where an individual sees the value.

Same with LED's. My AI SOL's work fine for me for now. They grow coral, they have a measure of controllability. That doesn't mean that there is ZERO value in the extra features of higher end fixtures such as better controllability, less disco effect, a better more metal halide-like shimmer, etc.

We get it, you don't have money because you're a student. Honestly, most of us have been there before and can sympathise. Just because some of us see the value in higher end gear doesn't make us idiots for spending more, and to be honest I'm sure most of us don't care if you want to spend less. To each his/her own.

Nop my point was not that but my point was its kind of silly to push people to buy expensive stuffs. Its definitely fun to buy fancy stuffs (I bought myself an ATI dimmable fixture ) but there are times where one ask "is bubble magus good" and there will be posts like "piece of crap (cause they are cheap) and you should get bubble king cause you get what you pay for"..... there's very few threads asking "what's your budget...hmm...that's the best you can get within that amount of money but here's some other options in case you were not sure" but rather "hey hey hold of to that, you dont wanna buy that cause its cheap, made in china...go for the more expensive one". That's all I am saying