Buying frags from LARK member read this first...

[carym]

Ok, so let start a thread that contains useful information about how we as sellers, sell frags and what buyers can expect. Post useful information about pricing frags, what you expect from buyers and maybe why you sell the frags the way you do.

Lets set expectations so nobody is disappointed in what they are getting.

[carym]

Ok, so I started this, I better post first...

Why I sell frags....
I try and sell frags of pieces that grow well in my tank, I am not looking at making huge amounts of dollars, I am looking to help other get pieces they want at reasonable prices. Granted I do look to fund my habit, being that I am looking for fair prices and from what I sell I usually buy more corals or other items for the tank.

What I don't like when selling corals....
As some of you have figured out, I hate selling a coral to somebody and having it sold right away to somebody else for more dollars, if I wanted the money I would have sold it to you for the higher dollars and that way the other person wouldn't want to spend the dollars for yours. Like I have said I am not out to make money I want to spread the wealth of corals...

Pricing frags....
I try and be reasonable with pricing and I hope Matt Hanson posts his thread about pricing here, I believe most of us follow this and when we start getting new and different corals in some of that pricing may change slightly to adjust to higher priced corals being introduced.

Buyer beware....
I don't check and see that your tank can handle the corals, I think it is the buyers responsibility to make sure of what they are buying before they purchase it.

On an ending note...
What I thought was common sense and when I got frustrated with how things were handled were probably my fault, sorry if I ticked anyone off but now things are stated in facts, please if you want to buy something please do and I know you will be happy with them as I usually try and do frags well in advance so they have time to heal and start growing in the frag system.

Oh and right now no I don't ship corals and if I start doing that it probably will not follow the rules stated hear.

Thanks for listening and hope this helps guide future transactions

I don't mind if you grow the corals you get from me, then frag them and sell the frags, that is what I want...

[hansmatt]

Copied from an earlier thread of mine...with a few updates
Buying Frags...some tips


Many of us sell pieces of our reef to help trim it and prevent overgrowth, to help other reefers get some new pieces, and also to help fund our own coral addiction. You cannot make much money at it, but you might be able to get a few new pieces in the process. If I walk away from a meeting with more money in my pocket than I came with, that's surprising.

Here are a few pricing guidelines that I follow for locally grown pieces...

Around here, most soft corals go for 5-$15 for smaller sized frags like polyps & leathers, xenia, kenya, depending on how available & big they are. There are some rare polyps around here that are more like $5 a polyp, and there are many available (we don't have many people that have these here yet) that are $20-60 a polyp...like Purple People Eaters, Purple Death, Blue Tubbs, Red People eaters, Ring of Fire, and a host of others. Oh, and some of these are fantastic!

SPS like acro frags usually start at $10 for 1/2" pieces, more for bigger frags. Though many of us have purchased 1/2 inch pieces for much, much more, those are rare or unusual pieces. For me, Montipora caps $10 2x2, $50 colonies. Local prices, though less than elsewhere, can often be $40-50 depending on size and rarity. I was tempted to buy a rarer frag from a great regional collector, but it was less than 1/2 ", asking price $80...no thanks. Some of the Superman, Pokerstar, MaiTai, sunrise montiporas are easliy $60 for a dime sized frag, sometimes double that. That said, some of these corals are simply amazing. LE (limited edition), ORA, Tyree, ATL or other named pieces with lineage are often the priciest of pieces, but for good reason. Many of these are tank raised and thrive with the best colors under captive growth conditions. Many of the wild colonies, or even maricultured ones, don't adapt well to tank life. I've had several direct imports die with optimal conditions, and for no apparent reason. Go cultured/tank raised if possible.

LPS can go for maybe $5-15 a head for trumpets/candycanes, hammers, frogspawn, and full 4-8 head colony's for $20-50. Acans, blastos...probably start at $10-15 a polyp...often $50 a polyp or more even locally. There are frequently $3-600 colonies available for acans, and blastos are often $80 for 2-3 polyps. A small colony of 2 heads often starts at $40, and can be much more. Plates, brains, lobos, depends on the colony, maybe $20-40. Chalices & Echidnas etc? how much do you want to pay...$50-200? How about the $2000, one eyed dime size frag of the My Miami Chalice from World Wide Corals in Orlando?

Know what you want, and how much you are willing to spend. We are getting more and more new and interesting corals locally. Many of our frags pre-sell before the meetings, which make the meetings themselves more enjoyable and easier for all. If you see something online or in someones tank, ask about it, they might frag one for you. All of us want to help others, but also don't want to frag everyting so our own displays are mangled. There are some pieces that people just don't want to frag, for whatever reasons. Respect that. If you want something, know you might have to pay more, or go elsewhere.

Trades...this is a fantastic way to grow you system for much less money. Work out a reasonable swap so both parties are happy. I've given pieces to other people, knowing that they will return the favor for something I've been eying. I have some outstanding debt too, when a piece grows out enought the first piece will go to that person.

Fosters Smith, Cherry Corals, Dr. Mac's Pacific East Aquaculture are all great retailers that I browse that have good pictures of some of the varieties. Check them out to know what is available, and how much retail price is. Keep in mind you will be paying $40-$60 for shipping & box fees. Seeing retail prices make the local prices much more palatable. Look in the online classifieds for other reefers selling frags, though shipping still can kill the deal. Local shops are getting more and more prime pieces in the store, and for reasonable prices.

Sometimes frags will be fresh cut, which gives you the ability to mount them on a plug or rock where you want them. Mounted frags have the sometimes-advantage of allowing them to heal before you buy them.

For those that are newer to this adventure, ask questions, there are a ton of people willing and eager to help you learn. I hope this gives you some direction. I didn't even mention making the frags...as we'll cover that at at some hands-on demos at the meeting.

For those that frag...are my own thoughts on prices fair and reasonable? Any thoughts to add?

For buyers (I mean all of us)...anything questions? surprises on prices, expectations?

[D.J.]

i think the MOST important thing that needs to be drilled into all newbies to saltwater heads are MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT TO HOUSE AND CARE FOR CORALS.....

i dont like people that try to house things that they shouldnt and end up killin the coral/fish/invert or whatever......

these meetings are held as get togethers and for people to ask more experienced members all the HOWS and WHYS and WHATS to this hobby.

ex...if you just setup a 30g tank and its been runnin for 2 weeks wiht REGULAR AQUARIUM LIGHTS dont go buying corals and tangs to throw into....USE COMMON SENSE and ask other members what you can have or what can be housed...
i mean no one wants to live in a bedroom closet....and think about that with fish too....they need the room o swim and be healthy..

people get themselves into trouble..which is part of learning...but if ya ask first you can save yourself alot of headaches and money and end up with a great lookin and healthy system.