What to do when you cannot get rid of corals?

[nea]

So I have a Reefer 250 that has been running for about 5+ years and I have reached a point where I am needing to cut back corals because things are crowding each other out. The issues are these:

a. taking to a local store gives very low ball store credit
b. selling through an app like facebook marketplace or offer up got lots of views but no interest
c. shipping is not plausible or is cost prohibitive
d. not particularly fond of throwing coral in the trash

what does everyone else do when they reach this point?

 

[JNalley]

After re-reading my post, it sounds a bit harsh, and I certainly didn't intend it to be. So I apologize for its tone. What I was trying to convey are basic market principles.

You have a supply and demand problem, you have a very high supply and a very low demand (or at the very least are unable to drum up demand). When businesses run into this problem they run clearance sales with significant mark-downs, which usually brings demand and brings in a customer base.

If this is something you foresee doing long-term, and you want customers, and you want those customers to return later, think of ways in which you can acquire new customers. If this were me, I would take pictures of all of the mother colonies you intend to have for sale, list an approximate size for the frags, and set some ultra-low prices, or even a buy 2 get 2 free kind of thing. Build your reputation and customer base. Kindly ask the people you're doing business with to rate the transaction. Do it all from this forum, or even platforms like offerup, anywhere that gives a seller review. Your review score will go up, and you likely can start asking for higher prices once people know who you are, what you have, and how you do business.

This is the unfortunate situation you find yourself in, and I really am just trying to help you set your own expectations. Large coral businesses list higher prices because they have the means to sit on inventory for a long period of time. Smaller businesses that don't have that capacity generally sell for cheaper. Even here locally, there are 3 stores that sell coral frags, 2 of them are larger facilities, and one of them is smaller, I ALWAYS get better deals at the smaller one, so I go there.

I hope I've at least given you some things to think about, and again, I am only trying to help.

 

[nea]

"worth" is relative. You may think they're worth more, heck you might even see others listing them for more, but if the market is only willing to pay $5 for them, then they're only worth $5. If the market is willing to pay $10 for them, then they're worth $10, and so on. Find the balance between your patience and your greed, if they have to go quickly, you're better off selling them for $5, if not, then wait and sell them for $40, etc. But, keep in mind, 20 $5 sales is also better than 2 $40 sales.

greed has nothing to do with it, would you be willing to part with a coral you know is worth 100 for 5 dollars, seriously? what would you do if there is no market at all?

 

[jeffww]

Frag and mulch them into the substrate. My sand has become like 20% montiopora now. Softies get landfilled.

 

[nea]

After re-reading my post, it sounds a bit harsh, and I certainly didn't intend it to be. So I apologize for its tone. What I was trying to convey are basic market principles.

You have a supply and demand problem, you have a very high supply and a very low demand (or at the very least are unable to drum up demand). When businesses run into this problem they run clearance sales with significant mark-downs, which usually brings demand and brings in a customer base.

If this is something you foresee doing long-term, and you want customers, and you want those customers to return later, think of ways in which you can acquire new customers. If this were me, I would take pictures of all of the mother colonies you intend to have for sale, list an approximate size for the frags, and set some ultra-low prices, or even a buy 2 get 2 free kind of thing. Build your reputation and customer base. Kindly ask the people you're doing business with to rate the transaction. Do it all from this forum, or even platforms like offerup, anywhere that gives a seller review. Your review score will go up, and you likely can start asking for higher prices once people know who you are, what you have, and how you do business.

This is the unfortunate situation you find yourself in, and I really am just trying to help you set your own expectations. Large coral businesses list higher prices because they have the means to sit on inventory for a long period of time. Smaller businesses that don't have that capacity generally sell for cheaper. Even here locally, there are 3 stores that sell coral frags, 2 of them are larger facilities, and one of them is smaller, I ALWAYS get better deals at the smaller one, so I go there.

I hope I've at least given you some things to think about, and again, I am only trying to help.

i appreciate your help, no worries on the tone. thank you for responding and trying to help truly.

 

[nea]

Frag and mulch them into the substrate. My sand has become like 20% montiopora now. Softies get landfilled.

interesting.

 

[nea]

@nea This cite does have a marketplace have you tried that?

i have not. i may try that,

 

[JNalley]

greed has nothing to do with it, would you be willing to part with a coral you know is worth 100 for 5 dollars, seriously? what would you do if there is no market at all?

I already apologized for my tone (which I also see you accepted my apology), but to answer you candidly, yes I would sell a coral I knew was "worth" $100 for $5 if my choices were between that and throwing it out. Heck, I'd give it away to a new reefer if I had to just so I didn't have to throw it out. The reason I used "greed" is because that's exactly what having a price expectation is (any price expectation doesn't have to be exorbitant). I assume you didn't get into this hobby to turn a profit, you got into it because you love it, and you're not getting rid of the whole colony right? so why be unwilling to part with something for a low price? You're still going to have the mother colony around, and you're still going to be able to enjoy the hobby. I just don't see the point in holding out for higher prices when that's the case. If any of my assumptions are wrong you can tell me, I just can't see a reason to not continually lower costs until you sell it.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Do you mention the size of the frags you are selling? If you're selling bigger frags for cheaper than most other places then I'm surprised people aren't buying you out. I would if I didn't live in Canada. I just bought my first two coral frags and I'm shocked at how small they are for the price. I would gladly support local reefers in buying their corals if they suit my tank.

We have a heckuva time with that selling up here...it just doesn't really seem to exist on any scale? FB groups whatever....Thus many of us stuck buying frags , or paying through the nose for higher end larger corals, tank raised or not......
So in thinking....Do we have an Ontario Reef club here on R2R? I've never seen one, but....hmmm....how do we start one? Could be very worthwhile for many of us who want to trade or barter back and forth?!? We've easily got 30 or 40 of us here in province if not more.... @revhtree how do we do this, make our own regional club on the board?

 

[CanuckReefer]

Become a member of a reefer’s group in your area on Facebook. Lots of people post their corals for sale and they always sell fast.

I love buying from Facebook reefers. Prices are great !

I find few out here, Montreal, obviously more friendly lol.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

I sell my frags here on r2r and get some good results, but the current marketplace setup isnt the best.

 

[RMS18]

I toss some away. If the frag isn't a high end piece, then it's not worth the time to post, having people come to the house or bringing to a store for store credit which I'll never use.

 

[DrZoidburg]

@CanuckReefer Kind of same for me living in mountains, where post office is over 20 miles away. No clubs either that I know of. If you've got 40 up there start one?

 

[CanuckReefer]

@CanuckReefer Kind of same for me living in mountains, where post office is over 20 miles away. No clubs either that I know of. If you've got 40 up there start one?

Will do 100%, just need the logistics on how to do so....it's probably on the site somewhere...here we go for the deep dive lol....

 

[Karen00]

We have a heckuva time with that selling up here...it just doesn't really seem to exist on any scale? FB groups whatever....Thus many of us stuck buying frags , or paying through the nose for higher end larger corals, tank raised or not......
So in thinking....Do we have an Ontario Reef club here on R2R? I've never seen one, but....hmmm....how do we start one? Could be very worthwhile for many of us who want to trade or barter back and forth?!? We've easily got 30 or 40 of us here in province if not more.... @revhtree how do we do this, make our own regional club on the board?

Excellent suggestion! We absolutely need something like that for sure. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't seen any groups, etc. on here. I thought maybe I missed the invite or just didn't know where to look. LOL I'm sure FB reef groups/marketplace has its merits but I for one will never give that platform my eyeballs again. I would prefer to hookup with fellow reefers here.

 

[mindme]

that's the issue, they are worth more than that. i had a beautiful purple stylo i asked 150 for because a store would probably have asked way more. I lowered it to 60-80 and still only got views but no interest. shipping would be more than it would cost to sell it.

No offense, but you seem to be confused on the value of things. People aren't buying it because it's not worth it to the majority of people. Just because it sits in a store at higher prices, doesn't mean it's selling all that quickly either, it may have been sitting there for long periods of time.

If you want to sell them quickly, you need to price them as so. Or you can spend the time promoting them over and over until that perfect buyer comes along(since you don't have a store to do it for you) which may take many months to come along, as is the case in the store.

Lower your prices until you find enough people who find it a good deal to deal with the inventory you produce.

 

[DrZoidburg]

doesn't mean it's selling all that quickly either

100% true. Have seen one rock sit for 6 months. Had a bunch of nice things on it. In this time some sps got stn, and came back to good. Each time I visited the price had lowered by 20$. One day it was gone though.

 

[Gtinnel]

It seems like all you are actually asking is where you can spread the word that you have corals you're selling. I didn't see it mentioned but I know a few people who have started selling on eBay and seem to do okay selling that way.

 

[Spare time]

that's the issue, they are worth more than that. i had a beautiful purple stylo i asked 150 for because a store would probably have asked way more. I lowered it to 60-80 and still only got views but no interest. shipping would be more than it would cost to sell it.

The issue with corals like that and stores is that people are often trying to give fast growing sps away, and the profit margin on lfs's in general are not fantastic. Many stores I know order their products in at a 1/3 the price of what they sell them so typically that is the best they'll do (at least at the ones I know)

 

[nea]

thank you all for the ideas and discussion all very appreciated!

 

[Chrisv.]

If nobody wants to buy a $100 coral but they are generally in the market for corals, then it isn't a $100 coral.