reselling livestock thoughts (1 Viewer)

[Omen]

I just wanna get a census on what people thoughts are about reselling livestock when it comes to pricing. I see that some people post livestock for sale for more expensive or similar to the price when it comes to online pricing or lfs pricing. Take for example you buy a clownish somewhere for 19.99 and you had it for about a year or so. Does the value of the fish becomes more than what you originally bought it for? If so why is it? What factors play a role in this? And if it was more expensive than what its listing at some places wouldn't you rather buy a cheaper one from online or LFS because they are younger fishes there, but they may not be as well fed or as fat. I can see that when it comes to corals thats a different story because it all depends on the colors and the number of heads. But when it comes to fishes I don't see how the same fish but different size costs the same other than shipping expenses.

 

[lr9788]

You have to consider that fact that a fish that has been thriving in a system is already stabilized to aquarium life. For some fish the shipping is a huge gamble. When dealing with wild caught fish you run the risk of them being caught with cyanide and potentially dying a few weeks later for no apparent reason.

 

[Omen]

but just because its thriving in one aquarium doesnt it still run the risking of dying in another? Because each aquarium is different and so are the parameters.

 

[reeflover]

Generally fish, like corals, cost more as you get a larger one. Mated pairs also sell for more than those not. Even though larger fish cost more, there are probably fewer people interested in large fish, as they take up a lot of room, especially once they get to specimen size. When members sell on the boards, they should decide for themselves what to charge, and see if others agree with their assessments by buying from them or not.

 

[kbb0118]

Generally when selling a fish I aim for what I paid for it even though I've done quarantine and it is pretty much guaranteed to do well in it's next home. There are some exceptions to that rule - mainly the more delicate kinds of fish that do not do well shipping and often die from collection wounds or stress (like mandarins, pipefish, WC Banggais, and a few others). Mated pairs or proven breeders are worth the fortune that they cost to a certain extent just because waiting 3 years for a pair to spawn is agonizing.

Your average ocellaris or perc clownfish wouldn't appreciate in value I don't think. They are so widely available.

 

[Omen]

But when your talking about size about a fish regardless a small fish or a large fish still makes it a fish compared to corals where they have individual heads and they can be fragged and multiply. If you try fragging a fish it becomes sushi lol. I am aware that the final decision comes to whoever decides to sell it to establish the price. But to me I think if one fish of the same specimen cost the same it should cost the same somewhere else other than shipping fees since they are livestock.

Generally fish, like corals, cost more as you get a larger one. Mated pairs also sell for more than those not. Even though larger fish cost more, there are probably fewer people interested in large fish, as they take up a lot of room, especially once they get to specimen size. When members sell on the boards, they should decide for themselves what to charge, and see if others agree with their assessments by buying from them or not.

 

[Omen]

Yea I can see it being a demand and supply factor.

Generally when selling a fish I aim for what I paid for it even though I've done quarantine and it is pretty much guaranteed to do well in it's next home. There are some exceptions to that rule - mainly the more delicate kinds of fish that do not do well shipping and often die from collection wounds or stress (like mandarins, pipefish, WC Banggais, and a few others). Mated pairs or proven breeders are worth the fortune that they cost to a certain extent just because waiting 3 years for a pair to spawn is agonizing.

Your average ocellaris or perc clownfish wouldn't appreciate in value I don't think. They are so widely available.

 

[lr9788]

But when your talking about size about a fish regardless a small fish or a large fish still makes it a fish compared to corals where they have individual heads and they can be fragged and multiply. If you try fragging a fish it becomes sushi lol. I am aware that the final decision comes to whoever decides to sell it to establish the price. But to me I think if one fish of the same specimen cost the same it should cost the same somewhere else other than shipping fees since they are livestock.

Are we talking all wild-caught or all captive bred?

If someone breeds fish and raises them for several years in their breeding system then that fish, in my opinion, definitely warrants a higher price tag.

wild-caught i dont agree with so we wont enter that argument

 

[Omen]

being wild caught or tank raised didnt cross my mind I guess. But isnt wild caught always more expensive anyways?

Are we talking all wild-caught or all captive bred?

If someone breeds fish and raises them for several years in their breeding system then that fish, in my opinion, definitely warrants a higher price tag.

wild-caught i dont agree with so we wont enter that argument

 

[lr9788]

I don't have a universal answer but consider

Wild-caught mandarin- ~$20
Captive bred mandarin- ~$60-70

 

[Omen]

What is the source to this pricing? Or is it just generalizing? Also each LFS and have different pricing as well which is why Im wondering why is it like that even if its the same breed and maybe even both are captive or wild but pricing is always different. And if you resale it should it be more expensive then what you paid for it. Cause imo I wouldn't sell a fish for more than what I paid for it cause I just dont see the point in doing that.

I don't have a universal answer but consider

Wild-caught mandarin- ~$20
Captive bred mandarin- ~$60-70

 

[cdness]

Captive bred fish are almost always more expensive due to them eating prepared foods from the start. In the case of mandarins they may even eat prepared foods which is rare to begin with. Also buying captive means you are helping to preserve the reef by not capturing the fish wild...

 

[Merkurfan]

Captive bred fish are almost always more expensive due to them eating prepared foods from the start. In the case of mandarins they may even eat prepared foods which is rare to begin with. Also buying captive means you are helping to preserve the reef by not capturing the fish wild...

Not to mention all the expense of caring for them until they are at a size they can be sold.

 

[Merkurfan]

But when your talking about size about a fish regardless a small fish or a large fish still makes it a fish compared to corals where they have individual heads and they can be fragged and multiply. If you try fragging a fish it becomes sushi lol. I am aware that the final decision comes to whoever decides to sell it to establish the price. But to me I think if one fish of the same specimen cost the same it should cost the same somewhere else other than shipping fees since they are livestock.

If I am following you, you are asking why a LFS might be higher than online. Let me rattle off a few reasons

1 you can see the fish in person
2 many e-tailers do not have 1 fish in inventory and ship out of a wholesalers tanks. Saves um a ton of money
3 Deadloss. It happens to all of us. except the e-tailer with no fish in stock
4 LFS you get to see the fish, feed the fish, and take it home right now.
5 Insurance. It costs a lot more to insure a retail location due to the customer traffic.
6 Rent. Retail costs much more than warehouse. Again. Many online sites are run out of homes or small offices and items are drop shipped.
7 Customer service. In person service over a phone call. 24 hour service including opening the shop at 3 AM so you can get something that can't wait until normal business hours.

 

[reeflover]

If I am following you, you are asking why a LFS might be higher than online. Let me rattle off a few reasons

1 you can see the fish in person
2 many e-tailers do not have 1 fish in inventory and ship out of a wholesalers tanks. Saves um a ton of money
3 Deadloss. It happens to all of us. except the e-tailer with no fish in stock
4 LFS you get to see the fish, feed the fish, and take it home right now.
5 Insurance. It costs a lot more to insure a retail location due to the customer traffic.
6 Rent. Retail costs much more than warehouse. Again. Many online sites are run out of homes or small offices and items are drop shipped.
7 Customer service. In person service over a phone call. 24 hour service including opening the shop at 3 AM so you can get something that can't wait until normal business hours.

Clint, you forgot salaries. LFS needs employees to work and bag fish, feed fish, change water, and they would like to be able to feed their families as a result of doing these activities.

 

[reeflover]

But when your talking about size about a fish regardless a small fish or a large fish still makes it a fish...

It costs more to ship a large fish than it does to ship a small fish for one. That is because you might only be able to ship one big fish in a box where you could have gotten 50 small fish in the same box.

Also, wholesalers pay more for larger fish and in turn sell them for more. Usually they are graded as small, medium, large, extra large and show/specimen size.

 

[Merkurfan]

Clint, you forgot salaries. LFS needs employees to work and bag fish, feed fish, change water, and they would like to be able to feed their families as a result of doing these activities.

oh ya! i forgot! mainly because I don't get one

 

[Omen]

1)No I was saying "I see that some people post livestock for sale for more expensive or similar to the price when it comes to online pricing or lfs pricing." What I said was that I sometimes see fish being sold for MORE than what lfs or online would sell them for. Also what factors may play the role of the price.
2)Also why isn't there a universal price for them in different fish stores if they are the same species and are raised in the same environment such as tank or wild caught.

 

[Omen]

I already mentioned that I am aware of shipping costs "But to me I think if one fish of the same specimen cost the same it should cost the same somewhere else other than shipping fees since they are livestock." But I dont understand how on 2 different scenarios the fish are priced differently. (I am aware that the determination of the price is up to the seller and buyer agreement)
1) store A and store B have the same fish same size same species but are priced differently.
2) lets say you buy a fish and after a year you wanna sell it. Wouldn't you sell it for cheaper or same cost as what you paid? But I have seen where the fish is being sold for more then what was paid.

Its like a car. You buy it and you drive it after a year the value is decreased even if you had to feed it which is gas in this situation. You wont be able to sell it for more than what you paid for.

It costs more to ship a large fish than it does to ship a small fish for one. That is because you might only be able to ship one big fish in a box where you could have gotten 50 small fish in the same box.

Also, wholesalers pay more for larger fish and in turn sell them for more. Usually they are graded as small, medium, large, extra large and show/specimen size.

 

[Merkurfan]

1)No I was saying "I see that some people post livestock for sale for more expensive or similar to the price when it comes to online pricing or lfs pricing." What I said was that I sometimes see fish being sold for MORE than what lfs or online would sell them for. Also what factors may play the role of the price.
2)Also why isn't there a universal price for them in different fish stores if they are the same species and are raised in the same environment such as tank or wild caught.

1) everyone prices things at what they want.
2) see number one.

To elabrate on #2

Fish come from many parts of the world, shipping costs very almost daily, overhead is different from business to business. Some might be paying 10,000 a month in rent, some may be paying nothing. Some may have 5 employees some might have 1 very underpaid owner.

The fish it's self may start out at the same price from the same collector but there are many hands it passes through on it's way to you. Each set of hands adds it's own costs to the price of the fish.