Should people that own fish/coral stores be allowed to buy from members on MR?

[2slo4me]

I personally think it is "bad form" for a vendor to purchase corals from a member for resale.

As a vendor and business owner, we should be working for the members of MR, not the other way around.

well said... +1

 

[CIA]

I don't think vendors should be allowed to buy from members for the purpose of resale. For example, a member is breaking down his tank and is selling live rock for $2lb. A vendor will buy it and resell it to the same members on MR for $4lbs. So, if someone is looking to buy lr and missed the deal, they will either have to wait for another deal or pay. This was a problem in the past but not so much now since everyone is breaking down their tank.

 

[Bahamian1999]

Good Point Brendan......I agree!

 

[Quang]

I believe:

a) Vendors should be allowed to do whatever they want.
b) Admins of this website should be allowed to do whatever they want.

In the end, whoever is providing better services to MR members (for vendors, this means increased sales and longevity, and for admins, this means continuing membership and participation) will win out.

If a member doesn't like what a vendor/admin is doing, please feel free to stop doing business with the vendor, or leave the website.

Lastly, I believe each member should communicate and provide transparency (via threads and posts) to help the community as a whole decide who's providing the better service.

Keep in mind, don't believe what everyone says. Trust those you know. Get to know those you don't.

Enough with the drama. Sheesh.

 

[D1J8Z]

I understand what everyone is trying to get at with the whole whats "fair" and not . But everyone needs to remember it comes down to the seller to decide who gets what. Personally I feel some vendors do abuse the privilege of seeing rare corals,inverts,clams,live rock and even fish at a good price purchasing them and charging a whole lot more for them but once again its all on the sellers choice to sell it to the vendor or not and on the other hand its on the a future buyer to pay the obnoxiously jacked up prices.

Free items being resold is a whole different discussion and I think 99.9% of us are on the same page on that topic.

 

[gcfishreef]

#1

 

[D1J8Z]

When I use the word "abuse" I mean they see a good deal and jump on it just because they know they can turn a profit.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I don't think vendors should be allowed to buy from members for the purpose of resale. For example, a member is breaking down his tank and is selling live rock for $2lb. A vendor will buy it and resell it to the same members on MR for $4lbs. So, if someone is looking to buy lr and missed the deal, they will either have to wait for another deal or pay. This was a problem in the past but not so much now since everyone is breaking down their tank.

What if the seller really wants to sell it fast and know that the buyer is a vendor?

Couple times, I have been asked to buy their whole setup because they don't want to deal with individual member anymore who happens to be making all the crazy schedules and empty appointments. I think the seller should decide on their own and buyers should be up front with who they are, and that's it.

There is no point of controlling anyone(both seller and buyer) for doing things that are within the realm of law.

If the seller really don't want to sell to vendor, nor letting other member to make a profit of their stuff, he should be up front in his post that "vendor forbidden", "member thinking of making profit forbidden", "newbies only", "tank over 100G is a must", "member getting this special offer must show proof of income"(exaggerating here)), and so forth-much like we lay out rules in our own offer such as "must be picked up before..", "must PP in full", "first come first serve" .....

 

[Josh]

Couple times, I have been asked to buy their whole setup because they don't want to deal with individual member anymore who happens to be making all the crazy schedules and empty appointments. I think the seller should decide on their own and buyers should be up front with who they are, and that's it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, its great that you are providing that service to people.

 

[AlohaTropics]

All common sense and self advice is telling me to not get involved here but I just can't help myself.

IMO, it is the responsibility of the seller to who he wants to sell to. If the seller is truly just trying to help out some people who are starting out new tanks, make it known on your post that you are getting rid of some stuff at good prices to new hobbyists only. Now if a vendor comes in and pretends and lies, that is dispicable and there is a community here for that. That vendor can easily lose all credibility and further more should be put in a "Watch Out For This Guy" board.

Now, if people are just trying to sell their corals at cheap prices because their broke and want to move their livestock or need more space, etc... I think its fine for a vendor to buy it and resell it. Think about this, you just bought a lawnmower and your old one is useless. You don't want to waste time trying to get 10 more bucks for it so you sell it to your neighbor for 20 bucks. Now whether your neighbor fixes it up or whatever, he sells it on ebay for 50 bucks. Your supposed to be pissed because you were a good neighbor? Comeon, I would say good for you! When someone sells something, its so they can move it. Just because someone can then move it at a higher price, your gonna cry about it? After its parted, you should be happy with what you were willing to part it for.

I mean, if I got a good rare piece. Then someone says "Holy Sh$t! Thats piece is awesome, I'll give $500 for it!" I guess if I sold it, I would be a weisel? Comeon, gimme a break.

Again, if your intention is to help out local guys (and I believe new hobbyists should get this kind of help, the guy with the 1000 gallon reef tank that has $50,000 worth of corals should not get this stuff any more than a reselling vendor) then it should be made known in the post and the seller should make sure a potential buyer knows it.

Vendors are just business people, and if they see a deal, why not let them buy it? Rent, ads, costs, we all have families to care for. As long as no one is lying about anything, because then they should be exploited for who they are.

 

[AlohaTropics]

Or why not start a subject room with Selling Cheap to New Hobbyists and restrict Vendors access? Vendors can only purchase on regular selling threads where the seller doesn't care who buys.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Or why not start a subject room with Selling Cheap to New Hobbyists and restrict Vendors access? Vendors can only purchase on regular selling threads where the seller doesn't care who buys.

Interesting idea and may be viable solution.

 

[gcfishreef]

Or why not start a subject room with Selling Cheap to New Hobbyists and restrict Vendors access? Vendors can only purchase on regular selling threads where the seller doesn't care who buys.

Too many not upfont on who they are....
Phoney screen names and so on....

Leave it to the Sellers descrection.....BUT MUST POST IT

 

[damien]

lol

 

[albano]

IMO, it is the responsibility of the seller to who(m) he wants to sell to................Vendors are just business people, and if they see a deal, why not let them buy it? Rent, ads, costs, we all have families to care for. As long as no one is lying about anything, because then they should be exploited for who they are.

100% correct, no further discussion required...please note, I am a auto wholesaler by trade, I buy and sell ANYTHING, that I see a profit in... as for my HOBBY, I have purchased 3 complete 90g systems in the past few months from MR members, I keep what I want and sell off or trade the extra stuff, many members have gotten very good deals from me, and there is NO way (unfortunately) that I'll ever have a PROFIT from this trading. The hope/goal is to help reduce hobby related expenses.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

The weasels are the ones posing as non store owners or saying the stuff is for their personal tanks then you find it for sale in their store, forum, on another site. What it boils down is some people are taking advantage of others generosity, naivety or just plain old goodness and profiting off of it quite a bit. That is a scumbag thing to do.

 

[albano]

The weasels are the ones posing as non store owners or saying the stuff is for their personal tanks then you find it for sale in their store, forum, on another site. What it boils down is some people are taking advantage of others generosity, naivety or just plain old goodness and profiting off of it quite a bit. That is a scumbag thing to do.

+1.... BTW, Chief, without that book in front of your face, you look alot like OBAMA :splitspin

 

[Euroreefer]

I think if you own a fish store, or have direct access to a wholesaler, you should be a registered Vendor. That way, we as members know who we are dealing with from the beginning. Other wise, you are just an underground vendor buying things for dirt cheap and selling for 2x what you paid. LAME

 

[BIG L A]

I don't think its cool for vendors to buy and re-sell at a higher price... I know of one vendor that beat me at buying a frag tank that was sold at a great price, I thought it was a lil crazy but didn't make anything of it... About 3 weeks later I go to the store being that its in Brooklyn and the frag tank wasn't there... The people at the store looked at me like I had ten heads when I mentioned MR (they didn't no what I was talking about)... I think that's straight BS...

 

[marki24]

:fight: