Live rock prices?

[Kalkbreath]

Anybody notice the rock pricing at the good doctors?
The prices they are selling to the hobbyists delivered , is less then I can buy the same rock and have it sent domestic air to the east cost?
How do you as a retailer explain to your walk in customers why your rock is four times as much per pound?
Two dollars for hand picked Fiji and $3 for Tonga delivered?
The rates for two day air is 2 bucks a pound?
thats 99cents per pound for the rock? Retail!

8O

 

[Kalkbreath]

Okey .......It sounds like two day shipping is included in the price ,
But maybe I read it wrong.
It states they ship two day but additional shipping for next day.

We ship live rock & sand via Federal Express 2nd day air Tuesday and Wednesday. If you prefer next-day and/or Saturday shipping, we will ship Tuesday through Friday for additional shipping charges.

Is standard shipping included in the price?

 

[Fish_dave]

Someone must be drop-shipping it from L.A. for those prices. Those prices are crazy. Kalk, you should find out who is drop-shipping it for them and out them here so all of the brick and mortars can see who is stabbing them in the back on rock pricing.

Dave

 

[Kalkbreath]

Dave you know as well as do I .:wink:
I opened the bag and you can let the cat out..........

 

[Anonymous]

Just say it and be done with it. No more hinting around and beating around the bush.

Don't bring it up and then not say it. That's one of the problems with this forum.

Peace,

Chip

 

[JennM]

Well, I tell them that by hand picking their own rock, *they* get to choose what they're getting. It cures here, so unless they want to buy it right when it comes in and it's still stinky, they don't have the bother of curing it.

I remind them that when they buy online, they have to take the time to be home to receive it, be prepared to re-cure it (even 'cured' rock needs re-curing after shipping) and they aren't paying for whatever rubble gets chipped off depending how the boxes are abused by the carrier.

They can also buy it a bit at a time, carefully choosing each piece, and not having to put out a big pile of money at once if that's a concern.

I got 260 lbs of rock in here 10 days ago and it was gone in less than a week - no problems selling rock here. I can't get it in and out fast enough I sell the rubble too - folks use it for refugiums and for fragging. Very little waste here.

Must be all in the presentation or summink....

Jenn

 

[JennM]

Are you sure the shipping is included? I just looked at their site, they currently have a 'free shipping' offer with orders of $225 or more, but doesn't include live rock or sand... to me that reads that they *do* charge for shipping.

According to their shipping page, rock and sand are shipped standard (2nd day air) for $1.29/lb. You can upgrade to one day air for $1.59 per pound and Saturday for an additional $12.50 per box.

So for a box 22 lbs @ 79.99 (that's $3.63 per pound) add $1.29 per pound for shipping, or $28.38, that would bring the total to $4.92 per pound. Fiji goes for anywhere from $5-7 around here that I've seen (although I don't get out much lately) I don't see that as being that bad vs. retail. If they want next day air, that would bring the total to $5.22/lb - again not that far off from retail, plus the customer doesn't have the benefit of picking and choosing...they will inevitably have some waste from rubble etc., if you factor that 'loss' into the mix, they aren't necessarily any better off ordering sight unseen.

"Lalo" rock is $3.99 before shipping.

"Nano" rock is $4.37 before shipping - way to go charging more for puny pieces Geez and I sell my rubble for less than the big pieces... I'm doing it all wrong apparently :roll:

"Foundation" rock is cheap at $1.71 per pound but it sounds like it's not very 'lively'. If it's been Stateside and being sprayed with saltwater, that just suggests to me that it's been hanging around a while and doesn't have a lot of fresh life on it (that's my opinion only, based on my own personal interpretation of the text description.)

Big show sized pieces pieces $3.68 or $3.67 per pound before shipping.

I could go on, but it's all fairly consistent... IMO it's not that much cheaper as you suggest, for Fiji or Tonga from those dudes versus retail.

Jenn

 

[fishinchick]

I think the thing that keeps a lot of people from saying more than they do in this forum is because they are afraid of being sued.

A lot of people here know a lot of things, but say nothing because of that. Those that know what he's talking about, know who he's talking about ....

Like me

 

[spawner]

You bunch of wimps.

 

[Anonymous]

plus the customer doesn't have the benefit of picking and choosing...they will inevitably have some waste from rubble etc., if you factor that 'loss' into the mix, they aren't necessarily any better off ordering sight unseen.

Let's not forget as well that the box weight is counted in 45lb box or whatever (always has been for me anyway). So the net weight of actual rock is a little lower too. So the customer is not wasting any money on the box when picking up. At least I hope they aren't.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the thing that keeps a lot of people from saying more than they do in this forum is because they are afraid of being sued.

A lot of people here know a lot of things, but say nothing because of that. Those that know what he's talking about, know who he's talking about ....

Like me

Thats all fine, however, I do think we would all be better served by not alluding to things that we don't feel comfortable saying 'out loud'.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the thing that keeps a lot of people from saying more than they do in this forum is because they are afraid of being sued.
A lot of people here know a lot of things, but say nothing because of that. Those that know what he's talking about, know who he's talking about ....

I know, sweets, but what I'm saying is this :

If you know, and you don't want to say anything, fine. Don't put anything in your post saying "Yeah, I know about that, but I can't say anything about it."

That is extremely non-constructive and counter-productive, and has no place in this forum.

Sorry about being a hard-ass, but it's really annoying.

Peace,

Chip

 

[JT]

Unless something has changed in the past year and a half..

Quality Marine drop ships for Fosters & Smith

SDC drop ships for PetSolutions.com

I am sure both drop from other sources as well but these are the primary for these two. The majority of your non-LA livestock etailers drop ship their rock from someone in LA, logistically it's a very efficient and economical way for the customer to save a buck and the etailer to make instant bucks for doing almost NO work.

As a hobbyist, I personally don't like buying rock unseen but the majority of the hobbyists out there shop with their wallet first and few appreciate what makes good live rock good live rock.

 

[dizzy]

What happened to Righty? 8O

 

[Anonymous]

What happened to Righty? 8O

He stopped posting for our sins...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

What happened to Righty? 8O

Streamlined my online board names. Felt like a good time to go with a new one across the boards.

 

[mark@mac]

wow! guess you gotta be an admin to get your name changed when you want! I ask admins about changing my user name after I became "not associated" with MAC, but never received instruction or help in doing so, (hey, somebody's gotta pick on you guys), so now, I've decided to just keep my old name so people know who I am and where I come from....

peace to all,

Mark

 

[Anonymous]

I know a admin, I'll ask for you Mark :lol: What do you want to be called?

 

[Anonymous]

I think the thing that keeps a lot of people from saying more than they do in this forum is because they are afraid of being sued.
A lot of people here know a lot of things, but say nothing because of that. Those that know what he's talking about, know who he's talking about ....

I know, sweets, but what I'm saying is this :

If you know, and you don't want to say anything, fine. Don't put anything in your post saying "Yeah, I know about that, but I can't say anything about it."

That is extremely non-constructive and counter-productive, and has no place in this forum.

Sorry about being a hard-ass, but it's really annoying.

Peace,

Chip

the best defense against a slander/libel suit is the truth. if what you say or type is the truth you have nothing to worry about.

 

[dizzy]

I agree that truth is the best defense. However it is useful to have proof just in case. Like the blue dress used to nail Clinton. :wink: In reality any wholesaler suing someone for exposing them is very likely to do far more harm than good to their business. I would think it is mostly bluffing if they threaten legal action.