Why are prices so different between vendors?

SereneAquatic · 01/17/2018, 01:48 PM

Is there a reason why the same type of fish can have widely different prices among vendors? It doesn't even seem to be that the vendor is consistently high or low in prices... they are all over the board.

Do vendors just change prices based on what they have in stock at the moment?

I attached a screenshot of prices I found this week on a variety of species. The green blocks indicate the low price for each... and some are very much higher.

Dmorty217 · 01/17/2018, 01:51 PM

Depends on where they get their stock from. What if any the guarantee is, and shipping to name a few.

hkgar · 01/17/2018, 02:02 PM

Are they a broker or to they actually have control of the specimen.

sde1500 · 01/17/2018, 02:10 PM

interesting to note that the two with the majority of the lowest prices also offer a 2 week guarantee.

Tripod1404 · 01/17/2018, 04:21 PM

On top of what others said, it will also depend on for how long the vendor is keeping the fish before putting it up for sale. If I remember correctly LA keeps the fish for at least 2 weeks before putting them up for sale. I know this because I asked LA about a certain fish sometime ago and they said they recently got a batch of that fish but they are under stress reduction protocol and should appear in stock in couple of weeks. Some vendors do not do this and would sell the fish as soon as they arrive. Longer the fish is kept at their facility, higher the price (since they need to feed it and account for the fish that die during this procedure). Most vendors that offer "no-questions" 2 weeks guarantee on their fish do this, since it increases the odds of fish surviving..

Cliving1 · 01/17/2018, 04:25 PM

Pricing is a detailed strategy. Taking into account labor, equipment, sourcing location, freight, taxes etc etc, list is huge and commodity dependent. What works for one may or may not work with another. Then they may have a strategy of being the lowest priced, anything is possible. I would say the strongest influencer is cost of the fish, then you add all the other stuff on top, then determine what margin you are looking to capture.

reef cuber · 01/18/2018, 07:17 AM

May also depend on their overhead and location too.

Uncle99 · 01/18/2018, 12:51 PM

These prices are great, double that in Canada....except for clams which are cheap here...
They get what they can, that's just business....I seen 40 buck differences between two related stores with 20 miles of each other....

Hal · 01/18/2018, 01:19 PM

+1 for all of the above. It's because we live in a free market. Everyone's costs are different for all the reasons listed, so they charge differently. Or maybe they offer more, such as guarantees, follow up advice, or the store does some kind of QT and /or treatment.

One thing that wasn't mentioned was: because they can. A store that lives in an area with wealthy shoppers may mark up prices in part because it won't deter purchases, if done properly.

Conversely, I've also heard that stores that experience high theft tend to raise prices to compensate. I don't think that applies here.

HERE · 01/22/2018, 06:10 AM

May and the origin of the fish and the distance between the delivery of the relevant：celeb2：：celeb2：：celeb2：
http://www.ledsmaster.com/ LedsMaster

Uncle99 · 01/22/2018, 09:39 AM

Like any shopper, your best defense is shopping around and get to know your prices.
Example, yesterday, store 1, fist size golden hammer on a mount was $179.00, yet at store 2, just 20 minutes away, the same piece was $79.00. They way the were both mounted and tagged, indicates to me that the source was likely the same.

hkgar · 01/22/2018, 12:58 PM

Caveat Emptor!

01/17/2018, 01:51 PM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Depends on where they get their stock from. What if any the guarantee is, and shipping to name a few. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

01/17/2018, 02:02 PM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Are they a broker or to they actually have control of the specimen. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

01/17/2018, 02:10 PM	#4
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	interesting to note that the two with the majority of the lowest prices also offer a 2 week guarantee. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

01/18/2018, 01:19 PM	#9
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	+1 for all of the above. It's because we live in a free market. Everyone's costs are different for all the reasons listed, so they charge differently. Or maybe they offer more, such as guarantees, follow up advice, or the store does some kind of QT and /or treatment. One thing that wasn't mentioned was: because they can. A store that lives in an area with wealthy shoppers may mark up prices in part because it won't deter purchases, if done properly. Conversely, I've also heard that stores that experience high theft tend to raise prices to compensate. I don't think that applies here. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

01/22/2018, 06:10 AM	#10
HERE Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 7	emmmmm May and the origin of the fish and the distance between the delivery of the relevant：celeb2：：celeb2：：celeb2： http://www.ledsmaster.com/ LedsMaster

01/17/2018, 04:21 PM	#5
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	On top of what others said, it will also depend on for how long the vendor is keeping the fish before putting it up for sale. If I remember correctly LA keeps the fish for at least 2 weeks before putting them up for sale. I know this because I asked LA about a certain fish sometime ago and they said they recently got a batch of that fish but they are under stress reduction protocol and should appear in stock in couple of weeks. Some vendors do not do this and would sell the fish as soon as they arrive. Longer the fish is kept at their facility, higher the price (since they need to feed it and account for the fish that die during this procedure). Most vendors that offer "no-questions" 2 weeks guarantee on their fish do this, since it increases the odds of fish surviving..

01/17/2018, 04:25 PM	#6
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Pricing is a detailed strategy. Taking into account labor, equipment, sourcing location, freight, taxes etc etc, list is huge and commodity dependent. What works for one may or may not work with another. Then they may have a strategy of being the lowest priced, anything is possible. I would say the strongest influencer is cost of the fish, then you add all the other stuff on top, then determine what margin you are looking to capture.

01/18/2018, 07:17 AM	#7
reef cuber Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 100	May also depend on their overhead and location too.

01/18/2018, 12:51 PM	#8
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	These prices are great, double that in Canada....except for clams which are cheap here... They get what they can, that's just business....I seen 40 buck differences between two related stores with 20 miles of each other....

01/22/2018, 09:39 AM	#11
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Like any shopper, your best defense is shopping around and get to know your prices. Example, yesterday, store 1, fist size golden hammer on a mount was $179.00, yet at store 2, just 20 minutes away, the same piece was $79.00. They way the were both mounted and tagged, indicates to me that the source was likely the same.

01/22/2018, 12:58 PM	#12
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Caveat Emptor! __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels