Is it worth importing?

[jhemdal1]

Steve,

Ouch - sorry, I didn't mean to hit so close to home. My wife has asked me to stop telling that joke, because it really more of a truism than a joke. BTW: I typically use it in the context of a public aquarist, but suppose it applies to the private sector as well.


jh

 

[jhemdal1]

Trido,

Sorry - didn't mean to ellicit a diatribe. The joke was a sidebar for Steve. I did not expect a reply from you of "thanks for the info". But to read one that says "tell me something I don't know", well that is going to get me to rise every time<grin>.
A friend of mine was a carpenter - a wholesale fish business we went in on together failed, but he had made a decent part time business making custom wood aquarium stands.
My book, Aquarium Fish Breeding has some basic information about coral propagation and marketing (but it is about 70% devoted to freshwater topics). My Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques book has a bit more information about the marine trade itself, but also has a bunch of info you probably wouldn't need or be interested in (It is not a reef book).

jh

 

[Piero]

jh,
I can sympathize with your confusion, but your initial post strongly indicated that you had not made any effort to do preliminary research, like reading the RC Aquaculture forum. That is why some might find it hard to take your initial questions seriously. An inability to recognize how those particular questions might be interpreted in this particular forum is another indicator.

Sounds like that thread probably had some useful info for you though. Needless to say, it's a good idea to briefly outline any preliminary due diligence you've done in order to demonstrate that you're motivated and not just casually plopping questions in other people's baskets....as sort of a forum etiquette step. I could be wrong. Sry if my choice of words pushed buttons.

Regarding my comment about Jefferson's portrait and gravity in relation to your plan. I think my point was that your post resembled an extremely common scenario...and one that is often unsuccessful, that's all.
_________________
g13 diesel marijuana

 

[trido]

Piero
Is this directed at jh or me? I believe you intended this for me.

I can sympathize with your confusion

Im not confused at all. AS much as a couple people were willing to help answer my question a couple others were also quick to offer advice and comments I wasnt asking for. You were one of them and I am well aware of that. Since you are addressing this to someone else. I believe it is you who are confused.

but your initial post strongly indicated that you had not made any effort to do preliminary research, like reading the RC Aquaculture forum

You are correct. I havent done any preliminary research. It is quite an assumption that I read anything in RC. I dont. I decided to start my research in my favorite forum site. REEFS.ORG

That is why some might find it hard to take your initial questions seriously.An inability to recognize how those particular questions might be interpreted in this particular forum is another indicator.

Again, comments like these can be taken as an insult to my intelligence. When a person starts a new venture, trade, hobby, etc. they ask simple questions. "Is it worth my time to jump through the necessary hoops to import corals" is IMO not a stupid question. As a human ettiquette, maybe you shouldnt be so quick to insult someone when they are trying to learn something new. Forgive me if I didnt know that the industry forum worked by a different set of rules.

Sounds like that thread probably had some useful info for you though. Needless to say, it's a good idea to briefly outline any preliminary due diligence you've done in order to demonstrate that you're motivated and not just casually plopping questions in other people's baskets....as sort of a forum etiquette step

I didnt know that I would need to present a financial plan or some grand idea to ask a question as simple as mine. And yes, I was plopping it out there in hope that someone could teach me something I didnt know. That is what internet forums are for.

Regarding my comment about Jefferson's portrait and gravity in relation to your plan. I think my point was that your post resembled an extremely common scenario...and one that is often unsuccessful, that's all

Again, you are correct. This is a scenario that has been played out across america time and time again. There are always the few that can pull it off though. You seem to have forgotten that. i didnt offer any financial plan or anything because I dont think that is anyones business and hardly believe it is relevant to the topic posted.
To be quite candid. You havent provided me with any helpful information regarding the import of corals at all. You gave me a link about financial feasability of a prop farm. You have however succeeded in insulting me and pi$$ing me off for two days. Im done with this thread. I just thought Id give you something to think about the next time a newbie posts a question that you think is stupid.

 

[rudylbj]

trido,
IMO you have this posted in the wrong forum. I am not trying to offend you, but please think for a moment. You post in the Industry Forum that you wish to get info about importing and selling corals. If someone in the "industry" really took the time to answer your question with any really helpful info wouldn't they be hurting their own business? Sure, you can say that you would be too small and how could you hurt them but everyone such as yourself that gets this same idea and acts upon it in some small way is taking away potential customers to other vendors so think about why they would be willing to post info for free on a public forum. And please think about any transhipper or wholesaler that would be willing to sell a few boxes a year or even a few a month to you, while at the same time supplying legit stores, knowing that his/her actions are deteriorating the very framework that supports them. As more wholesalers sell to folks such as yourself and also direct to the hobbyist via false front web sites, and as it is always difficult to get good stock, the atmosphere is not such that "industry" folks will be willing to offer you any help.

The reality of getting just a few boxes a year will result in you likely, IME, getting a bunch of junk, and headaches. No supplier will send their best stock to someone that orders such small quantities so infrequently. It is the way it is in the livestock business, not trying to be nasty just honest. So, maybe what some folks have tried to tell you is go ahead and act on your dream, but be forewarned that it might not work out quite the way you wish. Poke a finger in the eye of everyone that trys to discourage you, but remember later they were really trying to help you. Grow some frags and be happy with your hobby, sell/trade a few to help cover some costs and acquire new stock, but try to make extra bucks being a coral seller from your basement and you will likely wind up ruining your passion for the hobby you now love.

 

[Anonymous]

I disagree. Locally we have a wholesaler that transships for numerous stores. Some only get a box. Even in the single boxes there's some very collectable pieces. Point being, what may be true to you and your area, may not be true to Trido and his.

 

[Anonymous]

trido,
IMO you have this posted in the wrong forum. I am not trying to offend you, but please think for a moment. You post in the Industry Forum that you wish to get info about importing and selling corals. If someone in the "industry" really took the time to answer your question with any really helpful info wouldn't they be hurting their own business? Sure, you can say that you would be too small and how could you hurt them but everyone such as yourself that gets this same idea and acts upon it in some small way is taking away potential customers to other vendors so think about why they would be willing to post info for free on a public forum.

Thankfully, the above isn't the case, and there are many threads where people are asking for industry/startup advice and they are given it freely by people already in the industry.

And please think about any transhipper or wholesaler that would be willing to sell a few boxes a year or even a few a month to you, while at the same time supplying legit stores, knowing that his/her actions are deteriorating the very framework that supports them. As more wholesalers sell to folks such as yourself and also direct to the hobbyist via false front web sites, and as it is always difficult to get good stock, the atmosphere is not such that "industry" folks will be willing to offer you any help.

Even in this thread there has been help from industry folks.
In Trido's area there isn't much in the way of LFS, so if he does start something up, who are any of us to say it won't grow into something that you might consider legit?

The reality of getting just a few boxes a year will result in you likely, IME, getting a bunch of junk, and headaches. No supplier will send their best stock to someone that orders such small quantities so infrequently.

But they might send stock that is good enough for his small business. As Gresh has already said, it happens all the time in our area.

It is the way it is in the livestock business, not trying to be nasty just honest.

IMO, that is too broad a brush to paint the industry with. There is always someone willing to sell to a potential new market.

 

[HELLYEAH]

Jay,
I have a sadder one.
How do you support a family in the aquarium trade?
Marry a Tongan village girl.
She learns English, gets a job at a hamburger stand and soon surpasses your career .
Yep. My wife now makes 20 bucks an hour , has total insurance benefits, retirement porgrams , paid vacations,etc.,
Steve :?

HA HA HA THATS WHAT I DID!!! BUT MINE NOW WORKS FOR A REALTOR
COMPANY AND DOUBLE MY "VAHE" HAHAHAHAHA

 

[bobimport]

How do you make a million dollars in the fish biz?
start with 2 million