I was just browsing CL when I replied to a poster wanting a 29 gallon tank. I offered the following and asked him to make an offer.

Tank
Stand
Hood and light
2 Aquaclear 50 filters and some filter media
150w Topfin heater
Air pump with already cut to fit airline
Some decorations

And he replied with an offer of $29 for all of it. Keep in mind that I stated the whole package was only 9 months old, and it all is really clean. Is it just me, or did I get low balled?

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75 Gallon Planted

Yea id say you did. I would have offered closer to 70 to 100

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

Yeah, I sent him an email that said this:

"I respectfully decline your offer".

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75 Gallon Planted

Don't. Blame ya one bit!

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

It would be reasonable if it was just the tank, But you had a lot of extras with it.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Yeah, everything but the fish and water lol.

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75 Gallon Planted

I think I would have offered about $75.00 for it with all the extras.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I am really having to restrain myself and not email the guy again just to firmly point out to him that the sale was for the package and not just the tank with out the light and accessories. I honestly think whoever is willing to only pay a dollar a gallon for an entire set up either hasn't the first clue about aquariums or is trying to buy as cheap as possible only to resell at a profit or.... is trying to screw people over.

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75 Gallon Planted

Ive seen many people buy a setup for cheap and resell to turn a dollar.I am all for making a buck but you have to do so within the means,y know?dont blatantly insult someones intelligence,lol.

I would email them back and ask why they offered such a low p[rice,even offer pics of the setup and tell them you were not sure they understood the ad,its a complete setup,not just the tank.Just to see what they respond with lol.Thats me though.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I probably would have been around the $75 - $80 and possibly higher.

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The guy emailed me back a little bit ago and asked me how much I would sell it for, so I told him $100.

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75 Gallon Planted

Appearantly he did not like my offer. He responded with this:

Hello,

Have you seen the following ads for a 29 gallon aquarium?

29 gallon fish tank aquarium - complete set-up

30 gallon tank


Even a larger aquarium is being sold for less or same of what you are asking for a 29 gallon:

55 gal aquarium/stand/acces

45 Gallon Fish Tank Aquarium


Thanks,


So I emailed him back and told him to buy one of those, lol.

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75 Gallon Planted

You have ever right to ask what you want. On the flip side a buyer can offer anything also. I don't consider it a lowball. I pay about half what a new one would cost. Example is a 10 gal goes for $10, I will pay about 5. For a 20 gal I pay about 10 to 12. Hoods and lights maybe 5.oo for standard hoods and lighting. Everything else I will take it but not pay. I normally will end up selling the accessories or trashing it. I don't reuse much... JMO

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4ea 10 Gal all planted.
20 gal in for repair
Swordtails

Still learning...

With tanks as soon as you walk out of the store with them and accessaries they are considered used. General going rate for full setups will go for 1/3 to 12 of the original costs, lots of times even lower.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

First off, you the seller, must set the original price. You know what you'd like to get out of it. You're going to attract low balling idiots doing it the way you did. Set your price high enough, state it in the ad and expect to dicker a bit. Selling is a game. You have to know the rules and have a plan to come out a winner.

Dick

For myself, i automatically offer less money if there arent pictures. With the way modern technology is today, it takes no more than five minutes to add a pic. If one cannot muster the skills or effort for a photo, im going to low ball you. Pictures tend to mean a better product for sale, imho.

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I have been buying aquaria from CL for about a year now and have to say the price is usually right. I would have no qualms about offering a $1 per gallon if the seller doesn't state a price. You should have asked $75 or $100 if that's what you want, you can always ask less if it doesn't sell. Don't expect the buyers to have your best interests at heart, that is counter intuitive. Most sellers just want to rid themselves of their tanks in fact I have a 55 in the garage that I got for free just for hauling it away.

Sorry, Craigslist is a place to find deals, if you want retail, put it on ebay, or list it in a paper. I've gotten 2 free 30's, a free 10 gal with a sand sifting starfish and clown, and a free 180 off of craigslist. The 180 was tank only, but both 30's came with everything but fish and water. IMHO anything smaller than a 55 gal, for more than $50, I'm skipping the ad (While laughing). Hell, I just saw a ad in my local CL for a free 55gal with a fresh water fish, and a free 20gal to go with it.

Not trying to insult, even though I probably did. People don't look on CL for retail, I'm a CL hound, and only inquire about deals, that's what it's all about. IMHO, your $30 offer was fair, especially with those other two adds he listed. Seems like he's looking for a deal.

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10 gallon fresh setup with 1 giant danio, 3 placos, and 1 guppie.
30 gal bare bottom QT
55 gallon salt setup with a bunch of crabs and snails. false perc clown, diamond goby, lawnmower blenny, a green mandarin, and 1 cleaner shrimp. And a few corals
180 gallon acrylic not setup yet. (Need a few more things before it gets filled with water.)
Tanks not setup, 10, 30, 55 with stand. Either 30 or the 55 will be the sump for the 180

That isn't entirely true. Lets take what you have said for instance (I am not gonna use fish for this one).

I go on Craigslist and I put out an add that I am looking to buy a guitar. I am going to get a lot of responses with prices that will vary anywhere from $50.00 - $1000+. Now lets get a bit more specific. I put an add out that says I am looking for an American Fender Stratocaster. Most of these guitars new cost in the range of $900 - $1000 for a BASIC one. Check the msrp in the link.

Fender American Standard HSS Stratocaster Electric Guitar: Shop Guitars & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Now if I see one that claims to be an American Stratocaster for $100 I would be skeptical.

The same basic idea goes with tanks. Just because one ad is selling their 55 gallon for $100 with some extras, does not mean that $100 for a 29 gallon with extras is not a fair price. Otherwise with the price petsmart and petco sell some of their tanks at, they would get zero business in their fish department. Anywho, you need to think about why is that 55 gallon only $100 does it have leaks, is it going to require a lot of cleaning, Will I need to buy extra supplies in order to maintain it, etc. . . You get the picture.

Would I laugh at some prices of course. Do I think that the asking price of some things are not fair, of course. However, when looking at tanks it is not a fair assessment just to look at price per gallon of water. There are other factors to consider and seeing as how you can purchase a 9 gallon tank for $100 at petsmart. biUbe 9-Gallon Aquarium with Halogen Light - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart
I don't think it is out of the question to be able to get a 29 gallon aquarium with extras for $75 - $100.

Something to think about, and I wouldn't laugh at a tank smaller than 55 gallons going for more than $50 that is just a little absurd.

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I did have to email this guy yesterday who was attempting to sell a 20 gallon tank with no stand and misc low end filtration/lights for $150. He had it listed as "Huge Fish Tank" with only the measurements in inches. I gave him some **** about it just because I was bored and was looking for some cheap entertainment.

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75 Gallon Planted