We are trying to organize a coral swap amongst the members of Talking Reef. At this point we would like to have suggestions for some ground rules for the swap. Maybe we could have all rule suggestions in by 7/1/06. At that point we can decided on the final rule format and setup a registration to figure out how many people are interested and what they have to swap. Obviously the rules would have to be approved by Rob before he would sanction it.

I think we should also have a frag swap committee to oversee these rules and be the mediator in case needed (hopefully they won't be). If I may start this off with the first rule suggestions:


All corals are worth the same dollar amount....NOTHING. This is a voluntary swap therefore I think you should swap at your own risk and it is a friendly swap.
All frag should be photographed with a size reference in the photo. In the case where a photo is not available, an oil painting may be substituted. :rotfl:

good one wildeone....if the oil painting is done by a true artist, the frag will be 3 times bigger by the time the painting is done. hehe...

i think this is a great idea. Right now i only have one thing to trade but i will have more in the future.

I would like add....
Shipping Charges - cost of boxing and shipping will be charged to the one shipping the fragged peaces.. And at no time will shipping be refunded..

Boxing Challenges - i think there should be a guide line for how the frags will be shipped. i just dont know what that should be :-)

Basicly i think that its at your own risk. and if you make a deal without seeing a picture then what you receive is what you receive..

and if you trade a peace of leather for a equal sized peace of xenia then that your choice and should be agreed in a forum for all to see. Is there anyway of making a forum that once you post you post and you cant edit it?? that would be a good way to have a sort of written contract.

that is just my two cents :-)

What kind of time frame? I'm thinking maybe 90 days since it's kinda hot in the south. Gotta ship based on weather.

very good point gwen.

Yeah, 90 days would be good, I was thinking we could be ready mid July actually!

I really like this idea. I would love to share my frags.

like I mentioed trading with region helps save shipping allot if I trade with Ohio or with Rob lol there is no need to pay overnight since it will shop overnight any way but people should be able to trade who they want to just a thought.. also this is a different group then the other forums Rob makes all snpbs check there coats at the door so I don't think we will have those problems,, :cool:

So do you think we could just offer open registration. People post a pic of what they have and what they are looking to get? The we can just kind of open it up and let people hook up?

I like that idea, but the only issue I see is that many people here don't have alot to trade, but I guess they can trade with others that don't have alot to trade.

trading region will always keep it regional. the same 2 guys in north dakota trying to trade versus the hundreds in other areas.

i say open game. you trade what you want. if you dont want to trade something you have then dont. also in my opinion if it matches the size then everything is worth the same ( to some degree ) but i think thats the way it should be becase you are only trading some of what you have not the hole thing. what you cut off will grow back. cost is kind of a touchy place.. i wouldnt look at something i had being costly compared to something because i would still have what i bought.. does that even make since? i guess im looking at this as a way for people to learn more about corals and fragging and trading for stuff that they dont want to pay $40 for a small peace of it.

i hope someone understands what i just said lol :-)

maybe do a exclusive trading for members with more than 100 posts?

packing and shipping can be more than $40.

shipping more than $40? i ship 60 pound transmissions for around $30 just depends on where its going. but i figure shipping frags shouldnt be more than 15 to 20 dollars.. actually i have a UPS account thats why its cheap if we were to walk into a ups store it would probably be over $40..

ah now you see....you have one way of shipping, but you cannot assume that everyone else is willing to drop it off at fedex or ups.

what would be a good way of packing the frags and then what company would be the best to ship it?

I just checked at http://postcalc.usps.gov/ and 3 lb package from Ohio to california overnight is $22. Seems logical that it would be under $25 to ship.

The thermos idea sounds like a good one. Maybe we can all get the same thermoses that way in the end we would all have spent the same on them. And they can be used over and over.....

don't forget the packing.

i like the thermoses idea. and packing is cheap just use old shirts newspapers or whatever you can get your hands on. then all you have to do is recycle what you get. like the thermose..

wal-mart has a soup thermose that might work.

Sites like liveaquaria ship in styrofoam coolers and ship overnight. I think this may be the way to go. Put the frag in several plastic bags (i will bet your LFS will give them to you) and then pack in styrofoam box and ship overnight.

the thermos is a good concept, but if you go back to my earlier post, i said there was dispute over thermos. apparently someone kept a thermos and substitute it with a cheap freebie from campbell soup.

Ha...what a cheap "o"

Do you normally put a plastic bag in the thermos, or put the frag right into the thermos. Just curious since it is stainless steel inside.

you don't put it in a bag, but you put strips of the plastic bag inside the thermos to prevent the frag from slamming around.

I found this one:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004S1CY.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

On Amazon $25. I suppose that is not bad if you get the same back. And you can reuse it to trade more. Says it will stay hot or cold for 24 hours. I also like the idea of limiting it to members that have a certain number of posts. That way you are sure to have somewhat more experienced people involved.

maybe there should be a posting of what state everyone lives in so the cost can be calculated before agreed..

and there is a fish store here that gets about 2 shipments in a week maybe i can get the foam and ship them out to anyone that needs one..

thats a good one. but the main task is to have everyone agree, or their availability to buy same thermos.

maybe post of picture of yourself with the thermos before being able to ship? :-) lol

now would you send just a peace of frag not attached to anything or would you attach it to a rock or something?

rob, you should just put up a section for propagated coral sale and trade. and let the two traders work things out on their own. like rc i guess.
latez

its already there
The Trading Forum
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12

OK, after a few days of thinking, here is my ideas. We can either just trade amongst each other and set it up on our own or, we could setup a trading club where you have to meet certain criteria to join. Such criteria would be that you have so many posts, purchase the suggested shipping equipment, agree to shipping terms, etc.

The later would offer a little protection and you would be working with people you know, the former would give you more people to trade with.

supply & demand, weight for weight, friend for friend!

wish i could join, but im alittle to far away to be in this one!

sounds good, please feel tree o use the trade forum for all trades.

try a Frag for Beer Program

i'll take 2 & raise u 2:rotfl:

sounds good, please feel tree o use the trade forum for all trades.
Rob, ive been feeling this tree for a few hours and there has not been any indication of any will to trade. must i seek a special tree? :eek:

:) smart ass

Wildone, its after 7-1-06 how are the rules going to be organized and decided on?