Sand Group Order

[Henry]

As I noted in the previous southdown topic. There is a guy that could bring sand to the Austin meeting. He would be driving down from the Dallas area and would like to have everything prepaid. Price is $15 per #50 bag of southdown. If we could have anyone that wants sand to post the amount here so we can get a total together. thanks

I'm gonna take 6 or 8 bags.


Henry

[cells]

I'll take 2 bags.

[minimasterflash]

I'll take 2.

[rossq]

Hey guys
I'm new to the forum here and it seems really cool!. I really want 2 bags of southdown but i'm only in highschool and my mom won't drive me up to austin to the meeting. So my question is can someone who lives in San Antonio bring back 2 bags and i can pick them up at there house or meet somewhere. Thanks alot!

[R_S_C]

i'll take 4. let me know how you/he wants paid.

[prof]

I am in for four, PM me.

[bozack]

Thanks for the PM Henry.
I will take 4. Let me know how we need to do payment.

[rossq]

Anyone want to help out?

[Henry]

Rossq, I will bring it back for you.
So far it looks like 28bags. I'll email him and see how he wants pymt. I think he wanted paypal prior to the meeting. I'll post with the results. Thanks

Henry

[Trae]

Henry,

I need 10 bags. Paypal is great for me.

Trae

[SuperXdude]

I need 1 bag. I'll pay cash Sunday.


SuperX

[Henry]

Okay looks like 39bags if I can add right.

[Henry]

Okay, just emailed him. confirmed he could bring it down for the meeting on Sunday the 24th. Plz paypal the money to charlesmoncada@satx.rr.com then I'll forward everything to him. Thanks guys. Once Payments are recvd, I'll update here. I would like to send pymt to him no later than Thursday. Plz confirm amt of sand needed as well. thanks

Henry

[rossq]

Hey Henry thanks for the help but somebody else is already gonna bring it down for me. I want 2 bags. Who do i pay. Again thanks.

[serpinski]

I'd like 3 bags.

[Bigreefer]

Ethical question...

Since Austin Aquariums has donated their class room and time to help organize our meeting, is it proper to sell sand with out their permission?

Just a thought.

Jason

[R_S_C]

i would say that since the transaction will take place outside and since austin aquariums does not sell this type of sand then it would be fine. if they sold southdown and we were selling it for cheaper than maybe one would wonder about it.

you just don't want me to have anymore sand do you :P

[Bigreefer]

I will alway have more sand that you. I get it for $1.97 a pound at the Ceader park wal-mart. It's not south down but is the same stuff.

Jason

[alexwolf]

can you mix southdown or add it on top of current? Im not sure what current is, but i jhave pics of it up

[minimasterflash]

Big reefer, 1.97$ a pound? Thats $98.50 per 50# bag, we are getting 50# @ $15 a bag, i think you must have made a typo.

I don't think it would be unethical to sell the sand at the meeting myself. This transaction is for the benefit of club members, this is the exact reason the club was began in the first place. In fact if someone in the club was selling frags of frogspawn for $5, and A.A. was selling them for $20 (assuming same product quality and all) I don't think someone should be forced to buy their inventory at a higher price just because they host our meeting. Don't get me wrong, I'm a patron at A.A. and really like their store.

Henry Did you get my $$??

[SuperXdude]

I need to bump my order up to two bags.

Henry - I sent you a PM. Payment will be sent tonight upon confirmation of 2 bags.

SuperXdude

[Bigreefer]

minimasterflash,

Thanks for the correction but I think every one knew what I meant. Don't cha think?

If we are to continue to have a good relationship with LFS, we need to respect the effort these guys are going through to help us promote our club. I belive we need to at least ask before we offend end. JMO

Jason

[bozack]

Henry,

I just sent you Paypal.

Mike

[Brett Wilson]

I would like 3 bags.
Please let me know if it is too late.
Thanks,
-Brett

[Tim Marvin]

I must have missed this post! I'll take 3 bags if it isn't too late.

[txyaloo]

I'm in for 2 as well... If it isn't too late...

[Henry]

No guys it not too late. Payments and final counts need to made by Mid-night Thursday. This is when I will sending pymt. thanks for all the orders. Sand will be distributed prior to the meeting in the parking lot. We will try to have everything finished as not to interrupt the meeting.

[Henry]

Okay tonight I will be sending money to Cody. All that have not paid please do so ASAP. Once again my paypal address is charlesmoncada@satx.rr.com. Once I get the pymts, I will forward everything on over to him. Thanks once again.

[Charley]

Although there is nothing to gain by responding, I feel I must.

In the first scenario:
If a person were invited to attend a meeting of computer nerds hosted by a store (pick a store, say…. WAL*MART). As part of this meeting, they decide to make a bulk purchase of Dell CPUs at a reduced rate, and before or after the meeting, split them up. Would this be ethical, or moral? After all, WAL*MART sells Sony and Compaq, not Dell.

The second:
The same person, the same meeting, the same store. Now our nerd works at TARGET and is able to purchase and sell Dell computers at a discount because of their work place. Would it be ethical or moral to come to a competitors place of business and “sell” (even if for no gain) products?

If, as I was lead to believe, this is a person who is a member of the club, and is using their connections to bring a product into Austin at a reduced rate, I ask that it be done outside in the parking lot, before or after the meeting.

I am not forcing anyone to buy from me, just that sales like this not be rubbed it in my face.

If, on the other hand, this is a competitor of mine (be they from Austin, Dallas, or Oklahoma), I would hope they would offer me the same professional courtesy I would extend to them, and conduct their business somewhere other than in my parking lot (i.e. the parking lot across the street), or ask my permission to sell goods in front of my store (which I will assure you I would not agree to). I do not think Gallery of Pets would appreciate me selling my wares over at Short Stop, so I do not. No more than Aaron from AquaTek tried to steal my customers when he came over for a tour of the store.

I use the case where Jim Norris so graciously allowed me to speak to the group in his home. Had Jim requested I not, I would have had a great time meeting folks, but would not have “hawked my wares”. Jim knew I was from Austin Aquariums, and maybe in some small way we might be in completion with each other (of course, with Clams like Jim’s there is no competition). I was upfront and honest in seeking permission to address the group as a retailer.



“If you have to ask if something is ethical, it probably isn’t.”, Anonn.

[Trae]

Hello Charley,

I am not and do not stir up stuff. So here is my thoughts and CHARLEY please do not get offended. Nothing here is meant to offend I assure you.

I feel that there are two sides to every story. I am going to the Austin meeting to pick up the sand. My buisness is extremely busy right now and I am working 7 days a week so I would probably not be going to the meeting if it were not for the sand (no time and pregnant wife). So in that case I am using your parking lot for my own benefit.

Now the other side is that I plan on purhcasing something from AA and if I do not go I cannot buy.

1. I liked your stock and did not make it back last time to purchase anything.
2. I believe that for hosting the meeting I should purchase something. Heck it might only be an overflow or a small damsel but since AA graciously is offering to host I plan on purchasing. My purchases are not alot but in Houston at the MARSH meeting where Jim spoke I walked out with around $200 worth of stuff.
3. I got to buy something if I am in a LFS.

Lets see if everyone bought something that would be a good day for AA.

I for one cannot afford 500 lbs of sand for grow out tanks at retail, sorry just not enough margin.

Moving the site is probably a good option. I think that the only reason your site was chosen was a local pickup for us out of towners.

After nearly 4 months of trying to get sand and a heck of a lot of effort on the part of several members I think that this is great. My only question is what did any retailers do to help with this? The more tanks in my house the more I buy and if I can set them up cheaper then I can have more tanks etc.

This is a two way street, you help me and I help you. Their must have been at least one retailer out there who could have forgone margin for some customer appreciation, and I am not pointing a finger at anyone because there are alot of stores in the area.

I am very appreciative of AA for hosting this meeting. Believe me when I say it is alot of effort but worth it (and I did not even have stuff to make money on I only spent money).

Trae

[Charley]

Hey Charley, you don't carry Southdown sand do you?

No Joshua, I do not. I carry live and dead sand, and one of my distributors offered to reduce my cost so I could bring it in as cheap as I could ( http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1589 ). Except for your response, and one or two PMs, no one seemed interested.

Charley

[reefer74]

Ok so maybe I misread your post charley....did you say that Aaron from Aquatek came over and tried to steal your customers, or were you just saying that as an example of what you would not do? If this was the situation then I suggest that you do it on a more personal level....EX. on a PM or in person....rather than post it on a board such as this. I for one would not condone this type of behavior....I happen to be someone who aaron knows, and I don't think you want to call people out on something like that.


Johnny G.

[Charley]

Ok so maybe I misread your post charley....did you say that Aaron from Aquatek came over and tried to steal your customers, or were you just saying that as an example of what you would not do?
Johnny G.

Johnny,

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clear this one quickly. When I said:
“No more than Aaron from AquaTek tried to steal my customers when he came over for a tour of the store.”
I was explaining that Aaron came over to check us out (as I did him before I ever began construction). I was saying the he paid me the courtesy of NOT trying and steal customers, but came over as one fish geek visiting another fish geek.

So sorry if my post did not make sense in that case, and hope this helps. Aaron seems like a nice young man, and I would not want someone to think I felt otherwise.

Charley

[reefer74]

10-4...thank you for clearing that up for me.


Johnny G.

[minimasterflash]

Tanks again Henry for taking care of the Southdown order, I know it can be a hassle sometimes wranglin people and money for a group order and I apperciate it.

-Yancey

[Henry]

Thanks for all that ordered. This order actually went pretty smoothly.

[Tim Marvin]

Henry, did you order sand for me? Sorry I didn't catch you at the meeting. If you have sand for me let me know how to pay you. I'm sorry I didn't get to talk with you at the meeting.

[Henry]

Tim, I do have some extra bags. I think you were looking for three right. If so I can bring those up next time I'm in Austin.

[Tim Marvin]

I ordered 3 yes. If you can sell them don't worry about keeping them for me. I don't want to leave you hanging as I did order them. If you need the money just let me know how you want the money, and I'll get it to you.

[Henry]

I'm in no hurry for the money. I don't mind holding them for you. I will probably be going up to austin this coming weekend unless you need them sooner. Thanks for the order.

Henry

[Tim Marvin]

This weekend is fine. I never need anything in a hurry. I love helping order go through. I always seem to use the stuff or sell it off anyway.

[bozack]

Tim,
I also have some extra sand from the 4 bags I bought.
I have one 50lb bag I haven't opened and probably another 50 lbs I just scooped out of my tank last night and is in a bucket. I might have more if I can't get my water to clear up. My filters and diatom have been running like crazy since Sunday and the water is still way cloudy.

If I could work out a time when I am in town and getting my wife's SUV we could swap for some live rock.

[Tim Marvin]

bozack, thanks for the offer, but right now I have about 1,000 lbs of sand. That should hold me for a while. On second thought..........How much rock are we talking about?

[bozack]

Probably not what you would consider alot.
I'm the one who left ya a message for at least 30 lbs.
Not sure exactly how much 30 lbs looks like as I can't remember how many lbs I already have.
Basically trying to finish off my space in between my overflows on my 150.
I'm thinking 30-50 lbs at least.

[Tim Marvin]

Bozack, I have that much rock if you need it. Walt Smith Premium Fiji runs $3.50 a lbs. until its gone.

[alexwolf]

Do you keep a supply of this rock? I will be needing some in about a month or two

[bozack]

Tim,

Are you around Sunday and Monday?
I'm out of town Sat but would like to pick some up if you are in town for the holiday.

[Tim Marvin]

I'll be around.