Question for the Bod

[Bandito Aquatics]

So the other day I received this lovely message asking me. Hey you seems to be selling for profit. So we want you to become a Jr sponsor it’s 150. You have till the 15 or tour post will be pulled down. When I complained it wasn’t fair they let me know oh you have till the wind of the month to pay the 150 but on thr 15th we are still going to pull your post. ****ing pointless how would I sell anything if you take down my post.


so I decided no i don’t want to be. Paid member anymore so I won’t be posting in deal and steals. But I asked if I could make other post the bod said it was fine but I couldn’t post in the trading fourm ( you know typical standard bullying) so I said fine whatever so this wonderful morning n wake up to this


So I wasn’t going to make this a thing but now I’m confused. My post yesterday was taken down because it was seen as advertising. I dont know why when I clearly marked the post “not for sale” so now I’m wondering what can post and Not post i can’t put any pictures because if you think about it is all considered advertising why do I have to muzzle my post for vendors or even other growers if they feel that way tell them to post more offer more sale engage Maybe not try and put down a start up. But you know what they say they only hate when you doing great.

 

[ecam]

“... put down a start up”

@Omgnotyouagain You just justified publicly with one line why we are having this discussion.

bottom line as discussed. We are a community setup to conserve the reef and promote responsible reef-keeping. We are also a federal charter non-profit.

please understand that last line. And how it flies in the face of your “start-up”.

a member of a non for profit can not profit off the 501 c3. It’s simple illegal.

We can raise money and put back toward our mission but we can not keep it in our pockets


this simple line again differentiates our normal club activities from vendors. And that vendor designation also protects us and separates activity. They can not be commingled.

You have...
- made hundreds in sales in recent post
- declined a 150 membership that would allow you to continue your for profit activity. Which given your public confirmation that you are a startup is no longer available

- appear to have a never ending supply or super serum that grows back coral weekly.
- offered to “source” corals for other members.
- post no less than 20 corals for sale on a constant basis
- have admitted your a startup

these are all the facts laid bare that made the BOD arrive at our decision.

this will be the last we opine on this since you have justified our actions. If you continue to operate commercially and try to subvert the rules of the forum you will leave us no choice but to remove you from here.

Have a great day

 

[ecam]

And to complete the picture of your convenient narrative. Here are the main points. If you like I can move the entire conversation over to general discussion. Instead of one sided tidbits. The bod operates in complete transparency. So it won’t bother us at all.

 

[ecam]

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

@ecam what is super serum you speak of this trulry the most bazaar claim yet.

yea you said I could post then you took it down so my why question is where the hell can I post my pictures. I don’t care about the paid membership bs I just to be able to share my pictures without them being deleted. You said you moved my post then but it’s gone. And tell me it’s a form of advertising. Wouldn’t any pictures I post be advertising by that logic ? So I’m just confused on where to go and yea I said start up. Thank you the bod has made me realize I should embrace that you think I’m a company thank you. But no I choose not to pay your 150 to post corlas.
Please advise me in which forum or thread you would like me to post my pictures without them being deleted or scrutinized because I’m posting them

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Also what do you mean by source Corals you mean like look for them when I’m out and about I mean you guys do know that I’ve traveled around to different shows in the past and I collect Coral from all over the place so if along my travels I tell somebody again if I see something I’ll pick it up for you is that what you mean I figured I was doing the neighborly thing to do. Is that not allowed

 

[diana a]

Personally I would not pick up a coral to sell for someone who was looking for a particular coral. I might call them or PM them when i see it, and send them a photo where it is. If I know them well and they asked me to buy it for them I would. I wouldn't want to get stuck with it.

Most people post photos of their reef tank and place their corals there. It's nice to watch corals mature....looking back a year or so and comparing it to how it has grown. It's nice to see there reef-scape, fishes and coral just purchased.

Enjoy life....Life is too short

 

[erics210]

Not to get into the whole back and forth, I think what I found the most funny is he doesn't wanna be a paid sponsor/junior sponsor but wants the club site to act as his photo storage.
Only enhanced by ...its mid November and I want my $12 I paid to a non-profit back because I don't wanna be a paid member anymore. lol

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

haha I don’t want to be a paid member anymore paid members of the ability to post in steals and deals and make a post in the trading fourm and other benefits like that but if I’m a paid member and I can’t do that now cause I’m a Business now so whats the point

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Out of curiosity don’t you guys want to see more post paid sponsors barely post on this forum

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

not bod but as a member, I think it is fair to pay the sponsorship IF you are making enough to cover it. if really you are just selling corals you decided you didn't want that's one thing but if you are constantly fragging, purchasing new coral for the sole purpose of deriving additional income. then yes. nothing personal, I don't know you but I have heard you are a good guy and I respect the people that have told me that.

I get it that this might just be fun and not a 'real' business but if you are generating so many ads as claimed, I haven't checked nor will I, it's only fair to the club. if on the other hand you have given away as many corals or more as you sold then maybe this is something they should consider. again I don't have a dog in this fight and I really don't know all the specifics. good luck buddy.

 

[Raptor777]

Out of curiosity, I have one tank which I have to trim and frag on occasion and will put the frags up here for sale. I only have 1 tank and really sell the frags to cover the expense of the hobby. IMO I sell my frags very cheap and will always throw in freebies in every purchase. My question is if I continue to do this will I have to upgrade my account to JR as well. Which is fine but then my prices will have to go up to compensate, which I really don't wanna do. . I am not trying to start anything just want clarification on this.

Thanks BOD for reaching out and clarifying I'm all good here


Thanks
Ryan

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

@mickey thank you I appreciate your answer and respect it. I guess I never considered myself a business hence why I didn’t see the point in paying for a sponsorship since not a lot of sponsors post in this forum I didn’t see the need to do that but you do bring up a valid point

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Out of curiosity, I have one tank which I have to trim and frag and on occasion will put the frags up here for sale. I only have 1 tank and really sell the frags to cover the expense of the hobby. IMO I sell my frags very cheap and will always throw in freebies in every purchase. My question is if I continue to do this will I have to upgrade my account to JR as well. Which is fine but then my prices will have to go up to compensate, which I really don't wanna do. . I am not trying to start anything just want clarification on this.

Thanks
Ryan

@ it’s funny cause I only have two tanks that I actually frag out of a couple have you seen my set up it’s not big at all whatsoever if that so that’s why I found it funny that the bod was telling me I had to pay for jr sponsorship. What I wasn’t ok with the way they told me I guess

 

[amado]

I am also not here to cause any DRAMA but this is a public forum. So here is my opinion. $150 is not a lot of money and it’s to help the club. If you are selling frags and the club is providing you with a platform to sell your frags. Why not just pay the $150 that is less than one piece of coral.If you are good at growing corals and can get extra money buy selling them. Then do it. Just pay the $150 annual fee that is very little money in this hobby.

People pay $200 to put a table at a frag show for 1 day. Being able to sell directly to a local buyers is worth the $150 a year cost.

Paying $150 will also help the club keep moving forward.

I also don’t really care about this and doesn’t effect me in anyway.

 

[Foxchase]

It's a double edge sword in the sense that I absolutely understand what the BOD is saying but say I have 2 tanks full of quickly growing coral, and i constantly have to frag, im gonna wanna sell in order to pay for other stuff I want in the hobby. If that happens more than once a month, would that make me a "business"?
While $150 is not a lot compared to other stuff in this hobby, it's still a substantial difference from the regular membership price.

But my opinion doesn't matter as I'm new to the hobby and can't even afford to direct my funds for a membership YET because Covid messed my life up.

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

@amado the reason not to pay is because I see the response from the paid sponsors. they barley post in this forum and its a bit disappointing but I see all you make valid points it would help the club but in what way. does the club ask its other paid sponsors "hey you should post more" but they came down on me for posting too much.

@Foxchase valid points sir also I still have your coral, but hmm thats something i didn't think of maybe the bod should expand its sponsorship plans

you have jr and gold maybe add a bronze, sliver maybe food for thought