ask from LFS of trade in 265g tank?

[2songbirds]

My 265g was in questionable status before-LFS was under the assumption that it was the main seal that was breaking down, which he said was diffucult to do-told me what type of silicone gun to use and what type of conditions. Ok. But, it "seems" that the bubbles are ONLY in the interior silicone seal of the one corner. I was SOOOOO relieved. Believe me. Now, trade in value that the LFS quoted me before was 387; with the tank being more stabilized, obviously it's up and running and I was originally wanting to sell the entire setup-tank, stand, sump, lids...700 firm....he quoted me 387 for the tank only.

What and how should I approach this issue that the tank is no longer in "emergency" mode and it's obviously worth a lot more? I'm aware, as he let me know through his website that brand new reef ready 265g tank is almost 2k, stand is 500 some...plus plumbing and lids and lights and TAX and UHAUL!!!!!

I stressed to him we are in the need to build an indoor pond asap and need a temp home for the cats, but I truly do NOT want to replace the dang tank. Where that idea came from, idk.

I need help addressing this issue PLEASE and what you think the setup is worth...no lights are included...30g sump, 1000 quiet ones (2), with media. We're keeping the UV light and the FX5 and the rigged up lights. Hood did not come with it originally. But, it's reef ready, worth more than standard. No cracks or major scratches.

 

[quicklynx]

What part of Western PA?

I'm in the market for a 180g plus and I'm in Frederick, MD, which is Northwest MD and close to West PA.

 

[2songbirds]

Sorry=I did not honestly mean this to become a sale thread- I live close to Pittsburgh...30 miles east to be exact. It's up and running. I just took a pic and posted on FB of my cats in there as someone at work actually said to me "sell them, get the money, start small fish again, then resell....I said isn't that like fish trafficking??" He didn't like the connection. I've a rtc and achara in the tank. We need to move them to an indoor tank, if you follow my previous threads. I also had a 125g that hubby REALLY wants to combine all the fish into the 265g into after the pond is built....I said NO. Fish are not compatible. But, hubby and I are still "negiotating".

Why exactly are you in the market for a larger tank, may I ask?

 

[quicklynx]

I did the same thing you all are doing. I negotiated and compromised with my wife. (story below)

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...Expected!-Wife-Will-Allow-180g!-What-to-Stock

I figured once you got your indoor pond setup the other tanks would be available. I think you are about 4 hours away, being closer to Ohio than Maryland.

As for your question, I would consider the fish store to be like a pawn shop at the moment. They are not going to give you anywhere near what you expect or want from it. Even if your tank has been repaired, and you did a good job, they are going to try and get it for the cheapest price possible. You can tell them it is repaired and works fine, but I don't see them going much higher.

Now, you mentioned that is was a potential "trade in." Would you be trading it in for cash or store credit? A lot of places, at least from my experience, will give more for something if you accept store credit, as everything is usually marked up anyways. For example, they may offer you $400 cash, but if you accept store credit they may give you $700-800 towards buying stuff in the store. They will then sell your setup for $1500 or something, make a huge profit, and you use your store credit. They don't lose anything really because you are essentially buying fish/equipment which are marked up sometimes 100%, and if you buy 6 fish at $100 a piece, and some equipment to round out the rest, they really only "paid you" about $400 because that is what they paid for the same stuff you just bought marked up.

It keeps all the money within the store and would make them a larger profit. Trade ins on used cars can work the same way.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense. Sorry if I'm confusing you.

 

[2songbirds]

Honestly, that makes a lot of sense to me-a way I hadn't thought of. I go to the LFS often for frozen food, etc so I guess I would be okay with the store credit as it would last for years, lol. However, the owner was the one who brought up this idea which makes me believe that now there's actually a demand in this area for this size tank and he wants it!! They do a used sale every month or 2ce a month, so I know the tank would be sold then or would be used as one of their display tanks for the larger fish. I just have to email the owner and let him know the change in the tank and we want to sell the entire setup as he was assuming we wanted to replace the tank-meanwhile I didn't say that at all...just the opinion on resealing and type of silicone to use. He was deterring me against resealing it seems in the email and towards trading the tank in, of course.

But, I had put up a post on FB beginning of Oct, no one locally hit on it saying we were going to be selling the big tank for $700 firm. This led me to believe it would be hard to sell due its size, and we decided to keep it and fix it up. Afterwards, ppl started showing interest again, unprovoked such as the case of my LFS. I know this tank is worth a lot more than 387, esp when brand new it's $1900 plus tax at the LFS. Granted, it's used, needs repairs, but it's also up and running obviously with 2 2 foot catfish banging around in it!!! Thus, I thought my request for $700 firm for the set up was a steal, and someone at work said it was way too much-thought he was crazy!! He never saw the tank to know/appreciate how big it is.

But, we were looking at getting a rubbermaid stock tank for the cats, we just can't compromise on the home for them. But, they can't stay in the 265g!! I was the one who had to really talk hubby into getting it. Was supposed to be a forever home for the achara. Well, it looks to be almost too small for even just him. He's bigger than the tank is wide-tail curves inward, been doing that for 2 years now.

I'm east of Pittsburgh, Ohio is to the West of Pittsburgh, and I'm also south of Pittsburgh. It's a smaller town that's why I'm using Pittsburgh as the main city...Greensburg

 

[quicklynx]

Just for reference, the tank itself doesn't seem to be worth much when selling used. I have seen 200 to 300 gallon tanks for under $1 a gallon. It's the stand and condition of the stand, and whether it has a nice canopy,that tend to drive the price up.

I saw a 300 gallon tank with a custom stand for $600 a couple months ago, but the stand was just kind of slapped together with a weak stain job. A 150 gallon with a beautiful oak or cherry stand can net the same price used.

Do you have any threads with pictures of your setup? If you are in Greensburg, you are only 3 hours away. That is not a big deal to take a day and go up there in the future IF you ever did want to sell it.

 

[2songbirds]

I can check and see if there's pics on here, or I can take a couple. Understandably about the price, but also 125 gallons have been selling for $600 around here on CL, which I was shocked at considering years ago when we got the 265g we were going to sell the 125g to our boss for $300!!! We're the only owners of the 125g and it's in perfect condition, so imagine my surprise when I see the current prices of the 125g, even 20g tanks around here are going for $100...I just don't get it. Then my one coworker said our asking price was too high, as he has a 30g... Understandably with the appearance of the setup (stand quality, canopy, etc), but also these are used items and some ppl are trying to recope too much whereas we've just maintained.

The 265g needs work done though, which we were planning on doing if the glass panes had to be torn apart and resealed. The top frame leaks at times on the one side. We fixed the other side a couple years ago. We got it that way not knowing. The top braces in the lids are weakening from the super strong lights I was using (didn't know better). Hubby wanted to look over and reinforce the stand as it's getting older, esp since we were not the original owners, as we look over the 125g and 54g every couple of years as well. The tank and stand are Marineland/Perfecto, black. It's still fairly young, from 2006 and only used once before me which had redslider turtles in. I'm going to talk to another LFS and see about having them look at the tank, pics, etc and see if they think the corner is bad (needs resealed) or if they think it was manufactured that way. I honestly cannot remember as something happened over the summer that knocked out a lot of my short term memory. The other LFS that wants us to trade in the tank said the tank should be fine but also gave me Marinelands' contact info, which I still need to do. They said Marineland is a very brand and lasts a long time.

As for selling it, hubby said for the indoor pond he wants to build will go where the 265g is now, whereas I still wanted it in the garage, but the heating costs will run up too much as it's not done being insulated. We would need to sell it in a timely fashion while swapping tanks, literally.

The LFS inventory catalog had this tank listed at $1987 and the stand was "only" $500 something...that price doesn't includes the lids or sump either. But, we thought about someday we would need to replace the stand, as that was much cheaper than the tank, obviously. Of course the LFS was trying to steer me away from fixing the tank and wanted me to buy a new one, not realizing that tanks ARE fixable!!! I just questioned him what brand of silicone he recommended on such a big project, and if he anyone reputable to come look the tank over for me. I then remembered that this LFS gives 1/3 store credit for fish that we return or "sell" them that are too big. I told hubby I was thinking that's what they were planning on selling my tank for itself, around $800-900. Earlier this year, they had a standard 265g without the corner overflows for just under $1000, was 960 something, and was tank only....

I will look for the pics shortly. I have tons of them on FB, with the sump, if I can get those onto here...but that changes the format of this thread as well. I have to check.