Associating yourself with a dealer a good thing?

[B.Scott]

In general I have always thought that as along as the new water is only slightly higher in temperature there isn't a problem. I would hesitate to place fish in water that was colder however. The former seems to give their system much less of a shock then the later. In a mud pond it is quite natural for fish to move between layers of different temperatures.
B.Scott

[JasonS]

#2 is typically preferred by those in the know.

Aqui -- I'd leap at the chance to help dealers on a regular basis if time permitted.

[Doug Ward]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bob Hart I never liked '3' and couldnt undertand it. Suprisingly, '2' is used by the most experienced dealer and one who is extremely knowledgable and well known. I've only assisted once there and it did suprise me that the bags were not floated. If I remember correctly, he said something along the lines that the Koi were already stressed and after a potential 30-hour bag journey, he wanted them out of that water now and into some good clean stuff. He imports some 75cm+ sized Koi and they all get the same 'service'. Have never seen a Koi in a picture at the shop before the import, not alive in his ponds after the import, so it must work!

#2 was completely correct as long as the bags were the same temp or a LOWER temp than the new tanks. This means they are going into equal, or warmer, water quickly. No problem there at all.
Koiphenators $$$$$$ fish were also done in that way by Mark, Graham and I ( pond was warmer than the shipping bagz)
If you have ALLOT of boxes and the fish are not stressed, floating is a good way to get all of the dang boxes out of the way so you can handle and check the fish !
If the new pond is COLDER than the bags ya can kill them quick and they MUST be floated to cool them down gradually.
That may have been the story with number one...

#3... um..er... I refrain from calling people b00b on this site. ;-)

[erwinsan]

[quote=JasonS

Aqui -- I'd leap at the chance to help dealers on a regular basis if time permitted.[/QUOTE]

That's all good, as long as you're not misconstrued as a "koi professional" and not a hobbyist !

E

[dick benbow]

In Japan, more so than anywhere else dealers take the responcibility for the sale and care of their customer's koi. They make home visits, negotoiate prices between buyer and seller and make recomendations to their regular customers
on newly arrived koi.

here in the states, as in any business relationship, the more exclusively you trade with a dealer the better your chances of building a rappore to help in selection and "deals".

In the Uk, I always dealt with one dealer for all my japan travel and purchases over there. I felt he got me into places where I'd never have been able to go.
I paid a good price for the service but in general got what i paid for and more.

When fish arrive from a shipment, they can be pretty stressed. I've had First place koi from the all japan show keel over in the bag when fish and game opened the box to confirm contents. As already indicated by Arthur, once a bag is opened the ammonia burn begins. A koi can deal with a temperature swing alot better than bad water!

When i was first learning about koi I volunteered many a time with our closest dealer to help with shipments. I did learn alot. I'm still learning. About 4-5 years ago i met a wholesaler who had tremendous "luck" with his new arrivals
over the others I'd learned from. I now know why. Without giving away his
hard earned knowledge it has to do with no mixing! and Direct flights.

Recently the most fun I had was showing Lester who posts here how to select tosai and sent him home with a Ochiba he fell in love with that i bred.
People were generous to me when i was learning so I always felt i needed to return the favor for others.

[MikeM]

I'd like to hear more of those stories, Dick. You have done so many interesting things. Somebody should sit you down for an afternoon and just record the conversation. ...... But, I'll ask a question now, who are the first 3 reliable & trustworthy dealers that pop into your head?


....Not asking you to rank anyone, just that first 3 that come to mind.

[JasonS]

Quote: Originally Posted by erwinsan That's all good, as long as you're not misconstrued as a "koi professional" and not a hobbyist ! E

The line is pretty clear now. $$ or significant materials has to change hands. Best to make sure nothing free changes hands and you are in the clear.

Same applies to KHAs too.

[bekko]

It takes a minute or so to tote the box in from the truck, open the cardboard, remove the foam box, open the foam box and open the outer bag. I would open all the boxes, remove the outer bag and float the inner bag. When all the inner bags are in the pond, then start opening them - first in, first out. The time that the last bag is opened and the fish released is the same regardless of using #1 or #2.

-steve

[koifishgirl]

I am glad that I learned about#3 as I have never had a koi sent to me from Japan, plus I have never heard of a burn before. I have done this many times with koi that I have purchased and brought home but their was never a whole bunch on poop in the bag. Something I needed to learn, number 3 could have been a costly mistake for me one day.

[keokoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Is associating yourself with a dealer a good thing? I think so, it's not to get the inside track on incoming fish, but a learning experience. How many of us have every helped unload 40 boxes of fish? Most of us never. Has anyone seen how fish come in after a 18 hour journey from the homeland? Most never. Pretty interesting learning experience, most dealers wouldn't let people see behind the curtains....the only thing people see are the fish in the pond already. The learning process never stops with me and if I have the opportunity to help a dealer with a shipment I would, but be it if I was invited...It's a cool experience, hard work and it will show you what your dealer has to go through to make us Koikichi society happy.

Well I gotta admit.. I am guilty of helping unpack Nishikigoi form the homeland. Its an honor and a privilage to be invited to help out. I usually know when a shipment is going to arrive and eagerly await a phone call or email. 100% so far on waiting for the invitation.

For unpacking #2 nuff said.....


As far as being associated to a dealer. Oh yeah thats the best part about being a retail customer and hobbyist is giving back to your dealer of your choice. Its just how the world turns. You wanna give back to the dealer who makes your hobby more enjoyable. Its life anyway you look at it your gonna support those who support you. I also have to point out I have never exchanged money with a dealer for help. The only money exchanged is that of me wanting to buy something from the dealer. 99% of my buys happen when I am in the homeland..

I gotta say when I am typing this. Thinking back on all the times I have unpacked. Its like a kid on x-mas day or seining a mud pond (never done it) but should could come close to the same feeling. The power of the unknown and unsuspected suprises.



Food for thought:

Next time your trying to nickel and dime your dealer for a better bargain. Ask yourself if your actually doing good for the dealer or not. As always its your descision... Peace out!