Kodoma Koi Farm on eBay/merged threads

[dizzyfish]

Kodama-san now has to answer to venture capital investors. What you see from them is likely to be be what the market wants. I still see a few nice fish go through the auction, but by and large I think the breeders are hurting their image/reputation by having their fish sold in this manner. It certainly makes one question the quality of what they are keeping verus culling these days.
Mitch

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sangreaal I actually think that Kodama is doing a great favor to our domestic breeders by offering crapagoi to the 150 million members on eBay and accentuating the fact that the koi are "Born in Japan." If you haven't already, go look at their offerings--there isn't a one I'd pay over $100 shipping on (even if the fish were gratis!), and not one of them can compete with the quality and beauty of Richard's offerings (or Brett's or Brady's if they had fish on eBay concurrently with Kodama's so the masses can compare for themselves all on the same site). Anyone that wants pretty fish in their pond, whether a neophyte or serious collector, will always pick the fish that most pleases their eye or shows promise that it may, in the future, become pleasing to the eye. Do Kodama's offerings on eBay accomplish this? Not with what they have on there right now. There is an art to selling single fish on eBay. If they aren't exceptional in some way (price or quality), they just won't sell. Offer crap koi with the highest shipping rates in the nation and do you really expect for them to be able to compete with domestic breeders or local dealers that can beat them on quality and shipping any day of the week? Not gonna happen. Marie

The ONLY marketing plus they have going for them is "Born In Japan"... That label attached to the low grade culls they're peddling right now may well drive customers AWAY from Japanese Imports and send them running TO Brett, Brady, Matt, Richard...

[Russell Peters]

Good Thread!

[aquitori]

You know I have to say the saying still is in fish offered by pic. If you havent seen the fish in person buyer beware. I have a couple of nice Sankes I have gotten from their auction site, have I gotten burned? YES...Will I ever do it again? NO. Atleast, in my area there are enough dealers around to help me find a fish, I really dont need to drive more than 15miles to hit a Koi Shop.

In my area of San Jose:

Genki Nishikigoi (High Quality Koi from all over Japan)
Champion Nishikigoi (Has Everything, Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal)
Tse Koi (Has Everything, Second Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal)
Cherry Hill Koi (Greg sells Koi from Niigata to goldfish)
Fancy Koi Outlet (Specializing in Koi Supplies)
TD Koi (Koi from Niigata to Landscaping stuff)

If this isnt a Koi lover area then I dont know what to say... I really dont need to drive outside of the general area, unless I am looking for Goldfish in San Francisco.

[kdmatrix]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori In my area of San Jose: Genki Nishikigoi (High Quality Koi from all over Japan) Champion Nishikigoi (Has Everything, Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal) Tse Koi (Has Everything, Second Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal) Cherry Hill Koi (Greg sells Koi from Niigata to goldfish) Fancy Koi Outlet (Specializing in Koi Supplies) TD Koi (Koi from Niigata to Landscaping stuff)

You're darn LUCKY!

[keokoi]

[quote=aquitori;74394]

Genki Nishikigoi (High Quality Koi from all over Japan)
Champion Nishikigoi (Has Everything, Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal)
Tse Koi (Has Everything, Second Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal)
Cherry Hill Koi (Greg sells Koi from Niigata to goldfish)
Fancy Koi Outlet (Specializing in Koi Supplies)
TD Koi (Koi from Niigata to Landscaping stuff)
quote]


Yup even though its an hour away from where I live. I find myself always causing trouble at one of those shops No need to drive anywhere further. The bonus is when the wife needs to run errands I usually sneak a koi shop or 2 in during our errands.

Plus Lee's sandwiches are around the Corner

[MikeM]

Yes, JR, the great bulk of domestic U.S. breeders are focused on producing crapagoi. ...and don't care to hear a lecture. They gotta get 50,000 koi delivered to the Great Discount World stores and don't have time for the chit chat. The puny, silvery something still brings in more pennies than a goldfish, and that's what counts when you're trying to feed the family and buy the latest i-Pod.

The real point is that consumers need to educate themselves, but when it comes to koi, that's easier said than done. There are so many thousands who believe the $12.95 crapagoi will be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars when it gets to be 18" long. It reminds me of the lady whose farmhouse is in the path of industrial development. She puts in a swimming pool and thinks it enhances the value of her property. Actually, it reduces the value because the cost of tearing it out has to be deducted from the raw land value... If a person does not understand how value is determined, they are destined to err. Among those more knowledgeable than the Discount World consumer, there can be a disdain for the domestic koi that blinds as much as the ignorance of the discount store customer.

As for Kodama's venture into Ebay, well, how does it differ from supplying Japanese-bred crapagoi to the American consumer through the rock-bottom and "hybrid rock bottom" pond chain?

[aquitori]

[quote=keokoi;74401]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Genki Nishikigoi (High Quality Koi from all over Japan) Champion Nishikigoi (Has Everything, Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal) Tse Koi (Has Everything, Second Biggest Koi Shop in NorCal) Cherry Hill Koi (Greg sells Koi from Niigata to goldfish) Fancy Koi Outlet (Specializing in Koi Supplies) TD Koi (Koi from Niigata to Landscaping stuff) quote] Yup even though its an hour away from where I live. I find myself always causing trouble at one of those shops No need to drive anywhere further. The bonus is when the wife needs to run errands I usually sneak a koi shop or 2 in during our errands. Plus Lee's sandwiches are around the Corner

I think we need to take Bob Winkler to Lee's and have him visit our koi area...

[Richard Rombold]

Quality is quality. This only shows that good Breeders produce bad fish too. It takes good genetics and a good breeder to create, grow, recognize and then develop a quality koi. Marketing does not make the list. The best Breeders are in Japan, and so is the skill. They produce a small number of good quality fish each year that few of us could afford anyway. Let the best fish win regardless of Breeder. Homage to those Breeders in Japan who lift the bar higher.

[keokoi]

[quote=aquitori;74407]

Quote: Originally Posted by keokoi I think we need to take Bob Winkler to Lee's and have him visit our koi area...

I think you are right.. He needs the red carpet tour of our koi nation... LOL

A few koi shops then coffee shops and he might be judging real tategoi.. LOL

Joe