Buying Koi based on Photos

[Sangreaal]

I've bought from pics and have been quite pleased with most of my purchases. The camera can see things we may not even notice in the flesh, and I'm learning to make good use of that. However, relying on a picture alone for an important purchase is neither prudent nor wise. Like others have mentioned, if you can't see the fish in the flesh (or totally inspected by someone whose judgment you know and trust if you absolutely positively cannot go to see it yourself), a simple picture just will not do.

Marie

[JasPR]

Triple P, there is a class of dealer in Japan that is really a broker/dealer. there are actually quite a few but not as many as in the 1980s and early 90s when it was easy to pick off the 'low hanging fruit' as people were just not as sophisticated about koi as they are today. What these guys would do is go to the mountains and look for fish with minor deformities or injuries and photo them and then fire off 10-25 pictures to a host of foreigners trying to buy koi 'direct'. The breeders were no part of the transactions. Sometimes these fish would come from auctions but mostly from reputable breeders just blowing out 'failures and tragedies'. Some very common ones were bent spine, deformed fins, broken dorsal or anal fin bones. Broken tail bones that grew deformed. One pec larger than another, head deformities, mouth deformities ( especially showa), beginning of hikkui etc. America was something of a dumping zone during that time. They should get some credit however as they did inspire local dealers and serious hobbyists to get on a plane and go buy their own fish direct after an experience or two with these chaps! LOls
Today they still exist but have become guides and advisors mostly. Some come over here with fish to sell a couple of times a year. Others now work the Asian markets mostly. Soem have gotten into other businesses around import/export , especially the seafood industry. It's just business, I guess.

JR

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar PPP I am aware of gspotmc's situation he's talking about. It was seen at the breeder's facility by a very well known dealer who knew it had a defect at THAT time. A different dealer, the one that gspotmc dealt with, is the one who sold it for 20K US. The fish is from a VERY WELL KNOWN breeder. I don't think the breeder represented this fish as being in perfect condition at the point of sale. I think this one goes to a greedy dealer!!!!! Mike

Mike, I am also aware of Michael's fish. I told Michael NOT to buy that fish or any other fish from a picture, Michael drove down to see this fish at that dealers. Michael did not have the fish even panned for closer inspection on it, because it was in QT. This fish was bought last year 2006 right before the ZNA Gardena show. When the fish arrived at the show, several people including myself, pointed out the deformity to Michael. Since then I believe the dealer took back the fish and compinsated Michael for it. Not many dealers, would have taken the fish back. Michael did not have the experiance and or knowledge at that time, he was on a buying roll, and was purchasing several high end fish. He was after that $6 trophy. I think that Michael has learned a great deal from that experiance. And I would hope that he never buys from a picture again.

[gspotmc]

Hi Nancy,
Said fish is back with dealer. As Nancy implied. she told me to inspect the fish but I never got the chance until show date. I haven't gotten the replacement. But that was a very big mistake on my part a $20K mistake. My wife hasn't gotten over it yet. Lesson to anyone who wants to buy expensive fish go to Japan yourself ands pick out your own fish. Especially when it's a big $ you wanna spend. Thank you Nancy, Mike P and other kb for the wisdom.

[KoiCop]

I had the tank next to Michael when that showa was delivered to the show and unbagged. It was heart breaking.