Well times have improved here in India . You do have actual Koi dealers and Breeders too, rather than carp that is sold in aquariums here - Well it took me the quarter of a century to learn the word Koi - I had kept carp till now for say 15 years ( max size they achieve here in India is never more than a foot ,only exception I had seen was in the pool surrounding Aquarium in Malampuza Dam, Plakkad Dist.,Kerala )
Full Story @ http://koiindia.blogspot.in/p/raising-jumbo-koi-in-india.html
Choosing A Dealer
Full Story @ http://koiindia.blogspot.in/p/raising-jumbo-koi-in-india.html
Yes people who actually have Koi either imported or at-least bread from imported oyagoi (parents).The breeder I bought from turned out to be a microbiologist who works out of a Koi farm in Singapore.
Also bought from a Koi Bito dealer (These guys import Koi directly from Japan)
But it too me tow years track these people down now we have formed good working associations and someday I hope we will be good friends .
Why is it so important ??
Well just read through what Koi Guru and Mentor - Mike McMahon has to say about the topic .
There is a great deal written about how to choose a koi. There is not so much about how to choose a dealer. Indeed, the idea of choosing a dealer is rather peculiar in itself. Most people look for a koi, find the koi they like and then by default 'their dealer' becomes whoever it is who has the koi. This is how nearly everyone begins. And, it is how most koikeepers continue throughout their time in the hobby. For some, however, a relationship develops with a specific dealer (or two), and they come to look to that dealer for guidance and assistance in their koi buying. In the U.S., the late Ray Abell was an example of a dealer with a large following. (I purposefully mention Ray to avoid any competitive preference among currently active dealers.) There were many who looked to him to provide whatever they were interested in, and only seldom acquired a koi from anyone else. Most of these hobbyists may not have started out to find a dealer on whom to rely, but I know some did after having a bad experience elsewhere.
A thread on another board inquires about who are the top dealers in the U.S., seeking a listing of those who have supplied top award winners to major shows. This would be one approach to choosing a dealer, although many dealers have supplied GCs so it does not necessarily narrow the field very much. In some respects, the number of GCs a dealer has supplied may reflect the depth of the pockets of the dealer's clientele as much as the skill of the dealer. But, it is a valid criterion to narrow the field some.
Factors I would suggest considering are:
1. Knowledge. How knowledgeable is the dealer? Is he just a big talker, or does he really know koi. How do you discern between those who know what they are talking about and those who just talk? I suggest you find out about their background in koi. Did he grow up in the hobby? Did he work for a dealer or breeder before becoming a dealer? Has he spent time in Japan emersed in koi? How long has he been a dealer? What do others tell you about his knowledge?
2. Integrity. Is this an honest person? What were his motivations in becoming a dealer? Someone who became a dealer in order to get rich selling fish is not likely to be who you want. A person who became a dealer so he could spend all of his time focused on what he loves is more likely to belong on the list of possibilities.
3. Communication. Do you understand what the guy is talking about, or does he leave you thinking 'he must know his stuff, but it's way over my head'? If the dealer is not able to communicate with you at a level you understand, it isn't going to do you much good to get his advice.
4. Likeability. Do you like the fellow? It is not a matter of becoming best friends, but if the dealer's personal style is off-putting to you, the relationship will not be satisfactory.
5. Is the dealer interested in you? A dealer whose focus in on $2,500+ koi may not have much interest in spending time with you if your interest is in $400 koi. If they are not interested in you, it is not going to be the beneficial relationship you want it to become. A Ray Abell story.... The first koi I purchased from Ray was a $60 Showa tosai. He had no real interest in selling koi in that price range, but brought a batch to a show to have something for the masses. I thought a $60 little thing was rather pricey since there were $20 ones in another dealer's tank. I said as much. Ray's response was that his were better Showa, but that if I could not tell the difference, I should buy the $20 ones from his competitor. I asked how they were better, he gave an explanation and asked me about my pond. I'm sure he was sizing me up as to my potential to some day be a customer for higher-priced koi. Our conversation was interrupted along the way as a customer interested in one of his thousand-dollar koi would ask questions, but in the end I bought a $60 Showa tosai and understood why it was not $20.
So, how do you find out about these things in advance? You can start off by getting recommendations from hobbyists you know are successful koikeepers. Don't just ask for names. Ask them to tell you about the dealer, about the dealer's background, why they like them and what their experience has been when something went wrong. Other hobbyists' stories will tell you a lot. The internet makes things convenient, but also impersonal. It is really best to meet the dealer in person. Then you can get the dealer to talk about himself. Ask the dealer how long he has been keeping koi, how he got into such a crazy business as dealing in koi, about the farms he has visited in Japan. The more the person talks about himself, the more you will get a sense of them as a person. Hopefully they come to shows in your area so that's possible. If not, you may need to travel to a distant show or the dealer's place of business. That may not be feasible, in which case your list of possibilities grows more narrow.
You may not want to choose a dealer. You may be content to choose koi, and take whatever dealer comes with them. To each their own. I would just suggest that when you buy a koi you can also buy advice and guidance about the specific koi and about accomplishing your goals. The advice and guidance is built into the price of the koi. Whether you get everything you've purchased depends on the dealer.
A thread on another board inquires about who are the top dealers in the U.S., seeking a listing of those who have supplied top award winners to major shows. This would be one approach to choosing a dealer, although many dealers have supplied GCs so it does not necessarily narrow the field very much. In some respects, the number of GCs a dealer has supplied may reflect the depth of the pockets of the dealer's clientele as much as the skill of the dealer. But, it is a valid criterion to narrow the field some.
Factors I would suggest considering are:
1. Knowledge. How knowledgeable is the dealer? Is he just a big talker, or does he really know koi. How do you discern between those who know what they are talking about and those who just talk? I suggest you find out about their background in koi. Did he grow up in the hobby? Did he work for a dealer or breeder before becoming a dealer? Has he spent time in Japan emersed in koi? How long has he been a dealer? What do others tell you about his knowledge?
2. Integrity. Is this an honest person? What were his motivations in becoming a dealer? Someone who became a dealer in order to get rich selling fish is not likely to be who you want. A person who became a dealer so he could spend all of his time focused on what he loves is more likely to belong on the list of possibilities.
3. Communication. Do you understand what the guy is talking about, or does he leave you thinking 'he must know his stuff, but it's way over my head'? If the dealer is not able to communicate with you at a level you understand, it isn't going to do you much good to get his advice.
4. Likeability. Do you like the fellow? It is not a matter of becoming best friends, but if the dealer's personal style is off-putting to you, the relationship will not be satisfactory.
5. Is the dealer interested in you? A dealer whose focus in on $2,500+ koi may not have much interest in spending time with you if your interest is in $400 koi. If they are not interested in you, it is not going to be the beneficial relationship you want it to become. A Ray Abell story.... The first koi I purchased from Ray was a $60 Showa tosai. He had no real interest in selling koi in that price range, but brought a batch to a show to have something for the masses. I thought a $60 little thing was rather pricey since there were $20 ones in another dealer's tank. I said as much. Ray's response was that his were better Showa, but that if I could not tell the difference, I should buy the $20 ones from his competitor. I asked how they were better, he gave an explanation and asked me about my pond. I'm sure he was sizing me up as to my potential to some day be a customer for higher-priced koi. Our conversation was interrupted along the way as a customer interested in one of his thousand-dollar koi would ask questions, but in the end I bought a $60 Showa tosai and understood why it was not $20.
So, how do you find out about these things in advance? You can start off by getting recommendations from hobbyists you know are successful koikeepers. Don't just ask for names. Ask them to tell you about the dealer, about the dealer's background, why they like them and what their experience has been when something went wrong. Other hobbyists' stories will tell you a lot. The internet makes things convenient, but also impersonal. It is really best to meet the dealer in person. Then you can get the dealer to talk about himself. Ask the dealer how long he has been keeping koi, how he got into such a crazy business as dealing in koi, about the farms he has visited in Japan. The more the person talks about himself, the more you will get a sense of them as a person. Hopefully they come to shows in your area so that's possible. If not, you may need to travel to a distant show or the dealer's place of business. That may not be feasible, in which case your list of possibilities grows more narrow.
You may not want to choose a dealer. You may be content to choose koi, and take whatever dealer comes with them. To each their own. I would just suggest that when you buy a koi you can also buy advice and guidance about the specific koi and about accomplishing your goals. The advice and guidance is built into the price of the koi. Whether you get everything you've purchased depends on the dealer.
Read the full thread @ http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/main-forum/15456-choosing-dealer.html
Great post.
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