I have posted photos of these before on here.  They're simple Sagos, but one is crested and the other one is multi-trunked.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the one on the right has seven growth points arranged in a crest.  A close friend of mine - who owns a tree service - dug them out of a client's home who didn't want them anymore.  I agreed to purchase them at whatever price was fair at the time he did it, and he's had them growing in these boxes on his property since then.  He found them, dug them out, boxed them up, watered them for the better part of a year - obviously a lot of work expended here.

Anyways - he doesn't want to overcharge me, and I don't want to pay him under market value.  Since we're close friends, it's sort of the photo negative of how you act with a used car salesman.  We talked to another friend of ours to get his opinion, but he said "$200 each" - which seems ridiculous and unrealistic.  Even Home Depot would sell a single-trunked specimen with a foot or two of trunk for like $300.  Only 200 for these?  No way.

Now that it's spring time, I'm ready to go to his house, pick them up and plant them.  But I need to know how much to pay him.  Anyone want to opine as to what they think a fair price for these is?

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 20224 yr by ahosey01

11 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

I have posted photos of these before on here.  They're simple Sagos, but one is crested and the other one is multi-trunked.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the one on the right has seven growth points arranged in a crest.  A close friend of mine - who owns a tree service - dug them out of a client's home who didn't want them anymore.  I agreed to purchase them at whatever price was fair at the time he did it, and he's had them growing in these boxes on his property since then.  He found them, dug them out, boxed them up, watered them for the better part of a year - obviously a lot of work expended here.

Anyways - he doesn't want to overcharge me, and I don't want to pay him under market value.  Since we're close friends, it's sort of the photo negative of how you act with a used car salesman.  We talked to another friend of ours to get his opinion, but he said "$200 each" - which seems ridiculous and unrealistic.  Even Home Depot would sell a single-trunked specimen with a foot or two of trunk for like $300.  Only 200 for these?  No way.

Now that it's spring time, I'm ready to go to his house, pick them up and plant them.  But I need to know how much to pay him.  Anyone want to opine as to what they think a fair price for these is?

 

 

 

Looking at this on my phone, it looks like it’s not loading the photo.  Here’s a photo, hoping it works:

At the end of the day they are worth what one is willing to buy for them.  Wish there was a better answer but there isn't in my opinion.  Besides, I have seen plenty of large Cycas revoluta being given away.

If your friend got them for free and he's willing to part with them for $200 each then so be it.  If you want to pay him more than that then honestly that's up to you.  

Both are cool looking specimens....I'd love to have either or both of them in my collection!  

Here's some examples from FB marketplace...granted these would need to be dug up.

 

Agree, that size and even bigger is available for free (you dig) in the Houston Area all of the time 

1 hour ago, Xenon said:

Agree, that size and even bigger is available for free (you dig) in the Houston Area all of the time 

 

1 hour ago, Scott W said:

Here's some examples from FB marketplace...granted these would need to be dug up.

So the two items you have to factor into your calculation are whether Florida and Texas are comparable markets for C revoluta of this size to Wickenberg and that these have been dug already, boxed and survived, as opposed to the you dig.  On the first, I have no reason to expect that Wickenberg would be substantially different in availability and price relative to Florida or Katy Texas, but that is only something someone in Wickenberg can answer.  On the second, what would you pay someoene to go and dig out a plant of that size and deliver it in a box to your home.  Perhaps consider a base price of $50 plus his labor cost to dig each of these.  If he was doing this on your behalf, and has been storing, watering them, then factor that into your formula.  Risk of loss from digging this species isn't what it is for some other cycads, and replacement cost if they don't survive isn't that high, so my "risk of loss" shouldn't be a big factor for you to include.

37 minutes ago, Tracy said:

 

So the two items you have to factor into your calculation are whether Florida and Texas are comparable markets for C revoluta of this size to Wickenberg and that these have been dug already, boxed and survived, as opposed to the you dig.  On the first, I have no reason to expect that Wickenberg would be substantially different in availability and price relative to Florida or Katy Texas, but that is only something someone in Wickenberg can answer.  On the second, what would you pay someoene to go and dig out a plant of that size and deliver it in a box to your home.  Perhaps consider a base price of $50 plus his labor cost to dig each of these.  If he was doing this on your behalf, and has been storing, watering them, then factor that into your formula.  Risk of loss from digging this species isn't what it is for some other cycads, and replacement cost if they don't survive isn't that high, so my "risk of loss" shouldn't be a big factor for you to include.

100% agree...seems like the issue is more OP thinking he is underpaying. The nursery price for these is not reflective of resale value at all imo. 

 

14 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Anyways - he doesn't want to overcharge me, and I don't want to pay him under market value.  Since we're close friends, it's sort of the photo negative of how you act with a used car salesman.  We talked to another friend of ours to get his opinion, but he said "$200 each" - which seems ridiculous and unrealistic.  Even Home Depot would sell a single-trunked specimen with a foot or two of trunk for like $300.  Only 200 for these?  No way.

 

Here's a couple on eBay, but quite a bit larger...

This listing is somewhat comparable, in that it’s a “rescue” - but they’re offering an option for them to do the digging. Price is $150 if you dig yourself or $200 if they dig. In your case you’d have to also add the value of the box and transportation they provided. So maybe $250-300 each based on this formula? (more if they’re delivering them to your house as well).

Multi-head sagos are awesome, but not extremely rare (I’ve seen several in the neighborhood). Note that this listing has been up for 6 weeks with no takers. My two cents... agree that the true value is what someone (other than you) would pay for it.

That 150 year old grouping looks similar one that was reportedly cut down in Myrtle Beach (which is a shame). Here's a photo of that group from another thread (which I had a bit of Photoshop fun with)...

-----

Actually... your grouping would look pretty awesome with oversize sunglasses as well (especially the larger triple)...

 

Now I want a multi-headed sago 

 

8 hours ago, iDesign said:

That 150 year old grouping looks similar one that was reportedly cut down in Myrtle Beach (which is a shame). Here's a photo of that group from another thread (which I had a bit of Photoshop fun with)...

 

Not Myrtle Beach but Jacksonville FL.  I took that picture in December of 2016, as it used to be located on Southside Blvd near the Avenues Mall.

Sadly it was removed and replaced with a trio of Adonidia merrillii 

I agree, the sunglasses are cool 

Sigh... I wish I could put some of these in my yard but my dog failed the test buy eating livingstonia chinensis. 

52 minutes ago, Little Tex said:

Sigh... I wish I could put some of these in my yard but my dog failed the test buy eating livingstonia chinensis. 

Buy a male Cycad. Wont be an issue.