Buying palms on e-bay

[peachy]

🤬 Over the years I've bought a few things on e-bay but only ever used the pay now option. Last week I took the plunge and placed a bid on a lovely palm that was on auction. I checked it about 30 minutes before it ran out, I was still the only bidder so felt quite secure that the pretty pretty would soon be mine ....oh how easily the Internet plays false with our hearts.  Some greedy creature had outbid me and my gorgeous palm was no longer to be mine. Woe and alas !  How does a poor silly woman outsmart these avaricious arseholes who stoop so low as to snatch a palm away from me so rudely.  After a period of serious cogitation, I had a wonderful, brilliant solution that surely nobody in the known world would ever come up with ....it is as follows,  log on a few minutes before it finishes and outbid the greedy grabbers who would deny me the slightest touch of happiness.  Tonight I bid on a palm that was highly desirable but every bid I placed was out bidden within seconds !  How bloody rude is that ? How dare they. I had to teach them some manners and chivalry so I tripled their last bid,  then thought ooh poo what have I just done.  Luckily for me, while I was mentally composing requests for mercy to the power, water and phone companies, I was outbid again.  Oh was that a close shave ! (my legs should be so lucky) Honestly though, beloved readers, who would pay a small fortune for a palm that is rare but only sort of rare ? Obviously somebody with more money than sense.  I had also put in a bid on a palm to die for, I was the only bidder too. Once again the false sense of security, with only 6 seconds to go I was outbid again and by the time I found the bid button, it had been sold to some person who has to live with my misery and sense of deprivation on their conscience for the rest of their hopefully short life.  I used a word I have only heard on foreign movies or from very vulgar people on the streets of less than desirable suburbs.  Luckily the bird with the organic tape recorder in his head didn't hear me for once.  Hating the world and all of those who wish me to exist in palmlessness (I am sure that is a word) I placed a bid on some tragic looking palm specimen that I didn't even want (but will make a great gift for somebody I don't really like), paid no attention to the site and soon got an email that my bid was successful. Forgive my utter lack of enthusiastic gratitude.

From now on I am only buying palms from people I know or maybe if it is special something on e-bay that I can pay for on the spot, so to speak, with the sure knowledge that it is mine and won't be snatched away by some rapacious social inferior. 

BAH

Peachy

Edited April 7, 2024 by peachy
bad spelling

[tim_brissy_13]

Hi Peachy,

Basically for eBay auctions, placing a bid sets your maximum bid. What happens is when you place your bid, you’ll immediately get outbid by anyone who has a higher maximum bid. 
 

To avoid disappointment and blowing out the budget, I exclusively place bids only for palms I really want, only for what I think it is worth and only with less than 5 seconds left. I just set a timer if there’s an auction for a palm I like to tell me when the auction will close. Using this strategy, 95% of the time I’ll be outbid (probably by Richard 😆) but I’ll only ever get palms for a reasonable price. eBay can be really dangerous if you don’t set an upper bid limit on yourself, but you can also find some interesting things and good prices occasionally, just got to pick your battles. It only takes 2 bidders who really want a palm to see small seedlings go for well north of AUD$100 sometimes. 

[SeanK]

I have bid on laptops. Entered a maximum bid. Then watched as the current bids increase incrementally. Few have the time to jump on in the last 3 minutes to bump up their bid. It requires discipline to stick to a budget.

Also purchased items at the "Buy Now" price. I'd rather know when something is arriving than IF it is arriving.

[peachy]

22 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Hi Peachy,

Basically for eBay auctions, placing a bid sets your maximum bid. What happens is when you place your bid, you’ll immediately get outbid by anyone who has a higher maximum bid. 
 

To avoid disappointment and blowing out the budget, I exclusively place bids only for palms I really want, only for what I think it is worth and only with less than 5 seconds left. I just set a timer if there’s an auction for a palm I like to tell me when the auction will close. Using this strategy, 95% of the time I’ll be outbid (probably by Richard 😆) but I’ll only ever get palms for a reasonable price. eBay can be really dangerous if you don’t set an upper bid limit on yourself, but you can also find some interesting things and good prices occasionally, just got to pick your battles. It only takes 2 bidders who really want a palm to see small seedlings go for well north of AUD$100 sometimes. 

I really did want those palms and if Richard was the culprit, I will really miss his posts.  (if my voodoo doll works)  I agree some of the prices they paid were plain silly and way too much for what they snatched from my poor little hands. In hindsight, I find the whole bidding thing somewhat common and borderline unseemly.  Is there not an old saying about fools and their money ?

Prudent Peachy

 

[peachy]

5 minutes ago, SeanK said:

I have bid on laptops. Entered a maximum bid. Then watched as the current bids increase incrementally. Few have the time to jump on in the last 3 minutes to bump up their bid. It requires discipline to stick to a budget.

Also purchased items at the "Buy Now" price. I'd rather know when something is arriving than IF it is arriving.

I am in complete concordance with your view point.

Peachy

[Merlyn]

@peachy your description was too funny!!!    On this side of the pond I hear your dastardly enemies referred to as "snipers."  They'll add it to their watch list and then just wait until the last 10 seconds and place a "bid + maximum bid."  I generally don't get involved with bidding wars, but if I do want something I'll make sure I go in there in the last minute and place a pre-emptive "maximum bid" up to my personal limit for the item.  If I get it...I get it.  If not...oh well.

[SeanK]

55 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

@peachy your description was too funny!!!    On this side of the pond I hear your dastardly enemies referred to as "snipers."  They'll add it to their watch list and then just wait until the last 10 seconds and place a "bid + maximum bid."  I generally don't get involved with bidding wars, but if I do want something I'll make sure I go in there in the last minute and place a pre-emptive "maximum bid" up to my personal limit for the item.  If I get it...I get it.  If not...oh well.

I agree with having a maximum bid in mind.

[el-blanco]

E-Snipe is your friend, Google it.

[Palmarum]

eBay is not the way it used to be, but what you've experienced is common. I have been on it since the beginning and in the 'old days' there were no Buy it Now options, so every post was an auction. I have had my share of bidding disappointments.

One does need a budget for auctions when bidding (which are a minority now) and they got to stick to it. But there is always that want or must have feeling that can quickly turn into that urge to 'win at all costs'. I would often find items and do the bidding for others who were not so computer savvy. The back-and-forth exchanges between "You have the high bid." to "You were just outbid!" were chaotic.

There is another element that potential bidders need to know about, and that is the use of bots. Botting is an underhanded tactic used by some sellers and bidders to control the final bid. Usually, it's an automated fake account set up to place a high bid or a series of high bids near the end of an auction to drive the price up. It is typically controlled by the seller to determine if they sell the item for what they want. If the bot wins, they pretend to sell it to the bot, then wait and relist. Since there are much fewer auctions now, vs. Buy it Now sales, it is much less rampant.

Finding rare and unusual plants on eBay in the old days was like the wild west and some of the cautions still exist today. Always try to verify the listing by contacting the seller and asking questions before bidding, even if you already know the answer. Ask for another photo, more info, etc. Some of my best wins on eBay were on items (including plant material) that were placed in the wrong category. Often buyers browse by category instead of specific searches so if it's in the wrong spot, they will not find it. A lesson for sellers as well. 

It is still one of the best ways to find plant world related items, like used pots, nursery equipment, benches, irrigation stuff, etc. But it can still be a gamble, taking the bad with the good.

Ryan

[SeanK]

3 hours ago, peachy said:

🤬 Over the years I've bought a few things on e-bay but only ever used the pay now option. Last week I took the plunge and placed a bid on a lovely palm that was on auction. I checked it about 30 minutes before it ran out, I was still the only bidder so felt quite secure that the pretty pretty would soon be mine ....oh how easily the Internet plays false with our hearts.  Some greedy creature had outbid me and my gorgeous palm was no longer to be mine. Woe and alas !  How does a poor silly woman outsmart these avaricious arseholes who stoop so low as to snatch a palm away from me so rudely.  After a period of serious cogitation, I had a wonderful, brilliant solution that surely nobody in the known world would ever come up with ....it is as follows,  log on a few minutes before it finishes and outbid the greedy grabbers who would deny me the slightest touch of happiness.  Tonight I bid on a palm that was highly desirable but every bid I placed was out bidden within seconds !  How bloody rude is that ? How dare they. I had to teach them some manners and chivalry so I tripled their last bid,  then thought ooh poo what have I just done.  Luckily for me, while I was mentally composing requests for mercy to the power, water and phone companies, I was outbid again.  Oh was that a close shave ! (my legs should be so lucky) Honestly though, beloved readers, who would pay a small fortune for a palm that is rare but only sort of rare ? Obviously somebody with more money than sense.  I had also put in a bid on a palm to die for, I was the only bidder too. Once again the false sense of security, with only 6 seconds to go I was outbid again and by the time I found the bid button, it had been sold to some person who has to live with my misery and sense of deprivation on their conscience for the rest of their hopefully short life.  I used a word I have only heard on foreign movies or from very vulgar people on the streets of less than desirable suburbs.  Luckily the bird with the organic tape recorder in his head didn't hear me for once.  Hating the world and all of those who wish me to exist in palmlessness (I am sure that is a word) I placed a bid on some tragic looking palm specimen that I didn't even want (but will make a great gift for somebody I don't really like), paid no attention to the site and soon got an email that my bid was successful. Forgive my utter lack of enthusiastic gratitude.

From now on I am only buying palms from people I know or maybe if it is special something on e-bay that I can pay for on the spot, so to speak, with the sure knowledge that it is mine and won't be snatched away by some rapacious social inferior. 

BAH

Peachy

I guess I should answer the original question. I never bought plants on eBay.

I did once buy on Etsy. I had a question regarding the purchase and seller responded quickly. He was a CA grower and sold me what I actually wanted. I was very happy withe the purchase.

[SeanK]

3 minutes ago, Palmarum said:

eBay is not the way it used to be, but what you've experienced is common. I have been on it since the beginning and in the 'old days' there were no Buy it Now options, so every post was an auction. I have had my share of bidding disappointments.

One does need a budget for auctions when bidding (which are a minority now) and they got to stick to it. But there is always that want or must have feeling that can quickly turn into that urge to 'win at all costs'. I would often find items and do the bidding for others who were not so computer savvy. The back-and-forth exchanges between "You have the high bid." to "You were just outbid!" were chaotic.

There is another element that potential bidders need to know about, and that is the use of bots. Botting is an underhanded tactic used by some sellers and bidders to control the final bid. Usually, it's an automated fake account set up to place a high bid or a series of high bids near the end of an auction to drive the price up. It is typically controlled by the seller to determine if they sell the item for what they want. If the bot wins, they pretend to sell it to the bot, then wait and relist. Since there are much fewer auctions now, vs. Buy it Now sales, it is much less rampant.

Finding rare and unusual plants on eBay in the old days was like the wild west and some of the cautions still exist today. Always try to verify the listing by contacting the seller and asking questions before bidding, even if you already know the answer. Ask for another photo, more info, etc. Some of my best wins on eBay were on items (including plant material) that were placed in the wrong category. Often buyers browse by category instead of specific searches so if it's in the wrong spot, they will not find it. A lesson for sellers as well. 

It is still one of the best ways to find plant world related items, like used pots, nursery equipment, benches, irrigation stuff, etc. But it can still be a gamble, taking the bad with the good.

Ryan

Botting doesn't surprise me. I see something similar with used cars. A YouTuber shows action at the auction house and many max_bids come in under the seller minimum (not stated until bidding ends). In these, buyer-seller negotiate over the phone. Sellers often have too much $$ tied up in sale items.

[miamicuse]

I rarely shop on ebay nowadays except for hard to find "parts" or "new old stock" discontinued items that's been discontinued some time ago.  I lost a lens cap that fell off a balcony for a 1960s Rollei camera and well I found one on ebay that's shipping out of Singapore LOL.

But back then when I used ebay for purchases I used programs (commonly referred to as a sniper) that perform the bidding for me.  I would install the sniper on my desktop (I think there are web based versions too), provide to the program my log in user and password, the ebay item number, my max bid and when to execute the bid.  I think the default was like 6 seconds before item ends.  You can set up multiple items to bid for the entire week and just walk away.

So basically if you have an item that has a current bid of $0.1 and the auction ends on Monday at 2pm, I can set it up to put in a bid of $20.00 five seconds prior and not even be on the computer.  I had a fairly high success rate on items especially no reserve bids.

The only issue I have is obviously if your power is out or internet is down you are not even home and the bids wouldn't be executed.  But web based services would solve that.  The other issue is timing.  Let's say you are looking for a particular item say a 1930 vintage Rolex watch and there are three on ebay and they are ending on the same day but different times.  One at 2 one at 4 one at 6...you only want one, you can't place three bids for all three because what if you end up winning all three?  At the time the sniper program I used did not have a conditional bid option - like if I win auction #1 cancel auction #2 and #3, or if I lose out on auction #1 go auction #2, it wasn't too sophisticated.

If you are outbid last few seconds chances are you are being outbid by a sniper setup.  I don't think many people sit in front of a computer or phone physically bidding last few seconds.

[peachy]

8 hours ago, el-blanco said:

E-Snipe is your friend, Google it.

I shall do that. Although for the time being I am refraining from online shopping as it seems rather plebeian.

[flplantguy]

Thank you all for helping me stay away from ebay lol. I hate bidding and haggling and all that uncertainty. The buy it now option i have used on orchids before where they post the photo of the actual plant but if i cant see it i wont do that either.  And even then its hit or miss and some are not priced where they should be.  I may be a hopeless millennial but i think all that technology has ruined the experience. An orchid auction back in 2008 i went to in san diego was a blast and i only got a few plants, but online is just stressful.

[Looking Glass]

Haven’t had much luck on eBay for palms….  But for other small plants that ship easily,  it can be great.   I’ve bid on a few, but mostly shop “buy it now” from sellers I like who supply good stock consistently.   You can get some very nice stuff without much hassle or running around.   

It’s best to place your best max bid with <10 seconds to go, and not get involved with bidding wars though.   I like Etsy a lot too, but some plants folks are old-fashioned and like to sell on more eBay.   

These came in the mail recently….

[Palmarum]

29 minutes ago, Looking Glass said:

... These came in the mail recently….

Is that first bromeliad Neo. 'Hannibal Lecter'?

Very nice plants. The Aechmea look familiar too, Bullis cultivars probably. Were they shipped in containers or did you pot them up?

For those who might be hesitant, buying plants online has its challenges but it is worth it to find stuff not offered anywhere else.

Ryan

[miamicuse]

Who named a plant Hannibal Lecter?

[Palmarum]

3 hours ago, miamicuse said:

Who named a plant Hannibal Lecter?

Bromeliad people... They run out of names.

[peachy]

6 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

Haven’t had much luck on eBay for palms….  But for other small plants that ship easily,  it can be great.   I’ve bid on a few, but mostly shop “buy it now” from sellers I like who supply good stock consistently.   You can get some very nice stuff without much hassle or running around.   

It’s best to place your best max bid with <10 seconds to go, and not get involved with bidding wars though.   I like Etsy a lot too, but some plants folks are old-fashioned and like to sell on more eBay.   

These came in the mail recently….

I bought identical broms on Sunday at the Orchid Club show not far from my house. I looked at the very dark red one but they wanted $25. I got the others for $15 each.  I love going to the various garden club shows, I always find something fabulous and I get to see what I am buying, which is not the case on ebay.

Peachy

[peachy]

On 4/8/2024 at 12:24 AM, Palmarum said:

eBay is not the way it used to be, but what you've experienced is common. I have been on it since the beginning and in the 'old days' there were no Buy it Now options, so every post was an auction. I have had my share of bidding disappointments.

One does need a budget for auctions when bidding (which are a minority now) and they got to stick to it. But there is always that want or must have feeling that can quickly turn into that urge to 'win at all costs'. I would often find items and do the bidding for others who were not so computer savvy. The back-and-forth exchanges between "You have the high bid." to "You were just outbid!" were chaotic.

There is another element that potential bidders need to know about, and that is the use of bots. Botting is an underhanded tactic used by some sellers and bidders to control the final bid. Usually, it's an automated fake account set up to place a high bid or a series of high bids near the end of an auction to drive the price up. It is typically controlled by the seller to determine if they sell the item for what they want. If the bot wins, they pretend to sell it to the bot, then wait and relist. Since there are much fewer auctions now, vs. Buy it Now sales, it is much less rampant.

Finding rare and unusual plants on eBay in the old days was like the wild west and some of the cautions still exist today. Always try to verify the listing by contacting the seller and asking questions before bidding, even if you already know the answer. Ask for another photo, more info, etc. Some of my best wins on eBay were on items (including plant material) that were placed in the wrong category. Often buyers browse by category instead of specific searches so if it's in the wrong spot, they will not find it. A lesson for sellers as well. 

It is still one of the best ways to find plant world related items, like used pots, nursery equipment, benches, irrigation stuff, etc. But it can still be a gamble, taking the bad with the good.

Ryan

I had no idea all of this kind of stuff went on.  I make a lot of of my own pots but for things that need pots too big for my kiln, I go to junk shops or local FB pages and either get them for nothing or practically nothing.  I also have started re-purposing just about anything to turn into planters.  My ceramic drill and trusty airbrush are always kept busy. I was recently given a few really pretty plates but none of them matched so I turned them into wall clocks.  Stop laughing ....they look quite good.

I think from now on I will only use e-bay as a last resort. Anyhow no matter how cheap something is to buy gets instantly negated by the postage charges these days.

Peachy

[Looking Glass]

10 hours ago, Palmarum said:

Is that first bromeliad Neo. 'Hannibal Lecter'?

Very nice plants. The Aechmea look familiar too, Bullis cultivars probably. Were they shipped in containers or did you pot them up?

For those who might be hesitant, buying plants online has its challenges but it is worth it to find stuff not offered anywhere else.

Ryan

The 1st red and lime brom is “Neoregelia Guacamole”.   A bit smaller than Lecter with more red.    The striped Aechmea are “Samurai” and came bare root/rootless, as do most.  I potted them up.  I prefer that broms ship unpotted so they can float around with anything heavy to create a leverage point and add to the trauma.  They can survive bare for months as long as you stand them to and water the cup after arrival.  I have a half dozen+ sitting upright in empty pots for weeks waiting to be potted up.  These plants were made for shipping and online shopping.  

 

9 hours ago, miamicuse said:

Who named a plant Hannibal Lecter?

Gets great color with heavy sun…

 

5 hours ago, peachy said:

I bought identical broms on Sunday at the Orchid Club show not far from my house. I looked at the very dark red one but they wanted $25. I got the others for $15 each.  I love going to the various garden club shows, I always find something fabulous and I get to see what I am buying, which is not the case on ebay.

Peachy

I’ve had excellent experiences with online bromeliad shopping, but the palms have been underwhelming.  I probably have half a dozen brom growers on eBay and another half dozen on Etsy that consistently supply great stuff, along with occasional randos.   Each seems to sub-specialize a bit with what they offer.  I love a good show or nursery, but I also love picking out a nice rare or desirable pup from online and having it show up at my door a few days later.  I easily have over 100 different bromeliad varieties growing with 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 of certain types.  The vast majority came originally from Etsy or EBay and just keep multiplying.      

I seriously have a f’ing problem at this point.  It’s just too easy.  

[iDesign]

Yep, the addiction is real!!! 🤪

Bromeliads are my kryptonite as well… sooo many stunning varieties! LOL at “Bromeliad people - They run out of names”. My sister didn’t believe me that the lovely bromeliad I was giving her was named “Darth Vader”. In bromeliad world, we use the scientific name for the first part of the name (e.g., “Neoregelia”), followed by whatever crazy name the person registering it picked - perhaps something fun like “Neoregelia Cotton Candy”, a tribute like”Neoregelia Peachy” or dark like “Neoregelia Lucifer” (yes, a real name too). 😈

Most of plants I buy are just”Buy it Now” - but when I do an auction (for plants or otherwise), I always “snipe” it using a tool called “Gixen” - https://www.gixen.com . Not to be “evil” to my fellow bidders as much as to avoid getting caught up in a bidding frenzy… and regret my “win” (I’ve been known to overpay for plants at times). 🙄

When I use a sniping tool, I can rationally set my max bid… then forget about it.  I try not to even watch on bidding day since I could panic in the heat of the moment and increase my max bid setting. Better to just go do something else, and be “pleasantly surprised” if you win. 🙈

[happypalms]

On 4/7/2024 at 9:45 PM, peachy said:

I really did want those palms and if Richard was the culprit, I will really miss his posts.  (if my voodoo doll works)  I agree some of the prices they paid were plain silly and way too much for what they snatched from my poor little hands. In hindsight, I find the whole bidding thing somewhat common and borderline unseemly.  Is there not an old saying about fools and their money ?

Prudent Peachy

 

Don’t worry peachy I was driving home on Sunday night so  I missed the auction from my big day at plumtree pocket nursery I also visited a private garden omg what a garden it was I have been trying to upload the photos but for some reasons (maybe the voodoo doll) it won’t let me but I certainly did get some new palms and some fantastic photos of some fully mature palms and got meet certain PACSOA members a tip for bidding as Tim said the last 5 seconds is the go and you have to be prepared to pay sometimes a few years back I was into the bidding wars during COVID but then gave up it cost to much money to continue what I pay for is what I believe the grower deserves for there plants and as for snipe I don’t believe in that one that’s totally unfair the only real winner is the grower but keep trying but a $10 plant is not worth $20 postage I know that aus post are killing a lot of plant sales they COVID eBay boom is over I don’t buy of those sellers anymore I got stung by them not to mention the dud seed sales it may have been fresh when listed but 12 months later the same seeds for sale are not fresh I have tried the seed eBay thing that’s not for me that game even being sold unpollinated seed of rare palms eBay can be good but as they say buyer beware 

Richard 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, iDesign said:

Yep, the addiction is real!!! 🤪

Bromeliads are my kryptonite as well… sooo many stunning varieties! LOL at “Bromeliad people - They run out of names”. My sister didn’t believe me that the lovely bromeliad I was giving her was named “Darth Vader”. In bromeliad world, we use the scientific name for the first part of the name (e.g., “Neoregelia”), followed by whatever crazy name the person registering it picked - perhaps something fun like “Neoregelia Cotton Candy”, a tribute like”Neoregelia Peachy” or dark like “Neoregelia Lucifer” (yes, a real name too). 😈

Most of plants I buy are just”Buy it Now” - but when I do an auction (for plants or otherwise), I always “snipe” it using a tool called “Gixen” - https://www.gixen.com . Not to be “evil” to my fellow bidders as much as to avoid getting caught up in a bidding frenzy… and regret my “win” (I’ve been known to overpay for plants at times). 🙄

When I use a sniping tool, I can rationally set my max bid… then forget about it.  I try not to even watch on bidding day since I could panic in the heat of the moment and increase my max bid setting. Better to just go do something else, and be “pleasantly surprised” if you win. 🙈

So we do need an online plant therapist for plant addiction buying but it’s is like Xmas when you get your plants 🌱 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

The 1st red and lime brom is “Neoregelia Guacamole”.   A bit smaller than Lecter with more red.    The striped Aechmea are “Samurai” and came bare root/rootless, as do most.  I potted them up.  I prefer that broms ship unpotted so they can float around with anything heavy to create a leverage point and add to the trauma.  They can survive bare for months as long as you stand them to and water the cup after arrival.  I have a half dozen+ sitting upright in empty pots for weeks waiting to be potted up.  These plants were made for shipping and online shopping.  

 

Gets great color with heavy sun…

 

I’ve had excellent experiences with online bromeliad shopping, but the palms have been underwhelming.  I probably have half a dozen brom growers on eBay and another half dozen on Etsy that consistently supply great stuff, along with occasional randos.   Each seems to sub-specialize a bit with what they offer.  I love a good show or nursery, but I also love picking out a nice rare or desirable pup from online and having it show up at my door a few days later.  I easily have over 100 different bromeliad varieties growing with 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 of certain types.  The vast majority came originally from Etsy or EBay and just keep multiplying.      

I seriously have a f’ing problem at this point.  It’s just too easy.  

I never buy bromeliads all you do is have to wait for friends doing garden renovations and they will become free in time or even better drive around on Sunday in the neighbourhood and there will be a bucket load of them with a sign that says free 

[happypalms]

On 4/7/2024 at 9:18 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

Hi Peachy,

Basically for eBay auctions, placing a bid sets your maximum bid. What happens is when you place your bid, you’ll immediately get outbid by anyone who has a higher maximum bid. 
 

To avoid disappointment and blowing out the budget, I exclusively place bids only for palms I really want, only for what I think it is worth and only with less than 5 seconds left. I just set a timer if there’s an auction for a palm I like to tell me when the auction will close. Using this strategy, 95% of the time I’ll be outbid (probably by Richard 😆) but I’ll only ever get palms for a reasonable price. eBay can be really dangerous if you don’t set an upper bid limit on yourself, but you can also find some interesting things and good prices occasionally, just got to pick your battles. It only takes 2 bidders who really want a palm to see small seedlings go for well north of AUD$100 sometimes. 

Iam  still trying to buy a warocqueanum but the prices are crazy anthurium growers are worse than palm nuts the 5 second bid works in the city but try internet speed in the country many a lost plant due the internet speed with only a pre paid modem no broadband in the country I can get seeds faster from RPS than waiting for my internet 🛜 and as you know that’s with customs taking there time 

[peachy]

4 minutes ago, happypalms said:

I never buy bromeliads all you do is have to wait for friends doing garden renovations and they will become free in time or even better drive around on Sunday in the neighbourhood and there will be a bucket load of them with a sign that says free 

I remember when those full sun giant orange Achmeas were first on the market. They were selling for up to $100.  I remember buying one at a real bargain price $55 !  Now nobody wants them they are often listed on the free stuff pages on FB and I am yet to see anyone ever reply. Sometimes I see a really pretty one (or 3) that I can't resist and you can bet ya bum they will be dead in a few weeks. On the other hand if I buy one on impulse then don't like it later, I guarantee that soon I will be ripping them out by the truckload as they slowly over take the yard.

Peachy

[peachy]

12 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Iam  still trying to buy a warocqueanum but the prices are crazy anthurium growers are worse than palm nuts the 5 second bid works in the city but try internet speed in the country many a lost plant due the internet speed with only a pre paid modem no broadband in the country I can get seeds faster from RPS than waiting for my internet 🛜 and as you know that’s with customs taking there time 

I bought one of those years ago from Arden and Chris in Cairns.  I thought about getting one for here but the prices were ridiculous. They talk about plant addiction, for those prices they can afford a cocaine addiction.

Peachy

 

[peachy]

34 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Don’t worry peachy I was driving home on Sunday night so  I missed the auction from my big day at plumtree pocket nursery I also visited a private garden omg what a garden it was I have been trying to upload the photos but for some reasons (maybe the voodoo doll) it won’t let me but I certainly did get some new palms and some fantastic photos of some fully mature palms and got meet certain PACSOA members a tip for bidding as Tim said the last 5 seconds is the go and you have to be prepared to pay sometimes a few years back I was into the bidding wars during COVID but then gave up it cost to much money to continue what I pay for is what I believe the grower deserves for there plants and as for snipe I don’t believe in that one that’s totally unfair the only real winner is the grower but keep trying but a $10 plant is not worth $20 postage I know that aus post are killing a lot of plant sales they COVID eBay boom is over I don’t buy of those sellers anymore I got stung by them not to mention the dud seed sales it may have been fresh when listed but 12 months later the same seeds for sale are not fresh I have tried the seed eBay thing that’s not for me that game even being sold unpollinated seed of rare palms eBay can be good but as they say buyer beware 

Richard 

It's okay as you are almost family (being Teddy's uncle) I forgive you. My voodoo dolls only work on the guilty so you are safe.  I saw a lot of photos of that garden today on FB. I agree there are some really lovely specimens, even my long time dream palm, Neoveitchia, which I was always told wouldn't live more than 10 metres away from the Equator which was thriving in NSW no less !!  The only time I bought palms on ebay was late last year, paid quite a bit for them and they were ratty looking and all dead within a week. I only bid on the Sunday ones because I have dealt with the vendor for many years. It has taken me 2 years to learn how to text message on a touch screen phone so I don't think a snipe bot thingie would be of much use to me.  I will stay with growers I know or are recommended by people I know. Not that it will happen anywhere in the near future. I spend all my money at your nursery

Peachy

[happypalms]

25 minutes ago, peachy said:

I remember when those full sun giant orange Achmeas were first on the market. They were selling for up to $100.  I remember buying one at a real bargain price $55 !  Now nobody wants them they are often listed on the free stuff pages on FB and I am yet to see anyone ever reply. Sometimes I see a really pretty one (or 3) that I can't resist and you can bet ya bum they will be dead in a few weeks. On the other hand if I buy one on impulse then don't like it later, I guarantee that soon I will be ripping them out by the truckload as they slowly over take the yard.

Peachy

I had a friend hooked on broms she spent mega bucks only to give me the whole collection in 3 years time I asked her didn’t you spend big money on them now she holds me to ransom and I have to take her rubbish plants usually a Ute load at a time I soon realised she never gives anything good away and between you and me its  a standard joke that she gives me all her scale ridden rubbish now I say no thanks fill up your wheelie bin 

Richard 

[happypalms]

39 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Iam  still trying to buy a warocqueanum but the prices are crazy anthurium growers are worse than palm nuts the 5 second bid works in the city but try internet speed in the country many a lost plant due the internet speed with only a pre paid modem no broadband in the country I can get seeds faster from RPS than waiting for my internet 🛜 and as you know that’s with customs taking there time 

I gave up trying to get a warocqueanum veitchii are just as good and cheaper I got 8 baby ones the other day on eBay for a bargain price 

 

5 minutes ago, peachy said:

It's okay as you are almost family (being Teddy's uncle) I forgive you. My voodoo dolls only work on the guilty so you are safe.  I saw a lot of photos of that garden today on FB. I agree there are some really lovely specimens, even my long time dream palm, Neoveitchia, which I was always told wouldn't live more than 10 metres away from the Equator which was thriving in NSW no less !!  The only time I bought palms on ebay was late last year, paid quite a bit for them and they were ratty looking and all dead within a week. I only bid on the Sunday ones because I have dealt with the vendor for many years. It has taken me 2 years to learn how to text message on a touch screen phone so I don't think a snipe bot thingie would be of much use to me.  I will stay with growers I know or are recommended by people I know. Not that it will happen anywhere in the near future. I spend all my money at your nursery

Peachy

 Oh yes the garden in question is amazing 40 years old if ever you get the chance go and visit the knowledge the grower has of his garden is incredible every plant has a story of planting it the brains trust of visitors that day was immense I was only a beginner in that group but Darryl oconner was more than impressed when my wife said that she has a chamaedorea elegans collection stating that it’s the only palm her husband insists she has to learn to grow if she want to become a palm grower the price of my palms to collectors are what I would be happy to pay for them myself as I said to you before that it’s incredible the price of some palms growers are asking  I can’t believe the prices at certain chain stores you know the one iam talking about if only I could get that sort of money I would throw my joeys in the bin and grow golden canes all day long I did sell some Joey palms to mitre ten in my area for $60 it would be interesting to see how much they put on them considering they were $100 joeys in my nursery I left some room for them to make money just not sure how much room but the cost of growing has gone up $2000 for a decent load of potting soil not to mention pots fertiliser electricity for pumps labels seeds seedlings that# not including labour and setup costs also seeds being harder to import has driven a lot of growers t put there prices up I want to put my prices up but just can’t do it iam to old school beliefs I just want to go back to the good old days which are far gone there is hope just never give up but I think the light at the end of the tunnel has  been switched off due the recession and cost of living exspense 

Richard 

[Looking Glass]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

I never buy bromeliads all you do is have to wait for friends doing garden renovations and they will become free in time or even better drive around on Sunday in the neighbourhood and there will be a bucket load of them with a sign that says free 

I piled up a 6x10 foot pile of 3-4 foot tall orange A blanchetiana that took over the front area, and put them out for bulk pickup last year. I saved just a couple in pots.   Two doors down, someone did the same with a single kind of common green, striped neoregelia, and they still have thousands growing in their front yard.  Common ones get tossed all the time, but rare or really nice ones don’t.  I’ve never had an Ebay bromeliad die on me. 

Various hohenbergia aren’t that popular so if you want them you have to hunt them down.  

Some adult Neo carcharodons sell for up to $350 locally at nurseries…..   I got Tiger, Giant, Spines, Rainbow, Silver, Red-Spotted, and various hybrids all as huge pups from eBay for cheap.   They grow big for neoregelia, and look nice in full sun and rough conditions here.  

In a year they’ll be 30+ inches across and ready for the yard and garden spots.  

I agree though, for most palms, Floribunda, or take a drive.  They aren’t as forgiving. 

[iDesign]

7 hours ago, happypalms said:

I never buy bromeliads all you do is have to wait for friends doing garden renovations and they will become free in time or even better drive around on Sunday in the neighbourhood and there will be a bucket load of them with a sign that says free 

Man, I'd love to live in your neighborhood! Though it sounds like it's just the common ones that get put on the street. Bromeliads are more rare here in CA (other than the generic grocery store ones). Though the Aechmea blanchetiana orange have recently become popular in my area (I've seen them on sale at nurseries for $65!). I love how sun tolerant they are, but they're among the most prolific, so we'll likely have an abundance of the orange ones here in So. Cal soon.

@Looking Glass - I love so many broms in your collection. Can you please PM me the seller info for the curly red one in this photo? Looks like one I'll quickly regret (due to the spines), but I don't have one like this yet... so I of course need it. 🤣

Looks like you also got an Aechmea 'Roberto Menescal' - I have a love/hate relationship with that one... It's so beautiful, but I've bought it three times now (for a pretty penny) and it's never "pupped". Grrrr. Strangely, I also got no pups from its twin - Aechmea "Black Zombie" (that famil of broms must be a genetically stingy pupper).

@peachy - Apologies for the side discussions on broms on your thread. They are the ultimate EBay plant though (since they ship so well).

[peachy]

13 hours ago, happypalms said:

I gave up trying to get a warocqueanum veitchii are just as good and cheaper I got 8 baby ones the other day on eBay for a bargain price 

 

 Oh yes the garden in question is amazing 40 years old if ever you get the chance go and visit the knowledge the grower has of his garden is incredible every plant has a story of planting it the brains trust of visitors that day was immense I was only a beginner in that group but Darryl oconner was more than impressed when my wife said that she has a chamaedorea elegans collection stating that it’s the only palm her husband insists she has to learn to grow if she want to become a palm grower the price of my palms to collectors are what I would be happy to pay for them myself as I said to you before that it’s incredible the price of some palms growers are asking  I can’t believe the prices at certain chain stores you know the one iam talking about if only I could get that sort of money I would throw my joeys in the bin and grow golden canes all day long I did sell some Joey palms to mitre ten in my area for $60 it would be interesting to see how much they put on them considering they were $100 joeys in my nursery I left some room for them to make money just not sure how much room but the cost of growing has gone up $2000 for a decent load of potting soil not to mention pots fertiliser electricity for pumps labels seeds seedlings that# not including labour and setup costs also seeds being harder to import has driven a lot of growers t put there prices up I want to put my prices up but just can’t do it iam to old school beliefs I just want to go back to the good old days which are far gone there is hope just never give up but I think the light at the end of the tunnel has  been switched off due the recession and cost of living exspense 

Richard 

I didn't know Darryl was still alive. Never mind we can't have everything. I see people paying 60 or 80 dollars for plants in Bunning that I have at home, bigger and healthier and can't get $15 each for them.  People think if it's in a shop it must be better.  People passing in the street often comment on my garden and tell me how much they would love to have a garden but it costs too much now. Which is a shame of course. Luckily for me I am not too proud to ask for cuttings or buy the nearly dead plants dirt cheap. It seems we live in a society where everyone wants things the quick and easy way now.

Peachy

[peachy]

6 hours ago, iDesign said:

Man, I'd love to live in your neighborhood! Though it sounds like it's just the common ones that get put on the street. Bromeliads are more rare here in CA (other than the generic grocery store ones). Though the Aechmea blanchetiana orange have recently become popular in my area (I've seen them on sale at nurseries for $65!). I love how sun tolerant they are, but they're among the most prolific, so we'll likely have an abundance of the orange ones here in So. Cal soon.

@Looking Glass - I love so many broms in your collection. Can you please PM me the seller info for the curly red one in this photo? Looks like one I'll quickly regret (due to the spines), but I don't have one like this yet... so I of course need it. 🤣

Looks like you also got an Aechmea 'Roberto Menescal' - I have a love/hate relationship with that one... It's so beautiful, but I've bought it three times now (for a pretty penny) and it's never "pupped". Grrrr. Strangely, I also got no pups from its twin - Aechmea "Black Zombie" (that famil of broms must be a genetically stingy pupper).

@peachy - Apologies for the side discussions on broms on your thread. They are the ultimate EBay plant though (since they ship so well).

Don't waste money buying the Achmea. In 3 years people will be throwing out huge ones so you can gather them at leisure. I had no satisfaction buying broms on line but now go to the Bromeliad show once a year and load up. My garden is so tiny at this new place that now I only buy drop dead gorgeous looking broms.  I have seen that tall curly one at shows but never in that pinkish shade or I would have 3 by now   Please never worry about hi-jacking anything I post. It's great to get interesting conversations rolling and one never knows what helpful info will be acquired.

Peachy

[peachy]

9 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

I piled up a 6x10 foot pile of 3-4 foot tall orange A blanchetiana that took over the front area, and put them out for bulk pickup last year. I saved just a couple in pots.   Two doors down, someone did the same with a single kind of common green, striped neoregelia, and they still have thousands growing in their front yard.  Common ones get tossed all the time, but rare or really nice ones don’t.  I’ve never had an Ebay bromeliad die on me. 

Various hohenbergia aren’t that popular so if you want them you have to hunt them down.  

Some adult Neo carcharodons sell for up to $350 locally at nurseries…..   I got Tiger, Giant, Spines, Rainbow, Silver, Red-Spotted, and various hybrids all as huge pups from eBay for cheap.   They grow big for neoregelia, and look nice in full sun and rough conditions here.  

In a year they’ll be 30+ inches across and ready for the yard and garden spots.  

I agree though, for most palms, Floribunda, or take a drive.  They aren’t as forgiving. 

I have most of those you posted although there a few I don't have and feel slightly covetous about. I mainly stick to Neos that I can tie to the fence or tree trunks to give a jungle effect.  I do it with orchids too but since I moved house I can't get the bloody things to flower for me. Right now I am going through a Homalonema phase and getting dizzy with the range of choices.

Peachy

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, peachy said:

I didn't know Darryl was still alive. Never mind we can't have everything. I see people paying 60 or 80 dollars for plants in Bunning that I have at home, bigger and healthier and can't get $15 each for them.  People think if it's in a shop it must be better.  People passing in the street often comment on my garden and tell me how much they would love to have a garden but it costs too much now. Which is a shame of course. Luckily for me I am not too proud to ask for cuttings or buy the nearly dead plants dirt cheap. It seems we live in a society where everyone wants things the quick and easy way now.

Peachy

Yes some people don’t understand that to get a half decent garden it takes at least 5 years then around 10 years you can see something they just want it overnight especially with rare plants they just don’t understand how long it takes I love looking in the bargain bin at nurseries some real lifesaver plants in there to be brought back to life cuttings you can take as many as you want from garden seeds as well you just simply can’t replace a palm that’s mature overnight it takes years 

Richard