Gauging interest in Borassodendron borneense seeds

[Bigfish]

So I have an opportunity to import some Borassodendron borneense seeds, which are extremely rarely offered.  They aren’t cheap, plus the phyto and shipping costs will be high because of the size and weight of the seeds.  They will be coming straight from Borneo.  I think I can get about 200 seeds, but don’t want to get stuck with expensive seeds that I can’t sell.  I’m thinking they would retail for between $5-$10/ seed, but I won’t know exactly until I get the total cost quoted to me.  Let me know if you’re interested at this price.  

 

By the way, there are 3 seeds in one of those fruits, so that isn’t one seed in his hand…it’s a fruit that contains 3 seeds.

[Cindy Adair]

I would enjoy adding these to my collection but as I don’t sell plants I would probably buy no more than 5 depending on final price. 

[Visgoth]

I'd be interested and based on final price buy from 10 to 20.

[Jadd Correia]

I too would be interested in 10-15 seeds depending on final price etc.

[jimmyt]

Frank,

Do you plan to sell by the fruit or by individual seed?  I have interest….  😁

jimmyt

[Bigfish]

2 minutes ago, jimmyt said:

Frank,

Do you plan to sell by the fruit or by individual seed?  I have interest….  😁

jimmyt

By the seed.  They have to be cleaned to pass inspection.

[nduba]

I would be interested 

[Pdmesa]

Would get 3-5 on cost 

[Josue Diaz]

I would get 3 to 5 also. Would be a good addition to our farm in El Salvador 

[Drew]

I would buy 10.

Drew

[JosefS]

I'd buy 10 or 15 depending on cost

 

[Keybmp]

I’m definitely interested in a few 

[PalmatierMeg]

Frank, any estimate - no commitment from you - for cleaning, inspection, phytosanitary paperwork, shipping etc? I could manage perhaps 3-5 seeds but my husband would have a coronary if add'l charges hit $300-500 or more. And coronaries are never good for cancer survivors. Plus, some eager buyers may need a wake-up call before they get their knickers in a twist.

Thanks for the offer.

[Bigfish]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Frank, any estimate - no commitment from you - for cleaning, inspection, phytosanitary paperwork, shipping etc? I could manage perhaps 3-5 seeds but my husband would have a coronary if add'l charges hit $300-500 or more. And coronaries are never good for cancer survivors. Plus, some eager buyers may need a wake-up call before they get their knickers in a twist.

Thanks for the offer.

I don't want to get ahead of anything and even guess what shipping costs will be, but he is cleaning the seeds currently and I'm waiting on a shipping quote for 200 seeds.  It ain't gonna be cheap, I can tell you that.  You can see how big the fruits are, and there are 3 seeds per fruit. 

Actually, I'm not sure how it would be possible to ship 150 kg from Borneo to the USA by air for under $1,500. 

This probably won't work...I have been checking quotes, and unless I want to ship by sea and wait 39 days, the cost for shipping will just be way too much to bother with.  Sorry, folks.  If anything changes, I'll let you know.  But just the shipping costs alone would make it about $10/seed my cost.  That doesn't include the actual cost of the seeds or the phyto.

This is why I never got those Corypha umbraculifera seeds from Australia.  The expense of importing large quantities of seeds from another country just makes it not even worth it.  Australian bureaucrats were charging me export fees, nose-picking fees,  ridiculous taxes for made up stuff, and basically whatever else they thought they could get away with.  I told them to forget it.  Too bad too, because they were fresh seeds and lots of them.

I bought 1,000 seeds of an undescribed Licuala (later offered by RPS as Licuala sp. 'Kalimantan Marbled' early last year and they were 100% rotten when I got them.  I took a blood bath on that one. 

[Bigfish]

Ok, looks like this could be BACK ON!  Shipping weight has come in much lower than anticipated, and hence shipping costs are less than half of what I expected.  However, it’s definitely still not cheap or without considerable risk.  There are 240 seeds in total, and one buyer has expressed an interest in 100 of them.  So that leaves 140 left.  The cost per seed is $12.  I know it’s a bit higher than the initial estimate of between $5-10/seed, but it’s barely outside of that range, and less than what I thought it could have been.  Not sure how often these seeds have been offered previously, or what the cost per seed was then, but I imagine not often.  
 

Those who expressed interest earlier, please let me know again if this is doable for you and how many you want based on $12/seed.  That doesn’t include shipping to you, which I would guess would be between $5-10, depending upon how many seeds you ordered.  
 

Frank
 

 

[Cindy Adair]

I would like 3 seeds shipped USPS to 00670 if possible.
 

I can pm my exact address when you are ready. 

Thanks! I appreciate all your efforts to obtain and distribute these seeds!

[Barry]

Hi Frank,

I would be interested in 5 seeds, when you have them available.

[Bigfish]

OK, I have gone back and messaged everyone that expressed interest previously. 

This IS happening now.  I had to get my paperwork in order, but it's done, the seeds have been paid for, and now I'm waiting for the phyto to be issued and shipping will be later.  Not sure exactly when, but hopefully in a timely fashion.  So far, if I add up all of the seeds that people have expressed interest in buying, and using the lower range if you just gave me a range, I have 65 seeds spoken for. 

That leaves about 75 left.  Please message me or leave a message here if you want some seeds of this incredibly rare and beautiful palm that isn't offered very often.  When I get a tracking number for the seeds and they are on the way here, I will start taking deposits or full payments to guarantee your seeds.  Thanks!

Frank

[Mnasi]

Hi Frank,

Very interesting seeds indeed.

I am also interested as well and will probably take 5 to 10 seeds.

Thanks.

[Visgoth]

Responded to your PM, I remain interested.

[Bigfish]

The seeds are officially on the way!  I’ll be contacting those of you who have messaged me first as soon as the seeds arrive for payment.  The package should be delivered sometime this week to the inspection station in Orlando, then forwarded to me directly afterwards.  

[Barry]

Hi Frank,

Seeds received, Thank you!

Anyone have recommendations on how to plant the seeds? 
 

Barry

[jimmyt]

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/60688-germinating-borassodendron/?do=findComment&comment=899173

Maybe the post above…..

jimmyt

[Visgoth]

Anyone that bought have any luck germinating these? I have five and nothing yet, starting to get disheartened.

[Cindy Adair]

My two are still quiet, but not rotten.

I am very patient with palm seeds having some germinate even two years after planting. 

[fr8train]

17 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

My two are still quiet, but not rotten.

I am very patient with palm seeds having some germinate even two years after planting. 

Same. I just had some Trachycarpus princeps seeds I planted almost two years ago all come up at once. I thought they had rotted away. 

[jimmyt]

None yet here.  Patience……..  🤞

[Cbigler]

No germination on mine yet. 

[PalmXTC]

After a long wait… finally have a couple of seeds that are germinating. Hopefully more to come.  Woohoo. 

[Cindy Adair]

Great news PalmXTC!

I don’t want to disturb mine to inspect more closely. 
 

[Hu Palmeras]

Listen to me, friend. I'd bring all that to Chile. Too bad I can't. I'd have to sneak all the seeds into Chile like a vandal and a thief. I suggest that everyone interested pay the $10 shipping fee for each seed they buy. That way, you can send them to the United States and bring them into the United States. Help each other, and you'll have those valuable and unique seeds. Cheer up, those coconuts are already waiting for you! I send you my best wishes from Chile.