Jim,
What you say simply is not true. Perhaps you mean that HD and W-M "may"
have better quality stock than Ebay at any given time. There are often
quality trees offered for sale on Ebay - and very often at great prices. I
have sold several quality bonsai on Ebay, all at great prices, and the
shipping is _always_ less than the actual shipping cost (a great deal for
the buyer).
This whole business about Ebay being a venue for crapola at too-high prices
is merely an exaggeration of what "can" be found there. The variety in
quality found on Ebay is virtually identical to that found in
brick-and-mortar bonsai shops. The pricing is often much better, regardless
of the quality.
It is a given that caveat emptor is the rule of the day no matter where you
shop. Yes, it is not hard for one to be taken advantage of on Ebay, but the
same is true at many brick-and-mortar shops, but not if you have an idea of
what you're looking for, where the potential surprises are. The beginning
enthusiast/buyer stands to find sales traps anywhere and the experienced
enthusiast/buyer stands to have better success - no matter the location or
circumstances. Heaping blame and disparaging remarks on Ebay as the cause
of the trouble is unfair and misleading.
For every ridiculous listing I've seen on Ebay, I've seen equally ridiculous
offerings at brick-and-mortar bonsai shops. There are excellent vendors on
Ebay and awful vendors on Ebay - just as can be found anywhere else.
Heaping all Ebay vendors into the "crapola" pile is unfair and malicious.
Try not to purposefully mislead people here, Jim. This is supposed to be a
valuable resource for enthusiasts on the Internet, not a prejudice
indoctrination school.
Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.bonsai365.com/ :: living bonsai every day
zone 8, Texas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Surely, there are nurseries selling plants (including tropicals)
in Amarillo -- not just street-corner bonsai. You will _always_
get better quality (health and vigor), and larger, plants locally
for less money, especially after shipping costs are added. And
if these plants aren't "bonsai" to start with, you can at least
have the honor (delight!) of creating your _own_ starting shape
for your tree. Even Home Depot and Wal-Mart will have
better-quality stock than e-bay -- and that's saying a lot (for
me).
Jim Lewis
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