Hi Everybody,
I recently published the following article titled, Purchasing Plumeria Cuttings Plants And Seedlings On Ebay. I thought this article might be helpful to some interested in the subject. The article also applies to plant purchases in general....
Purchasing plumeria cuttings, plants and seedlings on Ebay can be an exciting adventure, but unfortunately it can end up as a very frustrating experience if one doesn't know what to look for.
After locating cuttings, plants or seedlings one likes, the buyer should take a look at the
vendor's positive feedback which is shown as a percentage. It should be
close to or at 100%.
Directly below the positive feedback is the
feedback score which is the number of actual positive responses the vendor has received from buyers. This number reflects the number of products sold to customers who provided positive feedback per items purchased. The higher that number is reflects the vendor's reliability to provide quality products on a consistent basis.
Plumeria cuttings, plants and
seedlings are offered from
vendors worldwide on Ebay with the majority being located in the United States and South East Asia, for example Malaysia and Thailand.
Unfortunately, some vendors from South East Asia have given a bad reputation to the region in general as they were selling poor quality plumerias to Ebay customers. But this should not keep one from purchasing from vendors in South East Asia as long as they show a positive feedback close to or at 100%.
Reading the
latest positive feedbacks left by previous customers also is a helpful tool when making the decision to buy or not to buy from a specific vendor. This is found on the merchant's homepage located right below the positive feedback and feedback score.
Following are some tips for purchasing plumeria cuttings, plants and seedlings on Ebay.
Only buy if you're able to see a
picture of what is being offered to the buyer.
When viewing pictures of
dark blue or
purple plumeria flowers, the buyer should know that most of these pictures are produced using
photoshops and the colors of the flowers have been altered. Generally speaking, there are no known dark blue or purple colored plumeria flowers.
During certain months of the year, especially from April to July, rooted plumeria plants with
visible inflorescences, flower stalks, are offered. If an inflorescence has already opened flowers, the developing buds and inflorescense may be lost after the plant arrives at its new destination and is planted in a climate different from its origin. Shipping stress may be another contributing factor for the loss of the buds and inflorescence.
If the inflorescence has emerged only a short way, it may or may not continue to develop in its new home due to the above mentioned reasons.
Showing a
tennis ball or
shoe next to the plant offered gives the buyer a clearer perspective to the actual size of the plant he or she is thinking about buying.
Check on the
shipping charges which should be reasonable depending from where the cuttings, plants or seedlings are being shipped from. One can compare the shipping charges from other Ebay vendors in the same area for a perspective of what would be considered reasonable.
Question phrases, like
very easy to grow. Each plumeria has its own characteristics, and when adjusting to a new non tropical temperate growing zone the plumeria has to face new challenges to root, flower and grow.
If the vendor offers a
return policy, it should be read very carefully. The buyer can contact the vendor with an email for any clarifications.
One has to be leery of purchases that offer
free phytosanitary inspection certificates and
free shipping from
overseas. Generally, there is a cost for each inspection certificate and, of course, shipping and handling charges. Any shipment of plumerias coming to the United States or Canada needs to have properly executed inspection certificates. One may contact the local Customs office or visit their website to find out what forms and procedures need to be followed.
Some foreign vendors include a
disclaimer notice on their Ebay page stating that they are not responsible for any cuttings or plants confiscated by Customs agents.
Sometimes a picture of the mother plant is placed next to the picture of the
seedling. The buyer is interested in purchasing the plumeria seedling which is the item that the seller is actually offering to sell. Placing the pictures next to each other can bring about confusion.
The buyer may come to the belief that the flowers of the seedling will look the same as the mother plant. This is not the case.
One unique characteristic of plumeria seedlings is that they never grow and develop to look exactly the same as the mother plant.
When purchasing plumeria seedlings the buyer needs to make sure he or she understands these points of confusion by carefully reading the seller's description to know what he is selling and what is being purchased. The buyer needs to know that the picture of the mother plant does not suggest that the seedling is going to be an exact replica of the mother plant when fully developed and grown.
The buyer can consult with family members, friends or other gardeners he or she knows and ask them if they have ordered from a particular vendor and what their experience was.
In conclusion, it can be said that Ebay is a great place to shop for anything, including plumeria cuttings, plants and seedlings if one follows guidelines on how to choose a reputable retailer.
Copyright © Bob Walsh