buying from ebay

[Rico13]

Hello all, I have allways wanted to buy from ebay but never have because I am afraid of getting dead plants. I am mostly afraid of getting dead plants from those vendors that are out of the country. I'm usually looking at those plants because those people are selling the rarest or weirdest plants. The ones I am allways looking for! So, I want to know, is it a good idea to buy from those people. Or is it a good idea to just skip those plants and look somewhere else? Thanks for the help!

-rico

[kindrag23]

I have 3 orders from them now and they have all been okay.
I ordered from Kammomoto(?) they are from hawaii so shipping is around 12+ but they have beautiful flowers.

I also have ordered from Grammatophyllum Stapeliiflorum from exotic orchids. I also have ordered from orchid prints the plants are in good condition.

Now the *rare and unusual orchids I know nothing about*

Does this help you at all. The shipping is what gets me.

I also order from Carter and Holmes they have their own website but the shipping is a little out there. Shipping was around 20 bucks! But they have beautiful hybrid orchids and they are ALWAYS in amazing condition.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Rico13

Hello all, I have allways wanted to buy from ebay but never have because I am afraid of getting dead plants. I am mostly afraid of getting dead plants from those vendors that are out of the country. I'm usually looking at those plants because those people are selling the rarest or weirdest plants. The ones I am allways looking for! So, I want to know, is it a good idea to buy from those people. Or is it a good idea to just skip those plants and look somewhere else? Thanks for the help!

-rico

Don't even think of buying from outside of the US. To import legally you need an import license and each shipment also requires CITES paperwork. The cost and work involved is NOT negligible. Some shipments may make it through without jumping through those hoops, but you risk confiscation of the plants as well as prosecution by the feds.

[kindrag23]

@JAYFAR I had not thought of that, that is a very valid point. I forgot we had actually just had a thread on that and trying to go around the legal ways.
@ JAYFAR is right unless you are willing to do all of the extra paperwork and expense it may not be all that worth it.

---------- Post added at 08:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 PM ----------

In fact isnt the proof paper paperwork for one form around 90+ bucks I think I saw that on a thread.

[awest]

It can be difficult to wait, but I think it's much better to let others import them for you.

I've heard Many large orchid nurseries will bring plants you order with them into the US when they come for shows and lectures. This might only be once or twice a year though. There are also some companies like Colombian Orchid Imports that bring plants over about every 2 months.

[RosieC]

The important thing when buying in ebay is to buy from reputable people/companies. Many reputable growers may sell through ebay as well as on their own website, I know of some european ones who do that and I guess it can happen in the USA as well. I would personally buy from ones doing that, but not from an individual who I had only seen/heard of through ebay. If someone here recommended a seller to me I would be more inclined to use them than if I only had ebay's own feedback to go on, which I don't really trust. Of course it would have to be someone I had got to know a little here so I felt I could trust their judgement.

It's definitely worth sticking to buying from the USA only, or when a supplier is visiting your country. I know that in Europe we can buy from one of the USA suppliers who visits Europe annually and send out the orders he has for Europe once he's here.

As I understand it the paper work and charges are per-genus...(at least coming into Europe) and so when companies come here for a show they can tag on orders for individuals at very little extra cost. I might be wrong on that, but that's how one of them explained it to me at a show.

Be aware, that there have been reports in the past about sellers on ebay claiming to be in the USA when they weren't. Someone got a visit from customs after buying a plant (rather than just an empty box which is quite common after customs have opened an illegal package). They were able to show that they thought they had bought from the USA so customs left them alone, but it's another reason to get recommendations first.

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Rico, you are about an hour and half drive south of Plymouth, MN. There is a large Orchid Vendor called Orchids Limited. They have a nursery in Plymouth, they also list plants for sale on eBay, and they have a really good website that you can order plants. Here is a link to their website: https://www.orchidweb.com/

There are several of us, including me, who have bought plants from them. I think you can discuss importing plants with them as well, as they do import plants and export plants from around the world.

[Rico13]

Thanks, MattWoelfsen! I actually buy a lot of my orchids from Orchids Limited. They are a great place! I usually go there after the monthly OSM (orchid society of minnesota) meetings, if my mom thinks we have time!