Acquiring Neofinetias Via EBay - Orchid Board

MattWoelfsen · #1 06-24-2013, 09:13 PM

Once again, I have to bow to Jayfar and others on this Board who have mentioned the excitement of bidding for our beloved plants on EBay. When EBay first started I remember buying camera stuff, but got a little over extended on bidding and buying--if you know what I mean! So I stopped doing online auctions. Recently, after reading about Seed Engei and seeing what they had for sale directly on their website versus what they auction off on EBay. I started bidding on Neos. I actually won two plants--far less than what I would have paid elsewhere.

It is really easy to bid on EBay! What is alluring about this process, Seed Engei has such beautiful descriptions and pictures of each plant that I actually bid on fourteen plants!!!! I am so THANKFUL I lost all but two auctions. I added up what I could have potentially bought: US$439.98 if I won each bid. YIKES!

I continued my quest to increase my Neo population by bidding on ten more Neos that expire tonight. I'm hoping I do not win any one of them!! LOL. Seed Engei is a highly rated vendor and they really have their act together.

WhiteRabbit · #2 06-24-2013, 10:29 PM

I've bought plants from Seed Engei both on Ebay and at shows - always nice plants! The one Neo I bought on ebay was larger than I expected - always a happy surprised!

Jayfar · #3 06-25-2013, 12:10 AM

All gone. I just watched 'em all tonight, didn't bid. The hokage slightly interested me, but wasn't a particularly great looker. I'll just wait for my Houmeiden from last night to arrive in a couple days (it was spelled homeiden, but I assume that was either an alternate spelling or typo).

Whadya get Matt?

Anyone else here score a plant tonight?

MattWoelfsen · #4 06-25-2013, 12:23 AM

Hi Jayfar, I got outbid for all the plants I was interested in acquiring. That is okay, if I was meant to win any of my auctions, I would've. Some person named H****I beat me out on most of the plants I was interested in, and there were some last minute other bidders too. I think this H****I wanted a lot of plants tonight. And s/he paid reasonably priced Neos. I wasn't paying too much on the bidding. There were other bidders that were higher and then H****I swooped in and cleaned up.

How often does Seed Engei set up auctions? I don't see any more plants for tomorrow? Do they only do Sundays and Mondays? I haven't started paying attention until this past weekend.

Jayfar · #5 06-25-2013, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

How often does Seed Engei set up auctions? I don't see any more plants for tomorrow? Do they only do Sundays and Mondays? I haven't started paying attention until this past weekend.

Lately they've been putting up batches once or twice a week. When they do 2 batches they're usually just a day apart. The days of the week varies as I recall winning one auction that ended on a Thursday.

jeremiah.chua · #6 06-25-2013, 02:50 AM

I had my eyes on a handful of those on Ebay myself, but the prices were just way too high to justify the purchase. Most of the winners paid way more than the plant was worth in my opinion, but of course, eye of the beholder to how much these plants are worth.

AnonYMouse · #7 06-25-2013, 03:06 AM

No new Neos for me. *sigh*

Matt, you should find out if Seed Engei attends any events near you. I don't think they update their calendar on their website, tho. Or you can vacation around one of the big shows (didn't Jay post a Neo event?).

MattWoelfsen · #8 06-25-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiah.chua

I had my eyes on a handful of those on Ebay myself, but the prices were just way too high to justify the purchase. Most of the winners paid way more than the plant was worth in my opinion, but of course, eye of the beholder to how much these plants are worth.

I agree Jeremiah. I'm so happy for the persons who outbid me and consequently saved me from buyers remorse LOL. For the ones I really wanted I'm ordering them from New World Orchids or Orchid Web. Seed Engei has great photos of their plants so I have a better idea of the plant I'm ordering.

MattWoelfsen · #9 06-25-2013, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

No new Neos for me. *sigh*

Matt, you should find out if Seed Engei attends any events near you. I don't think they update their calendar on their website, tho. Or you can vacation around one of the big shows (didn't Jay post a Neo event?).

I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hardly the center of Orchid World. BUT, New World Orchids is about 200 miles from me. I wonder if they allow visitors? I would enjoy attending one of those big west coast (USA) events, so your suggestion to vacation is a GREAT idea. I think most of them are done for this season, maybe in the Fall. My own orchid society show is in November 2013. It is a very small show but they come up with some beautiful autumnal flowering orchids. Although I haven't seen any Neos in shows past. Thanks for the ideas.

Jayfar · #10 06-25-2013, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

No new Neos for me. *sigh*

Matt, you should find out if Seed Engei attends any events near you. I don't think they update their calendar on their website, tho. Or you can vacation around one of the big shows (didn't Jay post a Neo event?).

The FukiranSOA notice I posted is the Fukiran Show and Judging Event at Cal Orchids in Santa Barbara on July 13, but I don't know if Seed-Engei will be selling there. It's part of Cal Orchid's open house.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...13-2013-a.html

Seed Engei does make the rounds of the big shows, so definitely check the vendors list for any show in your area.

---------- Post added at 07:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiah.chua

I had my eyes on a handful of those on Ebay myself, but the prices were just way too high to justify the purchase. Most of the winners paid way more than the plant was worth in my opinion, but of course, eye of the beholder to how much these plants are worth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

I agree Jeremiah. I'm so happy for the persons who outbid me and consequently saved me from buyers remorse LOL. For the ones I really wanted I'm ordering them from New World Orchids or Orchid Web. Seed Engei has great photos of their plants so I have a better idea of the plant I'm ordering.

I have to totally agree with you both. There really was nothing that screamed "buy me!!!" in last night's selection. But as Matt points out, the photos are very helpful. I like that they typically include a half dozen or more photos from various angles, more than they have for the pricier Neos on their website (typically just 3 photos each there).