Howie, I think Dom felt betrayed, by me, so please don't get too offended. This is not like him at all.

Forget it water under the bridge-I'm over this- I said what I needed to say. I don't feel betrayed at all. It's freakin figs for pete's sakes-LOL

People Pay what they want to pay- no qualms with that. But the statement was really about-at what cost when cuttings can be easily attained if one would just be patient.

Now that things are calm I would like to say congrats to the buyer and wish you all the best and many many years of happiness with your new fig tree. Hope it bares fruit for you for ever!
I think it is awesome!

I am just as excited for Bass being the source for this new fig. Bass never ceases to amaze us with his rare and hard to get figs.

It's a win win situation for both parties.

To Dom, if you ever want to sell some of your rare fig cuttings ( like the ones you mentioned above ) I would be very happy to buy some, cuttings or plants.

Happy figging.

Howie, I am with you.

 I remember when I was a college student and paying my tuition by my own, I used to think people are crazy for spending $25 or $50 for a plate at a restaurant. I was only willing to spend $10 max a plate a couple of times a month. Now that I work and have a little more money, I can spend $50 for a plate and feel good about it. If I had $410 extra fund, that tree would've been mine.. :)

I don't see any problem for anyone to pay any amount of what they can afford. Some paid over $3000 when PS3 first came out. $700-800 was the going rate for Nintendo Wii. Yes, I know.. you can wait a few months or a year for the price to settle. But If you want it now and you have the money without sacrificing your left arm and your kids college funds, you can pay what ever price you see fit.

Again, congrats to Howie. I hope the tree will bring your an abundance of beautiful and tasty figs.

My concern here is that people (newbies) will think its normal to be paying hundreds of dollars for plants that normally would sell for 10 to 40 dollars or even less .
I can also understand that not everyone wants to deal with the uncertainty and hassles of cuttings , and would instead be willing to pay more for a plant . But hundreds of dollars for a newly rooted plant is nuts .
These are not baseball cards , they depreciate very quickly .
I have over 100 fig plants and have in total invested around $500-600 . From those plants I have propagated and traded dozens . I have also given away rare varieties to complete strangers and have also been a recipient .
That to me is the spirit of this forum and the people on it . They will help you , all you need to do is ask , and also one day return the favor .

John

I can really see your point John. If paying high price for fig plants becoming the norm, I don't think I can ever afford to get one. I really appreciate you looking out for the newbies, like me, in this forum.

I still don't think Howie is out of his mind for paying the price. If he is happy with his purchase, I believe that a money well spent.

I just hope we don't have too many Howies around. I too want to have that Galicia Negra.. :)

Howie did what he wanted and what he was able to do, that's fine. I totally understand the excitment of getting a special variety. I spent plenty when I first started, unfortunately I spent a lot of that with an unscrupulous seller who sold me trees that weren't what they were supposed to be. I now have a White Madeira that was supposed to be black! Howie has no worries in that regard here, his seller is top notch. He's obviously not the only one who would spend that much, otherwise the bid price wouldn't have gone so high. It's all good folks.  

Howie, As I stated earlier, I'm happy for you. You got the tree you wanted, and that's great. The problem is most of us are commonners, with limited funds. When I see things like this, it can create mixed feelings. Also as I stated earlier, it takes me out of the game. I can no longer bid on fig trees knowing they will go for a premium price, he who has the gold rules. This is not your problem, with this said, it still creates one.
The funny part of it all, this fig has no history. Sure everyone wants the lastest. Could be when you finally get to taste this fig, it might end up being low on the list for taste.

luke 

Howie has lots of new friends and Bass' beautiful children are going to be able to go to college! But this is wonderful. Some people who can afford them will grow and propagate them and in a few years more and more of us will have these most exotic figs. Seriously, thank you! 

Oh that purple...

Wonder if the seller has been payed?

I'm sorry if I offended anybody. I was just excited about the G. Negra, I certainly didn't mean to boast. I've met a lot of generous members and have received as well as passed along great cuttings. If anyone wants anything from my collection just ask, I'd be happy to pass around great strains. Would be a travesty to lose a great strain, forever.

Hello Howie,

Congratulations. I don't think you need to apologize.

I am a newbie to this forum and I agree with johnparav's comment regarding "newbies". I have built my collection with a per plant limit of $15.00, because that is what I can afford to pay for this Hobby. I currently have approximately 30 different varieties of purchased plants.

If the purchase is with-in your means, God Bless and successful gardening.

Best Wishes

this is insane... and special for both selling and buyer.

Michael, 

I think members support each other with our wish lists. 

My wishes have been fulfilled to the max, and I am now in the process of paying it forward!  There are people on Ebay who bid with no clue of this forum.  I have free cuttings coming from reputable sellers on Ebay at no cost to me.  But I hope with my whole heart that they get huge prices on the items they list, and that those prices are paid!

Your membership should always be fun.  Relax!

Suzi

Suzi,
If I post something you don't agree with that's fine - disagree if you want. But don't misread what I write and tell me to relax. There's nothing in my post that suggests I'm excited or upset or even really all that focused. If you didn't understand my point I'll reiterate it for you. I suggested a concern that if prices get too high on certain figs they might not be gifted as easily or freely to others who have them on their wish list. In reading your response I question whether you understood my post, so perhaps if you reread it you'll see I'm not upset at all.
Have a lovely day and please do "pay it forward" as that is one of the better parts of what this forum does.

Howie,
I did not mean to personally point you out as someone who might not pay. I do see in this thread that you've taken a few lumps for spending so much money. I personally don't care how much you spend for figs. It's not any of my business and I don't really care. My only concern is how this may or may not affect the gifting of cuttings to other members. I, as a member, give away a lot of cuttings and a lot of plants. I usually only gift plants locally as I don't want to box them up and pay shipping. I have heard folks ask others whether they are asking for a fig they don't have or ask them to state they don't yet have a certain fig before they will send rare figs. And that is about the concern that someone wants that expensive fig to resell and that is tied to the high prices on Ebay. I don't see how you read what I wrote and somehow got that my mention of hoarding had anything to do with you. I do understand, however, that you might be defensive as a few folks did take shots at you. I did not, and if you read that into my post you shouldn't have. I think if you have $400 to spend and you get what you want then great. I was pointing out my concerns about gifting, not any opinion on you or anyone else spending their money. I wasn't trying to be negative - just voicing a concern about how things may affect me. You, sir, can do whatever you want. It's really none of my business. Or anyone else's and I do hope you enjoy your new fig. It sure is a beauty.
mgg

Someone just paid 435.00 for the 2nd GN on ebay, so I'm finally off the hook!

Howie,

      How do we know you didn't buy the second one, too?

LOL Stirring the pot. The ebay id is different