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how do you sell on ebay?

do you need nursery licence to do it? not selling my figs. but interested. i might need to do it to feed the hobby soon. soil and container expense is getting to a point where i might need to supplement them.

You do not need a nursery license.  You need to only ship to the USA.  Customs prevents shipments to some countries of anything alive.

  • jtp

It is very easy. If you have an account, just follow the path set up under "Sell." They require PayPal for payment (because they own PayPal. Double-dipping if you ask me, but oh well.) They really handle just about every aspect of it, except listing the item and shipping.

interesting. will have to think about it.

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  • FMD

Yes to John's and Suzi's posts. 

Be aware though of some potential negatives:

1. Shipping is getting more and more expensive, so try and sell bare-rooted trees or small container figs or cuttings

2. eBay takes a chunk of change 

3. Paypal takes a chunk of your change for receiving payment



 

so far, i'm not very tight. and i don't like mixing pleasure with business.. but it's getting to a point, soil and containers are eating lot of my coins. besides, all my trees are rather young. so nothing in near future. either this or start eliminating figs that just do not meet up to standard. but i like every one of the trees i have.. sigh..

FMD, you are correct!  Ebay and PayPal are not in it for free!  They do take a considerable percentage of the profits.  Pete, maybe try Craigs List.  It's free, and local.  No shipping, but you might meet some really cool people and drag them into your hobby!

FMD, all the ladies in the forum will never let you forget about the topiary incident, but I've got a way for you to make it up!  We went to a memorial celebration on Sunday for my brother in law, and my sister, through her tears, said " If you look in any drawer or cupboard in my house, you will find hearts that Brad cut out and put there."  She wishes she had back the ones she threw out!  This is a cheap and easy way to show romance, and the ladies love surprises!!  Hearts are better than flowers!  They don't die!  This morning I had a heart on my coffee cup with a message "Start the Day Right"!  Worth some sheet time to me!!  :-))

Suzi

Some states have restrictions, CA and AZ are states that I will not try to ship plants to and I say that in my listings so buyers know.

Selling on Ebay is no different than selling any other way. If your state or the state you are shipping to has regulations or requirements that pertain to the shipment of plants, then those regs and reqs apply to Ebay sales as well. The dirty little secret is that the overwhelming majority of plant sales on Ebay are illegal. Not saying the sales don't happen, just that they do not meet the regs and reqs. There are states where it is illegal to ship to without a nursery license, even if the plant is free or a gift. The rules are different for every species of plant, for every state, and in some cases (such as citrus in California) the movement of plants if prohibited between different counties. Anything entering the country requires an import permit, a phytosanitary certificate, and inspection at a USDA facility upon entry. Plants leaving the country are similarly controlled in most cases and to most destinations.

Susan, not true about California!  I've received living plants and cuttings from all over the country, and several have been purchased on Ebay.  I think you have CA confused with Canada.  I can't speak for Arizona, but I never had a problem here in California.

Suzi

Ebay charges you 9% of the product sold, even for shipping plus $ 0.50 for listing. Paypal charges 2.9% plus $ 0.30. So when you put up something for sale you must take this into consideration so you do not pay more than you earned. Print shipping label on Ebay so that you gets a discount for shipping. Use USPS box so you do not have to pay for packaging. For shipping trees Fedex can be better option(faster and cheaper) then USPS.
I'm selling some cuttings on ebay for my old friend who don`t knows how to use a computer, this way  I'm trying to help him a little bit since he have some health problems. My ebay name is edens_fruits. Good lack.

Suzi, Susan was right for what she saying.

Selling on Ebay is a good way to offset the costs of hobby.  Stick to what you know, and more important, what you have!  I will not sell cuttings to international buyers PERIOD, END OF STATEMENT, bad experiences with cuttings.  I have sold several pieces of Porcelain to international buyers with no problems, but not so good with cuttings.  Do not take anything other than PayPal for payment.  Yes there are expenses for Ebay and Paypal, so what?, its the cost of doing business via the Net.

Good luck,
I am Nippondd on Ebay

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertDance
Susan, not true about California!  I've received living plants and cuttings from all over the country, and several have been purchased on Ebay.  I think you have CA confused with Canada.  I can't speak for Arizona, but I never had a problem here in California.

Suzi


Suzi, Susan was right for what she saying. Suzi it might be good idea to delete this post.

I understand Eden, but we do receive cuttings, and I don't want everyone thinking that we cant because we can and we do!  The only border we have trouble with is Arizona, and that's if you try to drive something across.

Suzi

no desire to send it oversea, and i know about CA. good to know about AZ. just don't like dealing with all the state law. i think to sell in NC and/or ship out of state, we need license.

I was selling some citrus trees on ebay and one day somebody knocked on the door and it was a USDA inspector who told me that we can not sell citrus from Georgia due to some disease. Of course I was surprise since Georgia is not Citrus State. Luckily for me he just warned me. So be careful who are you selling to.

g-man knocking on my door is not something i want. not that i have anything to hide other than all my.. i mean. i have nothing to hide. really. honest. all the coffees are for drinking. it's not to throw off the dogs trying to smell something.

The fact that people sell plants/cuttings/seeds on Ebay, ship them (even to CA), and have them arrive does not make it legal. People rob banks, murder people, etc., but that does not make these activities legal.

Eden13 is very, very correct. Movement of citrus is very, very restricted, especially into California.

i helped a family move to S.F.. the movers would not take her plants of many years. she was very sad giving them to her friends. she said she could not fly with them or send them to herself... I am not sure of the penalty would be, perhpas confiscation?  Craigslist is best.Many  local people and you can see what you are getting. plus may even make a tip for delivering.

Yes, but citrus is VERY different than fig cuttings. Citrus is not to be shipped to or from states that have it under quarantine. Citrus diseases are a big problem. Check out this link... http://www.saveourcitrus.org/


Quote:
Originally Posted by eden13
I was selling some citrus trees on ebay and one day somebody knocked on the door and it was a USDA inspector who told me that we can not sell citrus from Georgia due to some disease. Of course I was surprise since Georgia is not Citrus State. Luckily for me he just warned me. So be careful who are you selling to.

When moving to another state...does anyone know.....do the restrictions that might apply to the transport of whole [fig] plants also apply to fig cuttings?
Not sure but, in such a situation it might make sense just to leave everything behind and make new fig friends in the new state.

Generally, the restrictions on plant movement between states apply to any and all restricted plant material, regardless of ownership, mode of transport, reason for transport, etc. The issue is what diseases or insects or pathogens that are being transported in the plant, on the plant or in the soil. In some states it is illegal to import a plant, even if it was free or a gift. Some states require a nursery license in order to ship a free plant into their state.

Pete:  Just wondering how you are doing and, how your fig hobby is going? :-D

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