I don't quite understand the high prices for VdB when it's available at Edible Landscaping for a whole lot less: http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/shrubs/Figs/VioletdeBordeauxFig.php

I'm not affiliated with EL (though I have visited and always enjoy going back), I just thought I'd point out that some of these figs have reliable sources outside of Ebay.  I'd hate for people to consistently overpay.  Be sure to search around before spending a whole lot on Ebay for rather common figs.

between this forum and yuku forum, i think we have most fig trees anywhere in US. there really isn't one specific way to "win" a fig tree. you have jon during the spring to order from him. you have UCD/USDA for scion. you have number of generous forum members who are willing to trade/give away.

i was lucky enough to purchased Kahtleen's Black as one of my first 3 trees and was able to trade lot of trees. however, lot of my trees are from very generous forum members who were willing to share their trees. then there is UCD/USDA where lot of members got their cuttings to start trees.

so how do you get to get cuttings from the forum members. well.. there isn't any magic to it. some forum members are so generous, they will share the cuttings with new members as soon as they ask for it. others will wait to see if they are participating to the forum before offering the cuttings.

now to more specific cuttings that you might want. post a thread with "looking for so and so". if you do that during late fall to early spring, you will have a good chance of getting the cuttings you want unless it's very rare. even not so rare cuttings like RdB might be hard to get if there is large demand. but you can keep trying.

important thing here is to enjoy growing what you have. sooner or later, you will run into that special cuttings and it will be like chrismas all over again :)

Soni,
Yes several people have "Won" free plants on the Forum (through give away or lottery) or through Fig Related raffles (I "won" a couple plants at the Northeast gathering in June). If you are bidding on Ebay you are buying, not winning. 
I'm with timclymer post #26, there are lots of common varieties that are Productive and Healthy that are available without having to bid.

What you have to do is set a price and stick to it.  If you always bid $80 and feel fine if it goes over that then you would have gotten the one that ended at 60 (maybe).  I snipe some things but for figs I set a price and if it goes over that I'm happy for buyer and seller.