I've bought about 15 fig trees off ebay this spring, and I just got through unpacking the cream of the crop a few minutes ago. If I knew this seller's F4F username, I'd give it, but I only know his ebay name -- plant-creator. (I do know his real name from the packing list, but I won't post that here without permission.)

I won four auctions for his trees, all shipped together. They are humongous, around 3 ft tall each, healthy, and fully leafed out and well-branched. Each tree had its own box, with all four boxes securely taped together -- and this is the first time I've ever seen plants literally NAILED into their boxes for stability. LOL. They were so carefully and securely packed that it was a serious PITA to cut the boxes open! And with all this, the TOTAL shipping cost was only $18. Compare that to another ebayer who, on the same night, seriously thought I ought to pay $35 shipping for THREE trees that weren't nearly as large!

So, whoever you are here on F4F, I salute you. In the future, I will be happy to buy whatever trees you want to sell me -- as long as I can afford them. ;-)

Interesting!  I need no more figs ever, but what varieties did you get?

Suzi

Nothing exotic. From him I got Atreano, LSU Gold, LSU Purple, and Green Ischia. He is selling some VERY nice varieties, but so far those auctions have been too pricey for me. But I'm waiting for an opportunity to pounce!

I have bought tons and tons of plants off ebay over the years, and these were exceptional. Of course, I'm not knowledgeable enough about figs to say that they are true to variety, but to the extent I can judge right now, I'm extremely satisfied.

I would be the one that charged $35.00 shipping, here's the deal though , I don't set the shipping costs the post office does , I just collect the money for them, 

I sent you 2 trees in 2 boxes  8 x 8 x 24  weighing 4 lbs. each and the other tree was in a  4 x 4 x 24 weighing 2 lbs.  the total shipping priority mail came to $35.00 from CT to TN you were unhappy with the price and wanted me to knock off all the dirt on freshly established trees and send them to you bare rooted "never would I do such a thing" so I charged you $24.00 shipping and the remaining $12.00 came out of my pocket 

This is the problem on ebay people don't read descriptions , look at pictures, and price of shipping, before they bid they wait till after they win the auction and then want to critique what they bought 

I just looked at a fig tree from plant-creator shipping to me is $19.80 for one tree thats just what shipping cost there is nothing you can do about it 

Well, Dave, I wasn't planning on making this personal where your shipping charges were concerned. But since you spoke up, let's discuss it.

"I sent you 2 trees in 2 boxes"

First error -- I received three trees from you, not two. They were Red Sicilian, Stella, and Battaglia Green.

"you were unhappy with the price and wanted me to knock off all the dirt on freshly established trees and send them to you bare rooted "never would I do such a thing" so I charged you $24.00 shipping and the remaining $12.00 came out of my pocket "

I was unhappy with the price OF SHIPPING, yes. As I've mentioned -- I've bought many plants online over the years, and I've shipped a fair number of plants myself, so I have a good grasp on what is or is not reasonable for shipping costs. And I had a good direct comparison as well, from that very night. Those four trees from plant-creator were much larger and heavier than the trees you sent me (I'm NOT complaining about the tree size -- your photos represented them accurately -- I'm just mentioning size and weight in relation to shipping).

And I didn't "want" you to knock the dirt off the plants -- I wanted to offer you an alternative in order to avoid the exhorbitant shipping fee you were trying to charge.

I did appreciate that you agreed to cut the shipping to something reasonable. I did NOT appreciate that I had to argue with you to get you to do it.

"This is the problem on ebay people don't read descriptions , look at pictures, and price of shipping, before they bid they wait till after they win the auction and then want to critique what they bought "

No. Just no.

If you've done a fair amount of purchasing on ebay, then you should realize that it's standard practice to combine shipping costs when multiple items are purchased. Ebay even has a special button on their shopping cart so you can ask the seller for a combined total before paying. There is nothing unreasonable, no "problem" about expecting a shipper to combine those costs.

And again, I have NOT critiqued what I bought. In fact, I gave you POSITIVE feedback on the ebay site. Again, I was satisfied with the trees -- they were accurately represented, and I knew what I was getting. I have ONLY critiqued the shipping cost.

"I just looked at a fig tree from plant-creator shipping to me is $19.80 for one tree thats just what shipping cost there is nothing you can do about it "

Try looking at the trees I actually purchased from him. Here are their individual shipping charges:

Atreano -- $13.30
LSU Purple -- $13.30
Ischia Green -- $13.30
LSU Gold -- $13.30

If I had paid full shipping on each plant, that would have totalled $53.20 just for shipping. But instead, he COMBINED the shipping costs -- just like every other plant seller I've ever dealt with on ebay.

Except you.

Ah Lone, Dave did say he sent you 3 trees....2 trees in TWO boxes 8x8 weighing 4lbs EACH and the third in a 4x4 weighing 2 lbs . Not an error and not taking sides, just saying.

Right you are, Wayne. My bad!

eta -- When Dave was discussing the shipping costs through email (before shipping) he kept talking about two trees instead of three -- "Egghead unfortunately I can't put 2 trees in one box they would get destroyed " -- and I got stuck on that. But you're right, he did have a total of three in his post here. :-)

Hey, everyone makes mistakes especially when it comes to reading texts and not knowing what the real thoughts of the writer. Sometimes the tone does not match the text. Good luck with your plants.

Thanks! I'm happy to have figs again, and I'm excited to see how all these varieties do here. :-)

I keep telling myself that I've got enough now... but of course I'm still eyeing more ebay auctions. We'll see if I can actually resist them or not!

Thats exactly what I am talking about people do not read the details 

You didn't want me to knock the dirt off this is exactly what you wrote to me 

Speaking of details, read what I actually wrote:

"If you want to save on weight" and "if you need to"

Right. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE ON WEIGHT and IF YOU NEED TO. I was trying to give you an alternative so that you wouldn't charge me that outlandish shipping fee.

Plant created is in Mississippi, you're in Tennessee, which equals to lower cost in shipping fee. Dave is up in CT, it's obvious the shipping cost be higher!!! I've sold plants on Ebay as well, and I do agree with Dave not disturbing the roots by removing some of the potting soil or bare rooting the plant at this time of the year!!! Another thing- $12 or whatever price difference in shipping cost is nothing compare to growing figs, cost of materials and etc.... Just my thoughts.

Also, welcome to forum.

Navid.

"Plant created is in Mississippi, you're in Tennessee, which equals to lower cost in shipping fee."

Please read my post again. If I had paid full shipping to plant-creator, the shipping charge would have been $53.20 -- but it was less than half that, because he combined shipping.

In fact, combined shipping is the major reason why I make multiple purchases from a single seller at one time. Paying full shipping for each item is cost prohibitive -- but it is standard to combine shipping when multiple items are purchased.

"I do agree with Dave not disturbing the roots by removing some of the potting soil or bare rooting the plant at this time of the year!!!"

I do too. And note that plant-creator did NOT remove any soil or bare-root the plants that he sent.

Wow that was nice of you Dave. People don't understand how much shipping is with these trees. I too have ate many shipping costs due to the buyer.

Again, plant creator is closer to you than Dave- lower shipping fee. Would be a better idea, before placing any bids, ask the seller if he would combined plants for shipment.

Also, all this fuss for $12.00 shipping fee? Outrageous!!!

"Also, all this fuss for $12.00 shipping fee? Outrageous!!!"

I agree! I didn't make "all this fuss" -- I didn't even mention Dave's ebay username. I spent exactly one sentence mentioning a $35 shipping fee.

Keep that in mind -- Dave is the one who has made "all this fuss" here, not me.

"Again, plant creator is closer to you than Dave- lower shipping fee.  "

Again -- plant-creator's combined shipping fee was less than one half the total charge that I would have paid if I had paid full shipping for each plant. Similarly, the combined shipping fee I SHOULD have paid to Dave should have been roughly one half or less of what he wanted me to pay.

Done reading this thread.  This kind of stuff is what makes good members leave.  STOP IT!
Suzi

The bottom line is with the recent rash of ebay scammers selling fig trees and cuttings The way your first post mentioned ,(ebayer who, on the same night, seriously thought I ought to pay $35 shipping for THREE trees that weren't nearly as large!) would cause some people to do research to see who's the guy ripping people off on shipping prices it wouldn't take much to find out I was the seller 

What you tape together is your business my trees are individually boxed so that they arrive unharmed if you cant live with that please do not bid on my items 

"The bottom line is with the recent rash of ebay scammers selling fig trees and cuttings The way your first post mentioned ,(ebayer who, on the same night, seriously thought I ought to pay $35 shipping for THREE trees that weren't nearly as large!) would cause some people to do research to see who's the guy ripping people off on shipping prices it wouldn't take much to find out I was the seller "


Of course it would, Dave. Purchasers aren't public -- nobody can just go on ebay to look up what plants I've bought, or from whom, or when. My complaint was anonymous, fleeting, and not the intended focus of this thread -- and it would never have been traced back to you if you hadn't jumped in.

Finally -- I'm sorry that you feel so defensive about it, but I'm entitled to complain when I'm being overcharged.

End of story.

Finally -- I'm sorry that you feel so defensive about it, but I'm entitled to complain when I'm being overcharged.

If you feel you are being overcharged you should contact the postmaster general  and see if he could  lower shipping rates and not writing on here 

End of story.

Dave, I have purchased from you many times in the past. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Your nice enough to not charge a handling fee which other sellers do. The buyer has the option to take his business elsewhere. The fact you are a reputable seller with top notch quality trees. Not to mention you offer some of the best sought after varieties. Makes me a happy return customer. Shipping is insignificant for the quality product and service you offer. Thank you Dave!

"If you feel you are being overcharged you should contact the postmaster general  and see if he could  lower shipping rates and not writing on here "

Sorry, no, Dave. Again -- when there are many, MANY ebay shippers who combine shipping charges and ONE who doesn't, there's not much need to take the complaint to the USPS.

from Gardencrochet -- "The fact you are a reputable seller with top notch quality trees. Not to mention you offer some of the best sought after varieties. "

Agreed -- which is why I bought from him in the first place, and why I left him POSITIVE feedback.

I would like to apologize and do not mean to disrespect the site as it has taught me everything I know about Figs but when someone is bashing me for something I don't have control over I need to speak out as I am sure anyone else on this site would do, Thanks everyone for there kind words .
Dave