I've bought a lot of cuttings from Ebay over the years, and learned a lot, sometimes the hard way.

The most important lesson is ONLY BUY FROM REPUTABLE DEALERS.

When you get a bad fig cutting or plant, one that is not the variety promised, it's not the money lost on bidding that is the problem: It is the lost opportunity costs and time wasted on growing a bad fig when you could have grown a good one.

The regular posters here are top sellers and reputable, because if they were not, the experts here would have called them out, and have before.

I am most grateful for all the great figs from growers here, but I have to say a special thanks to Herman.  His figs are simply the best, absolute top varieties and top quality.

We now have over 50 different fig varieties growing in ground in our orchard, most from Herman.  It is a glorious sight and a great joy for our family.

Best wishes to all.

John

Rafed, which bottles do you collect?  For a while, So CA me collected Tequila Bottles.  They are all unique and amazing, but after the Tequila is gone, what do you now do with the bottles?   I go to BevMo, buy the cheap stuff, funnel it into those amazing bottles and play the game!

Horticulture is a different story.  I think if you are selling a certain fig, pear, raspberry, breadfruit, whatever, it should be exactly what you say!  I have more wine grapevines than figs, and I probably always will.  We make some really good wine with our grapes.  Would love to see what fig wine becomes, but we are a long way from that.  Takes about a ton of figs to do that!

I love growing all things, and fig trees are among them.  I like goats too!  Go figure!

Suzi
Long live the Ebay Game!

Suzi,

Mostly scotch and cognac. But the liquor stays in it.

I know about the California Liquor prices all to well. LOL

Rafed!  Say it isn't so!  You are not enjoying the fruits of your purchase?  This is beyond my brain amazing!  Actually, I think California Liquor prices are pretty good, if you have a club card.

We diverge!  I'm just saying that if somebody puts something on ebay and calls it "rare" then the bidding begins, because there are a lot of people that buy that don't know you or I, or anybody here.  If the seller spins it as "rare," the sales go up!  That is the game!

Suzi

I have a ton of Estate Sale stuff to sell on Ebay, no figs, but they will be labeled "rare."  I have a different seller name on Ebay.  Prefer to keep my seller life and my friends life separate! 

Wow - two separate Jolly Tigers both sold for over $260 this past week. There is also an Ice Crystal for about $200, with less than a day to go....

Yes, who out there is spending so much on trees.  They must know something about the variety.  They can't be just bidding because the seller says it's rare.     Well, at least there are a lot of people who must like figs.   Most people I know haven't eaten any good ones and don't really like them.   I'd like to know what the ebay names of the reputable sellers from here.  That would save a lot of time asking. 

Do a search on this Forum...I have posted here before on good, honest members selling on EBay

I was wondering the same thing about the buyers Figfinatic. There have been an aweful lot of figs and other plants, selling at a very high price. Very deep pockets out there. I imagine with the figs many of the buyers are either members of this or the other forum or, I have noticed that many non members review this site quite often, and would guess it's those people who are buying too. 

It just occurred to me that the variegated plants might be going for more since you are buying more for the look of the plant, as well as being able to tell immediately if you are getting the correct fig just by looking at its leaves - you don't have to wait for fruit to develop and ripen in a year or two, and then decide if you like the taste. Same with the distinctive Ice Crystal.

Or maybe figs just are really getting 'hot'! :)

Still no takers on my bronze colored plastic fig cuttings. 

The buyers that have bought alot of my trees are uneducated in the fig world. I get alot of follow up emails. The trees arrived in good shape what do I do with them now?  Most are baby boomers and middle aged that grew up in other parts of the world trying to find that childhood memory of eating figs from grandmoms back yard. One of the most common statements I get is " I remember it was a small dark colored fig"  I refer alot of them to this site and alot have joined. I recognize several names from my shipping addresses.

I guess there is no recession in the fig market.  

I don't think it's JUST figs that sell for $ on Ebay.  And, as Northeastnewbie says, a lot of people will pay a lot of money for a living memory. 

Like me!  I was willing to pay a ton on Ebay for a Breadfruit tree, and I still might, but it was really hard to find any, anywhere, so I was forced to research, and I had to accept the fact that they just don't grow here, but they might grow when we get that acreage we are searching for in a different climate.  I do love the fruit of that tree, but it's mostly the memories of a college kid trip to Jamaica..........

I did pay a ton for a real genuine crank ice-cream memory maker on Ebay, and now it's making memories for my grandchildren!

Good luck to all the Ebay Fig Sellers and Buyers!
Suzi

Oh it is definitely not just figs going for record prices. I grow a lot of succulent plants and often track ebay sales either for the purpose of bidding myself or to see what a particular plant is going for, especially if it is one I own. I have seen people pay over $900 for a tiny little plant in a 4 inch pot. Unfortunately I don't own any of those 

Since we do have a vineyard, thought I'd check prices there.  OMG!  I see a new business growing!  Cuttings grow easy, and I have red wine varieties...  You think a fig tree grows fast?  Might take a year, but I'll be selling rooted wine grape vines... only the best, the reds......

They are vines, they troll along the ground, touch, root.......  and produce!  Mostly we keep them from doing that, but their natural habit could be a huge plan!

Love this thread!

Suzi

What a great hobby.  I just like growing figs, but sound like you can rake it in if you have the right figs.   I'd better start investing in figs and not the stock market.  Unfortunately, don't have much $ left.