I find watching fig sales on ebay fascinating. Not only what people put up to sell, what actually sells, the prices they get, and so forth. I've gotten a number of cuttings there myself and have been generally pleased so I'm more than just a voyeur. I guess what amazes me most is the high prices people are willing to pay for certain figs - there are several high-priced ones there now. Wow. More power to both the buyers and sellers.

I was amused the other day when someone was selling some very slender looking unknown cuttings that were sitting beside a piece of rotten watermelon. And someone had placed a bid.

I'm also amazed at all the Brown Turkey plants that people sell. And the Missions (which I like, and where I got my cuttings.)  And the Alma in a 5 gallon container someone is asking $109 for, and so forth.

It's fun watching the progression of the sales season. First it was the many cuttings, now more rooted plants are appearing. I can hardly wait for what's next.

Figs are so entertaining. :)

I also follow the ebay listings, I enjoy seeing what is available and how high some go for. Of course if I am shopping, I curse the fact that ebay drives up the prices. I haven't sold figs on ebay yet, but if I do I'll want those same people to drive the prices up then for sure. 

from what i have heard CDDB/N/G are all very good. however, noir and gris are better than blanche, and gris is best of the lot.

can't wait to see noir and gris. have rooted cutting and winter cutting coming little later.

mean while i hope blanche grows up so i can taste what it's like.

pete

I heard noir was the best. Guess it depends on conditions or personal taste. Hoping to get some production from my Cdds this year. Looking at those ebay prices has me feeling very lucky that I already have Cdd noir, gris and blanc, (thank you to the member who just gave me gris) I couldn't afford to roll with those bidders! Ebay drives up the prices for sure.

Suzi, You sure are brave posting an ebay link to something you are bidding on. LOL I hope no one else here sees it and jumps in on the bidding!! Promise I won't. I get very frustrated when I see something I want and then watch the price rise or as you say the price jumps with seconds to go. Still it is fun and I win a few things. Bidders wait til the very end with the hope of not driving the price too high. We call them snipers.

Oh My mistake, In that case excellent idea to post it here! LOL Good luck!  

Always buyer beware, especially with ebay. Much better to stick to the forum members who won't try to sell you useless garbage.

I hear what you are saying John and it makes perfectly good sense. I have  benefitted personally from some very good trades as I have bennefited others. I do see the benefit in listing stuff on ebay though. The cost of this hobby can get a little out of hand, especially if you are growing more than just figs. A nice ebay payday sounds pretty good to me too. More power to the sellers for going through the whole ebay procedure and earning the big bucks.

I don't mind the honest ebay sellers at all. It's of course more desirable to swap figs for some of us, but that has its downside too. Some people are simply more assertive than others about asking. Also, being in the right place at the right time helps. And sometimes the desired varieties just arent available unless you are willing to spend some $$. If you want something bad enough, and if the money goes to a private party on ebay, good for them. No one has to bid. :)

In addition, for people just starting and new to the boards, buying is often the only option. People are discouraged from immediately asking for cuttings when they join since that is considered rude. And if you are careful about the sellers, ebay is as good as any place to buy. In fact, it's the only place some of the less common cultivars can be found. And then the price goes up if several people want the same thing. Supply and demand.

In the end, I don't think it matters all that much. There are enough figs and cuttings and buyers and sellers and swappers and commerical nurseries that everyone should be able to find venues they are happy with.

Thus far I've purchased rooted figs from a nursery, bought cuttings from internet sources including ebay, acquired local cuttings, and been the recipient of cuttings from generous board members. It's all good. :)

A Black Madeira sold on ebay today for $227.50.

I saw that too, what I am wondering is who are the buyers that keep showing up? All with deep pockets. I think there has been about 5 or 6 figs in the past couple weeks selling in the neighborhood of $200

LOL, me too. While I choose to place $ limits on what I buy on ebay, I'm not as serious a collector as some. At least not yet. If there was a rare variety I really wanted however, and I wasn't using 'the rent money', I'd probably go for it too.

One person's folly is another's 'paradiso'. ;)

Its like a fig IPO

I got started buying trees for Gorgi before I was active on the forum, unfortunately I got a few from that imfamous seller we all should avoid as well. That was in my more ignorant days

That is a reflection of the addictive nature of bidding

Gina that is exactly the case with that seller