http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=262176897676

Because they can.

Wow I guess somebody wanted those pretty much! 

If he gets paid, I think he should waive the shipping cost lol.

Vito

Time to plan a trip to Italy, eh Aaron?

Is there something special about the fig I'm missing? There is no info, that I've seen, about this variety. It's from a small town in northern Italy. That's about it.

For that price I thought it came with a personal tour of the small town in Italy! And to dream of a fig collecting trip to France, Spain, Portugal and Italy that's a beautiful vision. I hope this $$$$ fig grows well and soon some of you wise fig elders will be growing it and commenting on it here in the forum too. ;-)

I've been watching and commenting on the eBay cuttings market here for years. I've sold in the past, purchased in the past and written about hot figs in the past
This one is a major surprise
Congrats Frank

Ok its not the sellers fault. It was bidding.

I thought paying$200 for sanguinato fig cuttings was high for me.wow.

I don't think Aaron is discrediting the variety or the transaction. I think he's simply asking why- what makes one variety so " valuable"? As a collector, I think a beautiful picture and a good story behind the fig do a lot. Additionally, if the fig looks different from the norm or comes from a remote or unique area that most collectors don't have, it goes a long way. That is of course just a guess.

We all have had moments of weakness, and maybe insanity.


PERSONAL OPINION

There is not a fig tree on the face of this earth worth that kind of money!

It is not the seller's state of mind.

The question on my mind is, "Where did someone find the information on this fig to justify such an expenditure"?

It is going to be interesting to see how many cuttings of this wonderful fig, that no one knows anything about, will magically appear on ebay.

Will the buyer identify him/her self if it is one of our members?

No one has to justify the purchase.

There has to be something about auctions that drives people out of control of and loose total control of their reasoning, there is no way those prices are warranted ,but if someone is willing to trow threir money away I don't blame those that take it. There are thousands or even millions of small towns in Italy and just as many in France, Spain,Portugal and every other country on the Mediterranean and they all have fig trees growing wild on roadsides, bridges and even on walls, the locals don't seem to be excited about them at all. What collectors there are excited about are plants from old convents, old farms or old mansions. We are very lucky here in America because all the immigrants from the past have done all that work for us ,they brought their choise plant with them. Having said all that I admit to having " The Fig Bug" so I too keep looking for that great one, I visit old immigrants, collectors, convents and yes I look at those growing on bridges and walls, but not on EBay, and hope never will.

In this day and age, who can totally believe what appears to be.

Aaron i have the answer but i am sure you will not like it...

i think its because i have it. lol

i was one of the lucky 3 people to get it last season :)
 

Congrats to Frank on the sale. The buyer got what was worth that money to him (or her) and will be making money selling cuttings or small PTs in a few months. It can be a business just like any other at the end of the day and if all is honest and true there's nothing to argue about. I,on the other hand ,would not pay that much for a fig but that's just me.
Trees growing on sidewalks and walls? I'd like to see that here in Loganville!!!! Lol
This is for my friend Mario.

Andrea that looks great! How does it compare to the Greek figs you show off ?

Frank is great person and I have purchased a lot from him directly. He is very generous. That being said, I am shocked at the price and so is Frank. Auctions are totally crazy and that is why I like the "buy it now". Are the cuttings worth the price, I don't know, the only thing that I know is that is the price that they sold for and I did not bid on them so I am not upset. I have purchased several things in my lifetime that I am sure I have received comments like "I can't believe that he paid that crazy price, it isn't worth it". Can you imagine someone paying $76,000 for a 57 chevy when the original price was around $2,000? I think that's a crazy price but apparently some people pay the price and more. Anyways, I agree I would not pay the price and if I want them then I will wait until I can afford them. The most I paid for a fig is a Galicia Negra tree of real good size, did I pay too much, probably in the eyes of some, including my own. I am sure there were some friends bidding against each other, some bidding for other reasons, but one thing for sure, I am happy for Frank, maybe he will go on another trip and get some more varieties. Here is a thread that tells how others feel about the auction, a lot of friends having fun with Frank. http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/53345-pt-on-ebay

Chris 
the cold got me before i had the chanse to get this ripe.
it would not be a fair comparison with my perfectly ripe figs from very old mother trees.
frank did get his ripe and said it was just as good as the one from the mother tree

I can't see the auction information from my phone.

What happened?

Very happy for the seller, hope there was no misanderstanding.
ChrisK nice picture, here are some figs pictures
On first picture the fig tree is under the number
On the second picture the fig is in back of rail ,this is the house a was born in 71 years ago,me and 2 of my grandsons in picture( great fig)
On 3rd picture the tree is next to me ( Google the town of Pietrapertosa , amazing town in southern Italy

You guys have short memories.  Remember when the Gallicia Negra went for over $400?  People were shocked but that buyer made back over 5x the initial investment in a little over a year.  There is no other investment giving you that kind of return.  And now that people are clued in the next one will go for even more.  Getting that fig cost well over $2000 and discovering it took time and energy and luck.  A reliable person not given to hype with a large collection and visits to Europe tasting their figs says it's the best fig he's ever had.

Not only that but there was at least 1 other person bidding over $500 or it couldn't have gotten that high.  You may be stunned at that figure but people who know how to invest know that it's a bargain.  If you grow this under the right conditions through the winter you could easily quadruple your money by the end of May.  I know from a reliable source that a fig like this can bring in over $50,000.

Hi,
Why ? For a Christmas gift to ...the wife ... may be ... LOL .
Damned ... They don't even have roots already ... But ok, I mean, it was perhaps the only occasion to jump the gun ... So congrats to the buyer !
I have "healthy longue d'aout" ... I don't need another fig ... Except perhaps for the one of one of my neighbors ... It is a biggish green and red ...
But, I should get it in a swap ... I'll keep the big bucks for some other activities :) .