I paid 9.01 for this size plant (unknowingly) and 7.50 in shipping charges from Joan Marie on ebay.
She has fabulous leaves so I will order leaves sometimes from her, but no more plants. Although the plant is healthy, it has just been separated from its' mother.
Two-w Carina.
Hey,
You are not stupid! Don't worry, it will grow and from what I have seen of your photos, it will grow very fast and big too, LOL!
I ordered some streps once and I was amazed at how tiny they were. Sometimes Ebay is a big disappointing.
Pat
How about 'most of the time' it is disappointing..........I know she will grow, but I hate to have to pamper anything except what I grow from a leaf........I don't enjoy spending that much money to pamper anything..........
Hi ,
I can relate Gail , I have bought from Joanmarie too and this year the 2 plants I got were so tiny that I vowed that is was the last time , she shows nice plants in her listing but then you get a tiny plant and pay a bunch for shipping so no more , that is why if we get wonderful plants from a vendor on or off ebay we need to let each other know , I hate to dump on people but when you pay a lot for something you expect to get a decent size plant , she used to sell nice plants so I don't really get what is going on with her but as I said in the spring I got 2 sad , tiny plants and won't bid on her plants anymore , but no you aren't stupid , you send wonderful plants and you just expect other sellers to have the same kind of thoughts about quality that you have .........................but sadly they may not :(
I know with your care Gail it will be huge in a very short time so smile and love it and it will eventually make you smile in return :)
Hugs ,
Connie
The shipping charges really get me. I hardly ever bid on anything anymore because no matter how small it is the shipping is always very large. Ebay used to be fun.
Pat
The shipping was ridiculous as she sent it in a tiny box for only 4.50..............but charged me 7.50 for one plant........
I agree with the shipping part on plants... I am just starting out with selling... I will try and be fair but sometimes we never really know what it will cost... I also know allot of people don't take in that we have to get shipping supplies... I do understand as last week I got one plant and paid more for the shipping.
I am so excited... I just listed for the first time on Daves or anywhere for that matter.... I am a wiggle worm as I type...LOLOL
Hugs,
Susan
i agree, you really have to be careful who you order from, some plants are so small, they don't stand a chance.I would rather buy from someone i know.
mrsbonnie
I find it helps to read all the fine print.It often says it is not the plant that is pictured.As for the shipping,most sellers will send several plants for the same price as one.I try to buy from someone who has more than one thing I want.
Sometimes prices get way too high the first time a plant is put up for bid.I tried to get 'Lil Snowdrift' and 'Hector' a couple of weeks ago,but bidding went up to $9-12 for tiny starter plants.That is more than I can pay.
Being new to this I don't really know what a good leaf or plant should look like. I know what the NoIDs I grow look like in terms of the leaf thickness but are all varieties the same I am guessing no. So far I've received leaves from my neighbor that she grew and leaves she bought online (she was given extras), Lynn and Gail. What has surprised me is that the leaves are different some being thicker, some thinner, some more limp some more firm. Is that because they just grow that way or what?
I noticed that some of the vendors on ebay show actual pictures of the plant that you buy. They need to make them all do that....but then they wouldn't make any money would they?
I tried to get more plants from this same vendor but when I had bid past 10.00 for a starter plant, I quite................this was a second chance offer...........should have passed it up...............
She offered to give me credit on my next order but I won't be ordering..................
Gail,
I am going to the Tampa African Violet Council of Florida (Romancing the Violet) show this weekend. If you want me to look for something for you I would be happy to? I have never been to it so I don't know what they would have but it is a judged show/sale.
Pat
nosy rosie got to put her 2 cents in.LOL.about shipping
Speaking of the shipping charges,the vendors aren't to cheap.There ok if your ordering quite a few plants but of just one or two there pretty high too.I paid 12 dollars for one plant from a vendor.
As far as ebay sellers,some have to travel quite a few miles to the post office (like me,lol.) Should use little guys not sell? I don't sell alot but gas is not cheap and has to be added into the shipping cost.
I am not really complaining abut shipping costs because I know I lose money all the time on shipping............you are right.......materials are expensive to pack and gasoline they are not giving away here at home, either.
I try to buy several plants from the same vendor..........to cut down on shipping costs.......
Just this last weekend , I did something stupid to myself. I was selling lots of 50 leaves on ebay and the shipping is only 8.50......well guess what.................I am shipping to both New York and California and the leaves will only fit in a 12x12x12 box (which I paid 3.50 each for)........how silly of me.
Gail,
I think the #7 free boxes from the Post Office are about that size.
I order the #7's from online by the package of 25...........but I don't know how to make a 12x12x12 out of two of them.......I missed out when they handed out brains!!! I have seen people do it but don't know how........may ask my brother as he is much smarter than me!!!
Thanks, Lynn.....the 7's are 12x12x8.
Gail,
If he shows you once,you will remember.It's a bit of a pain (but not a $3.50 Pain LOL).It just requires cutting down 1 box and sliding it down over the other.You will have to use a little more tape,but you can get 2 tops from each #7.
I am no expert at packing plants,but I have packed and shipped boxes for years at work,up until the last 2 years.Guess I am a little rusty on my box sizes. ^_^.
Oh, thank you so much!!! At least I know it can be done................I will figure it out tomorrow..........and save those other boxes for another day!!!
You're not stupid Gail- if you'd keep buying from the same vendor expecting different results- well, what's the definition of insanity- doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results...
If I had all the $ I've spent on stupid things, boy, would we be wealthy, lol!
Think of all the shoes and clothing in your closet that you hardly ever wear! The toys I bought the kids which immediately broke... the interesting-looking foods which we only tasted and never ate... the gas we wasted when we got lost.... life is a lesson, just don't make the same mistake twice!
On the other hand, a younger plant may do better, as it will adjust to your conditions- sometimes when you buy a mature plant it's shocked by the change in conditions (it was often grown in a greenhouse) and doesn't do well- or so I've been told!
Hi,
For some of you who are newer to streps... The leaves can get very BIG... I am posting two pictures and I am sorry they are not clearer but I am tired and ready for bed.... Now mind you not all my streps are this big at this time but as you can see they start to hang down and also turn your pots over because they are to big.... I chop my plants all the time...LOL
Hugs,
Susan
Here is another one... Night all ... See you all after work tomorrow...
Hugs,
Susan
I have always loved that saying, Raising souls!!!! We use that saying a lot in our family!! (LOL)
That is also a big part of the AA program and Alanon where I have spent many years............(not in AA but Alanon).............they are really one and the same program.
While I am thinking about it, I got a dmail from Melanie and she has had a horrible time since her heart attack and the stints being in. She has suffered congestive heart failure since her surgery and is having a rough time. I know I should be on the prayer forum but you all might not see it there. We all believe in the power of prayer and Melanie really needs our thoughts, prayers and good wishes.............
gail
I knew that everyone would want to know.
****edited to say that large african violets grown in greenhouses are harder to adapt......but I have some beauties on ebay (don't buy them as I have plenty to put on dG later)..........and there is a big difference in the way they look when grown in the house under lights....
This message was edited Sep 29, 2009 10:04 PM
Bummer........when I edited it wouldn't let me show a couple in 21/2" pots.....the perfect size......maybe a little smaller?
'Flying Saucer'
I put a 2 1/2" pot beside each plant as vendors often make those tiny little plants look much bigger with a camera..........
Gail, that does look like a nice size plant in that pic...especially if you don't know the pot size
Good pic!
Gail,
Thank you so much for letting us all know about Melanie!! I am praying for her and her family.
The foliage on that AV is lucious!!
Lynn
I just realized this the other day that the camera can be deceiving even if you aren't trying to deceive! I had separated the trailer that Gail sent to me into separate pots but because they are so tiny I put them into micromini pots that are not much bigger than a thimble and when I took a picture of them because I zoomed in they took up the whole frame and it looked like a huge plant! But it's only a 1/2" tall! Some people put a ruler in the picture on Ebay I noticed last night when I was looking at plants and leaves there. I saw several that I wanted but decided to wait and ask ya'll what you think about these vendors.
Tinaslabels or bloomlovers
Teaz
Hoovershybrids
Greendragon - Fred (I think Gail likes him)
Svetlana with the Russian leaves
Joan Marie
Margaretpyro
Cedar Creek
They all had things I wanted not that I'd buy all of them but maybe one of two things from one of two of them.
I like all of the above except I have never used Margaretpyro.............don't know anything or ever heard of her...........maybe someone else will come along and know...........
Haven't ordered from Tina ................but love all the rest of them...............Pat said that Hoovershybrids were good but very expensive for what they are in size and health.................
That is all I know.......
Love Cedar Creek, Teaz, Greendragon, Svetlana, Joan Marie (with leaves only)
*******Take a peek at mine, too (smiling) gessie1.361..................if you are just dying to buy something.........
Margaret is a wonderful lady to deal with. Ships good leaves really fast. She has mostly mini's and semi's. She lives about 10 minutes from me but I don't personally know her.
Hi guys....I'm back again!!!
Good to see you, Melanie!!!
I'm feeling so much better! Up and doing little things. Still lurking alot!! LOL!!
Welcome back ^_^.
I do want all of you to notice .........look closely at Margaretpyro listings...........she is buying Fred's plants and growing them out and doubling her money..........I don't like to help people who do that to another vendor..................Fred is just too nice.........and too good of a grower...
I didn't notice it until I went to ebay tonight and had to see it because I buy everything Fred has to offer................
Gail it is interesting you said that because I saw many of them doing that to each other. I didn't look at everyone's feedback but if you look at the feedback you'll see many of them buying from each other. I suppose that's the way they get their plants too.
There is a difference, Anna. Yes, vendors do buy from one another.......leaves and plants, but they aren't copying someone else. Teaz buys from everyone and now has a collection over 1500 violets. Good for her but she isn't buying from the same person and reselling them............
There is a big big difference in the two things...........I buy every single thing fred offers but I wouldn't even consider selling his after they have grown back on ebay the same plants he grows. I might sell them to my violet club members, etc.........
OOPS, open mouth and insert foot!! But she did send good leaves.
^_^
I forgot to list one person that had things I might want - violetolet. I also just realized that some of these people could be here too and I hope if they are no one takes offense at me asking. As Gail said just trying to help each other make good decisions.
I've found a few who are selling 20 or 25 leaves seller's choice. Since I don't have that much I thought it might be a good way to get a bunch at one time. Violetolet's are $1 each for 25 leaves. Cedar Creek's are $1.10 for 25 leaves and Teaz are $1.36. Joan Marie's ended. It's fun to not know but it's also a bit uncomfortable to think of getting things you don't want as much. I am not that fussy but I don't really like the ones with the white rim around the flower and I imagine getting 25 like that!
I am not going to criticize any one from now on..........but I will say the best leaves I have gotten when you are buying like a big lot of 25 have come from Teaz............she only has 1500 african violets to choose from and I got awesome deals from her this way.
Anna,
Have you posted your favorites on your want list??
