Online Bonsai

leafy8

Seedling
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Wondering everyone’s opinion on buying a bonsai online?
 

leatherback

The Treedeemer
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Constantly do this.

Key is knowing what you are buying. So I ONLY buy from "this is the tree you get" places. Mostly from private sales, rarely from stores (But then again.. Kaizen bonsai has good stuff and I order from there too).

Make sure you get clear pictures
If you buy from private, make sure they are RECENT pictures
If you buy from stores: Make sure they have a a good reputation

Ask how they will package the tree. Just tossing it in a cardboard box only works for the smallest of trees.

Accept that banchlets may break and the pot may not survive.
 

Potawatomi13

Imperial Masterpiece
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Have bought 5 Yamadori Ponderosa Pines online from reputable collectors and good pictures. Great trees;).
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
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The majority of my collection came from online. As mentioned above. I totally stress buying a tree you see pictured. Not a "comparable " one of the species. To not know what is being sent...is like brown bag prize bags I would buy as a child at the flea market. With our hobby having focus from roots up. Its important to me...for the most part to know what I am putting my money to.

I also like images of a dormant tree or defoliated tree. To see structure so nothing is hidden. Not all can supply those images. If they can't...then something about the character bones of the tree best inpress me. Or I pass.

There are several respectable sellers...not knowing your location. Has me pause sharing links. That takes time...and if you aren't in the states. Its a waist of time.
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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I will try to Aleafy8 your problems by suggesting against it.

Especially during that Rona. It's slow.

Sorce
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
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I will try to Aleafy8 your problems by suggesting against it.

Especially during that Rona. It's slow.

Sorce
Request FedEx for shipping when possible with this going on.But honestly my last tree arrived early with USPS.

I live very rural...I seen a huge delay at early onset. But my packages are all arriving on time or ahead of schedule at this time and date.
 

HorseloverFat

Squarepants with Conkers
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I get trees shipped.. like nursery stock.. you normally have to REQUEST pictures of the specific tree.. (at the places i shop..) They are normally not SUPER annoyed by these requests..

I’ve also “Rolled the dice” and bought some REEEALLY “sale-price”d out nursery stock sight unseen... I wasn’t displeased. (However, had I payed the original price.. it would’ve led to disappointment)
 

Boscology

Mame
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Mpls MN zone 4a
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I've bought about half of my collection online but its the more significant half...

In Minnesota we don't have bonsai nurseries, I have taken to trying to encourage friends and other club members to open one and assure them that I will be a customer.

my tip would be to search the suggestions of bnuts and then look at those businesses, some like Andrea at Wigerts are happy to answer the phone. Generate a good selection group of potential growers and dig in.


My fav online seller I mentioned in a previous thread of mine, bought several trees from him over ebay, now we text and I get a discount, after reaching out he was more than happy to be more personal
 

zanduh

Mame
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i buy pre-bonsai online. but only stock that has individual pictures not approximate pictures
 

JoeR

Masterpiece
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Usps has been very problematic for me recently.

I highly recommend Facebook bonsai auction pages. You can sometimes get good deals on it if you're quick, and you always know what you're getting before. Never buy sight unseen online
 

JoeR

Masterpiece
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also, pay attention to where its coming from. I bought a ficus on Facebook not realizing the seller was from puerto rico- it arrived fine after 5 days in the mail, but i was nervous
 
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