Worth it?

You cannot import this tree without a quarrantine period at a qualified quarrantine facility. The process to legally import bonsai is anything but straightforward. You cannot place an order at a Japanese or Chinese bonsai nursery and have your plant in a couple of weeks.

To be legally imported, it must have phytosanitary papers certifying it carries no disease. The quarrantine period for most imported plants is about two years. You will have to pay additionally for the care of the tree while it is in quarrantine. There are businesses that import many trees and have quarrantine facilities that can accept such shipments. You have to make arrangement with such a nursery. I think Brussels is one of those.

If the plant is shipped without all of the above, it is subject to seizure and you are subject to fines.
 
Holy Christ, sounds like it should be pretty easy then. lol -- Thanks for letting me know, and of course for crushing my dreams. haha

All that aside, do you think this tree is worth $830? Is $830 even the cost of the tree, is my currency exchange inaccurate?
 
you're on the money, at today's exchange rate $831 and some change. and yeah, I think it's worth $830 bucks
 
Hmmmm.....I think so too. I really like the bark on the tree specifically. Assuming that it's a dwarf species, I wonder how long it took to grow this tree to the size it's at.

I could be wrong, but I think it's either an Orange Dream or a Kiyo Hime...thoughts? Perhaps the leaves are too...droopy?...to be a Kiyo Hime.

Has anyone here worked with importing trees? What would I do? I'm assuming communication between me and the seller will be limited due to the language barrier, but would I be able to call Brussels to see if they would order the tree or something?

By the way, rockm, thank you for explaining that all to me. I don't think the thanks in my first response sounded sincere, but I do appreciate the information.
 
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Looks like a Kiyohime Maple to me. I like This one...

http://www.yamataya.com/product/963

look like it could be a Deshojo. If there wasn't the problem of importing I would buy it.
 
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it's a mountain maple almost 14 inches high
 
FWIW, it you're looking for an imported Japanese maple and have $830, you might check with Brussels or another high end supplier in the US. They may already have stock similar to this. Personally, I don't think this particular tree is worth all the effort...

If you're still interested in importing yourself, this is really the guy to talk to in Japan:

http://www.j-bonsai.com/

The site's owner is Yoshihiro Nakamizu. He's connected to many "name" bonsai nurseries over there. There is no language barrier. I've worked with him before--not on a tree, but on pots. He made things very easy. Prices aren't all that high either.

Another person closer to home you might give a call or an email to is Bill Valavanis up in New York.

http://www.internationalbonsai.com/

He tours Japane regularly and can import for you from select sources in Japan. I had a friend that Bill imported a Korean Hornbeam for way back when. He used to take orders for trees before each trip and set up importation. Don't know if he's still doing that, however.

In either case, you're more likely to get a better and easier deal than that web site.
 
Must be from the East coast, cause I don't see 831.00 there.

If that thing is worth 831.00 then one of my shohin tridents I have grown is worth 1200.00 at least.


Maybe to someone on the East coast though cause I couldn't get 400.00 out here. Maybe the East coast just has more fools easily parted with their money.

I gotta admitt though those in charge of finances in California think like an east coaster, cause the state is in terrible shape.

Anyone want to buy a great trident for 1200.00?
 

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"Maybe to someone on the East coast though cause I couldn't get 400.00 out here. Maybe the East coast just has more fools easily parted with their money."

Um, the tree is in Japan...I've been to Cali. Saw more than a fair share of monied fools out there...;-)
 
rockm said:
"Maybe to someone on the East coast though cause I couldn't get 400.00 out here. Maybe the East coast just has more fools easily parted with their money."

Um, the tree is in Japan...I've been to Cali. Saw more than a fair share of monied fools out there...;-)
Click to expand...

Yea but the guy willing to pay 831 for it lives in Michigan. I have no idea where John Rugar lives but he thinks its worth it.

I would pay about 150.00, and that would be for the base alone. The rest is ho hum.

Would you pay 831 Mark? What would you pay?

That Koto wasn't worth 1200.00 either.

I gotta start selling on ebay, it seems the fools are universal and know no border.
 
I said that I didn't think the tree was really worth the effort to import it and that comparable stock was probably available in the US. The site posted is in Japan, not ebay, although some of the crap that is posted there is a huge rip off.

I think the buyer is apparently new to bonsai, which probably means he is unfamiliar with what can be purchased in the US. I think a lot of the overpriced stuff on ebay is bought by people who haven't been doing bonsai for very long and don't understand the alternatives yet.

I know I've been impressed by looking at Japanese bonsai web sites and, when I started, I always wanted to have a tree from Japan. That desire passed once I realized the effort it took to get one and I saw what was available at a third the price or less here in the US.
 
John Ruger said:
you're on the money, at today's exchange rate $831 and some change. and yeah, I think it's worth $830 bucks
Click to expand...

I don't. But then, I don't buy trees someone else has worked on.
 
Not so much that, but . . . "Mother, I'd rather do it myself!"

For me, 99% of the enjoyment in bonsai is the doing of it, not the owning of it.
 
Smoke said:
Must be from the East coast, cause I don't see 831.00 there.

If that thing is worth 831.00 then one of my shohin tridents I have grown is worth 1200.00 at least.


Maybe to someone on the East coast though cause I couldn't get 400.00 out here. Maybe the East coast just has more fools easily parted with their money.

I gotta admitt though those in charge of finances in California think like an east coaster, cause the state is in terrible shape.

Anyone want to buy a great trident for 1200.00?
Click to expand...

I don't think your maple is worth more than the one from Japan and I think given the choice most people would take the japanese maple based on the pics provided. The nebari on the japanese one is far superior, with very nice flare It also has no visible scars. The taper is also very pleasing while the taper on your tree is very coarse. Also, the japanese one seems to show much more age in the bark and seems to be in a very nice pot.

Is it worth $830? I don't know. But I think it is worth much more than yours. My humble opinion. Maybe the picture just doesn't do your tree justice.
 
Smoke said:
Yea but the guy willing to pay 831 for it lives in Michigan. I have no idea where John Rugar lives but he thinks its worth it.

I would pay about 150.00, and that would be for the base alone. The rest is ho hum.

Would you pay 831 Mark? What would you pay?

That Koto wasn't worth 1200.00 either.

I gotta start selling on ebay, it seems the fools are universal and know no border.
Click to expand...

Well, since you seem to have extensive knowledge on bonsai material, why not share with all of us where in the U.S. we can purchase the same quality material for less? I'd love to know and I'm sure there's a lot of others here as well.
 
Its all in what you are looking for and who you ask...... Just need to look and ask people. Like AL said somethings in one part of the country is higher than others. If you looking for tropicals there are several nurseries in South Florida that have great prestock and finish trees that are resonable. But tropicals in a nursery in Colder climates will cost more and not be as good because they have to be grown in doors. Show what your looking for and what you have to spend and I sure you will get responses.
 
Smoke said:
Yea but the guy willing to pay 831 for it lives in Michigan. I have no idea where John Rugar lives but he thinks its worth it.

I would pay about 150.00, and that would be for the base alone. The rest is ho hum.

Would you pay 831 Mark? What would you pay?

That Koto wasn't worth 1200.00 either.

I gotta start selling on ebay, it seems the fools are universal and know no border.
Click to expand...

my friend sold a painting for 800 and i personally didn't think it was worth that much but the buyer did and so did my friend and im pretty sure all three of us aren't fools... in general an oil painting is worth more to someone who can't paint. bonsai isn't exactly easy and just because your good at it dosn't mean its all worthless.
 
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