Ebay orchids

[bobyshey]

Hi everybody.
I am a new for this forum and I do hope to stay with you. I like orchids and like to keep them. I've read that many of you buy orchids via internet, but they very fragile and what will I get after mail delivery? what kind of postage is used for delivery of orchid plants?

[patticake]

Hi bobyshey! Welcome! I have had good luck with orchids from e-bay. Each grower has different shipping methods, etc. There are also growers that sell through the internet such as Oak Hill orchids. If you search through the threads here, you can find a lot of info on new arrivals and how to care for them. Good luck!
Could you click on the user cp bar in the upper left of the screen and type the area that you're from? It helps us with culture advice if we know where you're from and your growing conditions.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by bobyshey

I've read that many of you buy orchids via internet, but they very fragile and what will I get after mail delivery?

Not all orchids are fragile. In fact just the opposite, many are very tough.

Originally Posted by bobyshey

what kind of postage is used for delivery of orchid plants?

Most sellers offer a variety of postage options depending on how far away you are from the seller. If you are near, regular postage can take as little as 3-5 days which almost all orchids can tolerate easily. For further distances or faster shipping various express options are also available.

I shop for orchids on eBay but I think, for your first web order, I would recommend one of the larger, well established, reliable nurseries. Let us know what kinds of orchids you're interested in and we can recommend a vendor.

Also check out the OrchidMall orchidmall.com. There is a large list ofvendors on the Orchid Mall most of whom are good choices.

I sometimes recommend that new orchid growers avoid eBay until they have done a fair bit of shopping at regular nurseries. New orchid hobbiests who have not done very much shopping for orchids get excited by the plants for sale on eBay and often end up paying much more for a plant than they would if they bought it at a nursery.

[Ellen]

I second what kmarch says about e-bay. I know there are some good growers who sell on e-bay, but there are also far too many egregiously overpriced and/or misrepresented orchids out there. You have to have some experience to tell the difference. There are plenty of established sources with online shops, most of which are listed on Orchid Mall. I would also caution against buying from the overpriced "floral gift" places. You'll recognize them if you land on one of their websites.

[articuno75]

Hi Bobyshey and welcome to the forum!!!

I get all of my plants from the internet, if not, the majority. All range in size from seedling to plants over 18" inches tall. Some delicate and some very hardy.

The only recommendation that I can give is buyer beware and know who you are buying from. There are many reputable sellers/vendors on the internet and eBay and here on the forum we can point you to some really good ones. Glad to have you aboard!!!

[Uechi]

I have had good luck with E-Bay sellers. The key is to look at their feedback and be very careful with sellers who only have a few sales. If you find a seller with hundreds or thousands of sales and most of the ratings are favorable I'd go for it. As far as orchids being overpriced, as the buyer you are responsible for knowing what the plant is worth. All you have to do is go online and check the pricing from a bunch of growers and you will know. I have used Hauserman, Carter and Holmes and several others with no problems. Start with low priced items and work up, after you have confidence in the supplier. Regards

[tom499]

Totally agree as said.

Make sure they give a photo of the plant, and tell you its what your getting, a ruler in the photo can help you get an idea of scale.

Dont be afraid to ask questions I do it all the time.

Probably most important: If your not sure, DONT BUY If all the facts you want aren't given and the feedback looks dodgy then its best not to bid.

I have had some great buys off ebay, but they aren't a common thing. I watch alot but will only bid on plants I can't get elsewhere.

Also, be aware of the plants location, sellers will happily take your money and send you plants over borders which may or may not need phytosanitory certificates. If the plant is found and destroyed by border workers I doubt the seller will be inclined to give you your money back.

[tizzycat]

bobyshey, It would be helpful if we new what part of the world you're from. As we all have different growing conditions.

[BunnytheOrchid]

Nice to meet you bobyshey
I myself have not bought any orchids from the internet because I like to see the plant and inspect it before I buy it, but I believe that comes from still being pretty new at orchids. I know a lot of people here know good, reputable sites to buy orchids from, so if you feel confident about what to look for in the plant, I say go for it. Shopping for everything else online is easy But I do understand your fear. I always worry just taking a plant home from the store in my car, like I'll bang it around too much or it will be too cold .

[Uechi]

As I have said previously E-Bay is ok. What I should have mentioned is I don't use them for readily available orchids from known growers, but when you can't find the orchid it can be great. I haven't received the orchid yet, but I purchased an Encyclia Phoenicea on E-Bay. This orchid is very hard to find and the sources provided by the forum unfortunately didn't pan out. By the way Encyclia Phoenicea has a wonderful chocolate cocoa smell. When you buy on E-Bay use a credit card alone or through PayPal. If you do you can always contest the charge if you get junk from a seller. Go luck

[berkeleysgr8]

If you're new to orchids and buying from eBay, I would strongly encourage you not to buy seedlings. There is one eBay seller in particular I would not advise buying from. He has the orchids shipped in from other countries and in my experience he sells tiny plants for the price. He's got lots of feedback (in the thousands depending on which name he's using) and most of it is positive... but I don't think he's the person to buy from for a newby.

[kmarch]

Further to one of the points I made earlier, if I see somethign I like on ebay I first look for it at other reputable vendors. I bought a Paph Rory Jones (my avatar) from Krull-Smith for about $25 but they were going for $50+ on eBay. Know how much something is selling for and don't bid more than that on eBay.