eBay can be a great place to purchase plumeria cuttings, plants and seedlings. But the purchase can end up as a very frustrating experience if the buyer does not know what to look for. Find out what to look for before making any plant purchases on eBay.
2. Purchasing plumeria cuttings, plants and
seedlings on eBay can be an exciting adventure,
but unfortunately it can end up as a very
frustrating experience if one doesn't know what
to look for.
After locating cuttings, plants or seedlings one
likes, the buyer should take a look at the
vendor's positive feedback which is shown as
a percentage.
It should be close to or at 100%.
3. Directly below the positive feedback is the
feedback score which is the number of actual
positive responses the vendor has received from
buyers.
This number reflects the number of products sold
to customers who provided positive feedback per
items purchased.
The higher that number is reflects the vendor's
reliability to provide quality products on a
consistent basis.
4. Plumeria cuttings, plants and seedlings are
offered from vendors worldwide on eBay with the
majority being located in the United States and
South East Asia, for example Malaysia and
Thailand.
5. Unfortunately, some vendors from South East
Asia have given a bad reputation to the region in
general as they were selling poor quality
plumerias to eBay customers.
But this should not keep one from purchasing
from vendors in South East Asia as long as they
show a positive feedback close to or at 100%.
6. Reading the latest positive feedbacks left by
previous customers also is a helpful tool when
making the decision to buy or not to buy from a
specific vendor.
This is found on the merchant's homepage
located right below the positive feedback and
feedback score.
7. Following are some tips for purchasing plumeria
cuttings, plants and seedlings on eBay.
Only buy if you're able to see a picture of what is
being offered to the buyer.
8. When viewing pictures of dark blue or purple
plumeria flowers, the buyer should know that
most of these pictures are produced using
photoshops and the colors of the flowers have
been altered.
Generally speaking, there are no known dark
blue or purple colored plumeria flowers.
9. During certain months of the year, especially from
April to July, rooted plumeria plants with visible
inflorescences, flower stalks, are offered.
If an inflorescence has already opened flowers,
the developing buds and inflorescense may be
lost after the plant arrives at its new destination
and is planted in a climate different from its origin.
Shipping stress may be another contributing
factor for the loss of the buds and inflorescence.
10. If the inflorescence has emerged only a short
way it may or may not continue to develop in its
new home due to the above mentioned reasons.
11. Showing a tennis ball or shoe next to the plant
offered gives the buyer a clearer perspective to
the actual size of the plant he or she is thinking
about buying.
Check on the shipping charges which should be
reasonable depending from where the cuttings,
plants or seedlings are being shipped from.
One can compare the shipping charges from
other eBay vendors in the same area for a
perspective of what would be considered
reasonable.
12. Question phrases, like very easy to.
Each plumeria has its own characteristics, and
when adjusting to a new non tropical temperate
growing zone the plumeria has to face new
challenges to root, flower and grow.
If the vendor offers a return policy, it should be
read very carefully. The buyer can contact the
vendor with an email for any clarifications.
13. One has to be leery of purchases that offer free
phytosanitary inspection certificates and free
shipping from overseas.
Generally, there is a cost for each inspection
certificate and, of course, shipping and handling
charges. Any shipment of plumerias coming to the
United States or Canada needs to have properly
executed inspection certificates.
One may contact the local Customs office or visit
their website to find out what forms and
procedures need to be followed.
14. Some foreign vendors include a disclaimer
notice on their eBay page stating that they are
not responsible for any cuttings or plants
confiscated by Customs agents.
15. Sometimes a picture of the mother plant is
placed next to the picture of the plumeria
seedling.
The buyer is interested in purchasing the seedling
which is the item that the seller is actually offering
to sell.
Placing the pictures next to each other can bring
about confusion.
16. The buyer may come to the belief that the flowers
of the seedling will look the same as the mother
plant.
This is not the case.
One unique characteristic of plumeria seedlings is
that they never grow and develop to look
exactly the same as the mother plant.
17. When purchasing plumeria seedlings the buyer
needs to make sure he or she understands these
points of confusion by carefully reading the
seller's description to know what he is selling and
what is being purchased.
The buyer needs to know that the picture of the
mother plant does not suggest that the seedling is
going to be an exact replica of the mother plant
when fully developed and grown.