buying plants online

I have being looking at plants on ebay and im just wondering has anyone got any experience good or bad buying plants.they seem to be good value considering anubias in my lfs is 10euro for one small bit and a big mother plant is 10 on ebay

First things first, I think you probably need to find a new LFS When I started out I paid €15 on a plant in a well known pet shop, that I later picked for €5 in a less known shop locally...,,

I've bought lots of moss on ebay (with very mixed results), but have never bought any plants, so maybe someone else can advise on this specifically...

Having said that I've bought a lot of plants from The Planted Tank in the UK (see www.plantedtanks.co.uk/ ) - they're very good (especially their Marimo balls - they're massive), but I still reckon you can't beat a decent lfs (like McGuires here in Waterford)

Helen

A regular topic that pops up now and then, but as we have new members all the time then it is good to re-visit this one.

If a species of plant is not ever available in a LFS, then mail-order or on-line is the main option.

However, for species that are stocked by LFSs you may find that the plants work out cheaper.

So...you may see Cryptocoryne on-line at a euro per plant, and then see something like Tropica in the LFS is 7 euro. But, the Tropica pot may contain upto 20 plants (I've counted ).

It is not a matter of depriving someone of a 'bargain' as the bargain may actually be found in the LFS.

ian

there is a lot to be said for seeing and holding the plant you are going to buy, is it firm, healthy, pest free, held in a specific plant only tank without fish etc etc etc, buying online can be risky, but it can be rewarding too, so as mentioned above i would be inclined to shop local for the standard plants and only buy online for less common, hard to find species.
but cheaper again, would be to look for some cuttings from other plants keepers near you, most of the aquarium plants grow very quickly and are easy to propagate

i have on occasion purchased anubias & moss from ebay and have yet to have a negative experience

this is the plants i was thinking of.

As pointed out in Dave's Post...Link removed.

Kev.

i would remove the link before the forum police come after ye for it not being a sponsor, their big, strong and their might can be seen worldwide

dave

davey_c wrote:

i would remove the link before the forum police come after ye for it not being a sponsor, their big, strong and their might can be seen worldwide

dave

Forum Police

We are not that bad davey are we

Strong maybe but big not a hope haha

It just me but i wouldnt buy online i would rather see them before i get them and as ian said you really do get a lot more in the pots then you may think

Again that may just be me but i wouldnt live to chance it by buying on line

Sean

I got some plants from uk a bulk of alln different ones, all came in very good condition really happy, and few weeks ago i got some utricularia graminifolia from germany all came in great condition and in large amount, so im more then happy, if you need i can look at my purchase history for the sellers name.

BlueRam wrote:

davey_c wrote:

i would remove the link before the forum police come after ye for it not being a sponsor, their big, strong and their might can be seen worldwide

dave

Forum Police

We are not that bad davey are we

Strong maybe but big not a hope haha


Sean

yea i'm probably known to exaggerate from time to time but i nearly had ye's lookin like trojans there for a minute

Please refrain from naming suppliers that you have conflict with, as in a lot of cases it is your word against theirs. To say stay away from them is a gross generalisation as your complaint may be a very small percentage of their Sales overall. Please use the pm facility to air any disappointment. The Forum does not partake in any squabbles either parties may have.

Kev.

Helen wrote:

First things first, I think you probably need to find a new LFS When I started out I paid €15 on a plant in a well known pet shop, that I later picked for €5 in a less known shop locally...,,

I've bought lots of moss on ebay (with very mixed results), but have never bought any plants, so maybe someone else can advise on this specifically...

Having said that I've bought a lot of plants from The Planted Tank in the UK (see www.plantedtanks.co.uk/ ) - they're very good (especially their Marimo balls - they're massive), but I still reckon you can't beat a decent lfs (like McGuires here in Waterford)

Helen

Please remember not to quote business in conflict with our Sponsors Helen, as has so many times been said before, they financially help to keep the Forum current both in livestock and by means of support via donations of Prizes etc, none of the named alternatives do anything of this sort and online stores only facilitate their own interests without any interest in the Hobby other than to ply their trade.

Kev.

stretnik wrote:

online stores only facilitate their own interests without any interest in the Hobby other than to ply their trade.

Kev.

now who's grossly generalising .... a very slanderous thing to say, isn't it, because some do provide a reasonable service but i supose the same can be said for lfs as some provide a better service than others

dave

Which Online store other than Aquaworld is a sponsor of the Club? Which other Store that is not a Sponsor pays Monies in any form to the Forum? The Online stores, do not, in my opinion, offer anything in the way of Help in the way of Husbandry other than how to return, purchase or contact them re replacements, payment etc. How is what I said, anything of a generalisation? I never once criticised their service, I actually defended them indirectly by indicating that most of their service is more than likely without flaw.

Kev.

davey_c wrote:

BlueRam wrote:

davey_c wrote:

i would remove the link before the forum police come after ye for it not being a sponsor, their big, strong and their might can be seen worldwide

dave

Forum Police

We are not that bad davey are we

Strong maybe but big not a hope haha


Sean

yea i'm probably known to exaggerate from time to time but i nearly had ye's lookin like trojans there for a minute

I think we do that our selfs

Thanks for letting CK1 know about the link mate

Sean