8th Annual Bonsai swapmeet

[Smoke]

Far left corner on the table - rust-coloured pot ... what is it?

This tree?



Its a large trident maple on George Muranaka's table. The tag said $129.00

 

[Stickroot]

This tree?

View attachment 89818

Its a large trident maple on George Muranaka's table. The tag said $129.00

Wouldn't pay $50! Nightmare!
And LARGE?

 

[Smoke]

That's why I didn't buy it

 

[Random Usr]

That's why I didn't buy it

There's something odd about the bends in the trunk. They look angular and stiff, like maybe it was already thick and straight, so he cut some wedges into it and bent it recently. Did you stick around to see if someone took it home?

Anyway, when the price of an object is 99.99 I accept it as a ploy to make buyers think it's cheaper than 100. But when private sellers put tags of .99 or .29 ..... I'm suspicious. He couldn't ask for 130? Or did he actually think it wasn't worth a penny more than 129?

 

[Smoke]

There's something odd about the bends in the trunk. They look angular and stiff, like maybe it was already thick and straight, so he cut some wedges into it and bent it recently. Did you stick around to see if someone took it home?

Anyway, when the price of an object is 99.99 I accept it as a ploy to make buyers think it's cheaper than 100. But when private sellers put tags of .99 or .29 ..... I'm suspicious. He couldn't ask for 130? Or did he actually think it wasn't worth a penny more than 129?

It's a retail trick thats been around for a hundred years. I even see this at yard sales. I think people write price tags unconsciously.

I didn't buy it because I need another trident with no nebari like a hole in the head. I also felt the trunk had large scars which I constantly deal with and all this type material becomes just plants sitting around in pots with dubious futures and taking up space.

 

[Random Usr]

It's a retail trick thats been around for a hundred years. I even see this at yard sales. I think people write price tags unconsciously.

I didn't buy it because I need another trident with no nebari like a hole in the head. I also felt the trunk had large scars which I constantly deal with and all this type material becomes just plants sitting around in pots with dubious futures and taking up space.

I definitely don't blame you for passing that one up. The “trick” might be 100 years old …… and it'll take another 100 years for those square bends to begin rounding off. And those scars! Holy sha-moly! I'd be almost willing to bet that he goes out into the forest 2 days before swap meets with a shovel and a stack of pots – and tries to sell them off before they wilt and die. I guess he thinks he can ask any price under the sun just because he has a Japanese surname.

 

[ColinFraser]

I'd be almost willing to bet that he goes out into the forest 2 days before swap meets with a shovel and a stack of pots – and tries to sell them off before they wilt and die. I guess he thinks he can ask any price under the sun just because he has a Japanese surname.

Dead wrong. George is a second generation bonsai nurseryman who grows his own stock in the ground. I'm not defending this tree - just pointing out that he's an honest businessman who grows some very usable stock, as @Smoke and others here can attest.

 

[Random Usr]

That's mighty good news, Colin. But I do wonder why he's put up a piece of rubbish for such an exorbitant price.