Imported trees coming to the US

[Nybonsai12]

Anybody interested in what appears to be high quality imported trees should get on facebook and check out the BonsaiSmith page.

Looks like the owner(Matt Smith , who i believe has also done sales for brussells) imported large groups of trees from Japan(appears mostly maples and pines) and has them in quarantine. I have never bought anything or even spoke to Matt but if I recall I heard good things. Either way, it's quite a venture he's taking to import all these trees, quarantine and then sell off. Hopefully it works out because I like seeing stuff like this for sale. I'm sure these will not be cheap, but it's worth a look just to see the beautiful trees.

 

[A Random User]

Matt is a good guy... however, the FB thread appeared to me as if these trees have just been imported, quarantined and just off the boat?

Not trying to question anyone's integrity. .. perhaps it just was not clearly stated with the post how long it has been since their arrival? Not sure?

It is my understanding when ever I have heard one importing that they usually will go through a wait and see how they do, process before selling. I would suggest if one is interested, that they ask before throwing down serious money. Perhaps they have and they are fine, I don't know?

 

[Adair M]

They're not priced yet. But, if you want one, pay when you select one, then wait 2 years for when it gets out of quarantine. If it doesn't survive, you get your money back. If it's damaged ( one or two branches die off) I dunno.

I think he's getting another shipment in the next couple weeks.

 

[Nybonsai12]

They're not priced yet. But, if you want one, pay when you select one, then wait 2 years for when it gets out of quarantine. If it doesn't survive, you get your money back. If it's damaged ( one or two branches die off) I dunno.

That is my understanding as well.

 

[rockm]

I think anyone with the $ to buy one of those imports understands the process, or at least they should.

They should also understand the resulting mark-up from dealers who import them. Importing can be a risky thing and chance plays a role in it. I know one importer here brought in some fantastic old Chinese elms, cost him a fortune. He got them here into his greenhouse, only to have all of them slowly die piece by piece--big chunks of trunks (some had trunks that were eight inches or more across) blacken and die within three months or arrival. He wound up with one viable tree (and it was damaged) and he wound up taking a big financial hit.

 

[Nybonsai12]

@rockm what was the cause of death? Was it something that began overseas before it came here? the shipping that did it, or something upon arrival?

 

[rockm]

@rockm what was the cause of death? Was it something that began overseas before it came here? the shipping that did it, or something upon arrival?

Stress, inattention by the shipper, a cascading series of events.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

How does this sort of thing work? How does he get these high quality trees? Does he pay for everything-shipping and the trees themselves? Or does the overseas nursery cover that and they split the profits?

 

[JoeR]

You know...


I wonder if it would honestly he cheaper to fly to Japan (for a 'vacation') and while there buy a few trees (for cheap, cuz theyre so much less there) and pay for quarantine yourself? It would probably still end up costing less than buying the same thing here.

 

[sorce]

I wonder why we are discounting our beautiful native species......
Our hands.
Our time.

This is one of those things.....
One of those dumb ass things we do....

Glad I ain't part of that we!

Sorce

 

[carp]

95% he "works" for Brussel. That's Brussels's greenhouse. It's a weird gig, but the trees are technically Brussels. Matt is kind of like a sales agent for Brussel in a way.

 

[rockm]

I wonder why we are discounting our beautiful native species......
Our hands.
Our time.

This is one of those things.....
One of those dumb ass things we do....

Glad I ain't part of that we!

Sorce

I have a lot of native species. They're terrific. Buying an imported tree isn't a diss on native species.

There are no native species that have been specifically groomed for bonsai for the last four decades. That's the attraction in buying an imported tree (although misguided souls buy them as "trophies," but they're in the minority). Grow a tree in a pot for three decades and they begin to take on a different character. Native species used as bonsai generally haven't yet developed the kind of "patina" that comes from such treatment. If I could swing it financially, I'd buy without feeling guilty because it's not a native. ].

 

[quietobserver]

I have a lot of native species. They're terrific. Buying an imported tree isn't a diss on native species.

There are no native species that have been specifically groomed for bonsai for the last four decades. That's the attraction in buying an imported tree (although misguided souls buy them as "trophies," but they're in the minority). Grow a tree in a pot for three decades and they begin to take on a different character. Native species used as bonsai generally haven't yet developed the kind of "patina" that comes from such treatment. If I could swing it financially, I'd buy without feeling guilty because it's not a native. ].

I think you hit the nail on the head, most of what they import is pretty damn old and while they aren't terribly impressive as far as Japanese 'show' trees go; they seem to sell okay because they really show their age in person so people tend to overlook some of their flaws. Maybe the branches aren't placed perfectly, but big trunks evidently sell.

 

[parhamr]

inb4 @Vance Wood clarifies that native North American tree species have indeed been specifically groomed for bonsai for four decades

 

[Adair M]

inb4 @Vance Wood clarifies that native North American tree species have indeed been specifically groomed for bonsai for four decades

Maybe so, but not to the extent they've been doing it in Japan.

JoeR,

Importing trees is a very difficult thing to do. There are quarantine places in Japan where you can buy it, have it quarantined for two years, it's then bare rooted, sprayed with every toxic insecticide, fungicide, and who knows what else, then shipped to the US. Then box is opened and inspected by the Dept of Agriculture. If they pass it, it's then reboxed, then sent on to you.

That's one way.

The other is to have them barerooted, sprayed, and shipped to a certified quarantine facility here in the US. They're opened and inspected with the DoA agent there, and then all shipping material must be incinerated in a special oven in the quarantine house. Such a setup costs on the order of $50,000 just for the set up. And then there's the permits,, inspections, etc.

And even then, there huge losses!

 

[Kodama16]

Brussel is the importer. He pays for trees and shipping. In the end he has a 40% mark up. If you go on one of his open houses you take 20% off that. You come out pretty good then. He also gets cheaper shipping and quarantine cost. And the volume he dose makes it cheaper. In the end flying to Japan and buying it there would cost you almost the same. I know for I've talk to brussel about this. And Matt. I've done the research to ship and I've went to Japan twice to make shipments. In the end it was cheaper to let someone else do the work and take the risk. So unless you want 100 random trees your better of going on open house and get one tree that you picked.
You got to remember he doesn't get to pick the trees they send him.

 

[Kodama16]

Also Matt sells for brussel online. They have a deal worked out. Matt makes 20% of the price.

 

[Eric Group]

I know a guy whose business is importing from Asian Countries. The thing to consider here is the cost of shipping. He doesn't do "boxes" or crates... He imports full sized/ 18 wheeler sized- shipping containers. I asked him how much it is to bring one of those in from Japan? About TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. That is the SHIPPING COST. Not filled with trees/ materials... That is just to get the container here. So, you gotta figure to get enough trees/ materials to fill that crate? We are looking at... $100k+? I asked my local shipping guy how much it was to ship regular sized packages over seas... A regular 9x12 type box weighing around a pound was over $100! I am assuming they are importing somewhere between the two extremes... Looks like his trees are CLK ing boxed in a few large crates, probably did not fill a shipping container, but certainly much much larger than the little box my guy priced for me...

Good on these guys for bringing good imported stock to the US! I hope this is a huge success for them... But... It is more financial risk than I'd be willing to take on. Cannot imagine what he had to invest to bring This stuff in... Kodama mentioned a 40% mark up? The number HAS to be higher than that. Typical retail mark up is about 100% over cost. %200 is not uncommon... Considering the overhead involved in bringing this kind of stock in, I can only imagine the bump is much much higher than 40%... I sure Hope it is anyway. Considering their shipping mark up, the work required to pot each tree, the costs of materials to pot them and then care for them for two years, the set up alone, the Fed certificates... This is an expensive set up! Gotta admit I am interested to see how he prices them.

 

[Eric Group]

Anybody interested in what appears to be high quality imported trees should get on facebook and check out the BonsaiSmith page.

Looks like the owner(Matt Smith , who i believe has also done sales for brussells) imported large groups of trees from Japan(appears mostly maples and pines) and has them in quarantine. I have never bought anything or even spoke to Matt but if I recall I heard good things. Either way, it's quite a venture he's taking to import all these trees, quarantine and then sell off. Hopefully it works out because I like seeing stuff like this for sale. I'm sure these will not be cheap, but it's worth a look just to see the beautiful trees.

Just wanted to say thanks for bringing this one to my attention- Some high quality trees on that page!

 

[carp]

I know a guy whose business is importing from Asian Countries. The thing to consider here is the cost of shipping. He doesn't do "boxes" or crates... He imports full sized/ 18 wheeler sized- shipping containers. I asked him how much it is to bring one of those in from Japan? About TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. That is the SHIPPING COST. Not filled with trees/ materials... That is just to get the container here. So, you gotta figure to get enough trees/ materials to fill that crate? We are looking at... $100k+? I asked my local shipping guy how much it was to ship regular sized packages over seas... A regular 9x12 type box weighing around a pound was over $100! I am assuming they are importing somewhere between the two extremes... Looks like his trees are CLK ing boxed in a few large crates, probably did not fill a shipping container, but certainly much much larger than the little box my guy priced for me...

Good on these guys for bringing good imported stock to the US! I hope this is a huge success for them... But... It is more financial risk than I'd be willing to take on. Cannot imagine what he had to invest to bring This stuff in... Kodama mentioned a 40% mark up? The number HAS to be higher than that. Typical retail mark up is about 100% over cost. %200 is not uncommon... Considering the overhead involved in bringing this kind of stock in, I can only imagine the bump is much much higher than 40%... I sure Hope it is anyway. Considering their shipping mark up, the work required to pot each tree, the costs of materials to pot them and then care for them for two years, the set up alone, the Fed certificates... This is an expensive set up! Gotta admit I am interested to see how he prices them.

$20,000 is very cheap when you're talking about bonsai at the highest level. For instance, this shohin size pot is valued at $100,000.

We're talking about Brussel...probably the biggest bonsai supplier in the US?