AusBonsai

Don't want to burst your bubble here guys, but I have bought a trio of large excellent bonsai stands from China via ebay that are excellent quality and only $180 for all three. Yes that's right, only sixty bucks each. Why hire?

trident76 wrote:Don't want to burst your bubble here guys, but I have bought a trio of large excellent bonsai stands from China via ebay that are excellent quality and only $180 for all three. Yes that's right, only sixty bucks each. Why hire?

I think the idea here is about having available a variety of designs & sizes available to suit a particular plant & pot combo at a particular time that may be only suitable at that stage. Different plant & pot combo's look so much different on a variety of stands. Those stands you got may not look so good with your current plant in a few years time, then you may need to look at buying again for a one off show.....

Cheers

Graeme wrote:Sure wouldn't be me hiring out stands, thats for sure.

With the greatest degree of respect to yourself (and Pup) successful commercial hire is based on a risk management approach.

Whether it's glasses-and-crockery; cars; aircraft or irreplaceable works of art there'll be a series of deposits; insurances and fine print to ensure that the risk is managed. Doesn't stop stuff getting broken or lost but works, commercially.

Couldn't help commenting on this subject as I am a carpenter, joiner and have made lot of furniture in my time and have often been asked to make bonsai stands but people don't realize the time that goes into these things so even to make 10 bucks an hour plus the cost of getting some quality wood the price goes out the door, people just won't pay for quality these days, that's why we are being flooded with things from China.
Believe me I made the wire holder for the 50th member competition and to make that viable would have made it about 200 bucks so I made some lesser quality ones but still based on the same design and can get 100-120 on ebay no trouble. So fellas it all comes back to the almighty dollar and the saying " you gets what you pays for"



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Should have been 50th member

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Will get it right sometime 5000 th member



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Is very sad to hear that stands have been lent out, and returned damanged... or not returned at all. Especially as some of the stands are not cheap, and not easy to come by Makes me sad because it really isn't helping the art grow in the country

I'm personally just planning on buying them here and there to slowly build my collection, just have no idea where I'll store them as yet. Correct display set up is something I'm focusing on as I'm learning, but am not at the point where I need them as yet will be another year or two before I'm ready to display anything lol

thoglette wrote:successful commercial hire is based on a risk management approach.

You're correct with what you have said provided there is a market there, which in Australia, sadly there isn't. Don't get me wrong, it would be great if there was but I think we both know that we're a few generations away from that stage.

I don't think a Bonsai stand hire business is viable, because if some people are only willing to hire them out, they will be more out of pocket had they bought one initially in the space of a few years. The cost of hiring a stand I would hazzard a guess @ $20 to $30 for small to medium and more for larger stands, then perhaps a $50+ deposit, you hire a few stands a couple of times a year, the cost will mount up and if you had bought them yourself, in a few years time you will have saved money with the benefit of having your own stands.

To be honest, I think the best idea is for people to buy them or make them themselves and it should be encouraged. If one can spend money on top tools, great pots, great carving bits, great stock, then spending money on a couple of stands isn't too much to ask. Sure that isn't feasible for everyone and there is nothing wrong with that, but there should be some encouragement for those who exibit trees to have their own stands.

Also, if you look on the intarwebs, there are plenty of tutorials where it explains on how to make them.

Sorry if that does sound negative but I think its the hard reality of it, again it would be fantastic if we had the market in Australia but we ain't there yet (one day we will be though).

Cheers

David

Edited: Syntax/Grammar

I keep hearing that 'we don't have the market' meaning people will not be willing to hire a stand, or that not enough people would be willing to hire stands to make it viable. I don't see anything to back that claim. I think people just haven't had the opportunity to hire before. And maybe those who buy are not those who hire; and those who hire might eventually hire-purchase.

I think it is unreasonable to expect that people own (or make) (all) their stands. I have fifty trees; and that is few trees amongst some people I've met who have hundreds and say hundreds at show quality. I cannot afford to buy that many stands. But I could over time justify hiring a stand for the tree that is ready 'this year', but won't be showable for some years after that, as others take priority / interest. And I'd rather exhibit on the ideal stand than buy a few generic ones that are 'ok' for several trees, but best for none.

I think there should be encouragement for bonsai artists to exhibit on a stand. It is irrelevant whether or not they own that stand.*
*theft excluded.