How do you price your trees.

[Brad Loma]

Thanks David, i am pleased i didnt offend you. I have been known to do that, i wish you luck in selling it.
B.

[Asus101]

SO how are we pricing trees?
Age + years in care + materials?

[jarryd]

if so asus id take a younger feild grown quality stock option over some old tree thats been cared for for many years but is inferior quality stock.

i think the price of a tree should be based on its appearence, if its a nice tree with few flaws and in good health then it should obviously be worth more then an old tree that may never become anything special. just because its old doesnt neccesssarily mean it should be worth more in my opinion and in this formula everyone is talking about it seems age is a huge factor.

the way i see it if your growing stock to sell and profit from you should be able to grow it in the fastest possible timeframe and not to mention more economicly then 40$ per year per tree

my two cents regards jarryd

[Asus101]

if so asus id take a younger feild grown quality stock option over some old tree thats been cared for for many years but is inferior quality stock.

i think the price of a tree should be based on its appearence, if its a nice tree with few flaws and in good health then it should obviously be worth more then an old tree that may never become anything special. just because its old doesnt neccesssarily mean it should be worth more in my opinion and in this formula everyone is talking about it seems age is a huge factor.

the way i see it if your growing stock to sell and profit from you should be able to grow it in the fastest possible timeframe and not to mention more economicly then 40$ per year per tree

my two cents regards jarryd

No matter the age, no matter how long you have had it in a little pot, if it doesn't have the basic qualities to make a good tree its not worth a thing, besides sentimental worth.

[anttal63]

if so asus id take a younger feild grown quality stock option over some old tree thats been cared for for many years but is inferior quality stock.

i think the price of a tree should be based on its appearence, if its a nice tree with few flaws and in good health then it should obviously be worth more then an old tree that may never become anything special. just because its old doesnt neccesssarily mean it should be worth more in my opinion and in this formula everyone is talking about it seems age is a huge factor.

the way i see it if your growing stock to sell and profit from you should be able to grow it in the fastest possible timeframe and not to mention more economicly then 40$ per year per tree

my two cents regards jarryd

you will go along way with that thinking; my hat off to you sir.

[MelaQuin]

I think a price has to bear some relationship to the money a person puts into a tree [plant/pot/wire] but the price gets down to the quality of the tree at the time of selling. I don't consider things like time, fertiliser or water tho those are costs. I base my prices on what I paid for the basic items and then what I think the tree is worth depending on how far along I have brought it. I have sold trees merely to 'move them on' for better money than they were worth to someone who knew nothing about bonsai and thought they were great. I have sold trees for less than they were worth because I covered my costs, made a bit and was happy enough to move the tree on.

The bottom line is finding a person who desires the tree you are selling - I think today's $100 tree could bring $200 or $50 depending on the market and the buyer availability.

The other bottom line is the fact that private sellers have limited opportunity to sell trees and therefore tend to take less than the tree is worth just to sell it. There's a definite difference in being able to have a tree on display for days/weeks/months and having one or two days to sell it. There are too many variables to conclude accurately but it is a great topic.

[DavidN]

I've had further thoughts regarding the pricing of trees especially in light of what seems to be an increase of trees for sales on this site.

I'm hoping to sell some of my better trees this year and with these trees I want to achieve the highest possible price for them. SO the question is WHAT is the best way to achieve the highest possible price? Here are a few options that I could think about: Just setting a large price and then negotiating, Auction, putting it in a nursery and sell on consignment. I don't believe my bonsai club would attract the BIG spenders when we have our Exhibition and Sale weekend so I was thinking what other options are out there.

Thanks
David

[techpetal]

As a newbie to here and to Bonsai maybe my opinion doesn't hold much weight but....

As a person who is closely examining stock prices and early trained plants (because I am in the market to buy and build my collection early), I think the best way for people to sell their pieces is to set an approximate price and leave it open for negotiation or tender with a closing date. The opportunity to post an approximate price and then buyers express their interest by PM Tender means the seller really does get the best price and the buyer pays the best price they are able/willing to pay.

The seller can't get over the top with the price as nobody will look at it or the tenders will come in significantly lower. In any event, if the seller still isn't happy with the final price they can't be held bound to the highest tender, they just close it off and keep their specimin. Auctions are to much maintenance and work and your best buyer might be occupied in the shorter time that people will hold interest in an auction (You only get just above the price the Second most interested person person was willing to pay, not the highest price from the winning bidder).

Sellers should look at the prices at the local nurseries for comparable specimins and price around that or expect a bit lower. If they still can't decide why not get a few independant members off the forum to privately assess the plant via photographs

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth...