AusBonsai

I apologise if this seems a bit odd and out of the correct place to post.
by all means move it! i just thought it would fit here best


OK, who loves Evilbay! (Ebay)

This is a warning!
Remember this, Evilbay still can have personal errors

Japh, another AusBonsai member and also my cousin,
recently bought a Beginner Toolkit for bonsai from the evilbay.

I then continued to order the exact same kit from the exact same seller, a few days after researching prices at Will Fletchers 'Island Bonsai' and numerous internet sellers.
The kit within the seemingly grey packet is Japh's,
Black is mine. Anyone notice differences?
(beside terrible picture quality of mine)

Apart from our cases seeming different colour, which i believe is just the lighting

I recieved a Concave Knob Cutter, Instead of my Rake + Spatula
even though it was clearly stated what the kit would contain.
Heres the sneaky ninja tool Culprit!

although I much prefer the Knob Cutter and was actually looking for a kit with it instead of the rake. I still think it is classic Evilbay!
Quite ironic too!

Be prepared for small mistakes such as this when you order on Evilbay
Gotta love human error!

Jordy

-----Japh's Kit image, Taken from Potensai.com (http://www.potensai.com/tools/collectin ... or-bonsai/ )

So odd that they did that. I wonder if you asked them, maybe they just ran out of rake/spatulas and popped that in instead?

Wish they'd popped on of those in mine as a bonus

And yeah, colour difference is definitely lighting. Mine was sitting in full sun.

I have a fully labelled version of this image too actually: http://www.potensai.com/wp-content/uplo ... _kit_2.jpg

hey you two, what price did they cost? i checked for bonsai nurseries in tas and there is one. its in lutana and i am planning to look there for a tool set. i dont want a shoddy set, i know what pieces i need but not what quality is like and stuff

Japh wrote:I have a fully labelled version of this image too actually

I know you do but it made my image look even more like 'my little sister could have done better'!


And Simon i recommend looking on our post on Hobart/Tasmanian Nurseries. here: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2004

simonm wrote:hey you two, what price did they cost? i checked for bonsai nurseries in tas and there is one. its in lutana and i am planning to look there for a tool set. i dont want a shoddy set, i know what pieces i need but not what quality is like and stuff

Lutana Bonsai Nursery, or 'Bonsai Radcliffe' nursery is owned by a retired man. Unfortunately he desn't sell tools, it is where Japh and I bought our first trees (only to find them potbound ).
There are quite a few little places around hobart that sell various Bonsai tools.

I recommend going to your local nursery and becoming good friends with the owners and staff
Many of them can order through items or tools for you, if not, then have a look on evilbay.

and the kit set me back about $70 all up including postage

Japh wrote:So odd that they did that. I wonder if you asked them, maybe they just ran out of rake/spatulas and popped that in instead?

Wish they'd popped on of those in mine as a bonus

And yeah, colour difference is definitely lighting. Mine was sitting in full sun.

I have a fully labelled version of this image too actually: http://www.potensai.com/wp-content/uplo ... _kit_2.jpg

At the cost of knob cutte'r, against spatula rakes I doubt they put it in instead.

i got some tools online cut paste 100g $12.95
root hook 9.95
knob cutter 11.00
bargain great gear from ebay the store was orient bonsai in melb

Pup wrote:At the cost of knob cutte'r, against spatula rakes I doubt they put it in instead.

Ha ha well said, very well said Pup

Pup wrote:At the cost of knob cutte'r, against spatula rakes I doubt they put it in instead.

In that case, I'm very unimpressed!

Though the price difference for this level of quality would only be about $5 - $7 or so. But these tools will do the job for now, by the time they expire I'll be ready for the next level in quality.

dayne wrote:i got some tools online cut paste 100g $12.95
root hook 9.95
knob cutter 11.00
bargain great gear from ebay the store was orient bonsai in melb

That's who Jordy and I bought ours from too

Japh wrote:

dayne wrote:i got some tools online cut paste 100g $12.95
root hook 9.95
knob cutter 11.00
bargain great gear from ebay the store was orient bonsai in melb

That's who Jordy and I bought ours from too

From the Same people i got my kit for $40, they do say if your not satisfied contact them. They'll replace it. They get it straight from o/s to you and they dont know what your getting unless you tell them. I once gots some clamps from them also and 1 was out of shape, i could still use it but they replaced it without extra charges. You need to comunicate with them.

Petra wrote:From the Same people i got my kit for $40, they do say if your not satisfied contact them. They'll replace it. They get it straight from o/s to you and they dont know what your getting unless you tell them. I once gots some clamps from them also and 1 was out of shape, i could still use it but they replaced it without extra charges. You need to comunicate with them.

Absolutely, communication is important! Though I think in this case, everybody is happy in the end, so there's no real need. A mistake was made, but it was a good one

As I cannot see them too well in picture's. All I can say is they are certainly cheap!. My concave cutters cost more, than your kit!!

My scissors were $5-00 cheaper than your kit.

Pup

Pup wrote:As I cannot see them too well in picture's. All I can say is they are certainly cheap!. My concave cutters cost more, than your kit!!

My scissors were $5-00 cheaper than your kit.

Pup

As would be expected of someone with your longevity in Bonsai, Mr Pup

For relative newcomers, starting cheaper is consierably more pracitcal, and replacing with better quality as they become inadequate spreads the cost

When I started my apprenticeship at the ripe old age of 14. My teacher ( we used to call them traveller's ) told me buy the best you can afford.
Save up if you had too.
I saved up for two pair of quality tin snips left and right hand cut. There name was Gilbow best in the business 3 weeks wages. I still use them and they cut as well today as they did then.
There is no substitute for quality. If you are going to stick at it. One of the member's of a club I belong to had the same opinion he has spent more on replacing his as they wear out than I have. On my tools to start.
JMHO Pup

Well if you can't see yourself binning the trees and taking up hot air ballooning instead,
why not get the good stuff that will last and do a much better job, in the first place?