The Impact of an Online Marketplace on the Monetary Value of Bonsai in Our Community

[Psymo]

(Some of you might not want to hear this but hopefully someone will agree.)

I would like to open a discussion on the potential negative impacts of having a marketplace on our forum for buying and selling bonsai trees and related products. There are several concerns that I believe need to be addressed to protect the integrity and financial sustainability of the bonsai community at large.

Key Points for Discussion:

Overpricing and Poor Quality:

Sellers often list trees at inflated prices, despite the trees being of poor quality.
This practice can mislead newcomers who may not yet have the knowledge to judge the value and quality of bonsai accurately.

Market Exploitation:

There are individuals who exploit the online market, competing directly against established brick-and-mortar bonsai stores.
This unfair competition undermines businesses that have made significant financial investments in their operations and depend on customer loyalty.

Alternative Selling Venues:

There are other opportunities for people to sell their trees, such as garage sales, bonsai club auctions, or sales sections at club shows.
These venues provide a more community-oriented approach to buying and selling, often with more reasonable prices and better quality control.

Captive Market Concerns:

An online marketplace creates a captive market where buyers may feel compelled to purchase overpriced items.
This not only harms buyers but also inflates the market, making it difficult for newcomers to afford bonsai trees and related materials.

Impact on Newcomers:

New bonsai enthusiasts may be deterred from entering the hobby due to high prices, limiting the growth and diversity of our community.

Price Regulation and Quality Control:

To address these issues, we could consider implementing a system where prices are capped based on certain criteria or reviewed by a committee.
Ensuring that trees sold through the marketplace meet specific quality standards could also help maintain fair pricing.

Support for Local Retailers:

Encouraging members to support local bonsai retailers helps sustain businesses that contribute significantly to the community.
Spending money within these stores helps ensure that they can continue to provide valuable services and high-quality products.

Call to Action:

Let's discuss these points and consider potential solutions. Should we regulate the marketplace to ensure fair pricing and quality? How can we better support local bonsai retailers? What measures can we take to educate newcomers about fair pricing and quality standards in bonsai?

I encourage all members to share their thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. By working together, we can ensure that our marketplace remains a positive and beneficial resource for the entire bonsai community.

Discussion Guidelines:

Please keep the discussion respectful and constructive.
Share specific examples or experiences if possible.
Suggest practical solutions that can be implemented to address the issues raised.
I look forward to hearing everyone’s perspectives on this important topic.

[Matthew]

Price is relative to what one thinks a item/service is worth . Also experiance and personal taste are a factor

AGE is not really relative to worth . Ive seen 50 year old crap trees but with age comes potentially good bark etc so you have to ask can i make something out of this ..........

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

$100 to me maybe not much, $100 to a newbie maybe alot

GOOD trees are worth MONEY!

You cannot take into effect the hours into growing , watering , fertalising etc as you'll never ROI .

Some people see trees as investments and certianly in some countries that is happening. Most here simply take up bonsai for the challenge and the happiness it may bring one.....

In my circumstance i have recently sold like 90% plus of my collection that i had accumulated over 20 years. Circumstances change for everyone over time. Obviously one wants the best price they can get but also have to be realistic.......

[TimS]

Why are you posting this again? It’s been answered thoroughly in your identical previous thread.

[Psymo]

duplicate, ignore