eBay Seller Recommendations?

[Connie Star]

I've been longingly browsing the eBay orchids and I am tempted to buy some- this would be my first orchid order from eBay.
Any opinions on:
bardero-orchids
smileysorchids
bandbandmandt
larrys_orchids
shermantp
mostlyspecies
jewelorchids
bill_asia (makes me nervous- is he in the US?)

Any other sellers people have had good luck with?

[fotofashion]

Connie: Frankly, I've never heard of any of those sellers except bill_asia. There have been comments on him on the board, I think under the Vendors thread.
I just bought a Trichopilia suavis from Incredible Orchids. I have bought from Kawamoto, charmed242507, and probably others. I can especially recommend Kawamoto and Incredible Orchids.
If I am faced with such a decision, I look at the rating they have and if they are a "top rated seller."
You do know that eBay has a Buyer Protection service?
The next step, perhaps, would be to buy a plant (just one) and see how it is packed and what it looks like upon arrival. Also, I'm sure others will chime in with their recommendations.
Beverly A.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I've been longingly browsing the eBay orchids and I am tempted to buy some- this would be my first orchid order from eBay.
Any opinions on:
bardero-orchids
smileysorchids
bandbandmandt
larrys_orchids
shermantp
mostlyspecies
jewelorchids
bill_asia (makes me nervous- is he in the US?)

Any other sellers people have had good luck with?

I was less than thrilled with the Orchids I got from Larry's.
I got very nice plants from shermantp.
peandshel is Carmela Orchids who has a fantastic reputation.
I have got nice plants from incredibleorchids.

[Pilot]

Mijo, Jewelorchids, sharmantp are all very good-- Mijo sells a variety of plants that are often hybrid tests, it seems, and he rarely has what a flower will actually look like but the plants are always very healthy! Shermantp sold me my first mini phal and its a star-performer in my collection to this day.

[Call_Me_Bob]

kawomoto orchids is good

[Lorraine]

Hi Connie,

I have personally bought from Smiley's and Kawamoto & Carmela. I have a posting under vendor feedback for Smileys I was there last week. Here is her website link. Welcome to Smiley Orchids We grow with passion and share with resonable prices I don't know any of the others you listed but would be very cautious with the last one.

What are you looking for?

[mollycart1]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I've been longingly browsing the eBay orchids and I am tempted to buy some- this would be my first orchid order from eBay.
Any opinions on:
bardero-orchids
smileysorchids
bandbandmandt
larrys_orchids
shermantp
mostlyspecies
jewelorchids
bill_asia (makes me nervous- is he in the US?)

Any other sellers people have had good luck with?

Connie, I do not know all of them, but here is my recommendation.
Smiley is simple 'AWESOME.'
bandbandmandt is Botanica, Ltd. (Brenda and Bill are very nice people. Their plants are amazing. They came to Oregon for the show. )
mostlyspecies - Marni Turkel. She was in Oregon for her talk. Her plants looked very healthy. I could not buy anthing since most of her plants were 'cool' growings.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Any opinions on:
bardero-orchids
smileysorchids
bandbandmandt
larrys_orchids
shermantp
mostlyspecies
jewelorchids
bill_asia (makes me nervous- is he in the US?)

Any other sellers people have had good luck with?

Is the first one bardavo instead of bardero? bardavo is good.
jewelorchids is great.

Also check out:

sunsetvalleyorchids, topmacsniper, eorchids, and of course ajorchids if flasks are your thing.

[jeffg]

I also have trepidation about ebay, since it, at least in my mind, represents sort of a flea market. Thus far I have not mail-ordered except from established orchid nurseries. Luckily for us, we also have about 6 reputable sellers within a 2 hour drive, so I can see the plants I wish to cart home. Best of Luck.

[stefpix]

I bought off ebay most of the times no problem. I would check what plants you want and where you can find it. The savings make it worth it often. I bought directly from some sellers anyway and have to say actually I had a worse experience.
Buying directly I got smaller plants than expected and in one case plants with no roots and fungus. On ebay often you see the actual photo of the plant you are going to buy. When you buy directly from a seller / online cat often you just see photos of the blooms but not the actual plant. And I can find a lot of stuff for under 10$ on ebay