I believe that particular auction was the all-time record low price and I had let AnnaJW and Steelviper know about that auction several days before it ended. I don't know if either of them bid on it, though, even though they are located relatively close to the seller. IMO, the auction was structured poorly by the seller (cagary, also a IBS member) because he didn't have a reserve price and would not ship that large plant, so he had a limited market and limited marketing period. His has sold 4 or so other Ae Ae and, if I recall correctly they all went in the neighborhood of $150-$200. Those were smaller plants that he would ship so there were more bidders.
Is there really anybody that does not like an Ae Ae? Blasphemy!
Like Scot, I'm subscribed to eBay searches for Ae Ae and get notified everytime there is one listed. I'm a bit crazy, I guess, because I think I've bid on about 50 of them this year in hopes of getting a "bargain" backup.
One friend in Hilo, Hawaii says Ae Ae sell there for $10 but another friend in Kona said that he sells them for $50 when he can get one and they go quickly. One of the more active Ae Ae sellers on eBay is from Hilo and regularly gets around $200. I sometimes have wondered if he is buying up pups locally for $10, but I really doubt they go for that even though my friend that made that claim operates a nursery himself and should know.
I get the impression that there have been about twice as many Ae Ae on eBay this year as last year. A couple of new sellers have more than picked up the absence of Stokes. I'm curious - does anybody know why Stokes isn't selling bananas on eBay this year. They are still selling some items but I haven't seen any bananas from them at all this year. Seems weird.
My Ae Ae has put out two new leaves in about 7-10 days and I'm hoping for pups soon, though I won't be selling any anytime soon. I like them a lot and want to get several going since I've got plenty of room for more. I guess it's obvious I'm an addict, or fiend, with Ae Ae. When working on my farm I like to just look at my Ae Ae several times a day and the work doesn't seem so bad (today was irrigating alfalfa in 100F weather after being up odd hours last night which I'll repeat again tonight). Maybe my Ae Ae needs a night light......
Harvey
P.S. cagary also has sold some pretty large mangosteen trees on eBay. One went for something like $158 and the other went for about $53. I wish I had set up a snipe bid for the second one.
