For folks who are interested in a group buy on Taobao using Taobao Focus (test piloted by Dr. Hobbes), please identify yourself here. More information will be coming soon 
!
!Taobao here we come !
- Thread starter tieguanyin
- Start date
I would be in, but would prefer if funds were exchanged a week from now.
- Thread starter
- #3
Argblech and myself have only barely started discussing this. We are not planning on pulling the trigger on this immediately (say like this weekend or within the next week). Hobbes actually suggested we not rush.
I am most definitely in! 
We are discussing how best to do this.
What we don't want is a free for all where everyone gives us a list. I'm open to this later but we'd like something simple to start.
My suggestion was that we (we == those participating) agree on 3 or 4 teas and order enough so that we each get a cake of each tea.
What we don't want is a free for all where everyone gives us a list. I'm open to this later but we'd like something simple to start.
My suggestion was that we (we == those participating) agree on 3 or 4 teas and order enough so that we each get a cake of each tea.
- Thread starter
- #6
To follow up on argblech's comment, below is a list of teas and vendors Hobbes has previously ordered from and liked the results. To play it safe, we will be placing an order for teas from the below list. Please send me a PM with your home email address. We will be polling you via email to sort out which three to four teas we will be ordering.
He also suggested to us the following:
2006 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu": http://item.taobao.com/auction/item...e6343aeffa290e6c9f1b188.jhtml?cm_cat=50003862
2005 7542: http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_detail-0db2-4252748379e70876c34382559766d249.htm
Happy reviewing
!
TGY
PS: This group buy is targeted for B&B folks living in the United States.
He also suggested to us the following:
2006 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu": http://item.taobao.com/auction/item...e6343aeffa290e6c9f1b188.jhtml?cm_cat=50003862
2005 7542: http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_detail-0db2-4252748379e70876c34382559766d249.htm
Happy reviewing
!TGY
PS: This group buy is targeted for B&B folks living in the United States.
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(iii) YPH was not good, but the rest are all thoroughly worthwhile 
Bonne chance!
Bonne chance!
I'm liking the looks of i, iv and v. especially liking iv. 
It looks as if (vi) has sold out recently, and so in order of excellence:
Tied at first place:
(i) 2001 Dingxing, (iv) 2003 Manluo
then:
(v) 2004 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu Mahei" (with the red old-fashioned "cha" character in the middle)
(ii) 2003 Quanji Bulang
then, the other recommendation mentioned by TGY:
2006 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu" (with the map of Xishuangbanna on the wrapper)
and probably ignore:
(iii) 2006 YPH "Yiwu"
Tied at first place:
(i) 2001 Dingxing, (iv) 2003 Manluo
then:
(v) 2004 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu Mahei" (with the red old-fashioned "cha" character in the middle)
(ii) 2003 Quanji Bulang
then, the other recommendation mentioned by TGY:
2006 Xingshunxiang "Yiwu" (with the map of Xishuangbanna on the wrapper)
and probably ignore:
(iii) 2006 YPH "Yiwu"
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- Thread starter
- #10
We are on hold until we get mod approval for this activity.
When y'all decide on something, can you post it with approx. cost?
My assumption is that we will choose cakes based upon the prices noted above and then a shipping quote can be provided when all of the quantities are known.
Don't jump the gun. Tea prices and currency exchange rates are subject to constant change.
I did some back of the envelope on Friday using the four cakes I voted for and it looked to be $120 to $130 per participant to get them to the US. There would be additional fees once the bundle is broken up. Those numbers aren't hard and fast... a lot can change before the order and I could have forgotten a fee or something.
Maybe we the interested parties should send TGY some indication of what price point they require to participate.
Maybe we the interested parties should send TGY some indication of what price point they require to participate.
With Taobaofocus, the costs are usually:
Stage 1 costs
1a Cost of the cake
1b Cost of the intra-China post from sellor to handler (typically RMB15 / vendor)
1c Handling fee, which is 10% of 1a
Stage 2 costs
Postage from China to your location (recommend Airmail, the cheapest, 1-2 weeks)
(Note that Taobaofocus offers the facility to send an order to multiple addresses, which is what I did for our previous B&B group buy when we used Taobaonow.com. If you don't use this, then you need
Stage 3 costs
Postage from your location to each of the group-buyers' locations, by local mail
This latter gets quite expensive, and we saved a lot of money by having the handler deliver to individual locations in stage 2.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
- Thread starter
- #16
I was also doing some quick tallying on Friday. Argblech's figures are in the ballpark.
Still waiting for mod approval for the group buy.
Forgive my ignorance, and my curiosity, but what interest would forum moderators have in a group purchase of tea from random vendors? The previous group purchase was coordinated by e-mail.
Best wishes,
Hobbes
- Thread starter
- #18
My co-conspirator in this effort, Argblech, mentioned to me that somewhere there is a requirement to get mod approval before engaging in a group buy. I am fairly new to B&B so I trust his judgment on this.
Since our hope is to share information on how this experience goes on B&B, we wish to be in good standing with the mods. If anyone else has information on this, please share it with us!
Well, I suppose one does have to obey the rules... 
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Good luck on the group buy, but funds have been short this month and I"ll have to be counted out =/
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