Cost effective Esrog shopping

[AsherO]

it all depends where youre looking. i personally have the hardest time finding hadassim

+1, especially if you want it to be fully meshulash and a long shiur (e.g. Chaim Naeh)

[doublejay]

so if I decide to go for the boxed option. where do I go to get one? and are there preferred vendors?

[chaimmayer]

+1, especially if you want it to be fully meshulash and a long shiur (e.g. Chaim Naeh)

Don't be offended please but only a lubavitcher would refer to רב חיים נאה as the long shiur.

[SuperFlyer]

I bought a pluche one, its the best.

[shmu]

As a rule in life, I always buy my Esrog from a friend although I know he is overcharging me (an Esrog wholesale in Italy costs $5...), but I prefer to donate to a friend than to someone I don't know...

That's a big mistake.
it cost 13 euros ($17) for every esrog picked whether kosher or not (50 percent are not kosher, they are thrown away)
you have to pay a large brokers fee to pick from any field, there is the guy who pickes them. besides the daily rate you have to pay him a lot of extras or you don't get much.
mashgichim shipping.

the Total cost of getting an esrog out of italy cost nothing under $40.

I'm not saying that all these guys selling have the right to charge there are krooks out there, but as you said its best you buy from someone you know.

[LeeW]

Does a lulav have to be mehudar? I thought the pasuk only says "pri eitz hadar?

[Netster]

If anyone one would like i can potetionaly get them realy good deals on Esrogim (in Israel).
if interested PM me.

[dans fan]

That's a big mistake.
it cost 13 euros ($17) for every esrog picked whether kosher or not (50 percent are not kosher, they are thrown away)
you have to pay a large brokers fee to pick from any field, there is the guy who pickes them. besides the daily rate you have to pay him a lot of extras or you don't get much.
mashgichim shipping.

the Total cost of getting an esrog out of italy cost nothing under $40.

I'm not saying that all these guys selling have the right to charge there are krooks out there, but as you said its best you buy from someone you know.

not familiar with the Europe ones but in isreal its $7 cost to grow and pick and i never shipped from isreal but i can imagine its more than 2 a piece.

[elikay]

Does a lulav have to be mehudar? I thought the pasuk only says "pri eitz hadar?

Absolutely does

[Yeki89]

Don't be offended please but only a lubavitcher would refer to רב חיים נאה as the long shiur.

i though rabbi tams were the longest
(you know what i'm refering to)

[L'Chaim]

Does a lulav have to be mehudar? I thought the pasuk only says "pri eitz hadar?

See Rashi begin of perek lulav hagozul, because  'זה א-לי ואנוהו'

[ahecht37]

To find a kosher esrog (not mehudar) is easier than finding a kosher lulav IMO

iIcompletely agree with you, and I want to add that many of the posul lulavim were made posul by ppl checking to see if it's good, in general I only look at closed boxes of lulavim because of this

[Yeki89]

Make sure your etrog is muhuder using this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20x-Magnifier-Magnifying-Eye-Glasses-Loupe-Lens-Jeweler-Watch-Repair-LED-Light/130722791217?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6faf7f31

[YG]

The Esrog business definitely seems to be 'somewhat imprecise' and prices may be inflated based on the mood of the seller and the face / suit / watch of the buyer, however there is a certain element of hiddur mitzvah to pay the requested price inorder to be mekayem a mitzvah even if it exceeds the true market value for whatever reason.  If the price is excessive there is certainly no chiyuv to be 'mevazbez' but the Zohar (2:128a) tells that one who wants to have a shaychus to kedusha:
. הַהוּא עוֹבְדָא דְּבָעֵי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בֵּיהּ, בָּעֵי לְמִקְנֵי "לֵיהּ בַּאֲגָר שְׁלִים, בְּכָל מַה דְּיִבְעוּן מִנֵּיהּ, בֵּין זְעֵיר בֵּין רַב"
"The action (mitzvah) that he wants to try and perform he needs to buy it for full price, whatever they ask of him whether a small amount or a large amount" "..... For ruach hatumah is attained always and for free ... And is sold at no cost ..... The ruach of kedusha is not so, rather a full cost and with great personal investment"

The Gemoro (sukkah 41b) relates an example that is quite apropos, that Rabban Gamliel bought Arba minnim for 1000 zuz, and the Gemoro clarifies:
 למה לי למימר שלקחו באלף זוז להודיעך כמה מצות חביבות עליהן
Why the need to inform us that he bought it for 1000 zuz? To let us know how dear mitzvos were to them.

Not to say that we all need to sell out cars and houses and spend $50K on esrogim, BUT, I think it does give a little context to the issue at hand.

PS a huge shout out to chase bank for assisting yidden to be more readily able to be mehader b'mitzvos!!

(UR@1.8 > new mehudardikkeh tefillin, mehudardikkeh Abraham minnim, vchu')

[aygart]

PS a huge shout out to chase bank for assisting yidden to be more readily able to be mehader b'mitzvos!!

(UR@1.8 > new mehudardikkeh tefillin, mehudardikkeh Abraham minnim, vchu')

How about the people who use the money for_______?

[YG]

Each to their own. We were created with free choice.
Chase helps facilitate acquisition of items / experiences one could otherwise not afford conventionally, what we choose to acquire is upto each of us to weigh up and decide.