Let's clarify what it is you want.

1) Seedling Japanese maples are just JM's started from seed. They are always just generic Acer palmatums - no cultivar name assigned. They are typically not sold in nurseries as most folks want specific named forms. You can sometimes obtain them from specialty growing nurseries who grow them for rootstock. And places like farmer's markets, local plant sales, etc., started by home growers. And maybe even places like ebay. They should be very inexpensive.

2) Small, young named Japanese maples are always grafted. And they can be found lots of places. Many mail order specialty JM nurseries will have small starts for sale. And even local nurseries. And many find them on ebay as well, although I prefer to purchase mine from reputable growers to be assured I am getting exactly what I am looking for (lots of mislabeling, iffy scion identification and even outright fraud, as well as some very good growers but hard to know which is which online). Named forms will always be more expensive than the generic species but if only one or two year old grafts, still reasonable.

I'm looking for bloodgoods or something similar. I want to make my own Japanese garden without spend tons of money on mature plants.

I have purchased many seeds from ebay. I get about a 15-25% germination rate usually. That isn't that good, but hey i'm getting some extremely cheap japanese maples.

Yes, they are not named cultivars and may have no remarkable qualities at all. But i find it very exciting growing these from seed. You're in the for the long haul, but that's half the satisfaction.

Here's pics of a few of mine. The green ones have turned out to be very bland i suppose, i'll probably use them as rootstock to graft something else

The ones which are red here look pretty good still and i will just keep growing them.

I've seen Acer palmatum seedlings on ebay for $5-10 each, sometimes less if it's auction.

Here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Maple-3-yr-Bloodgood-Parentage-/281633576158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item4192ab54de

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Maple-2-yr-Bloodgood-Parentage-/271846416794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item3f4b4f219a

$7.50 for a three-year tree, or $5.00 for a two-year tree isn't that bad. FYI, you can get a named cultivar for $12.50 or so on ebay, though they're usually two-year trees.

Thanks for all the help. I never knew eBay had so many JM's for sale. I've already purchased some seeds from seed rack.com, but I will definetly look into buying some trees from eBay.

I have quite a few seedlings of the dissectum type , make me an offer ? thanks luke

Walmart has japanese maples in 1 gallon pots for 15 dollars. They have the bloodgood and the red select.

Here are some Seiryu Seedlings i'm growing. Even here you can see the genetic variation.
Some leaves are highly dissected and laceleaf, like the mother Seiryu. Some are far less dissected.

Maplesthebest, you should keep those green Japanese maples and make the decision to do any culling in the Fall. There are other criteria for judging maples than summer color alone. New growth color, seed color, shape of leaves, and rate of growth are others. You know that! ;-)
Here's some of mine.
Mike
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i283/Botann/Gardenweb%20forums%20stuff/IMG_1658.jpg

Luke Turner, I'm interested in your JMs. How big? Linda