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ebay seed scams - why are they not stopped?

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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Thank you @NoraGW
  • Puzzle007Puzzle007 Posts: 118
    Been there and done it, stupid purchase for Black rose seeds  and when they arrived I kid you not they were small stones.
    Something Kew Gardens could store in the vault for another 500 years because these tough cookies were never going to germinate.
    Admittedly I never sent complaint to eBay for the simple fact, who would believe me they were simply tiny stones. They would have sent someone to lock me up I would think!!!
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Made a complaint to ebay .. have been ignored
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Are trading standards interested?

    Devon.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Trading standards have been buried under CAB red tape
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hostafan1 said:
    I like this bit.

    Buyer Protection

    • Full Refund if you don't receive your order
    • Full or Partial Refund , if the item is not as described

    I think 'partial refund' covers it. That means you'll get a penny back - if you're lucky.
    I agree with Lyn though - we have to take responsibility for what we buy.
    If it looks dodgy - it probably is. That's a fairly good mantra. The same as - if it sounds too good to be true.....
    When you consider the amount of people who post questions here, who are new to gardening, and ask about the multi coloured whatevers they've seen in catalogues or online, it's clear there are plenty of folk who think those seeds which promise the earth, moon and stars [on one plant] are legit.
    Those sprayed heathers - Jeez. What are they thinking? But if people keep buying them, they'll keep churning them out. I was in B&Q the other day, and walked through the doors to the outdoor bit with my daughter. There they were - lurking by the door.
    I just said to her 'those should be banned' and walked on. 'Mum's lost it'  is what she was thinking...
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Fairygirl said:
    Hostafan1 said:
    I like this bit.

    Buyer Protection

    • Full Refund if you don't receive your order
    • Full or Partial Refund , if the item is not as described

    I think 'partial refund' covers it. That means you'll get a penny back - if you're lucky.
    I agree with Lyn though - we have to take responsibility for what we buy.
    If it looks dodgy - it probably is. That's a fairly good mantra. The same as - if it sounds too good to be true.....
    When you consider the amount of people who post questions here, who are new to gardening, and ask about the multi coloured whatevers they've seen in catalogues or online, it's clear there are plenty of folk who think those seeds which promise the earth, moon and stars [on one plant] are legit.
    Those sprayed heathers - Jeez. What are they thinking? But if people keep buying them, they'll keep churning them out. I was in B&Q the other day, and walked through the doors to the outdoor bit with my daughter. There they were - lurking by the door.
    I just said to her 'those should be banned' and walked on. 'Mum's lost it'  is what she was thinking...
    I think deliberately fraudulent goods should not be on sale - even if some are vigilant it is clear that Ebay and these companies are both profiting from fraud - knowingly. This has been going on for years.
    With respect, buying sprayed plants is different as you know you what you are buying, I consider them like plastic flowers (yuk).
    Anyone care to take up the gauntlet?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    But people dont know what they’re buying when the buy the sprayed heathers, I’ve heard lots of conversations in the SM where people were saying oh look at those, aren’t they pretty, didn’t know they came in bright pink, puce green and electric blue.
    for anyone that doesn’t know much about plants will be gullible. 
    I suppose the same can be said for Chinese seeds. 
    Several on this site had been ‘had’ with rose and Clematis seeds. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lyn said:
    But people dont know what they’re buying when the buy the sprayed heathers,

    Exactly. I was referring to the producers of those, rather than the buyers, but if a non gardener sees that, and thinks  'oh that would match my X,Y or Z'   how are they to know it isn't a 'true' plant, and that it won't stay that colour? They are always going to find buyers, so they will continue to produce them. Supply and demand.
    Dodgy companies will get round the 'fraudulent goods' sales by saying the seeds had been accidentally mixed up with something else. Even packs of seeds from a reputable supplier can have ones which have crossed with another plant, or have a few different seeds in the packet.
    It's another frequent query on the forum - 'I bought these seeds but some are blue not pink' etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Agrree,  I bought a packet of tagette seeds, Ruby I think they were, but there were a few orange flowers in there as well,  I’ve collected the seeds, no doubt I will get even more orange ones next year.

    I did buy a coat from China once, from EBay, they were very helpful about the sizes, which are different from ours, they asked me for all my measurements including height and weight, and sent a perfect fitting coat. 

    Just the seeds they cant get right! 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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