varig8

Well guys, Ebay pulled my 2nd "AeAe Seeds" auction this evening, stating that it was against their rules and regulations, (I really wasn't selling anything). So you know that 'guess who?' saw it and reported it! Guess I hit a nerve! I was actually expecting this anyway. Its good to know that now he at least is fully aware that so many more people are aware of his character and his downward spiraling reputation as an honest seller. BOO HOO. I'm up for any ideas or suggestions on how to further spread the word on Ebay without breaking any of their rules or regulations, to inform potential buyers that the seeds are a scam. Lots of emails have been, and are currently being sent to Ebay concerning these fraudulent auctions, so the more the merrier.

eggo

Sucks to hear Ebay pulled your auction off. Really wasn't selling anything?!? What the... Maybe we could all start listing Ae Ae seeds. I can see the listings now at outrageous prices.
Ae Ae seeds at $100 for 15 seeds.
Description:
Ae Ae seeds for sale. Unfortunately Ae Ae seeds don't exist so I will go ahead and sell you these micellaneous seeds and call it Ae Ae anyways. Included in the batch of seeds will be some basjoo, possibly some Ensetes, and if your lucky I'll throw in a few pebbles/rocks for you. Goodluck, bidding will start at $100.

Pithy_Cherub

Hmmmmm.

Well, it IS perfectly within eBay's rules to sell &/or auction information.

Perhaps a set price dutch auction for pennies - for grower information on how Ae'Ae can NOT be propagated by seed? And contained within the auction a concise description for the information would include a warning @ unscrupulous sellers that intimate that they are selling said seed? Every plant person on the net (Dave's Garden, US!, I've seen a lot of sites talking @ this guy on the web!) buys & leaves their opinion of the shysters auctions & the truth of the info they've 'won' on the feedback pages. Shyster & eBay CAN'T change or remove anything left on the feedback page (that's 1 reason I've not bothered to ever sell there - it's a flaky system, at best). This time it could work to the truth's advantage!

I would also suggest it be listed under an eBay ID that couldn't do damage to an established seller. Shyster (& perhaps sockpuppets) would undoubtedly try to bid to try to disparage the feedback page. No point in a hard-worked-for seller's reputation/feedback getting muddied up trying to help unwary or uninformed eBayers. Multiple eBay IDs are also permitted by eBay, as long as they are not used for unlawful or nefarious business (& the information used to obtain them are factual ie: name, phone, address, etc). The eBay forums have sellers & bidders alike that use multiple IDs & openly discuss the pros & cons. I have had a more than a few IDs for years, all with my real name & info - so they're kosher w/eBay - but only 2 are connected to my financial records for actual bidding/selling. The others I use to play in the Ebay forums.

I'd be very happy to chip in a few bucks to help cover the costs of such an information listing, so no one person would have to bear the full expense (have never sold on eBay, I'm strictly a 'consumer' thus far!). I do see info auctions on there all the time, though. That would get around their 'not selling anything' obstacle!

Diana
.

momoese

This is basically the same thing I said to Steve in an email. Information is tangible and can be sold. The one your missing is that auctions can be ended at any time with no repercussions from ebay. Once the auction has ended and all bids cancelled no one can leave negative feedback for you.

Pithy_Cherub

Mitchel - Great minds,etc! (but I get too wordy, sometimes LOL!)

This could work, yes?

Diana
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varig8

Here is the latest Ebay Auction, I hope this one is within the rules and regulations and won't be pulled. People are reading it at least!

Item number: 250137137081

Description

Educate yourself and be better informed! This auction is for information regarding 'supposed' AeAe seed. Musa Paradisiaca x AeAe is a non-seeded type banana and does NOT produce seed even if crossed with a seeded type! Find out why! Included in your information package are links to information from hobbyists, growers, scientists, and people who bought these supposed seed and their outcomes! I will also provide correct information on the likelihood of why these seed are probably fraudulent so you dont waste your hard earned cash on these "Magic Beans". Common sense should tell you that if it were possible to produce AeAe seed that AeAe seedlings would be readily available at a greatly reduced price! For .99 I will email you this information so you can become better informed so you can make up your own mind! Don't be duped by unscrupulous sellers.

D'Andra

WTG! I hope they keep this listing on!

__________________

D'.

AnnaJW

Very good! I don't see how they can pull it now.

__________________
-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

Pithy_Cherub

Outstanding write-up, Steve!

I don't see how eBay could possibly object to it. They may not acknowledge it, but you're doing them a favor - standing up for honest sellers! Can we do 'buy it now' - I think it would be another opportunity to reinforce the info you're putting out there on the feedback pages, as well?

Diana
.

(haven't been 'in the house' much this week, so I'm late seeing this!)

varig8

Yes, the auction is listed as a 'set price' auction (.99-the lowest starting bid price they allow for any auction), and this type auction automatically is a 'buy it now', and the amount available-well, I put 100!

Lilith

This Ae Ae seed thing is not the first time this seller has offered something for sale that is, to say the least, questionable. I have a friend in the San Diego area who is a professional landscaper and a big time hobby bromeliad collector, especially tillandsias. His collection is huge. The same seller with the Ae Ae seeds was (probably still IS) hawking a "rare" variety of Spanish Moss on eBay and making claims about its supposed rarity. My friend knew that there was no such plant as this person was supposedly advertizing and complained to eBay that the auctions constituted fraud. eBay "investigated" and the auctions would be pulled, but would always reappear later. My friend kept after them though because, like varieg8 and others here, doesn't like to see unsuspecting people taken advantage of. It wouldn't surprise me if there are other questionable auctions for other genera of plants by same seller as well.

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

xyzzy

Yes, but some buyers get as good as they deserve. I advertised euphrobia plants expecting to get £3.50 for them. I had bought 5 of them two years before from LIDLs for £2.50 each. The bidding didn't stop at a sensible price though and to my embarrassment went up to over £75.00 each! The result of two determined buyers fighting over them! Dont buyers like that deserve "Ae Ae seeds"?

__________________
There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

varig8

Im afraid you're missing the point. There is a big difference in paying whatever you are willing to pay for an item that is real, but to pay even a small price for something that does not exist-thats called deceit!

momoese

Exactly. This knuckle head seller is taking advantage of peoples lack of knowledge about Bananas. At one point we all knew next to nothing about them and could have been duped by this scammer. I'm sure a lot of his victims are collectors of variegated plants and have very little knowledge of Bananas.

Lilith

If you go to the "bay" now and do a search in Plants Seeds and Bulbs for tillandsia spanish moss you will find one of the auctions my friend has been fighting by this same seller. It has about 10 hours yet to run

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--