It is very selfish reasons that I hope it succeeds. I want the trees that I ordered, haha

I don't have any problems people asking for refunds. I stated that last page, it does help potentially. It's all the vendictive a holes on here HOPING that he fails that bothers me, cause that means I don't get trees.

I hear you.  But they can't really make him fail.  He already has the investment and the rest is up to him, at least for 2016-2017.  For 2018 and beyond he will need to have delivered something or many will ask for money back.

They can make him fail, reporting him, threatening visiting him with force, hell, even harassing him through emails (I'm sure it's happening), all of things are unneeded negatives that contribute to failure.

Like I said, once you've said your peace and received a refund, just move on. Right?

Anyone ever think that maybe he doesn't respond to emails quickly is because he's inundating with hate mail? What motivation would you have to check email if it's nothing but threats and hate?

His "motivation" should be to produce what people paid for. Why are you worried if his feelings are hurt?

I don't think James started with bad intentions but at this point its misrepresentative and dishonest for him to continue allowing people to order 100+ Black Madeira if they please without even noting on his website that he is more than a full year behind on orders. I think its poor practice for him to neglect posting just a quick update. I'll continue to wait on my trees but i didn't order any of his listed backlog varieties so I think its a bit ridiculous that absolutely nobody has seen their trees regardless of variety. I'm on the calmer end of the people in this thread because I canceled my order for cuttings (James refunded me quickly, I give him credit for that although it was a few months back) and ordered from Harvey (who operates like a well oiled machine). Sooner or later though, James and his band of merry followers are going to stop making excuses and start making some shipments

I do appreciate his attempt to offer low cost trees but at this point its gotten away from him and he needs to stop the snowball from getting any bigger. I do hope it works out because I would love to have a cheap reliable source of rooted trees

Remember this? It was posted about a week or so after the initial offer. The prophecy is coming true right before our very eyes. LOL

Silveradocanman


This is a problem of James own making.

My wife has her money sitting in James company for a year. I talked to him on the phone 2 months ago about partial delivery in late march. He assured me this wold happen.

Then numerous call from me to his voice mail, numerous emails to him....AND NOT ONE WAS ANSWERED.  

i am a business person, have owned companies. It is James decision not to answer. If he had explained the problems besides the post on his web site about a broken toe, (and that was over a month ago) I would have been simpatico, but refusing to communicate when he has been paid in full to the total of $4170.00 plus other people in Thailand we encouraged to buy from him, this beyond a simple sorry. 

I was unaware of this web site until my wife asked me to help her. Once I came to understand that James has never delivered any figs to anyone then I decided to end this farce.

I gave him until May 1st to refund my wife's money. If that happens I will leave him and rest of you in peace, if not then I will do what I do regardless of what anyone thinks about it. 

As far as being retired and having nothing better to do that post....way off base.

Last week I was in London, next week in WA DC May Panama, June, Singapore. I work for my money, and my wife works for her money. I have a ingrained hate for thieves, and this silence from James says he might not have started out to defraud people but that is what is clearly obvious is happening.

Worse than this could ever be, is allowing your peace of mind to be violated. How we respond internally is a choice. If the money is important, take whatever steps you deem necessary, but no amount of money is worth your health, peace of mind and joy.  If you let it go, in my experience, chances are it will all work out in the long run.  The difficulty will be trying to get something from someone who may or may not have the ability to pay. Many of us may have lost money and personally I haven't lost a single nights sleep over it and I don't have a job to fall back on. I'm sorry about your wife's loss and make no excuses for James lack of communication but I think you're beating a dead horse here. No ones belittling you, shaming you or trying to discourage you, good luck in however you choose to proceed.      

Bobkelley, do what you gotta do... all I'm saying is I hope fig karma hits us all at the same time. I'll be on the correct side, hope you are too.

I do have to say that that website is in serious need of a change.  Maximum order qty is sorely needed.  I'm not sure but it seems someone could order a few hundred trees, and that's just crazy to think one person can fulfill.  As I said earlier in the thread, it would be ideal if there were some disclaimers on there about how long things may take.  There is no indicator that fall 2017 will be late, for example, but it seems quite likely it will be.

That is true but he unfortunately puts unrealistic ship dates on the page which people may take as gospel.  It is good they are aware they are being grown and do not exist yet, but there's a strong indication that they are to be shipped by a certain time.

Lol, that was for the six month wait after ordering in December for Spring/Summer 2016 shipping.  Anticipated ship date of July 2016.  It's Spring 2017 now and still not a single tree has shipped.  It's hard to say if any even will ship at all.  James may have bitten off more than he could chew in the beginning but at this point, he is just outright lying to everyone and still taking orders that he has no possible chance to fulfill as promised on the order page.

Some possible answers from my pondering:
a) why give updates with pictures? To keep the cash flowing.  Everytime there is an update even if it a crazy as saying that he can turn 38 Black Madeiras of various size into 1500 trees in 4 months (or whatever the exact silly numbers were), everybody calms down.  
b) why give refunds? To again keep the cash flowing.  People feel more secure if they think they can get refunded so less to worry about.  
c) why not just send out fakes of higher dollar figs? That takes more trees than he has in the pictures and costs money and time.  Since no one has received his trees and verified varities, it's hard to say that isn't what he will end up doing though.  
d) why not just give up? Who's to say he hasn't.  
e) why respond to emails at all? (Yes I have received replies before).  Doesn't sound like he does anymore...not even refunds.  You'd think he'd have plenty of time to catch up on some messages/updates since he is bed ridden with his critically severe broken pinky toe.  Tape that s41t up and get moving.

Handles?  Who cares about handles?  It's a website with self generated handles.  Lots of people that have been here for years are anonymous.  I don't see people using their real names and posting their addresses.  For all we know, grumpy cat could be a 16 yr old girl in Cali.

Anyway, the only thing left to do is sit and wait as it doesn't sound like refunds are being issued any longer or try to get your money back through other means.  Arguing over it is just bringing this already disfunctional community even further apart.  As entertaining as it is like a Jerry Springer show at times, this thread really should be locked.

P.S.  @bobkelley1 - You dog!  Good job if its true.  Wealthy old man traveling the globe with a hot young asian wife waiting at home.  That's the life right there buddy.

Its pretty clear what your trying to do. Stir up sheet. You don't even have a dog in this fight so your just here because your Pissed off? So basically your a troll.

You don't want your words twisted yet you come in here and twist the situation. Your friends cant be bothered to fight with this guy? Seriously there is no fight. All they need to do is follow the instructions to get a refund. Takes less than 24 hrs to have your money back. So lets be clear, your friends didn't lose anything they just didn't feel like sending an email? And your pissed at James for this? Maybe you should be pissed at your friends instead, its their fault. How about they take responsibility for their money.

He's greedy for charging 7 bucks for very hard to get varieties?  By all means have your friends go on ebay and buy the black madeira or Ponte tresa there. If they get one for under 100 bucks they are doing well. You ask why people aren't pissed like you? Because in the fig community we know what it takes to make things happen and also know what a deal we are getting for 7 bucks for some of these varieties.
Have your friends go to lowes or tractor supply. they have some cheap figs there.