Everyone's giving out great points about this whole matter. I've been pretty hopeful about this whole ordeal from the beginning, but from all the delays month after month, I've become less patient. I lost a whole year of growing because of this. If he truly cared about this ordeal, he should've put a limit on the quantities of each variety instead of letting people buy tons of them and not able to propagate enough to ship out to everyone. He should close the online ordering system on the mean time until he's able to catch up on everyone's orders. But just the lack of communication on here isn't looking promising. I don't have much at stake as others do (only bought 10 trees), so I don't mind waiting right now. If nothing pans out by fall, I'll request a refund.

In the begining I ordered 4 trees from James .Nothing rare I was not that deep on the knowledge of what's special or not on figs. Right of the bat he told me he wouldn't ship to Canada and gave me back my money. Clean Neat strait forward. Thanks James.I Guess if the first intention was to take money from people he would let me wait like the others. MHO .Now about what you call Grumpy Cat ''Frankaleen''.
In a way He is wiright.
If I had ordered 4 of the rarest figs that are out there for less then peanuts like he sells them, I would be willing to wait for a long time before I Got  them no complaint because I would not EVER pay the price of the market. 
Those who got big Ideas on rare figs and ordered large quantities are deceived because they  are not making money on their supposed arrival of special rare figs.I,ve read a 1000 plus postes on the subject and never commented but, if like others if I had ordered some rare strains and he could have sended them to me I would be more than patient because i would never had paid the big price elsewhere. 
This is MHO for what it's worth. 
Happy figging

No refund yet.

Someone posted..

“…talked with James in the past week. James, was "nasty" and belligerent, complaining about receiving almost 500 emails a day. Stated he had 5000 customers world wide..He did not have time to deal with all the emails when he could be in the nursery working.”

Do you guys know how much minimum wage is in Kansas?  It’s $7.25 per hr!!  With 5000 customers and clearly the money is rolling in (given just what commenters have stated here, without considering the other silent customers who don’t know about this forum), this guy could’ve hired a couple high schoolers even for $9-10 an hour, to work full time every week for the last month answering e-mails, and phone calls. Let alone working to get plants in the mail. Even at a minimum, a once a week update posted on his website might keep some folks appeased. Silence is only making it worse. Boo hoo, I’m so stressed out I can’t take care of my customers. I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HIM!

If I did my search correctly, according to the Kansas Business Center, there is no business license in the state of Kansas for Greenfin Gardens. Nothing with Greenfin, or Tilapia Kansas, or even under his name. Makes this whole thing even more sketchy.

He is listed as a member of an Aqualculture Assoc. on Kansas State Extension website.

GreenFin Gardens/Kansas Tilapia
James Sperman
3935 Flush Road
St. George, KS 66535-9614
Tel: (785) 313-0965
E-mail: jameswsperman@gmail.com
Website: http://www.GreenFinGardens.com
http://www.KansasTilapia.com

Options for those who used Pay Pal and want their money back, but its over 6 months, would be to dispute the payment with their credit card company. Additionally, if people feel so inclined they could complain to Pay Pal, the State of Kansas Attorney General, and the Better Business Bureau. I encourage others to do what you feel is appropriate given your individual situations.

Oh, and if you want to see what he looks like, check out his facebook page. James W Sperman

Oh my....

https://www.kansas.gov/bess/flow/main?execution=e1s5

Three distinct defunct businesses, all closed with a failure to file...all with his name and address.


Also, the fact that his Biz. Does not show up on the Kansas SOS website may be due incorporation in a diffrent state, or this: " state of Kansas does not register sole proprietorships, d/b/a, assumed name, trade name or fictitious name entities".

I think on Monday, I'm going to call a few Kansas Attorney's to see if anyone wants to take on a class action lawsuit on behalf of all his clients.  We may only get half of what we paid, while the attorney get's everything, but at least it will stop James from taking additional income in.

And he had 4 business failures.  And if the records are correct, he doesn't have a business filed for the Fig's.  Therefore, as a sole proprietorship (or at least not incorporated or LLC, LLP, etc.), his personal assets are at risk too. 

Dang it, looks like people are going to get their way and sink this eh? Do you think he can pay his settlements with our fig trees? All I want are trees! Haha

Folks,

I googled Class Action Lawyers in James' city, and spoke with 2 lawyers now.  Their recommendation was to call the DA's office.  I did that.  DA's office sent me to the County Sheriff's office, who sent me to the FBI via https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I was urged to file a complaint online at this web address.

At minimum you should have:

• Victim's name, address, telephone, and email
• Financial transaction information (e.g., receipt from paypal, account information, transaction date and amount, who received the money)
• Subject's name, address, telephone, email, website, and IP address  (Address above)
• Specific details on how you were victimized
• Email header(s)
• Any other relevant information you believe is necessary to support your complaint

This guy is also a member of the Kansas Farmers Union.

https://www.kansasfarmersunion.com/james-sperman/

I do find it odd that he has stopped communicating. Yes that's a red flag. On the other hand I also find it odd that someone with no skin in the game would go to such lengths to try and take this guy down. I don't  blame you for creating a new account to do it either. With all of the public accusations you probably are opening yourself up for a libel suit if suddenly 500 people start getting their orders filled next week.

That being said I think James owes everyone an apology and an explanation. Communication is key in any relationship, be it business or personal.

 Please do not believe those new members that invested in James $7 trees without doing any research and all of the sudden they now about James  more than their own kids...
and now they asking you for all the personal info so they can sue James...on your behalf...
Rob_Steven registered in January 2017
nunuorig      regisered in April 2017
Gardnernw   regisered in April 2017
FigPolice      regisered in April 2017
bobkelley1  regisered in April 2017

All of the sudden we have to trust that those people are saying the truth…

I am not defending James…

There is a lot of possibilities who those people are…

* Crooks…want to take advantage of us

* They work for James, his business is going to work on all cylinders and he does not want to mail those trees at $7 and he wants us to panic and ask for our money…then he can sell his trees at the market price.

* James decided enough is enough and he going to take the money and run.

I did buy his trees in 2015 and 2016…and the money I paid…is money I can gamble with... I bought more trees as an average collector (none business) than most of you and I killed (while I own them) more trees than most of you…so money I invested was high reward high risk investment…I will take my chances.

I do not trust people that just showed up and they want our best interest in mind…if you believe that…then they do have a bridge to sell.

I am not defending James he does owe us an explanation…but I do not trust the new members mentioned above…they might be one person…for all I know.

You Do what you have to Do…I know what I am doing.

This is getting sicker and sicker by day.
I don't think I want to read this forum anymore.
This entire negativity is affecting me.
Nothing to learn here about figs anyway.

I lost all respect for James when he came up with the pinkie toe excuse for being late shipping our trees that's when I started to do my homework,like someone said earlier don't let him know your legal  angle blind side him.I want my trees not a refund,i kept my end of the agreement and helped him heat his greenhouse to keep his banana trees and fish alive.I am going to wager the squeaky wheels get the grease.