Any one know anything on sgtwardog?

Well Larry I hope you would of gotten an answer, its hard to know ebay dealers with all the different names used. Good Luck on your answer.

Could you put a link to the auction? 

The picture they are using or Black Madeira is from here http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/black-madeira-fig-4929955. The same picture is being used on Amazon by a different seller also. 

The picture of Red Palestine is taken from eBay member Samikassoum http://www.ebay.com/itm/221853031721. 

Be careful, there are plenty of people who want to get your trust and money without earning it.

Run

I wrote  to him on ebay and asked him if he was on any of the fig forums and his reply was he didn't have time to join a forum and he felt like he was being blasted by others asking the same question I explained to him that there are allot of scammers out there and folks feel more comfortable buying from Forum members he told me that he got his cuttings/plants from Bass and facebook members I apologized that he thought we were blasting him and here is his reply 

"It's fine Dave. I guess I'll make a forum when I have chance too introduce my self. Just don't want to be blacklisted"

Well considering most of the fraud is from PA and he is from PA he shouldn't be shocked that people are questioning his authenticity. Stolen photos, no fruit photos, PA residence, equals no Bueno....

Is there a name of the seller or a link to this listing? Thanks

Just look up red palestine fig

Larry, what makes you think he's legit? I would take in consideration what hoosierbanana stated. I think what most are saying is be careful, especially when they borrow photos. Most sellers use their own photos because it is proof that their trees have produced legit fruit. I'm certainly not bashing the seller, just echoing what Brent said.

I also inquired out of curiosity and his response which I have copies are: one of his listings of cuttings came from a Malaysian collector in California and another listing of cuttings(Black Madeira) came from a Palestinian man in North Carolina. I asked if he could have been scammed and he said he had full confidence in his sources.

Larry we were just trying to help you if asking someone if they are a member of a fig forum gets them bent out of shape is certainly someone I would have no interest in buying from No reason to come down on us for trying to help you 

Sorry Larry just trying to help.

I'm sure there are many legit sellers who are not members of the fig forums.  I don't have a problem with that.  But I do have a problem with stealing other fig growers images and passing them off as your own.  He could still be legit, of course, but from now own he should take his own photos of the fig plants he is trying to sell.

I am sure he was a pleasure to work with but you won't know if the pleasure was all his for about a year...

If you come out of nowhere and don't have pics of your own stuff, that doesn't inspire confidence. Of course he could be legit but he could also be a fake.

I always take pics of my figs. Someone who sells a cutting and has not one pic of their tree or figs? At a minimum, sad.

As for forum membership, I personally don't trust anyone who loves figs who never had a reason to post here! Lol

Thanks, Everyone! This is so helpful to all of us. Fraud is so widespread! If anyone deserves my/our business it is honest people from this forum!!

Hi,
Reading post #6 ... Selling cuttings of others ... Well do as you want, you are free. And after all you're not abusing my money.
I would only trust someone selling own cuttings.
As for pics, some people just don't care for taking pics.
I bought a tree from someone on a street sale that had no pics - or just a bad one on paper- and the description he gave me was: "that tree just wants to fruit !".
I was lucky, and that tree is my healthy longue d'aout ... So good luck.
So take the chance and/but assume it !
Good luck !

Larry, go ahead and buy from him but please do not ask us for information on a seller if you really do not want to know our answer. Members do not hold back when they are trying to help other members, especially when asked for help. We will be anxious to see photos of your posted results of your purchases a year from now and we really hope you get the real deal, really we do.

Check out his listing of Calderona. Item 252225598217. Tell me where hes getting the 3 cuttings from? Uh oh..

Why are all of the "shady" ebay sellers located so close to me? It would be nice to have more reputable sources close by. The only one I trust is Bass whom I've purchased plants from directly in person. He's located about 35 minutes away from me, and buying from him is a pleasure. As for any of the other sellers from Bethlehem, I'm pretty skeptical. Now I see we have someone in question from Easton? I need to pack up my trees and run.

It looks like more and more rare varieties keep appearing on eBay from sellers with no history or track record, at what it looks like bargain prices. The price is not the issue.
The History of the seller or his track record are.
I call this practice "custom listing". It is based on the wishes of the hobbyists. By the time the buyer finds out what he really bought 2-3 years have elapsed and  the seller has a new ID.
But "There's a sucker born every minute"...

I was skeptical of this seller from the get go.

Sami Kassoum is a member here.I always suspect something shady when a vendor can't even provide their own pictures,and instead has to rip off someone else's pictures and/or descriptions..If they are too busy to join a forum,then I am too busy to buy from them.

Hi all,
I really concerned about eBay sellers who steal pictures of others, it happened to me twice and eBay customer service have nothing done about that, my pictures and description were stolen and listings where active parallel to my listings. fraud and scam is a very bad thing and we have all to fight it. over the years I have collected hundreds of beautiful fig pictures but I am very concern each time I upload one to the net. I tried making a water stamp but it was a bit sophisticated and ruined the image it self. sorry for not being so active here on F4F, we have a Missy political situation here in Palestine and I am busy doing other things. I answer all questions from all my customers and try to help my best. also few old members here on F4F know me very will and have them on my facebook too