Hello, everybody!
Now I hope everything end and I just need to tell this story.
Last October- November I got cuttings on Ebay from seller and when I paid I saw she is Russian, so I contact her and we start talk, and I share with her some contact info where she can get rare figs, after this she refund money for cuttings, I ask why? She told me, she is not sure if they are true to name. After this I got plants from Tatyana and start put them on Ebay..Tatyana contact me asking about this woman, asking me why I don't respond to her? I was very surprise, beause no one contact me. After this this woman start bid on my auctions and ask me for private sale for all my plants or cuttings..I told her..I can't put a price on plants, this is why they go to auction.. So, she told me she will win them all.. And she start to raise prices, I ask her not too, she just laugh.. Sometimes I bag her, please, don't bid, please, cancel your bids, let somebody else to win.. She won 6 auctions.. And every time she didn't I was happy..She paid for all auctions she won and plants still was here with me, but she continue..But time come and she ask me to ship her plants, so I did.. As soon as she got them, she start saying I didn't pack right, even I pack 4 plants for 2 hours, like all soil come out from pot, and I tight a bag around pot real well, like plant was broken on half and this is imposible, because I secure plant with bamboo stick.. And she ask what will happen if plant die..I told her she will get a replacement.. She told me, no, no need...But I start have strange feeling.. And same day she won 4 more auctions, but continue talking to me such way..I start have feeling like something going on here..This 4 auctions I check and saw she raising the price from her few accounts..I ask her what she is doing? And she told me she want make sure she will win, or she raising auctions trying to get more money from Harvey, because she saw he bidding too..So, she won, but start saying plant is dead..And she have plants just 3 days.. All plants was happy and healthy when I ship them.. So, I know something going on..So, I cancel all 4 auctions, right after this she sent me return for first Dall'Osso..I agree..I got plant..Oh, soil was soaking wet, plant was completely black.. She kill the plant with water.. Here I real start to worry.. So, I ask her, please, don't bid on any my auctions any more, and she seems agree.. I had 6 auctions, and I was working that night, so I come home after auctions was end..I check and person who won 5 auctions have a namr Raisa Gulinok..I know from Harvey Rais Gulinok and Ekaterina Sniktovskaya if not the same person on Ebay, but may be real close friends..I start understand peonia again won 5 auctions.. So, I cancel orders again and I getting another request for return another Dall'Osso.. I decide this time I will not let it go, so I fight and today Ebay decide in my favor.
But what I was don't know and now this is very clear to me..What peonia try to do?
I find out she did 7 returns for John, 6 for Harvey, 1 for Bass and she was hoping to get at list 4 from me.. She try reputable sellers to leave Ebay, so she can sell people who know what..
I'm very glad people from Ebay listen to me and understand what this woman try to do..
Harvey post here before names of all her accounts..
I decide I need to tell you all story, so you know what happen..
I know everybody study only on they own mistakes..But if I can save anybody from any loss I will be happy

Thank you for posting this, Olga.  Karma will catch up to people like this.  I hope you don't have to deal with her again.

You can block people from bidding on your auctions.  At least a couple years ago you could.  I have only sold stuff from my late mother in-law's estate and no living plants, but some people are just plain trouble.  Good luck with this problem.

Suzi

Thanks for that information!  Contact Harvey.  He can tell you how to block this person from bidding on your trees.

The problem Olga is having is that this buyer keeps creating new IDs.  I think she has blocked them, but you don't know if it's the scammer until after the fact.

Yes, I blocked all accounts I know, but they use another one I still don't know..they leave me negative feedback on orders I cancel, so you can check they new accounts

Frank, I think you are correct.  Sad that this happens.  Mostly when prices go up, the lister is accused of driving them up, but would a buyer?  I will admit (past moments on Ebay with stuff I really wanted, I put a maximum bid in waaay more than anyone would ever pay, and I always won).  I remember one thing I did that on.  You will think me silly.  But my most favorite memories when a kid was gramps old fashioned ice cream maker... the crank kind.  I paid $110 US for it (maximum bid $700), but I won!  AND, it beats the electric throw down my son brings to the party every 4th of July.  It's the big event!  You don't crank, you don't get to eat!  And my ice cream is so much better than his..........  Everyone is so excited to go down under the boat deck and crank that ice cream!

This whole thing is why I do not buy cuttings on Ebay.  I did years ago, but it's gotten out of hand.

Suzi

This reminds me of people who send viruses to sabotage computers. Pure Evil...
Perhaps, there is also a way to restrict auctions to buyers with a history ( minimum of 50 or 100 reviews...).

Im sorry you are dealing with these criminals Olya. I sell a lot on eBay and I am aware of this group of individuals. I would keep in close contact with EBay and notify them quickly when this starts happening. You may need to try some buy it nows and as soon as you list it contact some of your buyers and let them know of the listing. Hope this makes sense that's all i can think of to do.

Olya, so sorry to hear of this bad experience!  They sound like horrible creeps, those people who treat you that way.  But I hope that you're feeling well and strong overall.  

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

Thank you very much everyone for support!
I post all this information, because I don't want anybody else go thru what John, Harvey, Bass, me and others already did..
I know, Harvey told me hundreds of times, but this is just hard to believe people can act this way. I just want no one else go thru this... Most people I meet in our figs world a very, very nice and good people and I'm very happy I'm a part of this world..Here my best friends, some became like family to me. So, I just don't want anybody to get hurt. Or lost they money...Thank you very much again and my best wishes for everyone!

Many of us have had successful transactions with you in the past. Goes to show anyone can be victim to this terrible situation. Unfortunately there is always individuals who are dishonest no matter what we do. I wish you the best! Lesson lived and learned! Hope this never happens to you again. Glad we have Harvey, to help us prevent these situations. Thank you for making everyone aware of this Olya!

Olga, thanks for posting your experience with scammers. Is it acceptable to mention on the auction that
returns are not acceptable.

Fraudsters have in each country. Olga, do not be sad. Health and success.

Sorry to hear about your scamming experience, I have bid on some of your auctions. I have to rethink about using ebay as a source for purchases with this unethical practice which seems to be beyond the sellers control. Unfortunately, I have found that some members only sell by use of ebay and I agree there is nothing wrong with this practice but it limits the source of some good stuff. I wish you well Olya but I think this member(me) is done bidding against the scammers, it is frustrating and a waste of my time.

Wow!  "the Seller Screwed Program."  That really sucks big time!  Ebay is big business.  They are in it for the money.  They do facilitate bidding and all that, but there are all these hidden fees that buyers don't know about.  You get dinged from them all the time as a seller.  Again, I don't sell fig cuttings or any cuttings or seeds or anything living.  I consider it my personal garage sale.  LOL!

Harvey, the "known sellers" aren't the problem.  The bidders are. 

If cuttings or rooted trees are offered, "buy it now with free shipping."  I may jump if I want that variety, but I'm not getting into a bidding war ever again.  That's just me.  I purchase "Buy it Now" all the time.  Seller is happy.  He/She gets their money, and the deal is done.

Suzi

That is a very good point Suzi. Thanks for sharing your point of view. I will probably stick to just "Buy it Now" sales. I have paid really large amounts of money on some auctions. In order to aquire a fig variety I really want. Makes me wonder how many times I have over paid because of dishonest members raising the prices. Glad Olya shared this with us. So that we aren't ignorant to these types of scams.!

I have been selling on eBay since 97. Not figs back then, I was a "trading assistant", a program eBay started and then discontinued so they could do it themselves and cut everyone else out. I still sell many non fig related items but have sold a bunch of plants in the last 4 years. eBay has turned in favor of the buyer over the seller. I'm not sure what prompted that philosophy but they will almost always take the side of the buyer over the seller. Paypal will take money out of your account even if the buyer has out and out lied. This is very frustrating to us sellers. I don't see this changing. Very unfair

Actually this will be changing pretty soon. Ebay and paypal are becoming separate companies soon. Instead of eBay forcing refunds they will make suggestions instead imposing instant refunds after certain amount of days. Making it harder for those taking advantage of the way the system is set up now. New accounts are effective May 2015 for all other ebay members changes will take effect June 2015.