There ya go Jazz good post.
I learned my lesson with a Black Madeira and i even posted about its funeral !

Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me.

Good to see you posting . ; )

Yeah Marty. I feel the same way that you do. I just wanted everyone to know. Especially the newbies on this forum. Stay away from this jerk. I recommend only purchases from known members of this forum. I have never had a problem with anyone from here.

Of all the cuttings to have for bid, he has White Triana?!?! Wow. And after Dan's assessment and ringing endorsements, 'nice' timing. I know I visited Joe Morle's site to learn mo about White Triana. I also added it to my personal 'watch list' to watch for what other folks think about it. mifig4fun appears to be a seasoned opportunist.

JD

What really surprises me is his 100% positive feedback. How is it possible? I would think that somebody whould complain about it with e-bay. Can anybody explain?

thank you
Karla

Is it just me, or are all the pictures exactly the same cuttings?

Didn't all of you who got junk from him give him negative feedback?  Or perhaps by the time you found out they weren't what they were supposed to be, it was too late to give feedback.

noss

YUP. the three pictures are all of the same cuttings.
all the descriptions are the same too.
only the proposed name varies.

grant
kitchener Ont.
z5b

EBay only gives you a certain amount of time to complain. You have to grow the cuttings first to see if they are correct. By then you can't complain. This is why we complain here. It keeps the unexpected from make those purchases. He always watches to see what people want. I am sure that he will be listing some other rare items. To be fore warned is to be forearmed. Play at your own risk. You will surely lose. I was once mislead.

Watsamatta with people doing that kind of thing, anyway?  Does it take that much work to offer the real thing?  Yeesh!  I mean, people who are doing their best can inadvertently get things mixed up without there being people who don't care if what they sell as is really that.

I'm so thankful for f4f and GW and the people who really do care what they sell.

noss

Could we make a store link on this chat group
for people to list what they have to sell because
I always want to buy stuff that he has listed ,
then I check on this site and don,t buy his crap
but I still want those fig varieties . So it would be
great if I could go to your link on this site..
Or how can I get people who sell fig trees 
and cuttings to e-mail me your list of 
varieties for sale ???
Thank You , Debbie

I was thinking about these auctions for "dormant cuttings" and realized that it is too early for any cuttings to truly be from a tree in full dormancy (which I think is when it is best to take cuttings). The only way I can think of to get "dormant cuttings" this time of year would be to cut them and let the cuttings drop their leaves

Does any one else think it odd that dormant cuttings are available when a lot of my plants in Utah are still making green growth?

I do not see how anything could be dormant.  I cut way back on watering and cut out fertilizing altogether in August, and my trees are slowing way down but they are not dormant.

My Japanese persimmon trees had green wood half way down a month ago.  The cool weather and lack of water has hardened them off some, but I'd like to see them suffer a bit before frost.  I don't want them to die back at all. 

As for cuttings being "true to name", it is a guessing game.  I have three Chicago Hardy trees.  Two from nurseries, one from a member here.  The one from our member and one of the nursery trees match.  What the other tree is may be anyone's guess.

Certainly we should let it be known if anyone is repeatedly selling trees that are not as represented.
Ox

Accusations against forum members will be removed - even if true. Zergas (Mifig4fun, Zergy, Zerganator) was a respected forum member. The thread denouncing him was deleted.  Even after his unsavory activities were exposed, he was defended.  He was quite personable, and like any con artist, able to fool people and run his scam.  Being a regular contributor to the forums is not an automatic guarantee of honesty.   

Thanks for the heads up Jazzbass.   

 

It's probably just who he is - liars lie, thieves steal, cons con - a case of a scorpion being a scorpion.  http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?4&TheScorpionandtheFrog

fignut
I believe the actual fable is about 'The Scorpion and the Turtle' and the Scorpion pays for his selfish nature. The soft hearted but hard-backed turtle agrees to help the Scorpion who cannot swim or survive in water. Midway to the destination the Turtle hear tick tick noise on its back and asks the Scorpion "Why are you doing this". And when the scorpion replies "Its my nature...", then the Turtle responds "Well, I have a nature too and that is to be in the water and not over it" and dives deep and that takes care of the Scorpion for good.
I guess the moral of these two posts is that what you can do to a frog, you cannot do it to a Turtle.

Ottawan, I agree with Noss - this version is more satisfying.  But the moral is the same - what you are determines what you do.
   
And there aren't many turtles on the forum who are going to be unstung after an encounter with a scorpion in sheep's clothing. 

So my primary point is that just because someone has been on the forums for a while (as Zergas was) doesn't make them automatically trustworthy.  Buyer Beware applies here too.

A wolf in sheeps clothing is still a wolf. Thanks for warning everyone.
"gene"

Well it is truly frustrating when you buy on eBay trusting the thing you bought is truly what the seller said it it.  After a year or 2 you learn it is not. Very frustrating......I'm glad his cuttings did not sell.  cheers

Well Folks, Just in time for Halloween. 

The principle is we should not support scammers. This scammer can make good by replacing all the varieties he had scam others with his claims of varieties he has. But did he ?? Instead he is out there selling stuff scammed or not the real thing.

There are many genuine members in this forum who sells the REAL thing like Herman2, Gorgi, Trees of Joy, Encanto Farms and many more. These genuine sellers are not out there to get rich. Infact most are not even covering the cost of their interest in fig growing plus these fig friends consistently share their experiences & give excellent advise. They deserve support & if I have a rare variant I would not hesitate to share with such genuine growers as I know they will do a good job in trialing and spreading the truth on how they performed.

Hi Jazz,
yes i saw those listings when i was posting on ebay.
Matter of fact one of them now has 2 bids.

Besides money and time spent , just adds to the confusion of what folks have or will have in future and we shall see even more of that on the forums than we do now in a few years im sure from some of the newer members that were not aware of at the time.

Thanks for the warning. It's very frustrating that we cannot trust positive reviews on eBay. My husband recently bought a car from a car dealer in Fl that was not as described, and eBay threw out the negative feedback because the dealer objected to it. 

texascockatoos, I certainly wouldnot forget Dieseler (Martin) One of the most generous and genuine I would think seller on ebay! Ciao

And, you thought you'd had your fill, this past Thanksgiving. He's back again, So don't get plucked.

Probably he finds eBay suckers for his fig suckers.

Hey!  Maybe he has some "Noir De Caromb" cuttings like Rafed is looking for, next?

noss

He's Back, again for the New Year. All Newbies BEWARE. If you want a bad collection of figs, this is your man. 

I have a question. What does this guy send you?

He send cuttings from fig trees..with the names on the cuttings...last year i order $100 worth of cuttings with the names i selecte he have on his list...i got the cuttings all ok very good...i have to give him positive feedback....now what i read in the forum here i dont know any more what figs i got...some off the cuttings grow very well now the are in dormat.....some cuttings rotted from the beginning ...i send him an e-mail and he replace the cuttings at no charge only $5 for shipping...

There should be like a trader review thread here to warn and inform people such as my self to what sites are good to buy from as well as who is good to trade with
Just saying

Well, Play at your own risk. But review the following comments.

He's Back Again Folks:

I went to that HC link. I noticed he says... cuttings are dormant and ready to root or store in refrigerator at 40F for up to 1 year.
Bass gave this very timeframe and temp on a post just the other day. Glad Zergas is original.

I can only find one post from a person name Zergy but not Zergas.  Are there more?

It's funny LOL I posted on the forum a few days ago about 187-25 now he's selling it on ebay?

I think these comments being made about him is what motivates him to do what he does.

It seems when ever a new fig is mentioned and becomes a topic he then lists it on ebay and possibly snag what he can. Just like Robert mentioned now and like Vivian did a few months ago.Or like Little John said about using Bass's line.

No person in this World can go for such a long time being talked about or kept an eye on without saying something to defend himself.

He's been called upon by many in the past to defend himself and yet he chooses to ignore everyone. I used to think he was scared to come up and say something but more and more I began to realize that he's just simply getting a kick out of this.

I truly believe in Karma. Bad things can happen to you if you do bad things to others. I believe he's only away from that one person he is going to cross and it might cost him dearly. Hope he comes to his senses before it is too late. Because every trip has an end to it.

Dan,
If you are reading this. I want you to know I thought your were a "Class Act" when I spoke with you on the phone a couple times about two or three years ago. I always wondered why you didn't return my calls so for us to set up a visit to see your fig trees.
I quickly learned why when I joined the forums. That is shameful my friend.

You are not going to get rich from taking $10 or $15 at a time. Many people are on fixed income. If you have an ounce of guilt then you will stop this right now. Be truthful and you might get ahead.

I remember when I first spoke with you, I only had maybe ten variants, But now I could have close to 150! All because I earned the trust from others and I get offered fig plants or cuttings all the time. As hard as it may sound, Yes I have turned down some in the past.

There are many wonderful people here in this forum from just about every corner of the World. It is much nicer to see things from inside the circle.
You are the only one that's keeping you out. Most here are forgiving people, and most are the Worlds finest!

The World leaders should take notes from them on how to get along with each other!

I can go on and on Dan. The only person that can change you is you!

I am one of the victims who came to the forum too late to avoid being scammed. Should I bother to root the cuttings? They look like different varieties but who knows. For those of you who have been scammed what does he usually send? Has anyone identified any of the cuttings he sends? Have any of them been what he claimed they were? I am disappointed and shocked that a person would go to such lengths to ruin something so special. Luckily I got cuttings from Jon and the CRFG scion exchange so the year has not been a complete wash. I can't wait until my trees are large enough to share scion with the members of this forum.

Because I have been contacted by another member to be more specific as to which Dan I am talking about and calling out.

He is the person on ebay. His name is Dan ( zergas, mifig4fun ).

Please DO NOT confuse him with Dan ( dan_la ) from Louisiana whom is a great person.

Well written Rafed.

Also Zergas goes by another  name "Sodapop Mum". Guess what ...really peeps me, even gave me motherly advise pretending to be a mother. So far nothing from him came thru as the correct variant I traded ...except a bunch of BRUNSWICK & unknowns. I even send a rooted cutting that is much sought after varian(fake - from Zergas) to a friend & he told me it was a Brunswick.

Bump.
let us not forget the past.
Once again another listing.

The name Zergas reminds me of the Evil Emperor Zurg from the Toy Story Movies.

Sounds Like it applies!

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=370491875316&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=03291568118

Same pic as
http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/plants.php?func=view&id=98

What comes around goes around!! karma is a m.f.'er!! He will get his one way or another!! 

For the record and I'm not sticking up the guy but the one "The Celt" posted yesterday is about another vendor.

This topic should have remain just and only about the person intended for.

Yes, I do believe in Karma too.

Why couldn't someone buy from him knowing it is going to wrong. Then leave feedback giving a warning in the feedback given.

MM, you pay for it and I will do it.

WARNING


http://www.ebay.com/sch/mifig4fun/m.html?hash=item2c625cab2b&item=190628801323&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Thanks for letting us newbes know, I have looked at his adds ,but they did not look just right,if that makes sense. So I did not buy. I did buy figs from Helensnursery on ebay and the figs were never shipped. Rex

Hi Jazz yep back at it again .

i wish that i knew before hand. i thought it was a member from here. dummy me. i bid lowest amount, hope someone out bids me.