ebay vendor VeraCruz37

[stefpix]

Has anyone had experiences with the vendor?
I purchased a Catasetum spitzii. Was inexpensive but came with dried roots in new bark. Was not established.

GREAT SPECIES FROM BRASIL: CATASETUM SPITZII - eBay (item 260654069445 end time Aug-26-10 17:56:13 PDT)

Had 2 PB and a new lead but the lead dried up quickly.

It looked like it had been stuck in bark the day before.
I wrote twice to the vendor but no reply. I have not left negative feedback on ebay as I would rather solve this without that step.
Anyone had any experiences?

stefano

[Anisa]

Shame to the vendor for not replaying. But listen to yourself - what do you expect for $3.95? The plant in the picture has 1.5 tiny pbs. It is not like plant was misrepresented. Compare it to prices and quality of Catasetinae from other vendors.
Also if you treat it right it will plump up and the new lead will be formed.

[stefpix]

Yeah. I did not expect a large plant or anything, but well nobody else bid on it. I just expected some live roots not dry roots. I have not left neg feedback yet, but I might do.
I bought small plants that were healthy and grow.

[trdyl]

I have gotten a few plants from him. The last to were very nice and labeled correctly. But the first, was similar in root appearance to yours But, the pseudobulbs were very healthy and was apparently mislabeled which I found out after it bloomed. Once that one blooms again I am sending him a flower photo to see if he give me the correct name for it. These were not cheap plants.

[Marissa]

I got a Max. tenuifolia from him last year with few live roots and dehydrated pbulbs. The plant eventually died.

[sweetjblue]

I've purchased from Vera Cruz too.
Received a compot of phals in similar condition. But he responded to emails in a timely manner and made good shortly thereafter.
When did you receive the plant? How long has it been since you emailed him and did you go thru ebay? Maybe your email got put into his spam file. If it has only been a day or two give him alittle more time. If he doesn't respond, file a complaint with ebay before leaving a negative. Give him a chance to make good. He does have a rating of 99.1. You don't get that by doing bad business.

I know some of us have made the mistake of hitting the bid button because the pics of the flowers are so cute and then later regretted it.
Looking at the auction tho he did not provide much information. Did you ask any questions about the plant itself such as, was it a recent import and established? Pot or leaf size? Generally when an auction doesn't give you much to go on its always in your best interest to ask for more information before you place a bid.
Asking questions first gives you a better chance of getting a better plant.

I hope you get a reply soon and good luck that the plant makes it.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Yeah, I did. Won't buy from him again. Bought some rupics, and they were mislabeled and had little or no viable roots.

[boytjie]

He typically has interesting Encyclia species, and I bought one from him - but I didn't get the plant that was pictured in the photo; instead got one that was half the size, no viable roots, two shriveled pseudobulbs. It actually lived, after spending six weeks in the ICU (sphag 'n bag). He never responded to my messages. I won't buy from him again.

[stefpix]

I sent him 2 emails. days in between one and the other.
I sent them via ebay messaging so most likely would not end up in the spam folder.

Today I filed a complaint and left negative feedback [first time I do that].

within an hour he replied that he could offer a refund if I mail back.

I am not sure if it is worth the time of packing and going to the post office and paying postage when the total was 9.90$

I waited almost 2 weeks to get a reply.

I wonder if the PB may berk up. But if Catasetum go dormant maybe i should just wait.
I took photos the day I git it. all the roots were dry and there was none that could sustain the new growth.

I am no expert with Catasetums but the new growth declined fast.

I would have rather received it bare root and have known there were no viable roots.

simetimes it can be ok. But well sometimes it happens to have an experience that does not feel right.

From what I read from these replies it seems that many had root / dehydration / mislabeling issues.

[got ants]

Listen to your intuition. Don't chance it and take him up on the refund. Just chalk it up to a lesson learned.