Well, I posted on this some days ago...cyberspace strikes again! (I must be forgetting to hit the "submit" button!) Ugh! Anyway, what a beautiful day for you, Kirk & your family...looks like such fun ... & such beautiful artistic quilts ...I knew Carol would be getting a great idea! Because her quilts are stupendous!!! (that means, really, really gorgeous!) My Mom was a quilter...so I appreciate all the time & talent it takes. TFS your day! Can we join Marlene & her DH? Got room for a camper? LOL! Jeanne S.

Well I've been reading all that's been posted about the problem. Believe it or not my very first auction win went alot like you folks problem. Even before I bid I asked if the plant could be sent asap as I wanted to get it into the ground in Sept. so it could settle in before winter. I was told as a MO would speed up the process, so I bid, won and sent out payment by Priority Mail. Check with the PO and it was delivered in 2 days. 2 weeks later I emailed to ask when plant would be shipped. No answer. 2 weeks later emailed again. Same response. 6 weeks after winning the plant recieved an email that plant was shipped. Plant never came. Emailed no plant showed after 1 week and get another that it was shipped again. No plant again. 2 months after win emailed that they may as well winter it over and I'd stop otw home from the South and get it. Still no answer. Heck even got their phone number and never got anything but a machine. Emailed Mike my sent emails and asked him to help see what was going on. Did the seller receive my emails and told him about the long delay, emails stating plant was shipped and no plant showed. Oh and the excuse I got was they were too busy planting seeds before the weather got too hot! Long story short this pissed off the seller (roflao)and I got a refund with a letter stating how I'd never be able to grow daylilies (heh I grew up farming LOL), I was a stupid new daylily person that didn't know anything about daylilies and he wouldn't ever ship any plants as it was too late in Nov. and I'd have a big hole in the Spring and want my plant replaced. (yea I wouldn't never of thought the plant could survive this. Then they ended the letter with don't bid on any more of my auctions. Oh yea...like I would do that! Was I upset...you bet. Did I let it eat on me for long. Heck no...life is too short. You just have to figure that you sow what you reap. They will get their just reward. *-) I'd suggest that you move on from all the negative and work with Mike. You'll be alot happier and less stressed out. *-) Well as it turns out I bid on more fans of the same plant for less money. See sometimes things happen for a reason! We've been all around this sellers garden visiting others and we spent thousands of dollars with other gardens, but they won't ever get a dime from us even if they are priced 1.00 for new intros! Now as a new seller on the LA we've had 3 auctions not paid for. See the shoe fits on both feet. Mad yes..but we just added them to the banned bidder list along with the problem seller as he does buy also on the LA. Bottom line...be patient and let Mike do his job. It worked for me and I have complete faith he will get your money refunded. There are so many good sellers on the LA. The best way is to know is by the amount of bids on ones plants, then look for feedback that reads great plants, extra fans, fast shipping...things like this. Add that together and you will get a pretty good idea. Unless it's a newer seller if there are many auctions for a seller up and very few/no bids on them...the red flag should go up. I like Carla's idea. Having only registered users from the LA to join would be great. We just don't have the time to help her though. 8-( Our 2 cents.

Guess we can send this post down the line now that the auction is over........

That is absolutely amazing, and wonderful that the local community steps up like that to support the 4H and FFA organizations. I know here we have local businesses that pay a premium for the 4H animals and some "old guys" that go to the auctions for the things like rabbits and chickens that are entered by the small kids, buy the bunnies or birds and then give them back. It's hard for the little kids to give up the animals they've raised, even if they "know" that animal will go up for auction, so it gives them one more year to get used to the idea. There hasn't been anything to support the baking/home preserving sections, though, and so this is very impressive to me. Also impressive is that $2400 pie, wow. I've made some good pies and have been offered money to make more, but never thousands, I thought it was a miracle to be offered $20 for a pie. I agree on the lard, BTW. I also render my own lard, and I use beef suet to make my chickens their "snacks", so I always have lard in the freezer, the commercial stuff just isn't the same. Annie