I don't think that post titles are ever editable.

And comments, as well as the original post, are only available to edit for a short time.

I think Aegis is right. Are you looking for a violet/gesneriad? Or something else? Rosie

Well dang it. :( I hate looking like an idiot, especially in post titles.

Thanks for the replies, though! :)

@Rosie

I'm looking for a particular xmas cactus, actually: Variegated Madame Butterfly. My doggon misspelled post is at http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4910346/m=23/variegated-madam-butterfly if you happen to know where I could find one. :)

PS

If any mods get a few seconds of pity, I would dearly appreciate the correction of all my "Madam" into "Madame" in the above-linked post.

I just googled it because I have never seen a variegated xmas cactus! Course ebay has them, I typed in (schlumbergera variegated madame butterfly) and there were several sources. It is really pretty! Sorry I couldn't help more. Rosie

Yeah, there are several different kinds of variegated ones, but with a name like mine, I have to have the butterfly one. :) Unfortunately (and as I mention in my cactus post) I can't afford the sort of price that ebay is currently looking for. I actually saw one for $25 when I first started looking but had to wait to check with my husband on the cost for just one plant, and by the time I could do anything, it was gone.

Anyway, this will be my last cactus post in the AV forum. Sorry everyone.

I understand,,,,hope you find one! Nice chatting with you! See ya!!! Rosie

Bttrflii, Be careful buying off EBay. I found this thread about them and they were saying that they were selling sundamaged cactus to look like the one you want.

https://garden.org/thread/view/14679/What-is-a-variegated-christmas-cactus/

Are you kidding me???? I never thought of that. If everyone complained LOUDLY and demanded these people be banned maybe they could clean up ebay. Or those people would just come in under a different name. sigh,,,sad. Now I know why people call it Evil Bay. Rosie

Off topic. This isn't about violets or cactus, but it is about shady sellers. Read this post:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2153348/ordering-from-tennessee-nursery-tnnurserynet?n=26

Ebay is so on the side of the buyer... call them and request a refund, check the feedbacks by other buyers before buying ... They will not ban a seller that easily though. It is their cash cow.

But there is another side - you try to find incredible bargains.... you really are getting into a shady part of retail. Good stuff cost good money... somebody is cutting costs... why? Trying to sell stolen or damaged goods?

I.

Well put Irina. But just an observation, when you are "googling" for a source for what you want to purchase, you base your decision to buy on how the ".com" represents itself. If it sounds like a large company and they have what you want,,,,,you go ahead and order. Then the problem starts.

Yes, I think it is our responsibility to investigate them BEFORE you place the order. Maybe if more of that were done we wouldn't have to have this conversation.

But on the flip side of the coin,,,,what about the companies that are large, show a good ".com" site, and people are still disappointed??? Referring specifically to violet retail growers. I have listened to complaints about almost every one of them. The big names.

AND then there are those who are absolutely thrilled with their order and a little freebie thrown in.

I don't know the answer. I think it takes research before you order and if something is wrong,,,follow up nicely. It could just be a human mistake. Except for that company in Tennessee. Not commenting because I never ordered from them. Based on complaints I won't. (beside,,,they don't seem to have violets! lol)

Even Ebay. I have ordered from them, oh maybe 4 or 5 times. I have also sold on Ebay several times. I have not had to make complaints, nor have I received any complaints against me. My angst with Ebay is really with the SELLERS who sell snake oil. But as I said in a different post CAVEAT EMPTOR!!! If it sounds too good to be true,,,,it usually is. Again,,,,that is what GOOGLE is for!!!

I guess my mantra is "Google then Get, Google then Don't!!!!" Rosie

Bttrflii, am now "following" you. Did you ever have success with micro minis? Was reading some old posts and found your posting about it. Rosie

If a company has a name Super Duper Royal Tennessee Tree Company - and has a website - doesn't mean they are reputable. Buying bareroot trees is definitely not worth the risk. But you can save on shipping - woo-hoo!

I am here with you, Rosie. Everything is on internet now. Punch the name of the company and "review" - you will get a scoop.

But we need to read the reviews and pay attention. Sometimes the complaints are - too big, too small, doesn't match the decor, the box came ripped. And somebody is a professional complainer.

What I ran into with my greenhouse is that the company just rejected any negative complaints. That is how I found Garden Web. I finally put "Rion Greenhouse Problems" into Google search and Garden Web popped up. If I just searched Rion greenhouse the bad reviews didn't show up. This was after I had bought the greenhouse and was having problems. The reviews on the website were glowing (NOT).

I am sure that the company was not only deleting negative complaints from their own site - they were cooking their own positive reviews as well.

Since then - we have plenty independent reviewers not tied to the sales, forums, Facebook, etc... Now we live in our own big small village.... everybody knows what's cooking.