From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I've had enough of this evil man. Now he's sending me vulgar emails! Rip me off, then disrespect me? I don't think so! I created an ebay ID just to put him outta the business of ripping people off. I am going to sell AG seeds for next to nothing! Just $0.25 for the seeds and $0.75 for the shipping. After cost, I will not have any monetary profit, but it is worth the effort to me just to see him blown out of the water! Anyone with extra seeds willing to donate to the cause will be much appreciated! Please only send so so seeds. Do not sacrifice your good genetics. E-mail me for my address.

3/19/2006 8:56:01 PM

send the e-mails to ebay,they will pull his id and any feedback will be null

Now as to where you send them,,lol,,that will be the hard part. Filter through the site map and good luck !

3/19/2006 9:09:00 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I started my first auction on ebay. Auction # 7752942071 if you want to check it out. I was able to plug the beachyseeds.com and bigpumpkins.com in the picture. I wasn't able to use my new account for selling but I was able to use my existing account. I put up for auction seeds that I purchased at Wal-Mart earlier this year. Now I'm out of AG seeds with no controlled genetics. I'd like to keep posting auctions if anyone can spare xtra unwanted seeds! If I ever make any profit from the sale of any seeds I'll be more than happy to donate it to keep pumpkin growing an honest sport.
It wouldn't be good for my karma if I kept any money made from people generous enough to donate anyway!

3/19/2006 11:31:33 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Nice ad lauralie. The strategy of swamping ebay with cheap seeds and informative ads is definately having an impact on Murphy's bottom line. He was selling his bogus seeds for around $10 a pop and had about 25 victims a month. His last few sales averaged $3 and had very few bidders.

He puts his ad in once a day so be sure to relist your ad daily for maximum impact.

3/20/2006 10:40:40 AM

Ray, North Dakota

As of right now today, djmurphy does not have a bid on any of his seeds. Everyone from here that is listing theirs does have bids, be it very small. Make sure to up your handling fee so you don't go backwards financially on this deal. Good job everyone, if I am correct, if you list and do not sell on Ebay, you still get charged.

3/20/2006 12:16:39 PM

Austria

Great job!

3/20/2006 12:56:06 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Flooding the market may be an effective short-term strategy. But, it only makes sense if you have also lodged official complaints with eBay's fraud department. In my experience they have been pretty good about responding to fraud cases. One shortcoming may be that they are unable to solve all fraud cases right away since there are so many pending due to the public nature of eBay. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal should be to have eBay ban the guy, not simply to lure customers away from him.

3/20/2006 1:01:03 PM

[email protected]

I & several others have lodged complaints with ebay & so has Bruce Whittier whose pumpkin image was stolen for Murphy's ad. So far eBay has done nothing.

3/20/2006 3:01:44 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

If eBay is in fact doing nothing, that's wrong. All I'm saying is that maybe they either haven't gotten to it yet, or they are investigating without keeping you updated.

One thing that you may want to try is contacting eBay Canada. I think that they have their own independent staff from the US headquarters. So, they may be able to pay more attention to the matter.

3/20/2006 3:15:15 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Here's a link to an eBay Help page about the proper use of images and text. The page includes a link to report abuse.:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/vero-image-text-theft.html

It's possible that it may not be out of place to call the police here. I'm not sure. But, some squads have a fraud department.

You may also want to check out "Guidelines for Creating Legally Compliant Listings":

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/compliant-listings.html

Anyway, while we are on the topic, I saw this listing on eBay for giant sunflowers: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7751202549

It contains a photo that I first saw on BP at: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=3921&gid=-28045

Is the listing authentic?

3/20/2006 4:34:18 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

forget E - Bay !

3/20/2006 5:41:03 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Forget E-bay, let Murphy drown in mom's chowda !

3/20/2006 5:42:10 PM

Farmington, Utah

I think that this could be turned over to the US Postal Service and falls under the catagory of interstate mail fraud. I also think, the folks that purchased these seeds, if they grow them this year and then found out that the seeds were fraudulant that they could sue for any monies spent in the growing of these misrepresented seeds

3/20/2006 8:03:04 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

That's an aspect I haven't considered yet. Good thinking! I wonder if it's really worth it though if he stops selling those fakes before too long. It's something to think about though.

3/20/2006 9:02:22 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I don't think that there is any question that the listing is a fraud and that it could be considered illegal. However, I suppose that there is little chance of prosecution with such small dollar amounts involved. However, it never hurts to file a report and then let the powers that be make the decisions that they are experts at making.

But, I don't think that it would be a violation of eBay rules to contact the "winners" of past auctions to tell them that the seeds are misrepresented. It might be a violation if it weren't true. But, we have pretty good evidence. And, just like Coke or Microsoft, we have to protect our "brand" or it becomes meaningless.

3/20/2006 9:55:29 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I've noticed that djmurphy still has no bids on his seeds as of today. Still working. How long is everyong that is selling going to keep it up?

3/21/2006 3:26:24 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Looks as if he no longer has any items for sale. Either eBay took action, or the guy figures that it's time to change usernames and start a new scam.

3/21/2006 4:31:13 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I think the market for giant pumpkin seeds on Ebay has hit
bottom. Of the 139 current listings, only 7 items have bids.
My current auction is going for 10 cents + 1.50 shipping.
When you factor in Ebay costs, Paypal costs, postage and a
bubble pack, you realize that you're loosing money on every
deal. (Of course, it's not a lot...)

I'm actually one of the high bidders on one of Vince's
auctions, simply because I wanted to generate a little
action....... Anyway, I think we bombed out
ol' djmurphy, but we probably bombed out everyone else on
Ebay as well.

I have one more auction to complete, and then I won't be
adding any more because I'll be on vacation and won't be
able to tend Ebay.

Can anyone give me 11 cents??? ;-)

3/21/2006 4:44:56 PM

Ray, North Dakota

djmurphy is still posting. He is the one with the buy it now for $12.

3/21/2006 4:54:22 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

Woo Hoo! We're putting a serious crimp in his business! Hopefully it won't be long before he gives up and stops ripping people off. I'm not giving up until he does!!!

3/21/2006 5:08:10 PM

SF Bay Area, California

As long as he posts, I'll be there on ebay with real competition giant pumpkin seeds at rock bottom prices. Got more here than I can give away...

He been running this scam for a long time. It may take a while for him to realize it ain't worth the effort and throw in the towel.

3/21/2006 5:36:23 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Now that my ads are posted I can re-list them and send out the packages to my buyers in about 10 min. a day. I average more time going after moles and other vermin in the patch.... and believe it or not it is still raining....

3/21/2006 5:46:04 PM

Rhode Island

suggestion

if im reading these and other posts correctly you know the persons name and address that this fraud was generated from correct?

someone may want to call the local police in that area and report the internet fraud thats being committeed by this person ? ( unless this was already done )

that should put it to bed.

pap

3/22/2006 6:34:00 AM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I just tried that Pap, and they basically just laughed it off. They're not really interested in helping us. They told me that there are too many other crimes with a higher priority. They also said that the only way to prove for sure that the seeds didn't come from Bruces pumpkin is to do DNA tests on the seeds we know came from Bruces pumpkin and the seeds that Murphy is selling. They caim that it's too much money and effort to solve this "minor crime". Looks like it's up to us pumpkin vigilantes to stop him.

3/22/2006 7:40:30 AM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I just checked his auctions. Now he's claiming that his picture has been copied by others but he has the only seeds available from the pumpkin. What a jerk.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Giant-Pumpkin-Seeds-Complete-growing-instructions_W0QQitemZ7752214031QQcategoryZ103456QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

3/22/2006 7:51:44 AM

West By God Virginia

I worry when people say things like for the small amount of money nothing will be done. Well I tell you if you post an auction that sells good advice for $1.00 and 1,000,000 respond you are a millionaire. Let's say that your good advice is simply a piece of paper with a few sayings printed on it. "Don't eat yellow snow, Don't spit in the wind, Don't take any wooden nickels, Don't buy fake pumpkin seeds on e-bay." You know common sense things. I bet you would catch a lawsuit. Shame in this world the man who thinks gets a law suit and the people who cheat and steal florish.

3/22/2006 9:39:59 AM

Utah

Daniel Murphy
11 Birch Lane
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 324-6359

maybe he needs numerous phone calls at various times of the day politely asking him to stop.

3/22/2006 9:51:31 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

He's got a bid for $1.99+$1.75 on an auction that doesn't
expire for almost 12 hours. I'm still sitting on 10 cents
on an auction that expires in 1.5 hours..... and my seeds
are real! (Sigh.)

3/22/2006 10:08:29 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

This is the Internet. Is it quite possible that this is not the guy's real name. We already know that he has no problem perpetrating a fraud. So, why would we expect him to use his actual name?

If you were to sell a million pieces of paper with good advice on them, you wouldn't be a fraud if the paper contained advice. Your customers would just be silly. It's no different than selling a grilled cheese sandwich with "Jesus" on in. What this guy is doing is actually intentionally misleading buyers and providing false information about his merchandise. That's textbook fraud.

If you are going to contact the police, there's no reason to only contact the police in Malden, MA. You could contact the police in every place that the guy has sent seeds to. But, it would probably pay to find departments that actually have a fraud or computer crimes division. They probably spend most of their time tracking down kiddie porn. But, this is a pretty open and shut case, so shouldn't take too much of their time.

A different strategy: In terms of the law, we have been talking criminal law. But, what about civil law? You don't need to get the police off of their butts to file a lawsuit. Heck, take the guy to the People's Court! The next day after it aired, we'd have millions of new AG growers! :-)

3/22/2006 10:18:04 AM

Netherlands

Cliff, I have bought and sold far over a 1000 times on eBay. Psychology says if its free it aint good. I once tried to sell 10 authentic Roman coins (350 AD) for a dollar a piece and they didn't sell. I put the lot together and they sold for $30.
We used to advertise "free dogs for good home" and never got rid of any, my parents are currently selling out whole litters in a week at $400 each without papers.

If you don't want to make too much money, sell the seeds for 1.99 with free shipping or so. They might sell better.

Then again, these people might really be wanting Big Max seeds.

Just my 0.02.

3/22/2006 10:26:27 AM

Netherlands

Crammed, there is a real Daniel Murphy at the address given and the telephone number is correct and listed in the national white pages. If he isn't that person he is impersonating someone which will lead to his suspension from eBay (according to their own rules which they do not seem to apply).

3/22/2006 10:34:39 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Brad,

You're right. I thought about that after posting the ads. If
I'd put a "Buy it Now" of $8.00, that would "set the price"
in the minds of people as to it's relative worth.

On the other hand, we didn't set into this to make money, we
did it to undercut the market. In that case it's a success. LOL

3/22/2006 10:40:03 AM

Nipomo, California

According to the feedback he has received I was able to determine he has had 52 auctions for these seeds since 12/23. However, it also appears he has been selling these since 12/04 for a total of 272 auctions. I'm no mathmetician but sounds like he has done quite well from his measly little operation. I would love to see if his auctions have always stated the seeds came from his 600lb+ Big Max.That is one prolific Big Max!

3/22/2006 10:43:27 AM

Nashville, TN

Fascinating, never bothered to look at ebay for seeds myself! I've got a bunch of extras if you need them.....

BTW - it does sound like a good business deal for those selling on ebay. BUT, only those who've actually produced something worthwhile should be able to sell them. Now, if thise guy had produced the seeds and the picture was of HIM with HIS pumpkin - I'd have no problem with it.... But if he's selling 'Big Max' seeds as these world record seeds with a picture of someone else & their pumpkin----- Now THAT'S FRAUD!!!

Go get 'em girl!!

3/22/2006 11:06:36 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

hmmmm i'd assume that Burpee owns the rights to big-max?

3/22/2006 12:10:10 PM

[email protected]

Like the Dill's AG, Big Max & Prizewinner are both off patent for some years now.

3/22/2006 1:43:58 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I think the idea of turning him in to the police is the best way to go. It should probably be done by someone who is a victim.

3/22/2006 2:50:36 PM

SF Bay Area, California

He was netting over $10 an auction before he got a little competition recently. He has probably netted over $3,000 dollars from his scam and has over 272 victims so far....

That's a whole lot of bad karma he's created. Obviously, Dan does not comprehend the cosmic implications of funneling that much negative energy to a single point in the universe. The pumpkin gods are not pleased....

3/22/2006 3:19:57 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I am a victim Lubadub, they're still not interested in helping me.

3/22/2006 4:10:37 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

In case this has not been posted before, it's hard to find, but I think eBay may have a telephone number. This website has some listed: http://auctionfeecalculator.com/ebay_simple_solutions.html

But, we obviously haven't been making a very good case yet since this is such an obvious violation. So, maybe we can start a thread where we compile solid, bulletproff, evidence of the fraud. For example, do we have the original photo? Who took it? Can we compile victim testimonies? But, we should do all of this in a place devoid of discussion so that people who complain to eBay do not have to sift through our commentary to prove they've been wronged.

3/22/2006 4:47:52 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

I have both the pictures he's using, both the edited and un-edited versions. I really do think that we need to gather together everything we've got but I don't know how to do it. If anybody is up for the task, I'll do what I can to help. Great idea Crammed!

3/22/2006 5:29:53 PM

Norton, MA

I'm within an hour or so of Malden. Say I was to round up some big guys, give em some type of reward. I wonder, maybe about 50 of us lift up his house and move it across the street or something. Scare him up a little! LOL! Anyone tried calling him? Or this fall, we could put a 1000 pounder in his car or something. See how he likes it! AleX Noel.

3/22/2006 9:06:30 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

We would have to take the seeds out first or he would sell them too....LOL Hey, I'm a massage therapist. I'll give each person a back massage for paying him a visit. They would have to come to PA to get it though.

3/22/2006 9:17:04 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Would that be a back rub or a front rub lauralie? lol

3/23/2006 12:45:15 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

Behave yourself Herbie :)

3/23/2006 3:48:37 PM

Spanish Ontario

just ignore the sob on e/bay

3/23/2006 6:30:30 PM

Norton, MA

LOL herbie! LOL! LOL! HA HA HA!!!!! I'm laughing mostly because I'm in the ninth grade, and so would anyone who helped me with the house lifting! LOL! LOOLOLOLOOLLOOLOOLLLLLOOLOL!

3/23/2006 9:16:37 PM

Youngstown, Ohio

I have listed some of my seeds from our 548# and I will continue untill they are gone. WE PLOWED YESTERDAY !!! can't wait until we can till as soon as it dries out. Gotta start early to get ready for the tour July 30 (OHIO)

3/25/2006 4:22:21 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

Good news! As of today Murphy has no auctions going :~)

3/27/2006 9:57:06 AM