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c/botany-lovers•hollyl25hollyl25•1mo ago

Rant: That 'rare' orchid I bought online was a total scam

I just lost $85 on what was supposed to be a Dendrobium spectabile seedling from a seller on a plant forum. The pictures looked amazing, and the seller had a few good reviews. It arrived looking okay, but after a month it started to rot at the base. I tried everything to save it, but it was a goner. I reached out to the seller for a refund or replacement, and they just ghosted me. Now I'm out the money and have an empty pot. I feel so stupid for not being more careful. Has anyone else gotten burned by a shady online plant seller and have tips for spotting them?
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3 Comments
spencer_owens58
spencer_owens581mo agoMost Upvoted
Total scam artists are the worst. Seen it happen with rare hoyas too, where the cutting is just a random leaf stuck in dirt. Always check for a real business address, not just a P.O. box. A legit seller will have a ton of photos, not just stolen stock images. If their whole page is just "rare" plants at low prices, that's a huge red flag. Pay with a method that has buyer protection, never just Venmo some rando.
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kelly.charlie
Is it really that deep though?
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wyatt_mitchell26
wyatt_mitchell261mo agoTop Commenter
Yeah, that random leaf in dirt trick is the worst.
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