eBay's marblekg (Gary Beinemann) - Orchid Virus Superspreader

[K-Sci]

I've purchased four orchids from eBay seller marblekg, Gary Beinemann. All four tested positive for cymMV and two didn’t bloom with the advertised flower. Further, this eBay seller with over 500 eBay listings documents his own disregard for basic virus control practices.

All 10 of the plants in the photos below are from Beinemann's current eBay listings. These plants and hundreds of others were staged with damaged roots rubbing on the same location of a dirty lawn chair seat. The virus from the injured roots of all the preceding plants being transferred to the wounds of the next. Anyone buying one of the plants in the photos below, and literally hundreds like them, likely has or will receive a virus-infected orchid.

-Keith

[thefish1337]

too bad his bad reputation hasn't caught up with him

[Shadeflower]

sometimes you can tell from the picture in the ad the plants are no good.
Like the top left one I wouldn't buy in a million years.

I have been tempted with ones I couldn't find anywhere else but yeah this experience sounds terrible.

Thing is can it be avoided? Is it realistic to disinfect the chair between 500 orchids?

I routinely got pests from certain orchid nurseries. Also annoying when they spread to more in the collection.

Still 2 flowers being different is unaccetable in my books, that is just bad organization when plants get mixed up.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by thefish1337

too bad his bad reputation hasn't caught up with him

I didn't realize it when I started this thread, but being cheated by Gary Beinemann (marblekg) has been a topic of ire on this forum numerous times in the past.

It seems likely that Beinemann's suppliers are greenhouses and individuals dumping questionable and virused stock they wouldn't otherwise sell for fear of damaging their reputation. The man has no shame given that he lists plants that look very damaged from disease (e.g. upper left in the photos) and many are seriously dehydrated.

He probably gets away with it because eBay rules give buyers no recourse if they learn they've been cheated more than 30 days after the fact, and he bans anyone who complains.

K-Sci

[Fairorchids]

Yes, many of us have had problems with his plants.
I have purchased some 8-10; most are dead, several had virus and only 2 are doing ok.

There is a thread about him under 'Vendor Feedback'.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

I didn't realize it when I started this thread, but being cheated by Gary Beinemann (marblekg) has been a topic of ire on this forum numerous times in the past.

It seems likely that Beinemann's suppliers are greenhouses and individuals dumping questionable and virused stock they wouldn't otherwise sell for fear of damaging their reputation. The man has no shame given that he lists plants that look very damaged from disease (e.g. upper right in photos) and many are seriously dehydrated.

He probably gets away with it because eBay rules give buyers no recourse if they learn they've been cheated more than 30 days after the fact, and he bans anyone who complains.

K-Sci

He has a history of lurking here as well. I've never purchased from him, but he banned me because of posts I made here.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

He has a history of lurking here as well. I've never purchased from him, but he banned me because of posts I made here.

My guess is that he's driven off a lot of would be repeat customers banning them. I was banned for requesting 2 returns even though I changed my mind and didn't follow though with the returns and never gave him negative feedback. Now, all my eBay searches are done with his sales blocked.

-Keith

---------- Post added at 06:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Subrosa

He has a history of lurking here as well. I've never purchased from him, but he banned me because of posts I made here.

eBay makes a mistake allowing him to continue selling diseased, damaged, and mis-identified plants. His disreputable practices sully the good sellers and cause them to be more prone to avoid eBay purchasing. Gary Beinemann is the quintessential eBay scam artist.

Who the heck is selling this guy the misidentified and diseased plants he sells? Their names, both business and individual, should be public knowledge as well.

-Keith

[Dusty Ol' Man]

When I look at an eBay seller, I always read the negative feedback first. I just read this seller's negative and neutral feedback. Just based on that I would steer clear of him. Thanks for the heads up.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

When I look at an eBay seller, I always read the negative feedback first. I just read this seller's negative and neutral feedback. Just based on that I would steer clear of him. Thanks for the heads up.

His practice banning anyone who complains is evident in his feedback.

I purchase a large overgrown Cattleya purpurata carnea 'Ruby' AM/AOS from Gary Bienemann at a premium price. What couldn't be seen in the photos was that all the growths ended in cut ends at the edge of the pot. What he sold me for top dollar was a bunch of old back bulbs. Partially because of the black spots on the bulbs, also not visible in the photos, I ordered Agdia cymMV/ORV virus test strips, but they arrived too late to request a return. It tested positive for cymMV.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

His practice banning anyone who complains is evident in his feedback.

I purchase a large overgrown Cattleya purpurata carnea 'Ruby' AM/AOS from Gary Bienemann at a premium price. What couldn't be seen in the photos was that all the growths ended in cut ends at the edge of the pot. What he sold me for top dollar was a bunch of old back bulbs. Partially because of the black spots on the bulbs, also not visible in the photos, I ordered Agdia cymMV/ORV virus test strips, but they arrived too late to request a return. It tested positive for cymMV.

Just curious...have you approached eBay directly with your information? Getting at least an investigation going would be a big step.