Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Promise of Harvests to Come...Barring a Thief

My seed order arrived Monday to much fanfare and tribute. I'm trying some new things this year like the Dragon Tongue beans that Dan suggested and a new lettuce mix, but over all I'm sticking to tried and true this year. Next year I may branch out a bit.


Baker Creek sent me a packet of the Cour di Bue tomato seeds along with my beans which was very kind. I'll not be needing them, so if you would like them, I'll be happy to pass them along. Burpee sent along an extra packet of cucumber seeds that I did not order, which is not normal for them, so I'm half tempted to contact them about returning it as they were so nice to me earlier this week....

I've come to appreciate the personalized, small business mind frame of the seed companies. You know the business they deal with is absurd - ranging from the needs of small home gardeners to larger producers, and the innumerable products they offer, but there's proof to a human hand filling the orders even if it's just check marks on the page, or a courtesy email.

I had to contact Johnny's Seeds and Burpee via email this weekend. Saturday, as the man was checking our statement, we found out some base gutter dweller had stolen our credit card information. We canceled the card, but my charges to these two companies hadn't cleared yet.

Within minutes of the opening of business on Monday, I received emails from both companies confirming the processing of both orders with no problems. It was prompt and kind, and at this point, it was welcomed since now the trouble will start with other establishments we have automatic bill-pay through.

Yesterday, more fraudulent charges appeared on the card, most likely placed on the same day as the first, but not posted by the companies until yesterday. This wretch is content to wrack up the national dept without a moment's hesitation. What's worse is that this unconscionable half-wit is employed by a business we patron locally as the charges are all being made in and around Gainesville which is within an hour from us.

By the pattern of the charges, the feral creature is a woman. Let me give you this advice, you thieving swine: If you're going to steal someone's credit information, take yourself shopping at Saks or other high end retailers dedicated to those with more money than sense, not Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas gifts.

17 comments:

  1. That totally sux about your card info! And I concur, if I was to shop with someone elses money, I would fill all my cars with gas and then hit the road and get a houseful of furniture from IKEA...lol, by the time I was found out I would have my house furnished and a new kitchen to boot. TJ Maxx? lol.... anyway, hope that all works out quickly, changing your info with all your bill pay stuff is a nightmare. I need to get hot on my seed orders, haven't even opened the catalogs yet. I keep waiting for quiet time to myself, but I can't wait any longer!

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  2. How exciting that your seeds have arrived! I have plenty of time before I need mine--we're buried under snow and ice for the next 3 months! Sorry about the credit card! Frustrating! People are desperate during these hard times, aren' they?

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  3. Erin, planning the garden is giving me something to focus on, which is nice.

    Cindy, I've gone back and forth with this - if it was desperation or not. By the pattern of the charges and the locations, it doesn't seem like honest need, but clothing and accessories. That's what's got me mostly riled up.

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  4. Ribbit, that's awful. Some people just have no sense of self-respect. "Thieving swine." I like that! I'll have to make a point of using it in a sentence one of these days.

    Looking at recent posts, it looks like most people have seeds on their minds. I'll have to do a seed post of my own.

    Oh, I'm excited to grow Dragon Tongue beans too!

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  5. Hurrah for seeds but Boo to credit card thieves! So sorry this has happened to you.

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  6. Thomas, I was awfully upset this morning, as I'm sure it less than gracefully came across. ;)

    Yea seeds, boo thieves! GM...I think you've got a good picket line chant coming on there. I like it.

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  7. What a pain in the butt. I had my purse taken from my cart at Wal-Mart once, and had to make out a police report and cancel my credit and debit cards...a real mess. Of course, it wasn't half as bad as the embarrassment I suffered that evening when I opened my underwear drawer and there was my purse, right on top of my panties and bras.

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  8. That sux! I'm sure you were quite upset about it. The order of seeds coming in made it all better, I bet.

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  9. I remember that story, Granny!!! Hey, I'm sure the embarassment was a lot less than if the police man, himself, would have found your purse with your panties and bras!!

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  10. Credit card theft really stinks because it messes things up overall. Let's hope it's one unsophisticated thief and not a whole identity theft thing.

    Hooray for seeds and good customer service!

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  11. Stefaneener, we've already had to freeze our credit because our health plan 'mistakenly' let sensative material walk out the door with a disgruntled employee, so hopefully we've stopped that part, but if you can think of anything else I should make sure to do, please let me know.

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  12. It really is to bad about the theft. I think these people see it as a victim less crime because of the insurance but it still costs everyone in the long run. I hope it all gets sorted out soon.

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  13. I agree Dan. I just hope that whatever/whoever it is stops at this point.

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  14. What a mess Ribbit, all of it. My husband had his info stolen from his dentist's office a few years ago. I just don't get how they are using it in shops without the physical card. Maybe they know people who will enter the digits in manually? My first thought would be restaurant staff since they take your card away, and can copy the info (including the back #'s) down with out you realizing it.

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  15. Ah- that is what you referred to earlier- so sorry that happened! Hope your bank was ok to deal with and hope it is all worked out now!!

    You doing any tomatoes by seed this year? I just loved getting my "rainbow" pack last year- black, green, orange, striped, white tomatoes- so yummy (at least the few that I actually managed to grown in the hell that was where I lived).

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  16. I think Dan posted some tom seeds to me. I've never tried to grow them from seed since the seed starting place I have is in the basement which is too cold, but it's worth a shot!

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