WTS: personae non gratae at Tomatoville® - Page 6

Spike2 · February 10, 2019

Never mind

**tomatoaddict** · May 21, 2019

Well I’m just going to put this here and let it stand. These people are not a good group of people. I’m not sure how they finagled some reputable people to be involved with them. Their motives are not pure. They are using vendors for data, photos, knowledge, followers, page likes and their audience. My gut instinct on them was correct. Their goal isn’t to be kind it’s to dominate. At least two of the founders have no gardening or growing experience whatsoever but were brought in for a purpose. You know, corporate types. They blatantly copied my logo recently. Some people think it’s a nothing burger but it just speaks to their ethics. Anyone has a problem with what I’ve said can just not associate with me. Buyer beware with WTS. The truth always comes out and they are in for a big fall.

Father'sDaughter · May 23, 2019

I see Mike Dunton from Victory Seed is still on the panel. Anyone know if he has, in fact, joined this group or if, like Craig, he wasn't fully aware of what they were all about when initially approached and just hasn't "divorced" them yet? Victory has become my go-to seed vendor in recent years, but seeing him tied to such a questionable organization has me re-thinking using them again.

**tomatoaddict** · May 23, 2019

That’s another thing they’ve done, plugged reputable people into their influencers info like they are associated with them and if you read back thru this thread you’ll see many weren’t even aware of it. Idk if they’ve taken Craig L’s info off yet but they’ve let it sit there long after he told them to leave him out of it. They just take whatever is useful without asking and prop themselves up. There was an article about them in a local magazine where they basically admit their in it for the money. I’ll have to find the link. They’re profiteers using the guise of trying to “bring people together” when it’s really about some weird global domination. They disgust me and I won’t back off of that. People can unfollow me or not buy from me if they have an issue with the truth.

**nctomatoman** · May 28, 2019

I am going to let Mike speak for himself (if he wishes to), but my view is that is an awkward spot for him. Similar reasoning to why I agreed to initially join - to keep an eye on them and try to ensure they didn't peddle BS. But....my decision to quickly leave should speak volumes. For Mike, as a seed vendor in a very competitive field, it is a challenging decision. Much easier for me, as a completely free agent.

KarenO · May 28, 2019

Using Tatiana’s good reputation as well.
She has nothing whatsoever to do with wts.

Shrinkrap · May 29, 2019

Don't want to lose my place.

Father'sDaughter · May 30, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

I am going to let Mike speak for himself (if he wishes to), but my view is that is an awkward spot for him. Similar reasoning to why I agreed to initially join - to keep an eye on them and try to ensure they didn't peddle BS. But....my decision to quickly leave should speak volumes. For Mike, as a seed vendor in a very competitive field, it is a challenging decision. Much easier for me, as a completely free agent.

Thanks Craig, good to know.

Tormato · May 30, 2019

They certainly know how to not organize a seed catalog.

Tomatoes are randomly posted across 87 pages.

Most large varieties have a generic description for culinary uses: paste/sauce/canner/slicer. One would think slicer would be the first listed use, not the last.

psa · June 15, 2019

Some of the biggest names in independent seed providers are still listed on their page. You’re not going to kick all of them out of Tomatoville, are you?

joseph · December 15, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mischka

[COLOR=DarkRed]If you are a member or affiliated with them, you are no longer welcome here. If you are a vendor and I promote you here, your name will be removed from the list of recommended vendors and every current and past mention of your business will be erased from this site.

If you accost fellow members here to join or try to divert web traffic to their site, you will be permanently banned without prior notification. Any future posts or links promoting WTS will be deleted and the poster will lose their access to Tomatoville.

There will be no new threads created to discuss this "society". Use this one if you want to comment further.

I am associated with WTS. Please delete my Tomatoville account, and scrub my data from Tomatoville. Thanks in advance.

matereater · December 15, 2019

Sorry to see you go Joseph, I enjoyed your posts

barbamWY · December 15, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by matereater

Sorry to see you go Joseph, I enjoyed your posts

I hate to see Joseph go.
Barb

**tomatoaddict** · August 22, 2021

Well I see that WTS did exactly what I warned people about. They are now monetizing their "free platform" You now have to have an account. They want that email! You can view 12 tomatoes for free and then it's paid. I looked up one tomato and it is copied word for word from Victory. Of course all seed inquiries are directed to tomatofest. Imagine that. I knew this was their goal all along. It wasn't for the betterment of the tomato community but to monetize. I feel sorry for all the people that fell for this blatant scam.

kenny_j · August 20, 2022

Just want to chime in here. Haven't been around a lot lately, been a member since 2011. The 1st heirloom tomato seeds I ever bought came from Tomatofest. I realized a few years afterward that what I received were not the real deal. Regular leaf plants that were supposed to be potato leaf, that kind of thing. I have since, right or wrong, never had a high opinion of Gary Ibsen and tomatofest. I have since bought seed from many of the different vendors listed here ant t'ville, and have been happy with all of them. Love you all, you are the best!!!

February 10, 2019	#76
Spike2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 992	Never mind Last edited by Spike2; February 11, 2019 at 09:17 PM.

May 21, 2019	#77
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Well I’m just going to put this here and let it stand. These people are not a good group of people. I’m not sure how they finagled some reputable people to be involved with them. Their motives are not pure. They are using vendors for data, photos, knowledge, followers, page likes and their audience. My gut instinct on them was correct. Their goal isn’t to be kind it’s to dominate. At least two of the founders have no gardening or growing experience whatsoever but were brought in for a purpose. You know, corporate types. They blatantly copied my logo recently. Some people think it’s a nothing burger but it just speaks to their ethics. Anyone has a problem with what I’ve said can just not associate with me. Buyer beware with WTS. The truth always comes out and they are in for a big fall. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

May 23, 2019	#79
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	That’s another thing they’ve done, plugged reputable people into their influencers info like they are associated with them and if you read back thru this thread you’ll see many weren’t even aware of it. Idk if they’ve taken Craig L’s info off yet but they’ve let it sit there long after he told them to leave him out of it. They just take whatever is useful without asking and prop themselves up. There was an article about them in a local magazine where they basically admit their in it for the money. I’ll have to find the link. They’re profiteers using the guise of trying to “bring people together” when it’s really about some weird global domination. They disgust me and I won’t back off of that. People can unfollow me or not buy from me if they have an issue with the truth. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

May 28, 2019	#80
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I am going to let Mike speak for himself (if he wishes to), but my view is that is an awkward spot for him. Similar reasoning to why I agreed to initially join - to keep an eye on them and try to ensure they didn't peddle BS. But....my decision to quickly leave should speak volumes. For Mike, as a seed vendor in a very competitive field, it is a challenging decision. Much easier for me, as a completely free agent. __________________ Craig

December 15, 2019	#87
matereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. Michigan (Livonia) Posts: 1,264	Sorry to see you go Joseph, I enjoyed your posts __________________ Steve Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

May 23, 2019	#78
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I see Mike Dunton from Victory Seed is still on the panel. Anyone know if he has, in fact, joined this group or if, like Craig, he wasn't fully aware of what they were all about when initially approached and just hasn't "divorced" them yet? Victory has become my go-to seed vendor in recent years, but seeing him tied to such a questionable organization has me re-thinking using them again.

May 28, 2019	#81
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Using Tatiana’s good reputation as well. She has nothing whatsoever to do with wts.

May 29, 2019	#82
Shrinkrap Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 701	Don't want to lose my place.

May 30, 2019	#84
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	They certainly know how to not organize a seed catalog. Tomatoes are randomly posted across 87 pages. Most large varieties have a generic description for culinary uses: paste/sauce/canner/slicer. One would think slicer would be the first listed use, not the last.

June 15, 2019	#85
psa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TriCities, WA Posts: 141	Some of the biggest names in independent seed providers are still listed on their page. You’re not going to kick all of them out of Tomatoville, are you?

August 22, 2021	#89
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Well I see that WTS did exactly what I warned people about. They are now monetizing their "free platform" You now have to have an account. They want that email! You can view 12 tomatoes for free and then it's paid. I looked up one tomato and it is copied word for word from Victory. Of course all seed inquiries are directed to tomatofest. Imagine that. I knew this was their goal all along. It wasn't for the betterment of the tomato community but to monetize. I feel sorry for all the people that fell for this blatant scam. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

August 20, 2022	#90
kenny_j Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: holly michigan Posts: 380	Just want to chime in here. Haven't been around a lot lately, been a member since 2011. The 1st heirloom tomato seeds I ever bought came from Tomatofest. I realized a few years afterward that what I received were not the real deal. Regular leaf plants that were supposed to be potato leaf, that kind of thing. I have since, right or wrong, never had a high opinion of Gary Ibsen and tomatofest. I have since bought seed from many of the different vendors listed here ant t'ville, and have been happy with all of them. Love you all, you are the best!!!