DC Seed Exchange

[Deadhead13]

Anybody know why some of the seed banks in the US will take credit cards and some won't? I looked at the Cash app they suggested but I would have had to give my bank routing number or information I didn't trust them to have.

From what I can gather, it has to do with the fed banking laws and cc companies not wanting to get involved with these places. I’m going thru a hassle due to trying to use my debit card at another seed place. It’s a big pain for sure. I’ve been trying to get a few auto seeds for over a month.

 

[jdoorn14]

Long time reader of the forums, 1st time grower/poster. Unfortunately I have to report that something shady appears to be going on with either Paul or dc seed exchange and wanted to warn others about this experience.

After much research on reputable banks etc I ordered from DC Seed Exchange on February 13th. I Paid via E check by sending pictures of the check and waited. The next day I get a confirmation call from a number about the check from some guy with foreign accent , and I confirm that I did send that order/check for that amount( 150+ dollars) never ordering from them before I found this somewhat strange but figured so is the course with the quasi-legal souvenir/novelty seed market, as this is probably the 3rd party e check verifier just doing their job.... anyways time moves on. I get an email from them that day saying my order is on hold and to allow 24-48 hours for my e-check to clear before my order is shipped- seems pretty standard. No problem.

I then wait until the 20th without a word after seeing the check posted and cleared my account on the 18th....
so I reach out to their email with the following message

"Just wondering if there’s been any update on this! Saw the e check has cleared and em have been awaiting a shipping update since.

Thanks!!
_______"

and get a reply from “mj” who is a new employee saying

"Hi,

This is Mary Jane, I'm Paul's new employee, I had to double check with our check processor, they didn't send us the image, I'm getting a copy and will deposit asap, I'll get this packed and dropped priority mail on Saturday for you. Sorry for the delay - I'll put in something extra for ya.

Happy Growing,

MJ"

I reply " great thanks so much for the update" ,then wait- and wouldn't you know it ,tracking is sent my way that day before finally getting picked up/ shipped out on the 22nd, & arrives on the 24th. AWESOME. Got what I ordered and everything appears great....

THEN FAST FORWARD to 2 Days ago- on march 31st ( well over a month after everything completely paid for and delivered) I get a highly suspicious email that appears to be from DC seed exchange/paul stating that my check bounced. Found it in my SPAM folder which was also perplexing- here's the exact email quoted

"


Now I don't know about you but that got my scammer senses tingling and is really weird especially since the check cleared,( confirmed again in my records that very instant through my online banking)

So a little apprehensive but still trying to give them the benefit of the doubt......I reach out to them stating my concern about this, and after indeed confirming that this email appears to be their known email address, I decide to reply, and even write another email copy through their website contact address link additionally ,just in case.


My message was as follows:

"
Hello I just saw this message in my junk mail, checking my banking records however and the e check cleared and shows as such in my bank account on feb 18th. I’m happy to provide this information , however I wanted to confirm with you guys 1st as this does come off as highly fishy/scammy, is this message delayed/mistaken/ increased for someone else?

Either way would like to get this sorted, but as previously stated my check went through and cleared in February so not sure what you mean.

Thanks"


I finally get a reply today a mere couple hours ago simply stating

" Hi __________ (misspelled name this time)

Yes your check bounced. Please see attached.


To settle up, you can send your payment via CashApp to (no comments please, I’ll know it is you):
$paulnchucker

Don’t have CashApp try it using my code and you will get $10:
FMCDWKV

https://cash.app/app/FMCDWKV

Or you can also send cash or blank money orders, sent via Certified or USPS Priority Mail (please do not require a signature) so you can track the funds. Please include your invoice and send to:

Sunny Vera Family
PO Box 92363
Washington, DC 20090

Please confirm when your donation has been sent. If you have any questions please let us know.


Respectfully,
Paul"

I reply AGAIN getting frustrated now that something is obviously a foul and instead of this being some mistake on their end, it seems more likely that whoever is on the other end is trying to scam me by getting me to cash app them funds AGAIN after already paying under some threat that it will "get sent to collections" So i send him via email a bank PDF showing the check cleared...bank letterhead and everything on it ( don't worry nothing that dangerous information wise for those to further scam me )

"Paul, my check cleared and shows as such in my account. So you must be mistaken, as you can see it’s both posted and cleared. So I will not be cash app-ing additional money and double paying.

Please see the information attached, it’s the official statement from my bank. Thanks, hope you sort this out and I’m trying to help all I can but it’s pretty clear that it’s been settled in my end."



I found it strange that nothing was mentioned in regards to addressing my concerns about how scammy this sounds, no elaboration on whats happening etc, and completely ignoring the timeline and everything mentioned in my previous emails about how it has cleared my account well over a month ago.... Regardless he attaches a low resolution black and white "scanned" check copy that looks not at all kosher/ proper resolutions with a refer to maker stamp on it and a blunt email stating:

"Well _______, I'm not sure what to tell you except that your checked bounced. I didn't forge the document nor would I contact you if it didn't. Call your bank, the file I sent is a legal copy sent to me from my bank and send them the attached copy of the check. In addition, I was charged $25 for the pleasure of doing business with you.

I don't care about the money but you should know what the facts are.

Respectfully,
Paul


Flaberghasted that this is really happening,and that the presumable business owner has either been hacked, or is genuinely trying to rip me off again, I do exactly that and call my bank right then and there... I wait over an hour since lines are pretty busy (since you know the end of the world is happening right now etc) and CONFIRM with the banker that it did clear on the 18th, they have an image of the said check and everything's exactly as it should be. IT NEVER BOUNCED and CLEARED! Case closed. I reply saying such and feel good knowing that everything's good on my end.

Just wanted to give everyone else a heads up; I'm a real chill guy who tries to give people the benefit of the doubt, but something is clearly fishy going amok with Paul/ DC seed exchange. Either he's attempting to scam people now, or his website/private info/ data has been hacked and now others are going around trying to scam others.


With the headache and extra time this took to resolve this I"m quite bummed, as initially ( even after the poor delay/ communication after initial checkout and payment) I was pretty satisfied with the overall experience before all this S*@& went down out the blue over a month after the fact. Didn't throw in any extras too as promised. Just glad I got my beans, not so much about them trying to double charge me and be rudely threatening .


HEADS UP- STAY CLEAR.

I’m not sure this makes me suspect DCSE so much as it reinforces not using eCheck as a payment method. I’ve never had an issue with DCSE, but I’ve only used his old CC service, cash, or Venmo for payments.

 

[_bender_]

I’m not sure this makes me suspect DCSE so much as it reinforces not using eCheck as a payment method. I’ve never had an issue with DCSE, but I’ve only used his old CC service, cash, or Venmo for payments.

Third party e check or not- the timelines from my situation in combination with the fact that someone either Paul or otherwise assuming the dc name/email, is trying to to double charge folks is disconcerting to say the least ,and mind boggling to me personally that others don’t appear to be concerned after my recent experience FWIW I participate on many audio forums,and sell music gear on reverb servicing over 100+ customers a year with impeccable reviews..... like I’ve stated a few times before I’ve tried to give the benefit of the doubt... but the the tone, and messages after I've brought up concerns to a supposed business owner don’t align... and something is certainly more than fishy.

I for one would never send cash to an unknown source, I went e check for the 3rd party factor for extra protection, glad I did after confirming such with my bank, but obviously scammers run amok there in the check domain/seed world...this is also the case for some audio botuques in the business for years until one day sh*%$ hits the fan for whatever reason.... bottom line ,facts are facts- I payed well over.$150 for seeds waited well over a week and had to contact them before shipping, only to finally have them contact me again over a month later saying the check bounced with a forged document. This all forgoing the obvius as to why a business would ship out a product before something clears in the 1st place...( scrathing head) That’s shady af, business history aside or not... and I’m in a legal rec and marijuana state... next time I’ll just got the dispensary and get clones....wow

 

[jdoorn14]

Third party e check or not- the timelines from my situation in combination with the fact that someone either Paul or otherwise assuming the dc name/email, is trying to to double charge folks is disconcerting to say the least ,and mind boggling to me personally that others don’t appear to be concerned after my recent experience FWIW I participate on many audio forums,and sell music gear on reverb servicing over 100+ customers a year with impeccable reviews..... like I’ve stated a few times before I’ve tried to give the benefit of the doubt... but the the tone, and messages after I've brought up concerns to a supposed business owner don’t align... and something is certainly more than fishy.

I for one would never send cash to an unknown source, I went e check for the 3rd party factor for extra protection, glad I did after confirming such with my bank, but obviously scammers run amok there in the check domain/seed world...this is also the case for some audio botuques in the business for years until one day sh*%$ hits the fan for whatever reason.... bottom line ,facts are facts- I payed well over.$150 for seeds waited well over a week and had to contact them before shipping, only to finally have them contact me again over a month later saying the check bounced with a forged document. This all forgoing the obvius as to why a business would ship out a product before something clears in the 1st place...( scrathing head) That’s shady af, business history aside or not... and I’m in a legal rec and marijuana state... next time I’ll just got the dispensary and get clones....wow

So why would veteran members of a forum trust a new person making his first post to complain about someone who many veterans have spoken to and trust via the forum? And why would they immediately discount every experience they’ve had with someone just because newbie guy says he had a bad experience when using a payment method that requires you provide your bank routing and account numbers to a third party for payment? Which parts of the newbie forum member’s posts are supposed to make veteran members take up their pitchforks and torches against someone who, until a disagreement with forum mods/owner over advertising payments got him banned, was a fine upstanding member of this forum? You say you participate in audio forums...would you immediately trust newbie forum member who had a bad experience with a known trustworthy person, especially when they used a third party payment method that seems sketchy?

The key to sending cash is to make sure you use priority mail or first class with tracking. Then you have proof it arrived. I’ve sent thousands in cash to banks including dc seed exchange and have never once had an issue with reputable banks like them.

Seems like you got unlucky with your choice of third party payment to me. Could very well be that DCSE stops using eChecks in the future if it turns out they’re sometimes/consistently taking payments but telling DCSE that the checks bounced. It’s called fraud, but I’m not seeing anywhere in your story that tells me DCSE is either committing the fraud or aware of it.

 

[Deadhead13]

I signed up for the emails from DC and think I’m going to try a money order. High prices and mixed reviews are the only consistent things I find with any of these banks but I know it’s thanks to the govt.

 

[_bender_]

say you participate in audio forums...would you immediately trust newbie forum member who had a bad experience with a known trustworthy person, especially when they used a third party payment method that seems sketchy?

Listen, I’m well aware 1st time posters are often met with some skepticism, especially when it comes to critiques or bad service amongst past notable vendors- I see it from time to time, but I also see some of those same companies or owners crash and burn and start to do nefarious shit- either way I totally understand what you’re saying; but understand I came and posted to warn others about my experience. Hell of way to pop a posting cherry sure, but also a bad experience for a 1st time buyer, who chose this company off the integrity and history of other posts from members such as yourself on this very forum, and if someone highlights an alternative experience I would hope others would heed the call so to speak instead of dismissing it as fake news... why on earth would I want to waste all my time additionally on this If I genuinely didn’t feel something fish was up. I totally understand the skepticism on your part- but the fact remains the same. I can’t spell it out any simpler. The time lines are whack and someone from their dept ( either Paul or an impersonator) is claiming I bounced a check, and provided a Bonk document suggesting such months after a transaction.( which wasn’t the case and confirmed by bank) And again, the blunt communication after voicing such a concern and lack of communication/ pushing pursuit or paying again through a cash app link regardless of my correspondences is not only poor customer service but is fraud and shady. Sure maybe others have had no problems sending cash- That wasn’t my experience/ case and this is what happened.

And you must be mistaken about the 3rd party thing- I simply checked out through their site portal for echecks ( which involved emailing a check with pictures of both sides) the process nor the company was not my choice.

I would just hate for someone more gullible to fall for this type of practice and be out a few more hundred dollars.

also if still giving some benefit of the doubt and it isn’t the actual company wouldn’t others want to know that their data or communications may be comprised? Just saying ‍

 

[Amos Otis]

I signed up for the emails from DC and think I’m going to try a money order. High prices and mixed reviews are the only consistent things I find with any of these banks but I know it’s thanks to the govt.

While the seed bank can charge whatever they want, the seed maker sets the wholesale price expecting a 100% markup in most cases.

 

[MickeyBlanco]

So why would veteran members of a forum trust a new person making his first post to complain about someone who many veterans have spoken to and trust via the forum? And why would they immediately discount every experience they’ve had with someone just because newbie guy says he had a bad experience when using a payment method that requires you provide your bank routing and account numbers to a third party for payment? Which parts of the newbie forum member’s posts are supposed to make veteran members take up their pitchforks and torches against someone who, until a disagreement with forum mods/owner over advertising payments got him banned, was a fine upstanding member of this forum? You say you participate in audio forums...would you immediately trust newbie forum member who had a bad experience with a known trustworthy person, especially when they used a third party payment method that seems sketchy?

The key to sending cash is to make sure you use priority mail or first class with tracking. Then you have proof it arrived. I’ve sent thousands in cash to banks including dc seed exchange and have never once had an issue with reputable banks like them.

Seems like you got unlucky with your choice of third party payment to me. Could very well be that DCSE stops using eChecks in the future if it turns out they’re sometimes/consistently taking payments but telling DCSE that the checks bounced. It’s called fraud, but I’m not seeing anywhere in your story that tells me DCSE is either committing the fraud or aware of it.

Ditto

 

[jdoorn14]

Listen, I’m well aware 1st time posters are often met with some skepticism, especially when it comes to critiques or bad service amongst past notable vendors- I see it from time to time, but I also see some of those same companies or owners crash and burn and start to do nefarious shit- either way I totally understand what you’re saying; but understand I came and posted to warn others about my experience. Hell of way to pop a posting cherry sure, but also a bad experience for a 1st time buyer, who chose this company off the integrity and history of other posts from members such as yourself on this very forum, and if someone highlights an alternative experience I would hope others would heed the call so to speak instead of dismissing it as fake news... why on earth would I want to waste all my time additionally on this If I genuinely didn’t feel something fish was up. I totally understand the skepticism on your part- but the fact remains the same. I can’t spell it out any simpler. The time lines are whack and someone from their dept ( either Paul or an impersonator) is claiming I bounced a check, and provided a Bonk document suggesting such months after a transaction.( which wasn’t the case and confirmed by bank) And again, the blunt communication after voicing such a concern and lack of communication/ pushing pursuit or paying again through a cash app link regardless of my correspondences is not only poor customer service but is fraud and shady. Sure maybe others have had no problems sending cash- That wasn’t my experience/ case and this is what happened.

And you must be mistaken about the 3rd party thing- I simply checked out through their site portal for echecks ( which involved emailing a check with pictures of both sides) the process nor the company was not my choice.

I would just hate for someone more gullible to fall for this type of practice and be out a few more hundred dollars.

also if still giving some benefit of the doubt and it isn’t the actual company wouldn’t others want to know that their data or communications may be comprised? Just saying ‍

The method of payment was, in fact, your choice. If you’ve lurked on RIU as long as you imply, you’d know people aren’t afraid to send cash, a blank money order, or use any of the other crypto or electronic methods like cashapp. You are literally the first person I’ve ever read about here to try paying for seeds by eCheck—and to continue to vehemently defend the choice to use eCheck rather than admitting maybe choosing one of the other payment methods that are more standard would have been a better decision.

Frankly, I’m surprised any business accepts checks of any sort anymore due to the ease of fraud and the speed at which a stop payment can be issued.

Keep trying to convince people not to use DCSE...I’m sure you’ll gain lots of respect around here when almost everyone else has had, and continues to have, good experiences with them. Good luck to ya though.

It seems you’re really pushing hard to convince others not to use DCSE.

 

[Amos Otis]

I would just hate for someone more gullible to fall for this type of practice and be out a few more hundred dollars.

What seed bank do you recommend?

 

[LonestarToker]

I've had nothing but stellar dealings with DCSE on numerous ocassions, Paul has always been straight with me for the last 2 years. Although I've never used echecks before but I've always got tracking numbers the same day and he's responded to all my emails and had the gear in my hands in 2 to 3 days. Just my 2 cents!

 

[_bender_]

I’m not sure this makes me suspect DCSE so much as it reinforces not using eCheck as a payment method. I’ve never had an issue with DCSE, but I’ve only used his old CC service, cash, or Venmo for payments.

The method of payment was, in fact, your choice. If you’ve lurked on RIU as long as you imply, you’d know people aren’t afraid to send cash, a blank money order, or use any of the other crypto or electronic methods like cashapp. You are literally the first person I’ve ever read about here to try paying for seeds by eCheck—.

Frankly, I’m surprised any business accepts checks of any sort anymore due to the ease of fraud and the speed at which a stop payment can be issued.

Keep trying to convince people not to use DCSE...I’m sure you’ll gain lots of respect around here when almost everyone else has had, and continues to have, good experiences with them. Good luck to ya though.

It seems you’re really pushing hard to convince others not to use DCSE.

Dude this is literally making me sick. I'm at no fault here; I , the customer, checked out with one of the services they provided.... I’ve even gone as far as copy correspondence/ timelines verbatim... and the fact that someone is coming around trying to get me to double pay for something that cleared 5 + weeks after the fact/is already paid for isn’t ok- and you're basically insinuating / saying its my fault because I checked out via one of the offered optons on the website vs sending money or using cash app . OK BUDDY. Try running a business on that, let alone with the poor/bad communication after bring up fraud concerns and lets see how long you biz lasts....seeds or anything for that matter... I could care less about this business personally and I'm not being malicious.... I'm merely highlighting my experience, regardless of the way I checked out others should take note. My situation is fucked, and shady to say the least. You're clearly in some form of denial/ confirmation bias because of your previous experiences....here's my 1st and only experience. The fact you would treat a fellow member, 1st time poster or not, who's merely trying to echo his experience amongst others just because it doesn't align with your experience,and then dismiss it, is shitty to say the least. And again this coming from a fellow forum member on other sites that totally understands your apprehension.... but


They offered the e check checkout option, and i did it because I didn't have to be on the hook sending cash,tracking or not..there was no CC option at the time otherwise I would’ve done that... and the experience with the supposed owner ( who has since gone radio silent after I've contacted my bank) only reinforces the shadyness of the whole experience/ notion that something is afoul. I have hundreds of posts on other forums, and over 150 reviews selling gear. please dm me and we can chat. People are strange when they're strangers, but you sir are not giving the least bit of benefit of the doubt. I have no reason to put anymore time into this.... nor do I want to honestly. I’m not one to feather fires.I would just hate to have other people end up in a similar situation, and figured I'd want to know if others had experiences of similar shadiness/discontent for whatever reason. Maybe their email/data is hacked and someone is impersonating....maybe he genuinely believes he got ripped off by me but my bank says otherwise, perhaps dcse actually got fucked over from the 3rd party check cashier they use on their website - who knows. But Jesus. Coming from a pure, and factual place here and a few of ya'll treating me like I'm poisoning the well... Don't kill the messenger....

Regardless there are few simple facts in communication/ timeline that make something not add up. For instance

1) why send a product if a check didn't clear, especially after its laid out as such that products only get shipped afterthey’re processed, and this was communicated to me by mj
2) why the delay after waiting a week after spring + before shipping and then waiting an additional month + two weeks try to reach out and say it bounced after the fact. Again this is all documented with correspondence. Also promised freebies because of the delay after waiting/ seeing it cleared in my bank with zero contact from them before reaching out but those weren’t included
3) why ignore a customers communication voicing concerns about potential misunderstandings/ fraud concerns , only to provide a phony document with a fake bounced check ceertidicate demanding a cash app deposit- on top of the laggy timelines as such, especially after confirming with a bank that this simply isn’t the case.

Bottom line, a lot doesn't add up and it's bummer coming from someone who did lots of reading and weeks of research on banks and strains... I chose them because of everyone’s good word and experiences- I got my seeds paid 160 bucks- but then got that strange reach around long after the fact- and after 1at trying to correspond and soet these things out privately was unfortaely forced to pop my cherry here in this thread and let other know my experience . Just my 2 Cents

I honestly wanted to have a good experience with them, but this post transaction scammy behavior certainly Sours the pot and makes me doubt sending cash- surely others could understand that too. Good businesses/ owners can hit rogue patches and have misunderstandings no doubt- but I’m not entirely feeling like I’m being treated fairly by a couple of you in particular. YMMV



either way I’ll be posting ,liking, and making my presence more known outside this thread- and genuinely hope my situation comes to light/rest from the other side of the coin genuinely- I just don’t the feeling of being fleeced and surely you wouldn't either; with that said ill be making myself more known with a grow journal and on other threads / posts....and hopefully those experiences will be more fruitful/forgiving vs what’s transpired here in this thread in retaliation of my experience etc.

 

[Stompermoments]

The method of payment was, in fact, your choice. If you’ve lurked on RIU as long as you imply, you’d know people aren’t afraid to send cash, a blank money order, or use any of the other crypto or electronic methods like cashapp. You are literally the first person I’ve ever read about here to try paying for seeds by eCheck—and to continue to vehemently defend the choice to use eCheck rather than admitting maybe choosing one of the other payment methods that are more standard would have been a better decision.

Frankly, I’m surprised any business accepts checks of any sort anymore due to the ease of fraud and the speed at which a stop payment can be issued.

Keep trying to convince people not to use DCSE...I’m sure you’ll gain lots of respect around here when almost everyone else has had, and continues to have, good experiences with them. Good luck to ya though.

It seems you’re really pushing hard to convince others not to use DCSE.

Agreed, just use cash app while it's still an option. Sounds like a bender move, or a one off situation... Also, for anyone questioning cash app, DON'T, it's the same as sending cash or using a debit card. Just be careful to make sure you send $ to the right person/phone number and you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[jdoorn14]

To paraphrase Shakespeare, methinks OP doth protest too much. Expending a lot of words and time to type long responses trying to convince people not to use a seed bank that so many others have had good experiences with.

I could write more related to checks, fraud, why I don’t think DCSE should accept eCheck payments, and why I wouldn’t suggest using eCheck to buy cannabis seeds—even from a legal state, but OP would probably take it as a personal attack.

 

[_bender_]

Agreed, just use cash app while it's still an option. Sounds like a bender move, or a one off situation... Also, for anyone questioning cash app, DON'T, it's the same as sending cash or using a debit card. Just be careful to make sure you send $ to the right person/phone number and you shouldn't have any issues.

Pretty sure cash app wasn't even an option when I checked out in February....I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that was the case.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, methinks OP doth protest too much. Expending a lot of words and time to type long responses trying to convince people not to use a seed bank that so many others have had good experiences with.

I’m Not trying to convince people not to use them, A poet should know better when it comes to assumptions ;0)

I'm merely voicing my experience and it wasn't as bueno and as easy as anyone else. And again. Guess folks are just ignoring the scam aspect? Short enough for you now? ;0) But I digress, and no I wouldn't take that as an attack. I'm fairly agreeable lad.

FWIW like a previously mentioned, back when I placed an order around feb 12th, I don’t think cash app was an option at that time.

What seed bank do you recommend?

No clue, this was my 1st and only experience with a seed bank. I almost went with great lakes genetics, but dc had the seeds I was able to do enough research on/that would work for my climate space and setup, and out of everyone else's experiences I went with them.

And hey get this, I was even recommending them to others about to start growing at the dispensary because of my good experience until this came out of the blue...so take that as you will as well.

 

[jdoorn14]

Pretty sure cash app wasn't even an option when I checked out in February....I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that was the case.

Welp. You’re wrong. They've been accepting it since at least Black Friday...my transaction history told me so. It’s also listed in the FAQs.

 

[Amos Otis]

Most recent newsletter out this week. Many bargains to be had.

 

[TWest65]

Most recent newsletter out this week. Many bargains to be had.

I see that Brisco's Bargain Seeds has some feminized strains now!

 

[Rolloff]

Anyone know if dcse will have a 4/20 sale

 

[TWest65]

Anyone know if dcse will have a 4/20 sale

He did last year. I think it was 20% off everything.