Having worked for a service like this before, I think I recognise it
as a cookie-cutter operation. Sellsonic (note the "Powered By" at the
bottom of the first page of the sites) obviously uses the same
formula for all the sites to save money and sells ready-made websites
to smaller gardening businesses. We did the same thing with insurance
companies. Instead of having to charge for orginal artwork, site
design, etc., most places like this let you choose from a portfolio of
site designs and ready made graphics. Keeps the costs down, but still
allows the business to have a nice looking site. I seriously doubt
it's a scam.

Casey



On Sat, 21 Jun 2003 15:59:26 -0400, Gary Hancock
wrote:

While looking for some gardening supplies online today, I discovered
several different retailers, all claiming to be different businesses
with different locations and contact info. However, every single one
of them had the exact same site structure, the same scripting, and the
items offered at each site are exactly the same. If one site is out of
something, every other site is also out.

What is going on? Is this some sort of scam?

Here is a list of all of the sites I have found like this so far:

http://www.awbrown.com
http://www.bayportflower.com
http://www.berkshirenursery.com
http://www.chnursery.com
http://www.countrygardensinc.com
http://www.cousinsgardencenter.com
http://www.daysgarden.com
http://www.forthillnursery.com
http://www.gardenist.com
http://www.gloriasgardencenter.com
http://www.great-gardeners.com
http://www.harborgardens.com
http://www.hitherbrook.com
http://www.homegardendirect.com
http://www.hoosierlandscapes.com
http://www.igardenworld.com
http://www.laddsgardencenter.com
http://www.maxwellturf.com
http://www.mcardles.com
http://www.mcnaughtonsgardens.com
http://www.riverside-nursery.com
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com
http://www.shannonflorist.com
http://www.thegardenspot.com
http://www.tomsgarden.com
http://www.tripleoaks.com
http://www.twomblynursery.com
http://www.zergott.com