I have gotten non-viable seeds only once from the LA. And when I complained to the seller (whose seller name I won't mention), Mike (Owner of the LA) somehow found out (I think he was reading the sellers messages from buyers) and got involved. I later heard that I wasn't the only customer that had a no-grow on this particular seller's seeds. I got a refund of my money. That is one good thing about the LA. Mike takes his Lily Auction business seriously and wants happy customers and sellers. It is the only time I have ever bought "bad" seeds. I've bid on and won seeds on the LA numerous times over the past few years. Maybe not all seeds in a particular cross sprout, but the majority do. That is also the only seller I wasn't happy with. All other sellers have sent me viable seeds and I have gotten some beautiful seedlings from those seeds. I really don't worry about purchasing/winning on the LA.
Also, something that I do whenever I sow seeds, I water them with H2O2 mixed in the water (hydrogen peroxide 3%). It really does seem to help with root rot and even gnat larvae. I have also read that H2O2 helps seeds germinate. I don't believe that I have ever had a seedling rot (damping off) using hydrogen peroxide in the water. I swear by that stuff!
