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Missing free seed packets

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  • I’ve been a subscriber to GW for many years and generally am quite happy with it. I do get a bit “bored” from time to time as they repeat the same old very basic topics year after year. I now subscribe to Garden Answers as well and it seems to include lots more real reader gardens, not mini estates with Head Gardeners et al. They also give free seeds, but obviously that’s not a strong selling point post Brexit!
  • David_IrwinDavid_Irwin Posts: 6
    edited February 2021
    I just received this from GWMag. There is hope!

    Dear Mr. Irwin,

     Apologies for the delayed response to your email regarding the availability of seed packs to Northern Ireland.

     I’m sorry to hear of your disappointment regarding the double seed packs. At the end of the Brexit transition period, the rules about transporting seeds and plants from and to Northern Ireland changed and the new position is complex and not yet completely clear – being interpreted differently by different suppliers. The planning and production of our magazines several months in advance, as well as advice from our legal team, impacted our ability to include seed packs with copies of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine sold in Northern Ireland. Our suppliers are reviewing the position constantly, as are we, and we are exploring all options to reintroduce seed packs or offer our readers in Northern Ireland a different gift. Thank you for your suggestion of vouchers to be exchanged at local outlets in Northern Ireland, this is one option that we are currently exploring and I will certainly mention your reference to the team.

     In the interim, I will pass your letter and email to our customer services and ask them to extend your, and your gift subscriptions each by one copy.

     I hope you have a lovely weekend,

     Sally


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The plain fact is that, post Brexit, seeds and plants shipped from the UK to NI and EU now need a phyto sanitary certificate and they cost over £100 each plus and admin costs on top for the supplier and shipper.

    Fortunately, there are plenty of good seed and plant suppliers in the EU to satisfy your needs with no barriers other than P&P.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Obelixx said:
    The plain fact is that, post Brexit, seeds and plants shipped from the UK to NI and EU now need a phyto sanitary certificate and they cost over £100 each plus and admin costs on top for the supplier and shipper.

    Fortunately, there are plenty of good seed and plant suppliers in the EU to satisfy your needs with no barriers other than P&P.


    In my case, it was U.K. to U.K. therefore no excuse!

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If it's a new subscription there has been a message to say they didn't get their seeds but would receive them later.  If it was bought in a shop then it's a packaging failure.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Obelixx said:
    If it's a new subscription there has been a message to say they didn't get their seeds but would receive them later.  If it was bought in a shop then it's a packaging failure.  
    Mine was bought in Sainsbury’s and there were no holes in the packaging 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Doesn't mean someone didn't get the packaging wrong - forgetting to include the seeds.

    No use complaining on here tho.   You need to contact the magazine directly.   There'll be an address in the magazine.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Obelixx said:
    Doesn't mean someone didn't get the packaging wrong - forgetting to include the seeds.

    No use complaining on here tho.   You need to contact the magazine directly.   There'll be an address in the magazine.
    I have complained directly to the magazine but they haven’t responded
  • I was disappointed to find no free seed packets in my January issue of GW as promised. I was on the point of contacting GW to report this when, on a second reading of the magazine, on page 27, printed vertically in the margin in tiny font, I discovered a statement to the effect that, due to Brexit regulations, the seeds could not be delivered outside of mainland UK. I live in Northern Ireland. These regulations come into effect on 1 January 2021, so the chilli and rocket seeds could have been sent out with the January issue. Indeed, with some forethought, all six months of free seeds could have been included with this issue for those subscribers outside mainland UK.

    In an article on page 20 it is reported that at lease one Northern Ireland garden centre has imported its spring stock ahead of Brexit. Forward planning of this sort would have prevented the problem non-mainland subscribers are experiencing. A potential solution might be for such subscribers to be issued with vouchers to be exchanged for seeds locally. At any rate I would ask that GW give some thought to the matter and keep it under review as such problems with the Brexit process are ironed out. A workaround should be possible given the will to find one.

    My frustration is further exacerbated by the fact that I have taken out gift subscriptions as Christmas presents for two friends and this decision was partly influenced by the promise of free seeds for the next 6 months.

    Thank you David, unlike you I didn't see the notice and thought it was just an oversight, then received my second issue today and again no free seeds. :(  Very disappointing.  I know there are issues with the new protocol in place, but I agree that GW Mag should have put something else in place for subscribers in NI.
  • I think it is an absolute disgrace that longtime subscribers in Northern Ireland are being treated in such an offhand manner. It has completely drained the normal enjoyment I derive from seeing the issue pop through the letterbox. 

    I cannot make use of any of the discounts for plants or seeds as few (if any) of the suppliers will ship here now. I can't avail of the free plant/bulb offers; I don't get the free seeds that they have made such a song and dance about. They'll be telling us that we are also excluded from the competitions on this website soon because the companies they are partnered with won't ship here.

    Saying we are "looking at it" and we maybe-might do something at some point in the future is just a brush off because there are not enough subscribers here to make a dent in their figures even if we threaten to cancel.

    I have an collected an unbroken series of issues all the way back to 2015 when I started subscribing, and it's a real shame that the 30th anniversary edition will be my last. I won't be renewing, hopefully if the some of the local Irish magazine's revive post Covid I may put my subscription monies there instead.
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