I had a problem with Sarah Raven and Coleus plants two out of five were badly damaged, I believe during transport, they kindly sent more. I think one of the problems is some plants are not suitable for posting and some are not suitable when they grow to a certain size. Perhaps we the customers have to do the thinking because the on line growers seem to be happy to move them on knowing that the chances of somethings arriving intact are slim. I have learnt a lesson buying plants on line that I will now remember, don't expect much year one.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Just last week I received ten plants from Beth Chatto. They were good plants, well packed in together and the delivery man kept the box the right way up, so they were all fine. Beth Chatto packers could have cut all the flowers and leaves back and stuffed the box with crumpled paper or whatever, but I'm glad they didn't. But a lot depends on how they are handled in transit.
Sorry but I’m with you Tanty on this. The fact that some have received good plants, that they have had a good reputation and have won awards in the past is nothing if their service is now uneven and packing is sheer pot luck. Everyone has their off days but this is beginning to sound like a pattern.
Well-packed plants should be able to take a bit of rough and tumble from the courier but from what you describe, they were not, so I really don’t think you can blame the courier. As others have pointed out, it’s crazy to be selling alliums in flower anyway and they should know better. How is a customer meant to know that’s a bad idea?
I share your frustration as I have to order most shrubs and perennials from France and that is very much a game of roulette! Good luck with getting a refund and vote with your feet.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
What? No, of course I'm not suggesting that. Most of the soil was in the pots where it should be. Apart from some of the pots that were half empty with soil spilled in the bottom of the box and a bulb lying away from its completely empty pot. My point about the soil was that it was highly unlikely the boxes had been carried around upside down by the courier as there wasn't any above the packing paper or indeed much inside the packing paper. You understand, right? Had the boxes been carried upside down by the courier, some of the soil would have moved from the actual bottom of the boxes and would have been rattling about in what was the actual top of the boxes when they were right way up. Because there wasn't any, I'm assuming the boxes spent most of their time in transit the right way up. Not being psychic, however, I can't be entirely sure. I have, however, now lost the will to care. Good night.
Posts
I think one of the problems is some plants are not suitable for posting and some are not suitable when they grow to a certain size. Perhaps we the customers have to do the thinking because the on line growers seem to be happy to move them on knowing that the chances of somethings arriving intact are slim.
I have learnt a lesson buying plants on line that I will now remember, don't expect much year one.
Beth Chatto packers could have cut all the flowers and leaves back and stuffed the box with crumpled paper or whatever, but I'm glad they didn't. But a lot depends on how they are handled in transit.
Well-packed plants should be able to take a bit of rough and tumble from the courier but from what you describe, they were not, so I really don’t think you can blame the courier. As others have pointed out, it’s crazy to be selling alliums in flower anyway and they should know better. How is a customer meant to know that’s a bad idea?