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Warning about buying plants online

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    There are problems reported by @Sue9 and @GeorgeKearse back in 2021. Still it goes on! I am assuming neither of these posters got their money back?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I know that we are trying to highlight the problems with Garden Express, but if we are not careful, this thread will seem like anti all on line plant shopping, which would be very unhelpful.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    I agree @punkdoc … there are some very fine and reputable businesses selling plants online. 
    We used to have a Good Guys thread which was very helpful … I’ll see if I can find it. 

    ETA this is the most recent one I can find … the info might be out of date now … perhaps we need a new one?
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1025401/the-good-guys/p1

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    That’s a great idea @Dovefromabove. I have garden centres nearby but I do buy online. I even buy other products online and generally have very good experiences so not sure why others are condemning online shopping. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I absolutely agree @punkdoc and @Dovefromabove there are so many excellent online growers ans sellers. Some have been hi lighted on this thread but there are so many more.
     It has shocked me to find that complaints about the plants supplied buy this seller go back years and that people are still loosing money and we have yet to here from anyone who has had a refund?

    Yes we should praise 'the good guys' there are so many it is not a case of condemning on line shopping@debs64 This thread was started to point out to as many gardeners as possible about one company. They are the people who are doing the damage.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree too - there's a vast number of fantastic online suppliers, and I've rarely had a problem. An updated good guys thread would be a great idea.
    People only need to ask about those - and if they want a specific type of plant, or variety, we can usually point them in the right direction. 
    I have a very good nursery I can use, but I couldn't get there without a car as it's 45 mins drive away, so I'm lucky that I have one. The local GCs here are hopeless most of the time as they're more interested in selling cakes and coffee, so online nurseries are vital for anyone in a similar position who doesn't have a good source. 
    I also buy a lot online as I can't abide shopping of any kind in person, and it's getting worse as I also can't cope with crowds.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    GE are a business I’ve seen mainly advertising ‘bargains’ in the newspapers … I seem to remember seeing them selling begonia plugs in the Sunday Express wrapped around a fish & chip supper many many many years ago. They seemed then to rely on impulse buying by inexperienced gardeners, and it looks as if they’ve not changed although they may now advertise in different places. 

    Ah .., that was a different company … I’ve just found this 

    https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/about-us 

     🤨 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Sandra ASandra A Posts: 146
    Lyn said:
    This is an example of their Facebook pages,  out of 44 smilies, 29 of them are angry ones.
    There should be 30 comments. They delete all the bad ones!   There are none left on there,  this is just one post.   They’re all like that,  to find the bad comments,  people have put them on other gardening sites.
    T
    They have deleted all my comments and photos of the dead plants as I was opening the package.
  • Sandra ASandra A Posts: 146
    GE are a business I’ve seen mainly advertising ‘bargains’ in the newspapers … I seem to remember seeing them selling begonia plugs in the Sunday Express wrapped around a fish & chip supper many many many years ago. They seemed then to rely on impulse buying by inexperienced gardeners, and it looks as if they’ve not changed although they may now advertise in different places. 

    Ah .., that was a different company … I’ve just found this 

    https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/about-us 

     🤨 
    That guy, Chris, is the registered CEO and the one that has received my complaints and photos. Never replied to any, including those that were shared with the citizens advice, with the guidelines.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm going to PM you @Sandra A. It will hopefully be of use to you  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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