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NAME N SHAME
Reading the posts today made made me think we should name and shame those companies that shortchange us. If its true we can do this.
On the garden front I have had poor service from T & M, Gardening Express and one or two advertisers. However, I have had either money refunded or satisfactory replacements, albeit after repeated complaints.
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I agree Verdun, we should take this opportunity to name and shame some of the more disreputable companies who bombard us with glossy brochures which when purchased from turn out to be poor value or poor quality.
A witch hunt it would not be, and to share good service and value is beneficial to all, especially when times are tight.
We all take pride in our gardens and work hard to achieve them.
Personal recommendations are always the best form of advertising any company can get.
An informal list of quality suppliers who promote good service and value for money will encourage those who currently do not reach the same standards.
Am I right in thinking that it was T&M providing the bulbs/plants/seeds for
the Daily Mail's promotion a few weeks back? If so, I'm a little worried after
reading your posts, as I ordered quite a few spring bulbs etc. from them during
that promotion and although they cashed my cheque a few weeks ago, I
haven't received anything from them. Has anyone else used this promotion
and if so, have you received what you ordered? Would be very grateful for any
feedback.
Will do Verdun
The plug plants that I bought from T&M this year were very poor. I complained and did eventually get some money back, although it took perseverance. I was also offered a £10 voucher, but I don't really want anything more from this firm.
I found J Parkers a nightmare, plants didnt arrive telephoned and had a really rude woman answer the phone who wasnt interested told me to email them - I did to cancel and asked for a credit, received a very curt email reply obviously the company is so well off they dont need customer service.
Re-ordered with TM and had good service....
I finally got to use my converted tesco vouchers yesterday with T & M but it took two emails to Tesco and a complaint on my behalf from Tescos to T & M before, finally, a terribly nice and helpful lady from T & M sorted it out. It's just a shame she wasn't the lady who dealt with my numerous emails and phonecalls before I resorted to contacting Tescos instead. I doubt I'll ever deal with them again. Even the seeds I purchased this year from them had an unnusually low germination rate- including the T & M ones I got free with magazines. The Mr Fothergill seeds were definitely more successful so I'm now tempted to purchase plugs from them direct too... but, on the whole, the entire online purchasing experience has proven very hit and miss. There's no disputing the fact that self-grown seedlings and garden-centre purchased plugs have been the stars of my garden this year and anything bought online has had maybe a 1 in 3 success rate. For instance I had three chinese lanterns from T & M and only one grew, yet the one that has grown is almost terrifyingly prolific. I'm glad now I only have one as it's lovely but virtually weed-like in its self-reproduction so it's hard to tell how T & M even managed to send me two duff ones
The only firm I feel I have to recommend is Roger Parson's Sweet Peas. Wow. A 98% sucessful germination and the most spectacular flowers ever. I caused a real storm in a teacup at my local gardening club by winning with my sweetpeas despite it being my first year of showing... it was all handbags at dawn and my secret weapon had to be the source of the seeds because I definitely can't give any other reason for them being so successful. I dug out the last of this years sweetpeas last weekend and they were still in bloom even though I had stopped tending them after the summer completely. And the seedlings for next year are already poking their little heads out of their pots in the greenhouse and it looks like 100% germinationsuccess this time...
Hi Verdun - Just to let you know I received my daffodil bulbs yesterday from
T&M and put them in my garden today. Apart from one they looked great and
already showing little green shoots, so will let you know what they come up
like next Spring. The bluebell bulbs haven't arrived from T&M yet, but they
put a note in with the daffs to say they'd be arriving shortly...so here's hoping!