Having read all the posts re T&M and had poor experiences myself, should we not start to put pressure on the BBC to remove T&M from the partners list and put pressure on BBC publications to refuse to carry their advertising as well.
I can understand that advertising is money, however bad suppliers, reflect badly on those who they advertise with.
Both Thompson & Morgan and J Parkers have come in for some fierce criticism on this forum, with little sign of improvement from both companies or the necessary dose of humility recognizing the fact that they need to improve, other than a terse post on this and other threads.
Even if they are British should they not improve to compete in this competitive world.
I would suggest that the increasingly poor reputation of T&M reflects badly not only on this site, and the BBC in general.
I think T&M have their place in the market, but personally I don't think GW should associate itself with them as I think it drags them down. I suppose GW are trying to promote the view of value and affordability, but no doubt they have a massive contract between them. I don't take up the offers due to experience of buying directly.
I was very ill all of last year and not really recovered by March of this so I ordered garden ready plants from T & M. I did ring up to ask were they likely to arrive shortly and they did, or three of the four lots did. Fine, healthy and very well packed they were as well. The geraniums are not due yet which seems a little strange but if they are as 'looked after' as the apricot begonias etc I have already received I will be well pleased.
I ordered 3 bulbs of a Pleione orchid collection from Vernon. Despite them saying that 'cultural instructions' would be included, this was absent. I called them, to be told that a 'horticulturalist' would send me some info by email. Lo and behold, the reply came from T & M, but the supplied info was virtually useless. It had no info about Pleiones, and was just general information saying that Orchids like a well-drained compost.
When I searched on the internet I found a page specifically devoted to Pleiones, which gave me so much information about them.
I ordered lily bulbs on a "special offer" via the Daily Telegraph: delivery was delayed (and some!) and the actual bulbs were not what was ordered. I planted them anyway, and overall, the results have been pretty OK (even if some didn't do anything - but it was very late to be planting them!)
I hadn't realised that the DT offer was actually for T & M products: I have never had good results with seeds etc so wouldn't have bothered if I had known.
On the plus side: the white lilies were planted in the centre of a large pot. Around the edge I planted Acidanthera corms. As the lilies finished flowering, the Acidanthera came into flower (and are still flowering) and it has been a lovely display of white flowers - one which I will repeat. (btw the corms were from Poundland. Good value. Guess how much I paid for about 50 corms???)
Thompson and Morgan - Appalling (rip off) so called customer care- spent £100 plus on plugs - 30% plants survived - emailed 9 times since (last 10 days) initial 'auto response' and still nothing - not even common courtesy - same issue wilted, dead, poor packaging on T and M issues forum website - same plants- begonias, bidens etc- same delivery issues etc etc - beware - didn't even acknowledge GW mag subscriber discount should have been my first alert -GW have already acknowledged, but nothing from either since
They spend a fortune on advertising and photography to entice you but once they have your money, you are treated with disdain. The service is appalling, their phone service is a joke. They are full of apologies but the service does not improve.
I have just posted a thread about the lavender "offer" that I got a few days ago: frail plants with 1cm, half squeezed, dying.
If this is the "amazing" offer to GW, I think the time as come to ask GW to stand proud and cease all the agreements with Thompson and Morgan because this is shameful and not high standards as it should be in here.
I have a long history of complaints against T&M and I am really fed up, I just thought that being part of GW would confer a bit of professionalism to those people.
Posts
Ceanothus - that's disgraceful - I'd contact Trading Standards!!!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Having read all the posts re T&M and had poor experiences myself, should we not start to put pressure on the BBC to remove T&M from the partners list and put pressure on BBC publications to refuse to carry their advertising as well.
I can understand that advertising is money, however bad suppliers, reflect badly on those who they advertise with.
Both Thompson & Morgan and J Parkers have come in for some fierce criticism on this forum, with little sign of improvement from both companies or the necessary dose of humility recognizing the fact that they need to improve, other than a terse post on this and other threads.
Even if they are British should they not improve to compete in this competitive world.
I would suggest that the increasingly poor reputation of T&M reflects badly not only on this site, and the BBC in general.
I think T&M have their place in the market, but personally I don't think GW should associate itself with them as I think it drags them down. I suppose GW are trying to promote the view of value and affordability, but no doubt they have a massive contract between them. I don't take up the offers due to experience of buying directly.
I was very ill all of last year and not really recovered by March of this so I ordered garden ready plants from T & M. I did ring up to ask were they likely to arrive shortly and they did, or three of the four lots did. Fine, healthy and very well packed they were as well. The geraniums are not due yet which seems a little strange but if they are as 'looked after' as the apricot begonias etc I have already received I will be well pleased.
I ordered 3 bulbs of a Pleione orchid collection from Vernon. Despite them saying that 'cultural instructions' would be included, this was absent. I called them, to be told that a 'horticulturalist' would send me some info by email. Lo and behold, the reply came from T & M, but the supplied info was virtually useless. It had no info about Pleiones, and was just general information saying that Orchids like a well-drained compost.
When I searched on the internet I found a page specifically devoted to Pleiones, which gave me so much information about them.
I ordered lily bulbs on a "special offer" via the Daily Telegraph: delivery was delayed (and some!) and the actual bulbs were not what was ordered. I planted them anyway, and overall, the results have been pretty OK (even if some didn't do anything - but it was very late to be planting them!)
I hadn't realised that the DT offer was actually for T & M products: I have never had good results with seeds etc so wouldn't have bothered if I had known.
On the plus side: the white lilies were planted in the centre of a large pot. Around the edge I planted Acidanthera corms. As the lilies finished flowering, the Acidanthera came into flower (and are still flowering) and it has been a lovely display of white flowers - one which I will repeat. (btw the corms were from Poundland. Good value. Guess how much I paid for about 50 corms???)
Thompson and Morgan - Appalling (rip off) so called customer care- spent £100 plus on plugs - 30% plants survived - emailed 9 times since (last 10 days) initial 'auto response' and still nothing - not even common courtesy - same issue wilted, dead, poor packaging on T and M issues forum website - same plants- begonias, bidens etc- same delivery issues etc etc - beware - didn't even acknowledge GW mag subscriber discount should have been my first alert -GW have already acknowledged, but nothing from either since
They spend a fortune on advertising and photography to entice you but once they have your money, you are treated with disdain. The service is appalling, their phone service is a joke. They are full of apologies but the service does not improve.
I will never use them again.
I have just posted a thread about the lavender "offer" that I got a few days ago: frail plants with 1cm, half squeezed, dying.
If this is the "amazing" offer to GW, I think the time as come to ask GW to stand proud and cease all the agreements with Thompson and Morgan because this is shameful and not high standards as it should be in here.
I have a long history of complaints against T&M and I am really fed up, I just thought that being part of GW would confer a bit of professionalism to those people.
You've got a long history of complaints?
You're still ordering stuff?
I'd only order once if not satisfied.
Whinge saturation point reached I think
Goodbye
In the sticks near Peterborough