height question on internet tree order

I ordered a 7-8' pear tree on the internet. It came in 6' box. The tree is almost 5 1/2' tall planted The company claims they "sent me a 7-8' tree that had been pruned." I feel that if I ordered a 7-8' tree, I should have received a 7-8' tree. I think they are just blowing me off, trying to get extra money for the smaller tree. Am I wrong?

Did the website warn you that things might be pruned for shipping? Some places have retail as well as mail order, so they may advertise a 7-8' tree but then say that it'll be pruned for shipping (if you have to get an extra tall box for something the shipping charges will often go up considerably). I'd worry more about whether the tree is healthy. Height isn't everything when it comes to trees...I'd take a sturdier 5' tree over a tall spindly weak 7-8' tree any day so as long as the tree's healthy I wouldn't stress too much about the height. You might also check their reviews on the Garden Watchdog--if they've got mainly positive reviews then it's less likely that they're trying to just rip you off.

I should add that if they cut the leader to make it fit in the box then the tree might grow awkwardly until you can train a new leader, so that would be more grounds for complaint vs just the height difference.

I've had the same agument on being shipped a tree that the leader (center stem), was cut, not at all what I was wanting. Do we dare ask where it came from? Ya, you can retrain a leader but sometimes is just a hassle to remember to do such, I usually forget with so many things to do in spring and summer. One positive about the trim job, is that you have more branching and will fill in faster, But I say leave my leader alone, lol. Also what are they doing claiming that the tree was such and such height before pruning. Gosh, they said it was a certain height it should be shipped and arrived at that height. One thing thats not so bad I guess would be that it's almost full grown on height so wouldn't be so bad to have the leader cut (that's between you and me tho, lol). If it was a tree that grew to 30-40+ ft, I would definately have an issue. Just to let ya know, last summer I checked out the trees they offered at Lowes and their fruit tree prices were very respectable ( think most were $12-25). Does that help? Kathy.

Don't know who you ordered from but glad I didn't get mine from there! I order heavily from the internet and ordered most of my flowering/fruit trees as well as my berry bushes from one place at a reasonable price and they came in perfect. Nice, no pruning, what they promised. They have been planted, this is the third year, and this is they started producing fruit last year. I would have been very mad if mine had come in like that and return them!
Deb