Plants Delight's shipping costs

Hola ya'll , I just now made it here.

I am a HUGE fan of their catalog. (I read catalogs for entertainment and educational purposes as well as just to buy stuff! ;-))

I Do plan to order something from them- I have bunches of stuff marked on the "wish" box they kindly provide BUT will have to pare that list down mercilessly.

Living on social security as I do, I try to get the most bang for my buck that I can.

But consider this: they guarantee everything (within reason). They make plant exploration trips to a lot of foreign countries, then propagate, which takes time, water, patience, facilities, etc and you may have failures. And then with the new phytotox laws, it will be even more of a hassle.

PLUS it takes years to get enough stock built up to offer things.

The owner is the editor and writer of humor. Not eveyone
gets or appreciates everything ANYone writes...after all we are all individuals with different experiences and tastes...but I did not take offense at the statement made, which Anto cited. I just thought it the writer's attempt at humor, and interpreted a little irony added in.

I DO plant to order something to see what I get, and how the service is. And will share my opinions at that time.

Just based on their catalog, there is NO comparison with
Michigan Bulbs! (I HATE catalogs where they draw or computer-generate images instead of showing real fotos.)

Also, when purchasing, I always consider the propagatin possibilities... long term...in order to determine if it is worth my precious bucks.

After all, the less I spend on what I want, the more money I will have for OTHER things I want or need (like travel, etc.)

Lavanda

Wish they didn't have a minimium of $35.00 before shipping. I buy from a lot of sources, and can't justify paying each $35.00. But in saying this, I have added plants from PD that have made a hugh difference in the garden. Wonderful introductions! There is a grass source with a minimium of $50.00 before shipping. They can keep their grass; I will by local. I am fortunate in having a perennial nursery within an hour's drive with over 3,000 varieties in stock.http://www.fridaysperennials.com

I sent a copy of this thread to P.D. just wondering if it will get a response.

Paul

(Paul, a couple of staffers there are members here) No doubt they are fully aware. Many of the big nurseries have undercover subscribers on all the major internet plant groups.

Personally, I also love their sense of humor. The price of the catalogue was what really intrigued me initially! Who else would charge a box of candy for their price-list? *Hee-hee* *chuckle*

How true, I had forgotten that!

THAT right there tells you they are cook and have a sense of humor.

And one of these days I might send them one (if they keep me on their mailing list). Even the cover page is humorous.)

Heres a reply I received from Tony Avent. I sent him a copy of this thread.

Paul:

Thanks for forwarding the Daves Garden comments. People who don't run a business as their sole means of making a living will never understand true
costs. They have their experiences based on dealing with backyard hobby growers who do not draw a salary or have to comply with expensive
government imposed business regulations. During 2002, we completed an exhaustive analysis of the lack of profit in our business. We were left with two choices...close the business at the end of the year or increase prices slightly and raise shipping to a break even point. Orders less
than $35 that we ship are money-loosig shipments. We decided to remain in business. Please let anyone who finds the shipping too high that they are welcome to fly to NC and pick up their order. I'm sure they'll be able to
save lots of money on shipping. If readers are truly interested in learing what's involved in our business, click on
http://www.startanursery.com and read the Mail Order chapter of my new book, So, You Want to Start a Nursery. Thanks for sharing this note.


Tony Avent
USDA Zone 7b, (0-10F winter, 90-100F Summer)
Plant Delights Nursery
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603, USA
ph 919.772.4794
fx 919.772.4752

"I consider every plant hardy until I've killed it myself...at least three
times." - Avent

I go back to my original statement...,

While commenting on the cost of shipping, I emphasized that my true objection was the grotesque attitude this vendor took in addressing his potential clients in a trivializing manner, as if they are children (teaching us to be "good customers").

Having "owned a business as [my] sole means of support," and having done moderately well at it (a firm with a capitalization probably several thousand times that of Plant Delights), I know well the objective challenges an entrepreneur faces when trying to cope with market forces he or she cannot control.

Mr Avent makes ludicrous assumptions in the mea culpa posted above. He assumes people in this forum are ignorant of fundamental principals of business. He assumes people in this forum deal with backyard hobbyists only. He assumes no one in this forum has ever had to write paychecks for others, or lost a night's sleep knowing that if payroll wasn't met someone's child might suffer.

In the process he only looks more rude than the literature he publishes to potential customers. While I have no doubt Mr Avnet's plant's are great, the man's self~centered view of his peers on this planet (other human beings), knows no bounds.

I wish him every success in his career.

Adam.

PS: By the way, his book is pretty good.

My 3 cents worth, I found plants that I liked, but will be checking will some of the local places to see if I can find the same here. I was able to find plants for a friend in NY that she had been looking for,for a great price. Our one big local-from the ground up-(they started with one hoop house)- "Flower Factory" has a wonderful selection, but unfortunately does not do mail order (as of yet, anyway-I will check when I next see them) But if anyone gets close to Madison WI-give me a holler; we have a wonderful Farmer's Market-year round now and I will show you the place-with oodles of hostas, daylilies and the rest ( and I am not even a hosta fan--don't throw mulch!!!!!

This message was edited Wednesday, Jan 29th 12:04 AM

:)

Quote: "Please let anyone who finds the shipping too high that they are welcome to fly to NC and pick up their order. I'm sure they'll be able to
save lots of money on shipping." Avent

Not the best attitude? Have to agree, Adam, looks rude to potential customers.

I wonder if he lies awake nights wondering how so many other nurseries manage to provide high quality plants at better prices and more realistic shipping...

In the end, I think SoCal's opening remark that PD shipping costs are extremely high, stands.

Amen

I agree; deifinately an attitude problem.

Paul