Garden Watchdog

I wasn't sure where to post this. I used the Garden Watchdog advice and order from Paradise Gardens. I found that they forwarded my order to Garden Crossings. Since I hadn't received it I followed up only to find if I went direct to Garden Crossings (which I wasn't aware of) I could get the two clematis I had ordered at $10.00 and $11.00 dollars cheaper. I total savings of $21.00. Paradise Gardens doubled the price without even having to make the shipment. Doesn't sound good to me. I cancelled my order and went direct to Garden Crossings. By the way, when I tried to call Paradise Gardens the voice mail box is full so I couldn't leave a message. I sent an email but haven't heard a response. I certainly hope they cancel my order.

If you paid by credit card and they didn't cancel it don't pay that charge. Contact your credit card company and let them arbitrate it. Make sure you document dates and times.

It seems like more and more mail order companies are getting into the rip-off mode.

Paul

I would also encourage you to post your experience in the Garden Watchdog: http://davesgarden.com/gwd/c/333/ so others can learn from your experience. Someone recently mentioned that it's not easy to swim against a tide of positive comments, but as you pointed out - you went with the majority's advice and had a disappointing experience. The Watchdog's advice is only as good as we all make it by posting honest, objective feedback.

Unless/until others post their experiences, a company can't learn from its mistakes, and others won't know until it's too late for them, too.

I have really come to rely on Garden Watchdog before I order anything.

Terry, there are 228 ratings for Pradise Garden. IMHO that is more than overkill and almost defeats the purpose of the system. How many folks have the time, patience, courage or whatever it takes to plough through that much wordage?
There is a certain break-off point, varying with the reader, beyond which it is "Help, enough already!"

The comments are in reverse chronological order - newest on top. Oldest are also given less value as they age. Skimming the most recent comments is usually sufficient to give the reader an idea if they are reputable or not.

What I mostly look at is the feedback history and summary.

If there's no negatives and lots of positives, I usually don't read any further.

But if there's negatives, I'll search them out and read them, (which is much easier in GW than ebay because you can click on the negative link in history and summary and get them all). Then I'll read forward to see what the positives say and make up my mind from there whether to order or not.

Point well taken. That actually shows how a vendor evolves over time.
Thanks.

Do you mean this place???????

http://www.paradiseplants.net/

There is a thread I started about it on the Tropical forum. I thought I saw some good deals. I just want to be sure it is not the same company.

No, it is this place http://www.paradisegarden.com/shop/home.php

I don't think so, Karrie - the second link below is the company you're talking about.

Paradise Garden: http://davesgarden.com/gwd/c/333/

Paradiseplants: http://davesgarden.com/gwd/c/3543/

One is in Bowie, the other in Sweetwater. Both in Texas.

Ummm, no - Paradise Garden is in Corryton, TN ;o)

The Internet is playing tricks on me, LOL

I have a quick question that kind of fits here.

Can you call the bank and argue charges if you don't have a credit card but a debit card?

Mmmm, I don't know for sure, but I *don't* think so. At least not as easily as a CC. (I guess the difference is the bank has your money - the CC company is usually waiting for a payment from you, so they're a little more aggressive on your behalf.)

Durn!

Thanks Terry. Two threads with "Paradise" as part of the company name, going at the same time, both in question, lol! Had to ask!

Micha

No, a debit card is basically the same as paying cash.
You don't have that recourse/

I was reading Paradise Garden info and I think they're kind of a coop of sorts. I think 1 location puts a varied catalog together, for people that want to just shop 1 source, and the orders are filled by the various specialty nurseries that work with them(they advertise that they sell Oaks Daylilies). I think it works for the lay person who'd rather spend more and order from 1 place. But as a hard-core garden addict and bargain shopper, I like doing all the research and placing orders with the specialty nurseries-it's like a treasure hunt!

I don't do a lot of online shopping anymore since I moved to Ireland, but I think it would be great if you briefly and honestly put your experience (and findings - especially finding the exact product cheaper elsewhere), it would be useful for the peson who wants to save that last more and order direct. This gives people information to make an informed decision.

Otherwise, if everyone just posts positive feedback about a popular vendor, it's like the Emperor's New Clothes.

CaptMicha -

I have a debit card issued by my bank (but it says Visa on it). I was actually charged twice by my local grocery store for a week's worth of groceries. I contacted the bank to dispute the charge. They credited it immediately and then contacted the grocery store to investigate it. About 2 weeks later they sent me a letter saying that the charge was in error and that the credit would remain.

I have a visa one also. I'm hoping that if I should come across any problems, it'll be handled exactly the way yours was!

It's a shame that these companies aren't more honest... There's no way I'd get a credit card just to make the occassional online or mail order purchase. Regardless of the payment method, it goes back to what I said before, it's a shame these companies aren't more honest.

CaptMicha,
I had a similar issue to langbr. A clothing store in India swipped my Visa debit card 5 or 6 times thinking that their reader wasn't working....it was...so I was charged that many times for the clothes. It took a long time, and the cooperation of the store to get it all straighted out, but eventually the charges and fees were reversed and all was returned to normal. It was quite a hassle, though. And, without the store's cooperation, I'm not sure what would have happened.
Mary Ev.

Lol. That reminds me... I went to Israel about a year ago. I paid for everything with my debit card. I'm kind of a shopaholic... and with the schedule we kept there, I was basically running on no sleep. I must have lost my card and left it at shops more than ten times! Some how I always managed to find it again before we moved on to our next destination.

Disputing those charges and working with the bank all the ways over in India must have been quite a hassle. What a nightmare!

Since the protections offered to credit card purchasers are granted by longstanding and very specific laws, they don't apply to debit card users. It will be by the grace of the issuing bank and vendors that you'll straighten out problems of debit card use. Even with laws to back you up in a credit card situation, though, it's a hassle to straighten those out, too. I hadn't thought about this issue until you raised it, CaptMicha. Thanks.