Garden Watchdog - how do you know?

I've got some bulbs I want to order, and I'm reading the feedback for the various companies, and just when I'm ready to place a good-sized order from Brent & Becky's, I read the recent feedback and am concerned. Then I look at Van Engelen, and see that a couple people there recommend Brent & Becky's over Van Engelen. How do you guys decide who to order from? What are your criteria for deciding that you'll take the chance and order?

i would highly recommend Berts company(he is a member here)
always great deals and great plants
http://www.eflowergarden.com/

I looked through what he had, and sadly, not the things I'm wanting. :-( But thanks for the recommendation!

I would say that you can't go wrong by ordering from either Brent & Becky's or Van Engelen - they're both very highly rated companies, and rightly so.

If those were my two top picks, then I'd look at prices and the quantity "multiples" (do they offer a price break at the quantity I'm ordering? And do I want/ need 5 - or 25 or 150 - bulbs of each particular variety?) The answers to those questions would probably be the deciding factor between the two vendors.

I've had excellent results with Colorblends.

I ordered from Brent and Becky's and John Scheepers, the retail partner of Van Engelen's today. I sent them emails asking for specific shipping dates. Before I'd gotten onto anything else, I got an email back from Becky saying that they would be happy to accomodate me. This is on a bulb order in September - very late for being picky about anything. Just now, I got an email back from Scheepers asking if I'd like them to mail my bulbs next week! I said yes, thank you very much! I agree with Terry. You can't really go wrong with either of these businesses - or both! ; )

just a note, Scheepers sells the bulbs in smaller quantities than Van Engelen, a little more expensive, but not much, and there are times when I just really don't need 100 of anything!

Having had a bad experience with them, and a few other companies, I would focus on posts re what happened when people called problems to their attention. If they ignore problems, I'd avoid the company.

I think Van Engelen and B and B are both similar, and doing what Kathleen did sometimes makes the difference...

For me it depends on who has what in stock and when they can send it and if the pricing is suitable...

I like touch of nature, too, but their range is limited. I bought a big box of allium from them this year and they were very nice and of high quality.

I ended up placing an order with Brent and Becky's, because they had the most of what I wanted. I might end up ordering some crocus from van Engelen, because I want quite a bit of those.

Thanks for your input and really, I'd like to hear more, as my ordering experiences prior to this fall have been with Breck's. I was happy with what I got from them, and a couple of things didn't come up and they are replacing them this fall. A couple of years ago, I ordered some things from Direct Gardening. They did replace some things that didn't grow, but I will NEVER order from them again. The prices are fabulous, but you definitely don't get what you don't pay for there.

I've ordered from Van Engelen before. Professional as well as extremely responsive. Great prices for quantity and I have never had any issues with their product. I place an order every year.

I have not ordered from Brent & Becky's before BUT I have friends who have and they rave about them and order from them every year.

Colorblends, not too good of luck with them. I received iris rhizomes that were sort of dried out. Very affordable though.

I've had very good successes with plants from Schreiners as well as plants from Iris Sisters Farm.

I'll try toplace an order at Bert's because he's a member here and because notmartha suggested him but I'm still placing my fall order with VanEngelen because I have had too many good experiences with them not to.

How do I decide where to order- normally based on who has what I want in the quantity I need. I check the Garden WatchDog and if there isn't a ton of negative remarks, I place my experimental guinea pig order. If I receive my order in a timely fashion and if what I order is healthy, I order more than one type of plant the next time around. I tend to gravitate toward purchasing from the nurseries that treat me the best even if they aren't the cheapest and even if their shipping is a tad higher. I'm a creature of habit but am not at all opposed to trying a new vender.

Thanks, Equilibrium. That's good advice, I think. I'll post back here and also feedback at Garden WatchDog when I get my Brent and Becky's order.