Free Trees ??

Does anyone know about this website or have ordered from them?


http://www.freetreesandplants.com/index.html

I would appreciate your feedback.


Thanks,
Brenda

It sounds great and altruistic, doesn't it? But nothing is free and the modern world is filled with crooks. You might be placing your name and e-dress on some pesky marketing list, who knows. I think you're smart to wait for a report from someone who has dealt with them before plunging into it yourself.

Guy S.

Thanks Guy. I wish I had asked for opinions before I joined the Arbor Day foundation group. The little sticks they sent to me were pitiful. :) I don't want to make that mistake again.

Brenda

It reeks of a scam to me, there's no contact information whatsoever. Please don't give your personal info. out to someone you don't even know! Let alone send them money, ESP. YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER!!! This is called phishing, in the cyber-scam world. If you really want free stuff, donate your time to a local garden center or greenhouse, then you can rescue all of the damaged and half dead stuff they're throwing out.

Isn't it sad that there are so many people in this world who prey upon the faith and altruism of others? If it's not a scam, it still will be suspected as one because there are so many like that. And if it is a scam, someone should go there and rip out their hearts.

The National Arbor Day Foundation isn't a scam, they just send out puny little sticks as an incentive to join. Sometimes I wonder if they'd be better off just skipping the free trees ploy altogether, because their reputation needlessly takes a big dive every time someone gets the trees in the mail.

Guy S.

Sounds like one of places that call you on the phone and try to get you to buy $15 light bulbs, $20 garbage bags, or a $30 bottle of cleaner, etc.

With all due respect, this link gives all their security, contact info and how you pay...which is paypal.

http://www.freetreesandplants.com/FreeTreesandPlantsPrivacyandSecurity.html

As a mom and SIL to persons with disabilities, call me naive, but I don't believe this is a scam at all. This is giving jobs to people who cannot get jobs in their communities. It's giving them satisfaction for a job well done...just like you and I. Try being a man like my BIL, stuck in a wheelchair because you were born with severe Cerebral Palsy with mild to moderate retardation. Then go into your community and see who gives you a job. Or be a young woman (my daughter) with mild CP and mild retardation and find a job. I'm sorry, but this type of discussion is near and dear to my heart as Guy very well knows.

Terry

This message was edited May 18, 2006 7:56 PM

My first instinct was to agree with the people thinking this is a scam--too many scam artists give you just enough security info to make you think they're legit and play on your sympathies when in reality they've never helped a single disabled person and are just trying to rip you off. But out of curiosity I looked them up in Garden Watchdog and while they don't have a ton of ratings, they are 93% positive (and some of the positive ratings are from paid subscribers, so I don't think this is a case of the company getting in and posting fake comments).

http://davesgarden.com/gwd/c/3403/

Edited to include the link and also comment that they have items listed in Plant Scout--I know there's a screening process that companies have to go through before they're allowed to list plants there which makes me even more comfortable that they're legit.

This message was edited May 18, 2006 5:51 PM

For whatever reason, my link isn't working properly. The correct link is:

http://www.freetreesandplants.com/FreeTreesandPlantsPrivacyandSecurity.html

edited to say that when I hit this link or the one I posted above, at the end it has Secuit%20y.html. Edit out the %20.

This message was edited May 18, 2006 8:02 PM

I read about this company in a garden magazine (can't remember which one) a couple of years ago. They are a legitimate company who provides jobs for people with disabilities. It is not a scam. The plants are left overs from nuseries that would otherwise get thrown away.

I would like to extend my sincere apologies...

I don't think you need to apologize--there are too many things out there that are scams that present themselves in a similar way, so I think you did the right thing to encourage other people to be cautious until reliable info comes forward to prove that the place is legitimate. I'm just glad that this one really is legit because it seems like a great way to get cheap plants as well as support a good cause!

Brenda, come back on this thread later and let us know how it goes if you buy from them. If it's a favorable experience we could help spread the word.

Guy S.

I will go ahead and order something. I have lots of room here and can always use another tree or bush. It is not a huge monetary investment. I'll let you know how my experience goes.

My niece actually mailed me the link. She read about it in some magazine. She also plans to order from them. I've asked her to let me know how her plants or trees arrive. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

Brenda

I have seen discussions of this company. I agree that it is not a scam, but there are enough oddities that I would label them as misleading. I would not call $42 for 12 perennials exactly "free". How many disabled workers do they employ? What wage are they paying them? Is it true that "every year millions of unsold high-quality nursery plants are destroyed"? The stuff that I see for sale at the end of year closeouts is in pretty bad shape.

- Brent