Nurseries

Gurney's bites the big one. I ordered blueberries, bulbs and fertlizer from them. They're online description was a bit confusing so I called to get more info on their blueberry plants and their shipping timeframe. I even gave them exact dates on when I can be home since I travel extensively. They said to if you order now and put in a ship date, you'll be fine. They told me to put in an exact date for me to get it when I'm home. Well, they neglected to tell me that the blueberry plants were back ordered. After calling to find out about the blueberry plants and emphasizing that I travel extensively, you'd think that they'd tell me that the blueberries were backordered. But no. And their antiquated webste didn't mention that it was backordered either. So, my advice is don't order from them. Even if you call them, they'll won't tell you that it's back-ordered. I will definitely never do business with them again. I had to arrange my flight schedule for the plants and now they tell me that it's backordered??? Unacceptable. They need to disclose that at time of order placement. Not two weeks after. Definitely not a trustworthy company!

I have no personal experience with this particular nursery, but I regularly order stuff from reputable places and things that were available when I ordered have become unavailable by the time my order's turn comes up to be filled. It's just a fact of life when you're doing mail order that things happen, sometimes plants get sold out between when you place the order and when it ships, sometimes they get an insect problem or something else that kills/damages the plants and they can't be shipped, sometimes weather conditions come up that prevent them from shipping the week you want, etc, etc. When you called them, the people you talked to probably had no way of knowing that the blueberries were going to be out of stock when your order got processed. Not saying you should do business with them again since I looked them up in Watchdog and they don't have an especially good rating, but things like this will happen sometimes with good companies too. For someone with a travel schedule like yours, mail order gardening is probably not the way to go.

No. I called about it when I noticed my specified ship date had past. Initially they tried to say that their old website probably (not sure) did not disclose the fact that the order was out of stock back on May 9th. But I told them that I called first about it and they tried to say that I didn't indicate my interest in ordering the blueberry plants. I told them that yes I did, in fact, I need clarification on the blueberry plants in that specific collection. It too them a while to admit that other person I had spoke to was remiss in not disclosing that fact. So, no. Every place I've done business with always told me what's out of stock before I ordered. Not two weeks after the fact. I asked them to hold my shipment to ship on a later date not to put my order at the bottom of the stack. That is just bad business ethic. Not right. Would avoid them like the plague now.

I, too, have not been hearing good things lately about Guerney's or Henry Fields. I would be afraid to order from them now. I find this very sad as my grandmother always ordered from these two nurseries. They have been around forever.

Karen

I have to do all of my garden order through catalog or on-line because of where I live. I'm very careful to check the Watchdog, but I felt it was only fair to mention that the bizarre weather that has us all discombobulated this year is probably playing havoc with the nurseries. For us its a hobby, for them its their livelyhood. Maybe giving a little "benefit of the doubt" for this odd weather year would be a fairer judgement - especially for those who have been in business for a long time with a previous good reputation. That said, I would not do business with a company that refused to "make good" after an experience like that. The good ones will work with you.

Islandshari,

At least there is a good reason you have to mail order. I have to mail order at least 95% of my gardening supplies and plants, because the selection is so pitiful here. The only things I haven't purchased via mail is the heavy stuff, potting mix, compost, straw bales, etc.

Three nurseries in town and not one of them worthy of the name. When HD and Lowe's has the best selection of plants and seeds you know there's a problem. Asked about Messenger and Neem Oil -- they didn't know what I was talking about. LOL

Karen

Oh Karen, that's awful!!! I once had a guy in the nursery dept at HD try to tell me that compost and manure were the same thing, just from diferent parts of the country!!! Stopped goin there real quick! Maybe you can get some help from other DGers in your area. I've noticed that people here usually jump right in to help us all with our dirty hands passion. And have you checked out the Plant Trading forum? You just never know what you might find there. Good luck to you!

Islandshari,

Different parts of the country? I like that one. Ya learn somethin' new every day. LOL

I wanted to buy straw bales. Not one single nursery or farmer's coop carried them -- again, some didn't even know what I was talking about. HD, Lowe's, and a small independent hardware store were the only ones. Unbelievable!!

Karen

We'll be talking Karen, check your d-mail.