Green Mountain Transplants, Inc.

Herbs, Perennial Flowers

670 Alfred Rd.
Arundel, Maine 04046 (United States)
207-282-7779
(207) 282-6966

Reviews:

positives
neutrals
negatives

Displaying the 50 most recent reviews

RatingContent
Positive
On Jun 16, 2008, ludditewh (3 reviews) from Huntingdon, PA (Zone 6a)

I ordered several trays of plugs from this company. All orders were complete, and the stack was beautiful. I would definitely order from Green Mountain again.

Positive
On May 23, 2008, nevadagdn (122 reviews) from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a)

I have to report that at present, my experience is almost identical to the previous poster's. I received no confirmation when I placed my order online, nothing arrived within a week of the requested ship date, none of my emails were responded to (including one with a list of alternate selections, or a second advising gmt that I'd had to cancel my credit card and wanted to call them with a new number), and nothing has shown up on my doorstep. A charge for about $40 more than the total based on my website order was placed 8 days ago, after I'd called on a Monday (and spoken to the gentleman who answered the phone) giving him the new credit card number, after he'd called back confused the following day saying that there was a problem with the card (the old number), and I reminded him of our previous day's conversation, and a final call on my part on Wednesday (10 days ago) to confirm that everything was okay. I tried to call today and got a message about a voice mailbox being unavailable. I'll be happy to upgrade my rating IF my plants turn up today, or IF and WHEN gmt sorts things out. If I haven't received my plants within 28 days of the charge, I'll dispute the charge with my credit card company.


On May 24th, 2008, nevadagdn changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following: and there ya go--not an hour after I'd posted my initial rating, I looked out my window to see the mailman lugging big boxes up my front walk. Overall, the plants justify the change to a positive rating. Of course the 72-plant flat has mostly very small plants, but most were ready to be moved up to 2-1/2" pots or directly into their designated spots in my patio containers. The best plants were the Hostas (32-plant flats), which come close to justifying the cost of all three flats all by themselves. The worst were the Zinnias, but I only ordered six of those. I can go get another six-pack at a big box store. Overall, it was worth the frustration and the wait, although I'd prefer a bit less frustration, and simply answering my emails would have eliminated my initial negative rating altogether.

Negative
On May 23, 2008, mwieder (16 reviews) from Beachwood, OH

After a positive experience last year, I am sorry to report a negative one this year. I submitted my order via mail in February and received no order confirmation from them as they sent in previous years. When I called in March to confirm that they had received the order, they said they will have someone check and call me back. When I called back in April (since no one called me back) they said, the same, and again, no call back. The order was supposed to have arrived last week, but nothing came. I have tried calling several times over the last few hours and, after choosing to speak to a customer service rep, the calls gets dumped into an invalid voice mailbox. If they misplaced my order, I would have been happy to re-submit it, but it seems they really could care less.

Negative
On May 7, 2008, valrita (2 reviews)

I placed an order in March to be shipped in late April but didn't get any kind of confirmation. I called in mid April explaining that I had never ordered from them before and I just wanted to know if my order went through. He took my name and number and said he'd call me back. Two weeks later, I again called to see if they had my order. Again, the man took my name and number and said he'd call me back. Today is May 7th and I still haven't received any communication or plants. So I called to cancel my order. Customer service is important to me. There are too many companies who are trying for my business to worry about those who don't care.

Positive
On Mar 30, 2008, kdcon (2 reviews) from Alfred, ME (Zone 4a)

I shop there all the time. Their plant selection is fantastic as are the prices. Plants are huge. The owners are very friendly and share their knowledge freely. They even take me in the planting area to show me different ways and products to use for MY OWN transplants. A great place to do business with from plants to birdseed, they carry it all. kdcon

Positive
On Feb 7, 2008, Melissa_Ohio (37 reviews) from Southwestern, OH (Zone 6b)

I placed an order with them, and forgot it. They don't acknowledge that your order was placed or went through... so, if I was only rating them on communication it would not be a positive rating.... but one day, I got this big box delivered... WOW the plants were fantastic, as others have said, many were already blooming. I was impressed, and will definitely order from them again. If you need your plants in a specific time frame, I wouldn't order from them... but if you're not particular about delivery time, or knowing when you'll get delivery, then by all means, order away!


On April 25th, 2009, Melissa_Ohio added the following: I've ordered from them several times now, and have never been disappointed in the plants I receive.
On April 25th, 2009, Melissa_Ohio added the following: I've ordered from them several times now, and have never been disappointed in the plants I've received. If you need communication to be satisfied, this is NOT the company you want to order from. If all you care about is getting nice big healthy plants at a good price, this is DEFINITELY the company you want to order from.

Positive
On Sep 20, 2007, rambam (5 reviews) from Buffalo, MN

I ordered one flat of perennials, 32 size, and they were very impressive! Most easily could have fit in larger pots, and some were even blooming. All of them looked healthy and they were packed so well, there was no way anything could have gotten damaged during shipping. I'll definitely order again in the spring to get bulbs, and a few more flats. The prices were very reasonable (they haven't gone up in at least 5 years!) and the selection is huge. The staff is very helpful, too--I had ordered from an outdated catalog, and they called to let me know about new varieties I might want to try that weren't listed in my catalog. Very thoughtful!

Positive
On Jul 15, 2007, lechatnoir (1 reviews) from Springvale, ME

These guys are great! I live close to GMT and I visit them frequently. They have so many choices you can spend hours looking. The staff is great- they are so knowledgeable about the product and planting conditions. They also work year round to make sure everything is top quality.If you are ever in the Southern Maine area-plan some time to visit the nursery, it is worth it!

Positive
On Jun 12, 2007, leaf29 (1 reviews) from Falls Church, VA

I think these guys are Terrific! I am already making out a new order for them. My plants arrived 3 weeks ago - they were in great shape and are still doing great (well, except for one that I left in the sun and forgot to water - but that was definitely _my_ fault). Yes, they are not great internet age communicators, and yes, it was a bit tough to get them on the phone to confirm that they'd gotten my order and to confirm when it would arrive, but they did get back to me. And, look - they are a mom and pop business. That's is one of the main reasons I ordered from them. That and their great prices. There were a couple of plants that they substituted for others, but then I ordered a couple hundred. There was one that I was a bit disappointed not to receive, but, hey, with Green Mountain's incredible prices I can go out and buy a replacement at the giant chi-chi garden store near my house. If I had my heart set on instantaneous service and shiny exactitude, I could go to that garden supercenter or some of the other glitzy websites. But I would pay at least 5 times as much for that surface shine. Would I prefer that Green Mountain be a bit more polished and exacting? Yeah, sure I would. But so much of what I read about them makes it sound like they are growing into the business, so I'm assuming that they'll be getting better at some of these business practices. In the meantime, I am thrilled to be their customer now.

Negative
On Jun 6, 2007, olliem23 (2 reviews) from Peabody, KS

My previous experience with GMT was in 2003 and the plants were beyond expectation - just excellent. I decided to try them again this year and ordered 1 flat of 32 plants, all to be planted in containers. They arrived on 5/18 and were a huge disappointment. When planting them on the same day, I found most of the annuals spindly and sick-looking. Most did not have a sufficient root system - it appeared as though they were plucked from the germinating tray, placed in one of the 32-size pots, and shipped the same day. The soil just fell away when I removed them from their pots. One was DOA, to date 9 others have died, and 8 are still struggling for survival so I'm buying replacements for those locally now. Only the perennial grasses and heuchera are thriving. A further note: I had ordered one each of 3 different varieties of heuchera and their packing diagram also indicated all 3 varieties. However, what I received was 3 of just 1 variety. Of course they have not responded to my e-mail and I will not order from them again.

Positive
On Jun 5, 2007, mifleur (1 reviews) from Colebrook, NH

just received 2 trays 1 with 32 cells, 1 with 72 cells Everything is in perfect condition, The price is very good compared to what I have seen from other suppliers, I am thrilled. Excellent quality for the price. All the plants were clearly identified

Positive
On Jun 1, 2007, laperouse (1 reviews) from Yorktown Heights, NY

I admit to being apprephensive about submitting my order this past winter after reading all the negative feedback on this site. But am I glad I did! The plants arrived yesterday and were practically leaping out of their box. Very healthy and HUGE. The only drawback in dealing with this company is the fact that they don't call you to tell you that something is holding up your order. You have to be proactive. But when you call, they are courteous and get the problem solved.

Positive
On Jul 30, 2006, JodyC (7 reviews) from Palmyra, IL (Zone 5b)

SUPER POSITIVE FEEDBACK !!! These plugs are huge...72pk tray plugs should be in 4" pots already and the 32 pk. trays can go right straight into gallon trade pots...:-) I have nothing but GOOD to say about the size of the plugs...rose_petalzz and I ordered 1-72pk.tray of mixed perennials and 2-32pk trays of the larger mixed perennials...The plants are huge and super healthy..I highly recommend them... The only problem is they don't keep a good inventory... (I don't think they know much about using the computer and are at the mercy of a Daughter,Son or a Friend)...you'll need to include a list of substitues...if they are sold out of the plugs you order...I don't have many of the perennials that they are selling so I was thrilled with any of the subs..asked for and I received... They are very nice on the phone,but sometimes hard to get a hold of.... I think they are a Mom and Pop business..which to me is even more reason to order from them and help keep them in business...(I don't know them...I just wanted you all to know that..I wasn't pushing their company because they are related or anything like that)!!!! I AM SO HAPPY WITH MY ORDER..I JUST E-MAILED THEM AGAIN TODAY FOR A LIST OF THINGS THEY MIGHT HAVE LOTS OF OR KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND WHAT THEY HAVE...I'm not shouting just super happy with the order...I hope to order several more trays before fall...:-)

Negative
On May 12, 2006, bbrookrd (36 reviews) from Nantucket, MA (Zone 7a)

The first of 2 orders came today. I am extremely please with the fine plugs I received. They have very big root systems and the packaging was first rate as was the map which identified all the plants very clearly. You can't beat the price. The only slight thought of improvement was in the size of the bulbs I received, but the price was good. I'll be back if the second order arrives in this condition.


On February 1st, 2009, bbrookrd changed the rating from positive to negative and added the following: I ordered several full flats from them for several years in a row, but last year was a disaster. One box arrived fine, but the second one had plants that could not, nor did survive. I sent them pictures and emails and d-mails. Non to which they answered. A total waste of my time and energy and a real disappointment, not to mention the expense. I would post a picture, if I could and no one would want their plants and poor customer service.

Positive
On May 10, 2006, gardencat4 (3 reviews) from Charlestown, RI

I just received my order from GMT and am very pleased. Everything is big and healthy, arrived on time, and no where else can I get the selection and price that these people offer. They seem to have fully recovered from last year's move. I will continue to use them for the bulk of my mail order plant purchases.

Positive
On Mar 29, 2006, lavateralady (1 reviews) from North Ferrisburg, VT

After a very favorable experience in 03 and a very unfavorable one in 04[plants did not come and I could get no response as to when they might-my money was returned, however], I decided to try again last year and ordered several flats. I was very,very pleased-I did not lose a single plant-they were healthy, with a great root system. I ordered again this year. My only warning is that they are not great communicators- they do not acknowledge orders , for example, or let you know when they will ship your order. Their website this year I found to be very helpful.

Negative
On Feb 1, 2006, morningstar83 (1 reviews) from Montpelier, VT

The problems are not just with mailorder and they are perennial, so to speak. I did business with them for a number of years on site in Vermont. My one experience with mail order was a disaster, but I attributed that to the chaos surrounding the move to ME. So with a large new garden area to fill, last spring I traveled with a gardening buddy 3 hours to go on site to GMT for a day trip. We spent all day in the greenhouses selecting plants. About 5:45 we took our carts of flats to check out... they close at 6. Between my friend and I we probably spent close to $500. The owners who checked us out were very angry (and let us know it) that we came to them with a large order so close to closing. I was so distressed by their attitude that I wanted to just walk away with my $$ and leave my large order for them to clean up. I didn't, though and the orders were all processed and we were out the door and had our car filled, and pulled out of the parking lot by about 6:07. They were quite upset that we kept them a couple of minutes late and were smouldering and rude througout the transaction. You'd THINK they'd be greatful for the loyalty and sale. These folks do not have a clue about the people part of business -- they didn't when in VT and nothing has changed in ME. The owners are consistently arrogant and rude to customers.... as if we are a bother to be endured while they collect our money. Their STAFF in the greenhouses who process orders for mail order customers are great -- friendly and often knowledgeable, but the owners are awful, just awful. This is too bad because I like their products... Will I go back again? I don't know.

Neutral
On Oct 28, 2005, Eric_OH (55 reviews) from Columbus, OH (Zone 6a)

I have had two orders handled by this company - one by mail order, the second picked up by me at the Maine facility in 2005. The '05 order was to include a plant of Cimicifuga 'Black Negligee'. It was only after I returned home with the flat of plants that I noticed that the Cimicifuga was labeled 'Brunette, a less desirable variety that I already had. I sent multiple e-mails to the company about this - they were returned as undeliverable. I also left a recorded phone message. I received no response. As of 10/28/05 the Green Mountain website lists no e-mail contact, and there is no way to leave phone messages at the listed number. I regret that this one episode of poor business behavior will keep me from ordering from Green Mountain again, as they have otherwise offered a good value and service.


On June 8th, 2007, Eric_OH changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following: This spring I visited GMT in Arundel, ME and picked out plants to be shipped. The staff was helpful, the plants were shipped promptly, packed well and arrived in good shape. Obviously this option (in-person visit) is not available to everyone, but they did do a good job on this shipment. Incidentally, I found that Cimicifuga 'Brunette' and 'Black Negligee' are kept side by side in the greenhouse, so I can see how a mistake could be made - though the company should have made amends for the substitution.

Positive
On Jul 7, 2005, xjnc (9 reviews) from West Harrison, NY

ordered flat of 32 ajuga chocolate chip A great groundcover by the way- GMT aknowledged order by mail and sent about 10 days later. Excellent quality large very well rooted plants. I cancellled an earlier spring order as became aware that would no be filled for close to 3 weeks. My take on feedback comments for 2005 is orders may not be filled promptly which could be important isssue for some.


On October 9th, 2006, xjnc added the following: Another order made Sept '06 for iberis and more ajuga. Again great tranplants. Remains an excellent deal for quntity.

Positive
On Jun 2, 2005, kidshavfeathers (1 reviews) from Franksville, WI

I have received 4 flats from Green Mountain this year and will definately order considerable more in the future. Good size plants arrived packed very well without all the peanuts. They are the perfect supplier for gardeners with a large amount of ground to fill and who can appreciate the need to keep low overhead to be able to continue to offer plants in excellent condition at reasonable prices.

Negative
On May 30, 2005, marcop (15 reviews) from Plover, WI

I purchased one 72 cell flat from GMT in April and received it in the second week of May. I went ahead with the order despite reading all the complaints registered for 2004, hoping these experiences were simply an abnormal development due to the company's move to a new location. I should have paid closer attention to those negative comments. Two of the cells in the flat I ordered were left vacant; I received only nine of twelve Wave Petunias I ordered. The twelve Diva Cucumbers barely had the start of one true leaf and half of the group had hardly any root system at all, a far cry from what the owner states on his website where he says you can expect a strong well developed root ball. Moreover he states that Tomatoes are typically 10 to 14 inches in size ; my twelve tomato plants measured between 4 and 6 inches, nothing like what GMT claims you will receive. Accordingly, I am very disappointed in what I received and tried to convey this complaint by both phone and e-mail, but have received no response whtasoever from the company. My conclusion: beware buyer and proceed at your own risk!

Negative
On May 25, 2005, frustratedalso (1 reviews) from East Berne, NY

Like many customers of Green Mountain, I suffered through their debacle last year, finally hearing from them in mid July, 2004 as to whether I wanted my order(no thank you, annuals in Mid July in zone 4 don't work very well, but I appreciated the call though it might be two months old). Having ordered previously, and receiving quality material, I reordered again for 2005. I received confirmation that my order would be here the week of the 16th of May, so I took the Friday off from work knowing that UPS normally only delivers weekdays. Of 4 flats ordered, only one arrived. Attempts to call to no avail, email sent to no avail. How they stay in business is beyone me. Must be the excellent product, certainly not the non responsive service.

Positive
On May 14, 2005, phballou (2 reviews) from Roslindale, MA

I haven't actually received my plants yet (I requested delivery week of May 23), but I was very pleasantly shocked yesterday to receive in the mail some actual paperwork relating to my order, listing the charges that have been made against my credit card. Early this year I also emailed them for a catalog and received several documents from them. It looks very much like they're cleaning up their customer service act. If the plants this year are as big and healthy as they have been in years past (I skipped using them last year), then this is going to be my absolute favorite gardening company.

Positive
On May 11, 2005, briggsc (1 reviews) from Charles Town, WV (Zone 6b)

Just wanted to post a positive note on GM in '05 after a rocky experience with them during their move '04. I ordered 3-32 cell flats and 1-72 cell flat full o f a mixture of veggies, herbs, annuals and perennials. I was very impressed with the size and condition of the plants upon receipt, and after a long weekend of work am pleased to say that all plants are inthe ground and doing well. In addition to that, it appears that they have worked to improve their customer service side of the business. I will definitely order form then in the future.

Positive
On Mar 30, 2005, DeVenogue_girl (2 reviews) from Highland Lake, NY (Zone 5a)

After finding this company on the Garden Watchdog website, I placed a large order last spring (I think 5 trays in all). Like many other customers, I experienced enormous frustration through most of the spring as my plants failed to arrive, and as I failed to get through on the phone. But at last in May someone from the company called, and she took me carefully through all of the items on my order, as it was a mix of perennials and annuals and it was too late to put in tomatoes, for instance. When the plants arrived, I was enormously impressed by the size and quality even in what had apparently been a very difficult move. A few of the plugs were pot-bound, a few too were tiny second starters, but the vast majority were perfect--big, healthy, good root balls. The packaging and packing slips were incredibly well-done, and they had handled all my substitutions exactly as requested (with the exception of the wrong variety of nicotiana). Despite the late arrival, most things settled into my garden well. In mid-summer, I visited a friend who lives about 45 minutes away from their new place. I drove up, and bought some odds and ends. They too did well, both in my garden and my friend's. My friend and my mother, who witnessed the arrival of my main shipment, were so impressed that we've all placed our major orders with them this year. Fingers crossed on a return to form (as indicated by past comments on this site)! I'm only sad they don't offer even more varieties. It is definitely the work of several hours (and, in my case, time with an excel spreadsheet) to figure out your order so that you fill the right number of trays with the right stuff to arrive at different times. But given the prices they charge, I figure it's worth it.

Positive
On Mar 7, 2005, dogsndolls2 (1 reviews) from Vinalhaven, ME (Zone 5b)

I ordered from GMT in 2002 and 2003. I guess I was lucky not ordering in 2004, with all their misfortune in moving. I'm glad they moved though! Now I can visit them in person in my own state. The plants I received were beautiful! Big healthy plants. My only problem was that they really need to be transplanted RIGHT AWAY! And I don't do anything right away :) I was very pleased with their service. I'll be ordering again this year to repair damage to my perennial bed from the sewer going in :( An update and improvements on their website is badly needed, but I use their catalog anyway.

Positive
On Mar 5, 2005, Janna (28 reviews) from Mahwah, NJ (Zone 6a)

I called the company, (used the phone listed in this thread) and actually spoke to a live person, may be the owner, who assured me that things are back to normal, and all the mess of 2004 was created by their move to a different state. He was friendly and positive, and I decided to place an order with them for spring 2005. The website is however not updated, and very difficult to use - you'll have to manually calculate all your transplants to make sure you have the right amount to fit 72 cel trays- took me over two hours to select, print, manually calculate and re-group the plants. There must be a better way. Prices are great though, and I really hope to get healthy plants this spring. I'll keep you posted.


On May 13th, 2005, Janna changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following: WOW! My plants just arrive, and I have to tell you, guys, I ve NEVER seen such great condition of mail ordered plants! What a great packing job, and the plants are HUGE! I paid for transplants, and got big, healthy plants for so little money! They are so fresh, as if just dug up from the garden. I wished I knew before - I would have ordered more! The quality of the plants compares in my opinion olnly to Logees Greenhouses, and beats even my beloved Bluestone! What a nice find. And it was all shipped just as I requested - on 2nd week of May. Excellent! Will absolutely order next year! I only wish they improve their web site, so ordering would be easy and not so time-consuming.

Positive
On Dec 3, 2004, shephe (1 reviews) from Sutton, MA

This is my first and not my last experience with Green Mt. I received their catalog and found their prices and selection to be quite attractive. I happily placed my order and was expecting my shipment in early spring 2004. I became concerned when they did not arrive. I went to their website, and it informed me that they were a few months behind schedule because of their recent move. Rather than hold harsh judgement, I sympathized with their situation. Several months past and I received a call from them. They were just getting to fill my order. While most of the items I had selected were available - a few were not. They provided alternative suggestions. Within a week or so, my order arrived. Yes - about 3 months late, but from my research - this is not normal operation for them - everything up till their move pointed to a wonderful company - which is why I selected them. Now, if the plants had arrived dead, or if the order had really gotten messed up - I think I would be ticked, but the plants were awesome! They were large healthy and for the price - I have yet to see a mail order catalog compete with them. Heck, I can't even find better plants at local nurseries for the price I paid through Green Mt. I'll gladly do business with then again and again and again. The packaging alone, demonstrates their commitment to providing quality plants. I was so delighted with my order that I immediately started planning 2005 order.

Negative
On Oct 23, 2004, bluelarkspur (1 reviews) from Torrington, CT

I've ordered before from GMT and have been very happy. That said this year was and IS a disaster! I ordered in February for April delivery. Mid june 1/3 of my order arrived, with some substitues (that I didn't want). The rest of the order never arrived. Phone calls where not answered and email and snail mail unanswered. NO MONEY BACK. I drove from Connecticut to GMT and spoke to the owner, who was less than cordial. He said I was on the list for a refund for September. ( This was July that I stoped by) He refused to refund my money then, and guess what? Here it is the end of Octover and I still am owed about $130.00, with no further communication from him. He had a good customer base, once. I understand his problems, but he is destroying his following with his poor busniess practices. I'm considering small claims court.

Positive
On Oct 16, 2004, Nigella (23 reviews) from Wilmington,
United States

GMT obviously had a hard time with moving their operation to another state, but I can recommend them now without hesitation. I got my 32 plants of perennial tray just yesterday. It was impeccably packed and the plants were in great shape. Excellent root system, some plants arrived blooming. I am very impressed with this company and I will definitely order from them in the future.

Negative
On Aug 16, 2004, Casimir (1 reviews) from Wisconsin Dells, WI (Zone 5a)

AFTER HAVING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THIS YEAR WAS TERRIBLE. I PLACED MY ORDER EARLY AND IT DID NOT ARRIVE IN APRIL AS I REQUESTED. THEN I RECEIVED THE FORM LETTER SAYING THE COMPANY WAS BEHIND IN FILLING ORDERS AND ANYONE COULD CHANGE OR CANCEL THEIR ORDER. I WAITED A WHILE, TRYING TO CALL INNUMERABLE TIMES WITHOUT A RESPONSE IN RETURN , IF I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE A MSG. AT ALL. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JUNE THAT I CALLED AND SPOKE TO A HUMAN BEING. I TOLD HER THAT I WANTED TO CANCEL THE TOMATOES IN MY ORDER IN ADDITION TO ALLL THE HERBS, ANNUALS AND THE BUTTERFLY PLANTS. I THEN TOLD HER WHAT COULD BE SUBSTITUTED IF THERE WERE BLANK SPOTS IN THE TRAYS. MY ORDER ARRIVED IN THE LATER PART OF JUNE. FIRST OF ALL THE PACKING SLIPS WERE ALL MIXED UP ON THE BOXES (19). THE SECOND THING WAS THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD ELIMINATED THE TOMATOES AND ANNUALS FROM MY ORDER, THEY DID SEND ALL THE HERBS, BUTTERFLY PLANTS AND OTHER PLANTS WHICH I HAD CANCELLED. MANY PLANTS ARRIVED DEAD, APPEARING OVERLY MOIST. ON ONE OF THE PLANT DIAGRAMS THAT CAME WITH THE PLANTS SOMEONE HAD WRITTEN A NOTE ON MY PHONE CALL AND WHAT TO CANCEL. I CALLED WHEN I RECEIVED THE ORDER, COMPLAINING WHEN I FINALLY REACHED SOMEONE. THIS INDIVIDUAL DENIED EVER SPEAKING TO ME BEFORE. I TOLD HER SHE HAD WRITTEN A NOTE ABOUT MY CANCELLATION AND I HAD IT. SHE INDICATED THAT THEY KEEP NO COPY OF THESE DIAGRAMS ONCE THEY ARE SENT OUT. SHE STATED SHE WOULD TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT A PICKUP. I DID NOT EVEN HEAR FROM THEM UNTIL I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO DISPUTE THE ENTIRE CHARGE UNTIL THE MATTER WAS SETTLED. THEY LEFT A MESSAGE, BUT AS USUAL ARE UNREACHABLE.

Positive
On Jul 11, 2004, kooger (1 reviews) from Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b)

This is the first year that I placed an order with this company. I ordered the first week of April and was told my order would be shipped the middle of May. That passed by and after a number of attempts to contact them, I was informed that they were running about a month behind because of construction delays. As my order was a flat of 72 plants, all perennials, plus 4 bulbs, that was okay with me. June went by, still no order. I attempted to speak with someone and had no success. The phone calls went to a machine and then later to just weird noises. Finally, I received phone call on Fri. July 2, and the lady was very pleasant and apologetic. She offered to cancel my order or make any substitutions I wanted. I kept my order the same and she told me it would be shipped on Tues., the 5th. It was and arrived Fri. the 9th. I am pleased with the plants. A few are tiny, a few are pot-bound but overall, they look good. Eight plants are a yellow cultivar instead of the red I ordered, and 2 are substitutions. The bulbs are large. I decided to give them a positive rating but they do need to do a better job of informing customers of delays in shipping, and have someone answer their phone or return messages and empty the answering machine when it is full. I will order from them again.

Negative
On Jun 23, 2004, briggsc72 (1 reviews)

I also placed an order in the early spring, though unlike some of the other posters, I have not received my plant order. I have emailed and called them several times and have not ever gotten a response (heck - I don't even know if they got the order). I did get through to talk to someone in mid-May and I was told that my plant order would be delayed, but would still be shipped in the first or second week in June. Its almost July! This was my first time ordering from them. I have been using Bluestone for the last few years and have always been pleased with my orders from them. I liked the variety and pricing at GM and thought I'd give them a try. This has not been a good experience - I don't look forward to planting in July (or August?!).

Positive
On Jun 21, 2004, flowerluvr (4 reviews) from Bourbon, IN (Zone 5a)

I've ordered from these folks for several years, and have always been happy. Although my order was delayed quite a bit this spring, when it got here, the plants were the usual high quality. Sounds like this company has had quite a time this spring, and although the communication has surely been lacking, it sounds to me like they are trying to rectify the situation as best they can. I believe that they will get things up and running in a more orderly fashion, and I will gladly order from them again.

Neutral
On Jun 18, 2004, jmp2268 (1 reviews)

We purchased plants from Green Mountain last year on the advice of a neighbor and thought they were terrific. We were looking forward to doing business with them again this year and in the future. We placed an order with Green Mountain Transplants on March 12th but received no communication about our order once it was placed. The plants were due to arrive early May but they never arrived. After repeated attempts to contact Green Mountain Transplants we decided to give up and cancel the order. We waited as long was we could before canceling but we had no choice because we needed to salvage what we could of our growing season. It was difficult to contact them because the website was not up to date, the e-mail addresses didn't work, and the phone message machine often appeared to be full or was malfunctioning and couldn't take messages. We never spoke to an actual person. In the two instances that we could leave a phone message, we left a clear message indicating that we wished to cancel our order and we asked to be contacted to confirm the cancellation. Imagine our surprise when we received a shipment on 6/12, nearly six weeks past our ship date, around two weeks after we had cancelled our order. Imagine our additional surprise when we saw that it was only for part of the original order and some of the plants appeared to be in poor condition. A number of the plants were out of their cells and lying on the container itself. The size of some of the plants was disappointing, especially the lavender which was quite a bit smaller than last year. This is not the quality we expected based on the previous year’s experience. There was no explanation for why the order was shipped after being cancelled and why only part of the order was sent. We attempted to call and e-mail again but to no avail. We were desperate to find out what we should do with the plants because we had no use for them and did not want to be charged. After some creative internet sleuthing, we discovered that Green Mountain Transplants has an additional number that seems to be answered more frequently (207-282-7779). This was the first time that we had spoken to a person since the placement of our order on 3/12. The woman was very apologetic and explained that they had had a very difficult transition to the new location. She mentioned some problems with the greenhouses and she said that she felt bad for all of the customers that they had inconvenienced, including us. She said that they would issue a UPS pick-up for Monday (this was on a Saturday) and we could open the boxes and give the plants a little water over the weekend, which we did, and brought them into the house at night until there were too many bugs on the boxes to bring them in any more. We dutifully repackaged the boxes and left them near the garage as instructed. UPS did not come on Monday as we were told. After 5:30 pm on Thursday night, after 4 days in 85+ degree heat, and seven days after the cancelled order was delivered, we decided that GM Transplants wasn’t sending for them after all. We had tried calling again but no one answered and there was no way to leave a message, and it is impossible to track pickups on the UPS website without a tracking number. The trash pick up was the next morning so we put the sorry looking boxes in the trash. We dumped the dead and near dead plants into the compost pile, and salvaged a few of the remaining plants to try to give them a chance (we hate to throw out anything with some fight in it), and tossed the boxes. On Friday morning we discovered that UPS had tried to make a pick up on Thursday after we had left for dinner. We called GM Transplants immediately at their 207-282-7779 number and explained that the plants were gone because we had given up on their coming for them and we had placed the dead and near dead plants in the compost and the boxes out to the curb for the trash pickup. The man insisted that without the return of the plants he would not credit us with any money, even though we had cancelled the order and the plant should never have been sent. Furthermore, nearly all the plants were basically dead and useless. He was rude and unapologetic. It is amazing that they would treat repeat customers this way given the inconvenience they have imposed on us. We went out of our way to contact them despite their total lack of communication and up to this point have tried to remain sympathetic to their moving troubles. At this point we are frustrated and angry at having to continue to deal with this, particularly since we cancelled our order and should not have received any plants at all. We are being charged to buy dead plants from a cancelled order, our garden is not what it should have been, we had to spend more money to buy plants locally, and ended up planting weeks after we would have liked. We have tried to work with them in every way possible, including watering the plants, finding new methods of contacting them, and leaving boxes outside our house for most of the week. It is hard to believe that any company would treat customers this way, particularly at a time when their business is likely to be seriously negatively affected by these problems. We’ll post again when this is finally resolved. It is not over yet, which only adds to our frustration. We wish the rest of you the best of luck!


On June 20th, 2004, jmp2268 changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following: We received a call from Susan at GMT this morning telling us that they won't be charging us at all for the cancelled order they shipped, even though we can no longer return the plants. We agreed to pay $10.50 for the two UPS pick-up attempts. I know, we didn't need to do this but the company really seems to be trying to get its act together and I am rooting for them to get back up and running smoothly given their previous quality shipment last year. I think that they have the potential to be a top notch operation and I hope they learn from this awful experience. Susan was really great, and said and ultimately did all of the right things. It sounds like they're reeling from all that's happened and that they are truly sorry for the consequences their problems have had on their customers. We're happy that in the end they did the right thing by us. We will probably place a smaller order with them for next Spring to see if they have worked things out. Hopefully their customer communication will be improved and we'll receive the same high quality plants we did last year.

Positive
On Jun 9, 2004, NoH2O (2 reviews) from Everson, WA (Zone 8a)

I have been a customer of Green Mountain Transplants for several years. I have always been happy with the quality of their plants, the low prices and the excellent packing. Because of construction delays during their move from Maine to Vermont, my plant order that was scheduled to ship in the 3rd week of April did not ship until the 2nd week of June. Obviously, I would have preferred to have received the plants at the requested ship date. However, I am giving them a positive rating because a) the plants arrived in excellent shape and b )the construction problems were out of their control. In my experience, GMT has always been poor at communicating with their customers. Even now, if you Google GMT you get the old website with the Vermont address. I know from the comments I have read here and on other garden sites that many customers are very frustrated with the lack of communication. I think if GMT had done a better job of letting customers know what was going on, many of them would have been willing to wait for their order. Those that couldn't wait would at least have had the option of canceling and buying plants somewhere else before it was too late in the season. I am afraid that GMT may have alienated a lot of customers by keeping them in the dark. Overall, I think they are one of the best mail order sources for plants that I have dealt with (and I have dealt with a lot). I hope they invest some time and money in the communications department.....word spreads fast in the gardening world and it would be a shame if such a good plant source lost their customer base due to poor communication. Despite the delay, I am pleased with my order and looking forward to doing business with GMT again next year.

Negative
On Jun 7, 2004, appalachiangrrl (1 reviews)

[Negative rating this year; Excellent rating in the past] Green Mountain Transplants, Inc. earned my loyality as a faithful customer because of the superior quality of their transplants and service. For years I'd mail ordered plants from other companies--national "big-name" companies & regional ones--and always had been disappointed. The plants arriving in shock and ill-health. Then, Greeen Mountain Transplants, Inc. came along. I was astonished at the difference! Here was a company doing things right--superior quality of transplants, friendly service, and honest communication. I recommended them to many gardening friends across the nation. For months now, I've been eagerly anticipating the usual remarkable transplants from GMT. Trusting the previous years of GMT quality. But, this year it's like GMT has been taken over by an "evil twin" company! My story is much like the others posted here: placed my sizable order by phone in early April (April 1st or 2nd); GMT representative seemed stressed and annoyed; representative took my entire order of a 72-cell flat of vegetables and 3 five-pound packages of seed potatoes & took credit card information before mentioning that their recent move meant she couldn't guarantee a shipping date; I commented that she should have mentioned that before so I'd have a choice whether to order; representative promised May 24th shipping; received no email confirmation as is GMT's custom in previous years; when no plants arrived I tried calling company and got the same "no message/machine noise" that others have mentioned; still not hearing anything nor receiving my transplants, on 6/1/4 I faxed a letter to their new address requesting honest communication about the status of my order; no response from GMT at all; cannot reach them by phone; will fax GMT again today. Last night I discovered the comments on the Garden Watch Dog site--and was amazed at how widespread the GMT problem is. Based on my own good history with GMT, I still had hope that GMT would finally get their act together. To Green Mountain Transplants, Inc.: on the basis of the superior quality of your transplants and service in the past, you have earned a loyal and enthusiastic customer base. Most people understand the enormity and confusion of a big move. Most people will try to be flexible, and work with you if you communicate honestly with your customers--because you have earned our trust in the past. The nature of your business means that folks don't have a lot of leeway in time--many of us have trusted GMT for most if not all of our transplant needs so we are now left with no plants, no garden, not many options at this late date. Find a way to "make this right." Be creative. Get someone in your office who is diplomatic and can field the angry phone calls/emails/faxes. Figure out a strategy to put the GMT stamp of quality on this bad situation--most of your customers will come back (like me) if you will communicate with us honestly and make a gesture of good-will. "Make it right." by figuring out some way to compensate your customers. I own a small business myself; and, I know the value of making a generous gesture when you've screwed up. Most people will be understanding and try to work with you--if you do the right thing. It would be a shame to lose what you've built up. The 3-4 years of superior GMT quality and service still outweighs this year's bad, bad performance. There simply is no one else out there who (normally) delivers such healthy, vital transplants when promised--at least that's the GMT performance record in the past. Here's hoping you figure out a way to win back your customers....

Positive
On Jun 5, 2004, barnperson (1 reviews)

I live in the area where Green Mountain Transplants has moved to. After a long, long winter of setting up their new store & greenhouses they are finally open for business and sending out orders. The people in the area all seem to be very pleased and MOST people who have ordered plants have been very patient and understanding. I love the new store. It seems to have everything a gardener could dream of. I'm sure next season will be back to normal for Green Mountain.

Negative
On Jun 4, 2004, 1darkshadow (2 reviews) from Brightwaters, NY

Absolutely horrible. I placed an order with them in March. They never confirmed my order. After one week I emailed them to find out if they received the order. They did not respond so I sent them another email which they again ignored. At this point I assumed they did not receive my order so I filled my needs elsewhere. It is now June and my garden has been filled. So guess what arrives at my door today? Of course, my order from GMT. I have absolutely no place to put these plants. I never received an order confirmation, a response to my follow up emails, or a notice of shipment. I am livid and do not know what to do. To make matters worse, half the plants from one of their flats were not even in their cells, they were laying on top of the other plants completely dried out and negative. I am amazed a company like this can remain in business.


On June 6th, 2004, 1darkshadow added the following: Quick follow up: When I posted my original response I had not yet realized that one of the two flats I ordered were completely wrong. I have know idea what is contained in this flat but it's not what I ordered. I've tried to contact GMT about this but as usual they are impossible to reach.

Negative
On Jun 1, 2004, clfo (1 reviews) from Osterville, MA

I placed a sizeable order with this company in March - paid with a check that was cashed. I have yet (this is early June!) to see my order, and my emails have gone unanswered. When I call there is a machine noise on the phone but no answering machine or message. UNBELIEVEABLE!!! If they are having a hard time, at least they could admit it and send me a refund check.... but ignoring their customers completely is a huge mistake and almost unforgivable.

Negative
On May 19, 2004, ediechev (1 reviews) from Fairfax, VA

I am another of those (along with my sister who lives in another state!) who placed an order online in early April and got no confirmation. I tried calling several times and left messages but noone returned my calls. I also tried contacting them via email with no response. The last phone message I left was to cancel my order and they have yet to charge my card with the amount so I guess they got my cancellation. I am way disappointed but have been able to find a local nursery that has good (but not as good) deals with larger plants (I think they're larger...I never saw the ones from GM Transplants!).

Negative
On May 19, 2004, machaut (1 reviews) from Natick, MA

I am another person who ordered from GMTransplants for the first time this year, on the recommendation of a friend. I, too, ran into the problems others have mentioned: no order confirmation, no return of phone messages. Having read the comments on this website, I decided today to cancel my order. This was a disappointment and an inconvenience, as I had "put all my eggs in one basket" and will now have to find another source for my annuals and herbs, though time is getting late to do this. After having left many messages, I did manage to reach a live person today, but when I tried to ask for more information about how long the delay might be, the person on the other end of the line was rude and abrupt, constantly interrupting me and reiterating, "If you don't like it then cancel your order." I'm really sorry they've been having problems, and I would really have liked to be able to use this company, but their complete lack of ability to communicate with their customers makes we think I won't try again.

Negative
On May 18, 2004, deann (7 reviews) from Au Gres, MI (Zone 5a)

Well I guess you can add me to the list of folks who are still waiting for Green Mt. to return calls. What makes me so mad is that I recommended this site to the members of my Garden Club as well as my Master Gardener Assoc. Group. So much for my credibility. I think I am going to cancel my order along with the rest, thats if thy will answer their phones or email.


On July 13th, 2004, deann added the following: Well guess what.....Green Mt. did it to me again.....After trying to reach them by phone many times, and email, with no response, I finally mailed them a letter to cxl my order. I received a phone call from a representive of their company asking if I still wanted my order. This was the last week in June. I told her I mailed them a letter cxl order and did she not have that in front of her. She began to explain that Green Mt. hired her to handle all of the calls and emails they have been reciving and blah, blah, blah. WEll I sorta felt sorry for them at that point and decided to give them another chance. Worst decision I ever made. I told them I needed the plants by a certain date, as we would be out of town for 5 days should they arrive while we were gone. She promised me they would be here by Wednesday or Thursday. Well Thursday still no plants, and we were leaving on Friday. I tried calling them again on the phone...should have known better they never return calls anyway, so it was of waste of my time which by the way I live in Northern Michigan, so the call cost me a few bucks. These plants are now getting to be pretty expensive with the phone calls I have made to them. I sent another email to them, thinking by Friday morning I would have a answer....Wrong again.... We arrived home today, Tuesday, and there was the box....and there were the plants, if thats what you call them. I have never been so disappointed in plant material. Half of what they sent was not what I ordered....I have tick weed growing all over the place in my cottage garden, so why would I pay money to have more of the same plants....most of the plants were in very bad shape...all root bound so bad and over grown....and I could not make heads or tails of this order. I intend to call my credit card company and dispute this order....and I will never ever order from them again.....So much for second chances....Nothing ticks me off more then when you give someone a second chance, and they betray that trust....
On September 24th, 2004, deann added the following: I would like to add this to my comments on Green Mountain......I disputed the charges on my American Express...and won it. Score one for the little guy. Most of what they sent me is dying and of poor stock. I will never never order from them again.

Negative
On May 17, 2004, CHRIS1028 (1 reviews)

I have ordered from Green Mountain Transplants for the past four years. My previous experiences have been positive. All of my items have arrived as ordered and the selection is superior to that of a local garden center. This year I decided to drive from my home in Connecticut to Maine to ensure the best selection of transplants from the greenhouse and also to enjoy the nice drive through Southern Maine. I called Green Mountain Transplants to determine when the greenhouse was going to be open, prior to making the 256 mile round trip, and was advised that it would be open May 1st. I schedueld the time off from work and picked up my grandfather before heading off. When we arrived we notice the sign near the road said the greenhouse would be open May 15th. I entered the store and spoke with, who I assume is one of the owners, and was told that the greenhouse would not be open on the 15th because of some construction issues and the new opening would be in a week or two. Apparently the water lines that supply the greenhouses were damaged during construction. I explained that I had driven fron Connecticut to purchase transplants. I was told " sorry". I attempted to explain that I had called before driving all the way to their store and was told "sorry, we have been dealing with a lot of issues. Every time we turn around there is some new problem to deal with". I decided against making a "scene" or being distruptive, yelling, complaining, etc... Not only did it seen counterproductive, but it would not have as big of an impact as posting my story on this site. The reason that the transplants are not available until July is that they have not been grown yet. The greenhouses are empty. A simple letter to all of the customers on the mailing list would have been helpful. Or perhaps updating the web site with the status of construction (in addition to the new address)would benefit regular customers. I beleive Green Mountain Transplants has forgotten about their loyal customers as well as how to do business. I will never do business with this company again.

Negative
On May 14, 2004, regianilaw (3 reviews) from Saint Paul, MN

In mid-April, I placed a "test order" with this company for one flat of plants to be delivered the first week in May. I received no conformation from the web-site, and got no reponse to several e-mails I sent to the company. When my plants didn't arrive I called them (long distance)and was told that my order wouldn't be ready until sometime in July. I live in Minnesota so tomato seedlings are of little use to me in July. I cancelled my order and doubt that I will order again. In my opinion it is dishonest to accept orders that the company knows it won't be able to ship within a reasonable period of time. To their credit the web site does warn that orders placed after march 31st may take longer, and my card was not charged.

Negative
On May 13, 2004, bittler1 (1 reviews)

Order placed by mail in March with 2 trays for delivery mid April, 1 tray for mid-May and a roll of row cover. Received letter dated 4/13 stating that due to construction delays “Flats selected for April shipment will be delayed to early May…” Checked for $191 cashed 4/19 As of May 13, 2004, I have not received any flowers nor the row cover. All attempts to reach the company have been unsuccessful. Phone – “voice mail not available”, fax – busy, and email – unanswered.

Negative
On May 4, 2004, goswimmin (3 reviews) from Gainesville, GA (Zone 7a)

On March 17th I placed an internet order with Green Mountain transplants in Maine. The site did not give me any acknowledgement that the order went through. The next day I also faxed the order. I then started calling to see if they got it. I called many times and only got the machine and no one would call back. Eventually a lady called my husband and said she got both orders, cancelled on and that it would be 2 months till the plants were sent! Sicne I live in the south and it is already May now I don't want the plants any longer. Planting season starts here very early. I have been calling them again for 3 days with no one calling me back to cancel my order. Their web site should not encourage people to order if they are not ready to do business. It is obvious they are not ready. I hope in the next few days that I actually get to talk with a live person again. I have made many many long distance calls and now will know better. I am encouraged that people have delt with them in the past and were happy. I hope sometime in the future that they can make people happy again. I am a Master Gardener in Georgia and would have liked to have given them a good recommendation.

Positive
On Mar 12, 2004, Ramnyc (31 reviews) from New York, NY

I too placed an order and did not get any email confirmation. When I sent emails, they were returned as undeliverable. When I tried faxing, the number was disconnected. SOoooooooooo, I did a websearch. Lo' and behold, they moved to Maine. I just faxed them at the new number and it works. Seems they also have a printed catalog now. More to follow as I know more.....


Editor's Note: Thanks to Ramnyc's note, we have updated Green Mountain Transplant's address to reflect their move.
On May 17th, 2004, Ramnyc changed the rating from neutral to negative and added the following: I just read the previous comment and it explains all... no wonder my order that was placed in March is not here in mid May, and no wonder a Mother's Day order supposedly won't be available until mid June. I faxed GMT last week to check on my orders (forget their website... they ignore all and have not even bothered to update it)....anyway, I received no response to my fax inquiry. I have faxed them today cancelling all orders. They simply are not worth it. While I sympathize with them regarding their construction delays and problems, they have a business and moral obligation to keep customers informed in a timely manner so they can purchase elsewhere if their products won't be available this year. They cannot blame construction delays for abyssmal customer "service"
On June 15th, 2004, Ramnyc added the following: Some people here and on Gardenweb report that they cannot get through via telephone. Well, GMT is an Agway store as well and they have a direct phone. If you cannot get satisfaction through their links here, try this: Green Mountain Transplants, Inc 670 Alfred Road Arundel, ME 04043 207-282-1113
On May 13th, 2005, Ramnyc changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following: May 2005: I am changing my negative rating to a conditional positive rating. After obsessively following the saga of GMT's move to Maine and their absolutely miserable 2004 performance, I started reading positive reports that they have been getting their act together. So, being an optimist, I placed a order for 2005 including 4 flats (2 @72, 2@36). I had to create my own order form and had to fax it to GMT to make sure it was received because they still have not fixed problems with their web site (negative), and they remain atrocious at keeping customers informed as to the status of their orders. In fact, mine were supposed to be shipped on May 18th, but today -May 13th- they unexpectedly arrived just as I was leaving for the weekend. A potential disaster was averted by luck. Now for the good part..... the plants are AMAZING! The quality of almost every plant is astounding. The packing and shipping was perfection. I know that my success rate with the plants will be exceptional. So, in summary for 2005: PLANT QUALITY: 4 stars SHIPPING: 4 stars WEB SITE: 1 star CUSTOMER SER 2 stars PRICE 4 stars I hope that GMT works on improving its web site and customer service. Regardless, I am changing my negative ratings to postive because they have earned it and my fellow users of GardenWatchdog deserve accurate reports.

Negative
On Mar 12, 2004, johnrboone (2 reviews)

what's up with this company? i tried to place an order and got no response, i've emailed multiple times and they come back as undeliverable!

Positive
On Mar 7, 2004, JerryAttle (4 reviews) from Attleboro, MA

I order over $200.00 last spring 2003, the orders came very well packed, everything that I order was in excellent condition.. I intended to repeat again this year, but since I live in Ma. and they have moved closer to the MA. border I will be taking a day trip up there this April to pick out my own plants, I can't wait..

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