Comments regarding Richter's Herb Specialists

My order took over three weeks to fill. When I e-mailed the company, they took 4 days to respond. While waiting for them to respond to my e-mail, I called the company to find when my order would ship. In neither case - in the e-mail or the phone conversation, did they notify me that one of my seed packages (patchoulli) was unavailable. I have checked their web-site and find that they still list this seed as available.

I have been ordering seeds from Richter's for several years now because they carry such a wonderful variety. Never any problems. This was the first time I ordered their plug packs. They arrived just at the beginning of May very well packed and in excellent condition. Perhaps they have improved their packaging recently in response to complaints. The shipping date was just right for here (zone 6). The only other time I ordered plants was 3 Apothecary's roses several years ago. I don't remember how they arrived, but they are growing well now and always bloom.

I ordered $114.75 worth of merchandise in Feb. thinking that I would receive it to plant this year before it got so hot. As May approached I decided to cancel the order because it is getting too late and I changed my mind. Their customer service gave me a hard time and acted like they had never heard of anyone changing their mind and cancelling an order. They finally gave me a credit for only $93.75 after a lot of kicking and screaming on their part. I don't know what the $21.00 they are trying to keep is for. I guess they are trying to charge me for cancelling the order or service charge of some sort. Their catalog says absolutely about their being a charge if you decide to cancel an order. I'm sorry I ever made the order but believe me, it'll never happen again. Be warned that you should check in advance about their cancellation policy and/or associated fees. I believe that if a merchant takes 2-3 months to fill an order the customer likewise has the right to change his mind in the meantime and receive a full refund without a pile of static.

I love Richters and I think they are my favorite seed company. Three times I have put in big seed orders (never any plants) and all three times I have received everything I ordered, very quickly. I think their prices are really pretty good and their packages contain many more seeds than I expect (heck, I didn't have to buy more basil seed for 3 years). I will definitely order from them again and plan to order some plants in the future, too (although it sounds like they are weaker on plants- but shipping plants is harder to do, especially young ones). *Very* highly recommended by me.

This is a limited positive rating. I ordered many seeds, 6 plants and a package of purple seed potatoes. My seeds arrived within 10 days of ordering but they noted the plants and potatoes will arrive later. I might not have ordered live plants had I seen the previous comments, but hindsight is 20/20. Waiting to see...

Now that they have a full on-line catalogue, I'd sure like to see more pictures on it. They have the best selection of unusual thymes I've ever seen under one roof --- they all 'sound' great -- would sure like to see more photos on their on-line catalogue. Not too many photos in the catalogues I receive either.

Have ordered seeds from Richters numerous times over last 15 years - am a small commercial nursery/market garden so am fussy about seed quality/quantity. Richters gives good (though sometimes slow) service; seed packet quantities are usually generous.Caveats: 1.Shop around, a few items are overpriced. 2.Several years ago I made one plant order, it was OK but not great, plants came very late, some were unavailable, and they could have been healthier. (All eventually thrived, though needed nursing.) But in general: A very good source for hard to find varieties;adequate germination info given;reasonable prices;generally good quality & quantity in seed packets. I will continue to patronize Richters gladly.

I have mixed feelings about this company. They have an unbelieveable selection and if they were not the sole source for many different mint varieties I likely would not order from them. My orders have been very well packed, but take forever to arrive. Waiting 3 months or more is not uncommon. Once a plant or two died just after arrival and they were replaced, though again, 3 months later. I've also had half my order end up out of stock a time or two, but they were sent later in the year. The plants are usually of good size and healthy. The one pack of seeds I ordered did not generate a single sprout.

My experiences with Ricters have lead me to be a never to return again customer. I have ordered several times from them, always a little frustrated with the order but willing to give the benefit of doubt. The last time was the final straw.. I ordered two plug trays of oregano that I had ordered almost 6 months prior to receiving. When they arrived, the plugs were more in the box than in the tray. There were some of the plugs that didn't have a root one on them and the ones that did were smashed. The box was way to large for the trays and no packaging material was put in to reduce the space. What a mess....Never again Ricters

My experience to date has been positive with a statement to be "wary". This is the 2nd year ordering herb plants. They have the largest collection of thymes I've found and so like a bee I keep going back. Their plants are generally smaller than I'd like to see but with some extra care they will prosper. Unfortunately, 2 of the plants ordered this year (Orange Spice thymes) were very young. Barely started root growth. They died 2 days after arrival. I called and complained. RHS offered me a refund, well of course if I wanted my money I wouldn't have ordered anything. I insisted on new plants. They countered with a 6 plant min purchase requirement. I countered with a "did that already, it's your problem fix it" sorta statement. They agreed and re-sent the plants. They arrived yesterday and have MUCH better root growth. Look extremely healthy and will do fine I'm certain. IF they don't it'll be my fault not theirs.

Chris

Ordered my plants and seed-what a great selection. I was VERY impressed on how the plants arrived. Packed EXTREMELY well. All very healthy. I don't mind spending a bit extra for healthy hard to find plants.

I love the selection and the price is good. However I have ordered three times in two years and each time the plants arived jumbled up in the box, soil everywhere. You have to carefully sort out the plants and repot them immediately. Some are broken. It could be a problem of the shipping company, UPS, but 3 times in the same condition is strange and leaves one to think they could be packed better. Most of the plants did survive and they did replace those that did not, but after calling them twice to explain how the plants arrived I did not expect the third shipment to arrive in the same way. Yet it did.

I have ordered seeds a number of times, and plants once. I found them to be a good company to deal with. They have just about any unusual herb seed you would want!

These guys are the very best mail order nursery I've ever dealt with all the stuff I ordered was green when it arrived and grew beautifully, even the hard to care for items. HIGHLY RECOMMEND RICHTERS!

I have ordered from Richters with excellent success, even though I grow in zone 9 in FL. The plants are tiny, but arrive quite well packaged and moist. Most of my herb growing is in containers, and I find these do very well, especially lavenders that I cannot find locally.

Best selection of herbs I have found. I had one plant I ordered that didn't make the trip it was dead on arrival they replaced it for me with no hassel. I have never tried there seeds just plants.

I've had some mixed experience from Richter's – both with their seeds & plants. The catalog is wonderful and I think they have the best herb selection around but I have received bum seeds as well as scrawny plants from them. My worst experience … I waited patiently for a very late plant order only to find they were out of stock on several of the plants when it arrived. The worse part was I never would have ordered if I had known those specific plants weren’t available. I don’t think I’ll be doing business with Richter’s again – seeds or books maybe… but plants definitely not

I have had very positive experience with Richters. In 2000 ordered 2 flats of 2 different types of thyme plugs (120 plants in each flat) Lemon Carpet & Wild Thyme. I ordered them in late August and Richters said they would take about a month to specially grow them for me. They then warned me that planting them in early October might be too late for them to get a good start, said they needed 2 weeks for the roots to take. As I live in balmy British Columbia I went ahead and ordered them as wanted them for a 'crazy paving' pathway in my garden. When they arrived one flat was healthy and lush looking (the Wild), the other was a bit sparse and leggy (Lemon Carpet). I emailed them and told them my concerns about the one flat. They gave me a 30% discount - no quibbling about it! As it turned out a both varieties are healthy and growing very well. I have also ordered seeds from them and had no problems. I highly recommend Richters.

Just received my ABSOLUTE LAST plant order from Richter's. I have used them occasionally in the past for unusual herbs, but will now only use their catalog as a reference. The shipment was delayed two weeks in going out, and after receiving the plants I now know why. Many of the plants I ordered had been cuttings on a bench two weeks ago!!! The 'Silver Needle' thyme barely had enough root system to reach the bottom of the pot, so after the fungus in the shipping container took care of the little top growth that it had, the root system wasn't strong enough to regenerate. Now I have a very DEAD thyme. And no matter how cheap, a dead plant is no bargain. The other plants are better, but not by much. This is not quality plant material, and I let Richter's know as much. I'm still awaiting their response. I propagate and retail herbs for the local market, so about once a week I receive email enquiries concerning mail-order. I had been referring them to Richter's or Mountain Valley Growers. Looks as if MVG is it for now.

I ordered from Richters for the first time this year. I found the prices to be very reasonable and the shipping alone made it worth buying from them (Living in Alaska, most people charge an arm and a leg for shipping). I only ordered seeds this time. I was told when I ordered that it would take about three weeks to get them since I ordered during a semi-busy time period. They arrived in 2 weeks. I haven't planted very much, but almost all that I have planted has sprouted and is doing well. This is an excellent source for hard to find seeds. I highly recommend this company!

I have use Richters for many years and have had NO problems... Out of over 2000 plants I have ordered from them, maybe 5-10 have arrived DOA and maybe 10-15 died after transplanting. All of the DOA and transplanting deaths were refunded or resent. Richters is an excellent company. I only wish they carried a large selection of trees.

My experience with Richter's has been negative. They seem so arrogant about their product. On two occasions, I had to cancel orders with Richter's -- the first time, because they required a minimum shipment. At the time, I was struggling to grow just a couple of herbs and plants in the front of my apartment. I only needed a few plants. The second time, because the order was not delivered when promised. When I tried to track it the CS rep asked "Do you want the order or not?" I told her that if the plants were going to be in shipment for 3 weeks, they'd be dead when they arrived anyway. So I had to cancel again. The Richter's catalog is very informative and an excellent resource. But until Richter's starts caring about their retail delivery and customer service issues, I will be buying plants elsewhere.

I have not ordered seeds from them, but did make a plant order this past spring. Their packaging is superb. However, I was absolutely astonished at the size of the pots used. They were about 1 1/2 inches high by 2 inches wide. The result of course is that you get a plant with a very small root system. On the order confirmation they sent me, 2 plants were listed as the wrong ones. I phoned them promptly and was told the correction was made. When my order arrived - it became apparent that the change was not made and I received the wrong plants. I phoned them and was told to keep the ones they sent and that they would send me the correct ones. The correct ones arrived promptly but did not look veryhealthy. Looked like they had pulled divisions out of the ground and then chopped most of the root off to fit them in their minute pots. The plants died shortly thereafter. Prices for the size of the plants they are sending should be MUCH less. I won't order from them again.

I'd heard good things about Richter's from a number of people and my experience with them was great. I ordered a bunch of unusual herbs in March, and although I was disappointed to hear they wouldn't be shipped until May (in part because last frost is so late "up there"), but the order arrived right on schedule. All of the plants were in very good shape, and good-sized to very large for the price. Their "packaging system" is quite ingenious and looked like it would have gotten the plants safely through a war zone. I was very pleased and will definitely order from them again. For what it's worth, I've gotten their catalog on and off over the years, usually by request, and have never been charged for it. But as reference alone (Latin names, available varieties, growing conditions), it would, in my opinion, be worth at least the $1 some have said they were charged.

Got a shipment of plants Spring 98, all of which were in good shape and have since flourished. Recommended.

Someone commented in the Richters comments that they charge for their catalog. They didn't charge me. Also, their "herb" selection includes a lot of plants that you'd otherwise look for in a perennial catalog. I'm no herb gardener, but have just ordered from them so will e-mail you with opinions once it arrives.

I have used their products. Their seeds have always been top quality and I also like their attitude in general. I thought they were a little pricey until I realized that the prices were in Canadian money. It is less in (US) dollars. They charge for the first catalog, but they deduct it from the first order. After that they send catalogs for free. I have found things here that I can't get anywhere else. I'm an herbalist, so rare and interesting plants are a passion.

My wife and I have had two very good experiences with Richter's. The plants arrive well packaged and fresh! The prices (after the Canadian exchange rate) are fair and they have plants that we could not find within 50 miles of the Akron OH area. We will be ordering again.

They do herbs mainly, plants and seeds thereof. Also related books.