Comments regarding Breck's Bulbs

I have had good luck with Breck's. My tulips are beautiful.

I ordered from Breck's in July of 95. It is hard to believe that Breck's, Stark's, and Michigan Bulb are owned by the same company. The Breck's items were great. In some cases I ordered the same or similar items. For example: I received gladiolus bulbs from Breck's that were healthy and large. I received 6 gladiolus bulbs from Michigan bulb. Two of the 6 were average looking but not as nice as the Brecks, and the other 4 were tiny, dry, bruised and beaten. I am very pleased with my Breck's and Stark's items.

Having been "stung" several times in the past, my wife and I resolved to avoid ordering any merchandise from unsolicited catalogues, mailed by companies who've purchased a mailing list that just happens to contain our name. However, in the summer of 1994, on receipt of a Breck's envelope with the beautiful, full-living-colour literature extolling the virtues of "The Ultimate Iris Collection" (and because it's my wife's favourite flower), I'm sorry to say, we "bit" again. Suffice it to say that of the 20 regular and 4 "free gift" rhizomes received, only 1 regular and 1 "free gift" proved viable the following spring. My first letter to Breck's Customer Service, advising of the problem and requesting, as per their guarantee, that the shipment be replaced, elicited no response. A month after my second letter, I received with no covering explanation, a refund cheque for half the amount of the purchase. My third letter reminded them of their 100% guarantee, (replace or refund, our choice). I offered to return the uncashed cheque and again explained that we would prefer to have the shipment replaced.However, should they decree there would be no replacement, I requested a full, rather than a 50% refund. Approximately 6 weeks later, and again with no further explanation, I received another refund cheque for the balance of the purchase price. Perhaps, hopefully, after this experience, we have learned to stick to our resolve.

I have ordered from both Spring Hill and Brecks. The customer service was great. But the bulb/rhizomes were not always great. I have had trouble with the irises, poppies, hyacinths, crocuses, and some other types of spring flowering plants, more so with Spring Hill than Breck's. I have had great success with the jonquils and daffodils. I cannot say enough great things about the perennial tulips! The bulbs were huge. The plants were huge. The flowers were stunning, long-lasting, and hardy. I moved last fall, and took as many bulbs as I could find with me. They are coming up right now!

You are "ALL WET" when it comes to your truly ignorant comments about Brecks, Spring Hill, and Michigan Bulb. The Parent company Foster and Gallagher maintains the highest standards in the industry with respect to customer service, and product quality. If you would care to come to Peoria, I'm sure my wife could arrange a tour of the Foster and Gallagher facilities, where you could meet her customer service co-workers.

I ordered a large variety of bulbs from Brecks two years ago (Spring 1993). I was charged before my bulbs ever arrived, they arrived late (for Colorado) at the end of October, five months after I had ordered. The "plant experts" on the phone knew less than I did, and tracking down a phone number to talk to a live person was difficult at best. The bulbs did not all come up, and the ones that did were of moderate quality (you get what you pay for - these were CHEAP).

I ordered a spring bulb collection and a dahlia collection from Breck's. Three out of over fifty bulbs came up from the spring bulb collection, and three out of 10 dahlias came up from the dahlia collection. They did reimburse me for the entire spring bulb collection, and for seven of the dahlias with no hassle. I will not order from them again.

For my 2 cents, I have had good and bad luck with Breck's. They sent the wrong tulips this past year, and my crown imperials did not even come up this spring. I'll let you know the response to my letter.