Comments regarding Michigan Bulb

I ordered from them several years ago. One package arrived coated in something that looked like gasoline. I called them long distance andwaited a long time on the line. Some one did finally answer and said they would send me a complete replacement. Which they did. Of all the plants I ordered, some bulbs were moldy and some were gross substitutions--off the wall stuff. I complained about a few things that died immediately and was given a full refund. I have no complaints about service but the quality of the merchandise is not worth the trouble and the endless promotions are just annoying.

Try and think about the people that work there and the problems you are creating for them by slamming the company that cannot tell if a plant will die in transit or not.

I recently received a brochure from MBC with pricing that seemed to good to be true. A red flag went up when I noticed that they did not list a phone number anywhere in the brochure. This prompted me to check the Web. It only took a few seconds to find this list of customer responses. In reviewing the comments, I note that there are some satisfied customers among the mostly dissatisfied customers. It could be that MBC delivers good or at least acceptable products. However, I will never find out. The lack of a published phone number is enough to scare me away.

…To be fair, everything I ordered from them did grow and is still growing.

I submitted an order to Michigan Bulb Company. After not hearing from them, I called. They did not have a record of my previous order, so they took it over the phone. I've gotten the order and am pleased with its appearance, though I have not yet planted the plants.Two days later, I got another set of plants from them, so apparently, they have processed both of my orders.I have gotten my credit card bill, and neither of these orders has been charged to it - that is a plus to me, that they shipped my order before billing me. Some companies charge way before materials are shipped out to you.I was leery after reading what others had written about Michigan Bulb Company, but I have been pleased so far with my contact with them. I am going to have to return one of these orders and get the billing straightened out. But if that process goes as smoothly as my other contacts with them, I will be pleased.

I have ordered from Michigan Bulb Co. for the past 10 years or so, and have learned to be very cautious. My first big order was a tulip collection - not a good idea, the bulbs were very small and half of them did not even grow.However, I wrote MBC a letter and they sent me a credit for the entire purchase. I did have lots of success with a "peck of daffodils" -- they have grown and spread…I recently had an experience where I ordered one of the "buy one get one free" specials but MBC sent me 126 of the little devils. I also couldn't get through on the customer service number. They returned my e-mail within 30 minutes informing me that the company was in error and would remove the erroneous charges from my credit card. They told me it was the company's mistake and that I should keep all 126 of the bulbs; give them to neighbors or whatever. I'm not quite sure what to do with all these orchids. They are not winter hardy here, but I am pleased to report that MBC was very courteous and responsive.

I ordered from MBC a while ago. Most stuff lived, some died. After reading everyone's complaints, I almost didn't bother calling them. Eventually I did and they where very nice. I received a letter a week later verifying that I am to receive replacements - no problems so far. [update] I just received most of the replacement. I also didn't like the junk mail but the service I have no problem with. Maybe I'm just contacting them at the right time…

I came across this website a few months back and was really very disappointed with what I read. Especially since I had recently placed more than one order with Michigan Bulb. I received my orders and a couple of plants needed replacing. I received replacements in no time at all. I also had a question about the sweepstakes and received a letter in the mail answering my questions. It is true that the catalog doesn't reveal to you what a particular plant requires but their booklet does. In a nutshell my experience with Michigan Bulb has been a good one. Customer relations has been wonderful and attentive to my concerns and questions. I'll continue to order from them in the future as I landscape my home. And try the more exotic plants that they offer as I know from experience that they'll stand by their guarantee.

I don't know what any of you are talking about! I've been buying from them for two years and have spent hundreds of dollars and never a problem!! As a matter of fact, everything I have bought from them is beautiful!

I purchased a lot of flowers from Michigan Bulb Co. about 5 years ago and any problems I had, they sent replacements, and helped over the phone. When I moved, this year, I ordered again, only about half my flowers came up, so I called and they are sending all new replacements for me at my new house. I've never known any other company to have a lifetime guarantee on their flowers. Maybe I'm a lucky one, or just smart. A bargain is a bargain for a reason, I compared, and read the small print, where it states what blooms when and size comparison. The catalog can be misleading, but it is worth the savings.

I can't believe all the very unhappy customers that I just read about with Michigan Bulb. I too am very upset, I only received half my order and only a few made it, the others died! I wrote to them and told them this and never heard back from them! I can't tell you how upset I am about this company, I will also never tell anyone to order from there!

Yes, this company with their numerous sweepstakes and their promises, managed to reach the elderly senior (my father who is 91+ and still going even though he is deaf) who is a garden 'nut'. He and the nurse who takes care of my invalid Mother have read and reread their (MBC) literature and were absolutely positive they (MBC) were on the up and up. Most orders, if they were received, were dead. The company never answers letters, phones and when you do manage to get a live body they lie!!

I have already sent a postcard stating my dissatisfaction with Michigan Bulb Company; not due to products, but due to the careless and irresponsible way my name has been either given or sold to promote junk mail in my mailbox. This is coming from Michigan Bulb because it always has them included, as far as wanting future orders or sweepstakes entries.I specifically had my name taken from the unwanted mail list approximately 3 years ago and have always been very cautious when ordering from someone; therefore I always write across any orders or correspondence that my name is not to be put on any mailing lists. This has worked exceptionally until now. Michigan Bulb is filling my mailbox with unwanted junk mail and I have even begun receiving a few sales calls. No more orders to Michigan Bulb from this household and I have expressed my feelings to any and everyone, family and friends, to beware. I already had one other person go through this with MBC company last year. As soon as I receive my order (I received my confirmation in a huge envelope full of junk mail) or if possible before hand, remove my name and address from their mailing lists. I just wanted to order, receive that order and get on with business, which I will, just never with Michigan Bulb again.

I just wanted to say that I have been ordering from MBC for years and I have a beautiful garden. I will be a customer of MBC for life.

There were two articles in our Sunday (3/14/99) paper about how Michigan Bulb is trying to outgrow (pun intended?) its negative image. They were authored by Mike Magner of Newhouse News Service. The second article says that thecustomer service department has expanded and John Milian is its manager. It claims that one of Milian's first tasks was to respond by e-mail to "every complaint he found posted on a Web page on the Internet devoted to 'plants bymail'." The article concludes with a customer service phone number and email address.I often purchase plants by mail. I havepurchased from MBC in the past and probably will continue to, they are not much to look at when first received but after a season or two I have found them to be fairly successful. Since I have had successes and failures with eachand every purchase, including purchasing from local nurseries and garden centers, Iusually chalk it up to experience, and try something else.

I ordered once from Michigan bulb and was surprised by the way the plants looked when they came in. They sent along a paper explaining that the plants were bare and in a dormant state, so they might look "dead". Anyways, I planted them, and was surprised to see that they immediately started growing and putting out new foliage. They are doing wonderful now and I can't wait till they are mature enough to bloom. Not one of them has died but after reading all the comments on this page, I will be cautious if I order more, and will use my credit card instead of a check. I just got my plants in about a month ago, but I am still waiting for the second-half of my order to come in. I have not planted the bonus bulbs yet. [update 4/1/199] I have finally received the rest of my order. Out of the three blue columbines I got, one was dead on arrival, another one dying shortly afterward. One of my Bleeding Heart plants died, and so did my gold-edged hosta (after being on life support for about a week). Everything else is thriving beautifully though, and I hope to order more. The Bleeding heart that DID live is already blooming, and my friends always comment. The bonus bulbs I planted are all coming up, especially the glads. I e-mailed MBC in order to receive a replacement for those items that didn't make it. I sent out that e-mail yesterday, and hope to get a reply sometime next week. I am about to place another order, but I won't until I receive a reply to my e-mail (all the negative comments have made me cautious).

I agree fully with your negative rating of Michigan Bulb. They are more interested in getting you to join their "sweepstakes" than delivering quality plants.

I had ordered $27.00 worth of merchandise back in July of 96 and after 7 letters and countless notes back to them in their so called sweepstakes replies, I finally received a letter from them in Feb. 98. They claimed they would replace my plants as quickly as possible. Exactly what they are replacing I have no idea since I never received anything to begin with! I would not urge anyone (not even someone I disliked) to order from this company.

I too was duped into their mailers and junk. I still haven't received my order, which I purchased in May 1998 and would receive in time for planting in fall. Well it's fall and still didn't receive them. I only purchased $20 worth but you can bet all my friends will never deal with this company again!

They shorted 2 of my orders, substituted when I asked that they didn't. My lilacs are so pitiful I don't even know if they'll make it through the winter. One arrived practically dead. To replace the short orders, I had to tell them that they died. They won't send replacements until spring. I had plenty of time to plant them this fall! If only I had had the internet then.

I ordered many plants from MBC and received half the order and in exchange for the bulbs they didn't send, I got packets of wildflower seeds! A positive note: Minnesota Attorney General Skip Humphrey has made it so that NO company can send a Minnesotan mailings stating "You have won..." they MUST say "you MAY have won". Since this went into effect, I have not received any more mail from Michigan Bulb Company…

I'm so glad I found your web page. Only wish I found it months ago before ordering from Michigan Bulb. I ordered only $45.00 worth of bulbs, though; I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I still haven't received anything from them. Have their number and address, thanks to you. Will try to get refund.

I am another disgusted (former) customer of Michigan Bulb Co. I ordered two roses of the same variety. When they bloomed that summer only one was the correct plant. Since then they have "replaced" that one, twice, both were wrong! I gave up!

As to Michigan bulbs - they can fall into the sea. Gardening quacks who prey on new gardeners.

At the end of August 1998 I sent a mail order for (fortunately only) $20. The check that went with it was cashed a week later, but 1 month later I still have to see the items I ordered. A phone call to them today reveals that they are processing the orders from northern states to southern states. Where is Virginia? Why is it not written on the orders form? Why does the check have to be cashed at least a month before the order is processed? All these questions should remind me to not order from Michigan Bulb any more.

I have been pretty much satisfied with Michigan Bulb Company. Until today when I was viewing my credit card online account; they put two charges on it when I had not made any such purchases for the dates listed. And now with all the other complaints I have read, I will never again order from Michigan Bulb Company.

I placed in order with them July 1998 for fall bulbs my check was cashed and I haven't seen my bulbs. I also confirmed that I have ordered bulbs from this company that never bloomed but gave them another chance thinking it was a bad batch. They never made good for the bad bulbs then never sent me the order I made after that, but cashed my check. I am stilling waiting for a reply and my recent order.

For a couple of years now my mother has been ordering plants from Michigan Bulb. Last year she ordered some tulips lilies, and various other plants. Needless to say the bulbs never came up, the two supposed hybrid special trees that she ordered that were supposed to bear fruit this year never did. She also ordered some hedges that in the catalog looked nice came looking like little weeds you would find in the garden. The rose bushes she ordered last year are the only things that have come up. She ordered some more roses 3 weeks ago, now we have to wait till spring or early summer for them.

I understand that a few of you have had problems with plants purchased from Michigan Bulb. I was a little disheartened to see a handful of twigs arrive 5 weeks later. I read in the catalog "Not to worry if your plants do not appear to be thriving upon arrival, THEY ARE SHIPPED IN THEIR DORMANT STATE". I followed the directions for planting. I was very impressed when 3 weeks later my "twigs" were sprouting tiny green leaves all over. I enjoyed watching those ugly twigs turn into a beautiful, lush and full Privet Hedge surrounding my property in just 6 months. They now stand about 5 feet tall and are about 3 feet wide. I ordered and received 120 twigs and now have an impressive living fence all for the low price of $25.00! I don't know of any nursery or greenhouse offering anything similar to the price or quality I have received from Michigan Bulb Company. I purchased many more plants and flowers from Michigan Bulb Company all with the same, or better results. When I built my new house four years ago, the landscape was one tree and a sodded front yard. Today thanks to The Michigan Bulb Company, my neighbors brag about living next door to the most beautiful garden they've ever seen.

Here's another soul who learned too late that MBC is not a good company tobuy from at this time.My order came stretched out past the AZ planting season for a few of theitems I'd ordered, and fully 3/4 of what I ordered was DOA, or promptly diedin the ground. I agree that if a company will not publish a phone number in their sales material, that they are a poor risk to do business with. I too receive a mailing almost every week trying to get me to order again. But Ithink I'll pass. What has grown, I could buy locally and give business toanother merchant in AZ, and it is much easier to find AZ grown plants whichdo thrive better than the ones grown in MI. Mr. Meadows needs to rethink his marketing plan, and remember that it is hiscustomers (who can't find him today) that will put him out of businesstomorrow. He may have become a multimillionaire and be ready to retire, butwhat about those nice folks who work for him who try to keep up with all usunhappy customers. And what will happen to them if the buying public getswise to the tricky hype? And hey Jim, what about doing what is right? Certainly you don't think that receiving dead or dying plants and makingcustomers jump through hoops trying to get the problem fixed is the way you'd want to do business if you were the customer. [update] I'm willing to give them another chance! I'll keep you posted here, with my new-found success! And John & Jeff, if you are reading these...I'm posting this even before I've seen the credit, because you have gone to a good bit of trouble to follow through after so many months. I thank you.

I ordered over 300 of their hardy glads this spring and was very pleased with the results. I had to dig up my bulbs this fall, because I choose to plant them this coming spring in a new location. My bulbs were 3 to 5 times bigger than they were when I planted them this spring. I also had thousands of corms growing on most of my bulbs that I hope will produce plants next year. I wasn't thrilled with the way I got my order. It was over a one month time period, and I wish I could have planted them all at one time. I plan to order about 1000 more hardy bulbs again this spring, but I will place my order as soon as I get my first catalog for the season. I'm hoping that will help to get my order all at once. I have also had some substitutes. The plants I received have all grow well. I also live in Michigan and it may be the key. I hope that the letters that have been written have not gone on deaf ear. I hope that someone at MBC paying attention. Happy planting.

I ordered from the company, like most other people with listings, and wish I would have saw this site first. Half of the order was dead. I wont be ordering again.

I ordered from them (about $50.00) and I received poor quality plants that were either dead when they arrived or died shortly thereafter. Although I sent the company, my certificate for replacement and a long letter. They never did respond.

…My garden turned out just fine, including the bulbs from the Michigan Bulb Company, which I could swear were dead upon arrival. I think that they keep them on the shelves too long. So long that you have to coach them back to life. Some of us are not that successful in that area. In fact, I think that requires someone with a very green thumb.

I am an avid gardener. I currently have approximately 2,000 perennials. I have ordered several thousand dollars worth of bulbs and bare root plants from Michigan Bulb and others in the past ten years. I ordered from Michigan Bulb for the first time this past year. It was a substantial order. When it came time for shipment, I only received about half of what I actually ordered. The rest were substitutes, ugh. I ordered specific items for specific location and the replacements were not what I wanted. Not only did I have many substitute plants, but 95% of what was planted never even broke ground. I was just searching for an address for MBC to contact about replacements, or refunds, when I saw this information. It appears it would be a waste of my time and effort. I guess it's a lesson learned. I certainly would not recommend MBC to anyone else!

I received dead plants and a lot of "prize winning" junk mail, but no satisfaction & no response to written requests to remove my name from their list.

WOW! I am sad to see I am not alone! The guarantee that Michigan Bulb states they stand behind is absolutely worthless! I ordered just under 50 plants last summer. By the time they all arrived, (2 or 3 at a time) we had snow on the ground as I put the last ones in! Come spring, only 22 plants came up! PLUS NONE of the freebies they sent survived, but that was ok since I really wasn't keen on them in the first place. I have sent letters to them very politely asking for procedures to get my plants replaced or my money back. No response. I guess the bottom line is you get what you pay for. What may sound like a good deal may be a nightmare. Buyer beware!!!!

…I ordered a bulb garden and shrubs. The bulb garden came with under half the product it was supposed to because they were out of stock of all else. Over 50% of the order had been substituted with inferior grade, quality, and valued product than what I intended to buy. A class action suit seems very feasible with…Thankfully, short of the $60.00 I spent and the minimum $250 I was promised, I wasn't taken for my life savings.

When I received my plants from MBC last fall, they looked pretty sick to me. I planted them anyway, and then, when almost nothing came up this spring I thought the fault must have been mine. Judging by the feedback on this website, maybe I was wrong. I won't order again, but can anyone recommend a GOOD mail-order plant company? I don't want to take chances with my gardening budget again!