Comments regarding Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company

I ordered quite a number of fruit trees one january. since i wanted the best, i ordered the "supreme" pruned and all. april came--no trees. they told me they had been shipped-but had no tracking number. the post office finally convinced them the trees had never arrived. so, in may, late to plant trees here, i recieved my order. the most twisted, puny, disreputable trees i've ever seen.and, as for the lifetime guarentee i purchased my trees under? forget it, the company filed bankruptcy. so, my beautiful orchard of stark trees,( in my dreams only)is something i'm sure to show people who want to start a "Starks" orchard. i'd reccomend going to your supermarket trees first.

I ordered 15 fruit trees from "STARK NURSERIES" I WAITED AND WAITED BUT THE TIME I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SHIP TO ME CAME AND WENT. AFTER 4 CALLS APPROXIMATELY A WEEK APART EACH DURING EACH CALL THEY TOOK FOREVER TO FIND MY ORDER DUE TO THE FACT I ORDERED OVER THE INTERNET THEY COULD NOT FIND IT THEY KEPT SAYING THE NUMBER I SUPPLIED TO THEM WAS A COMMERCIAL ORDER! WELL THE POST OFFICE CALLS ME AND SAYS I HAVE A PACKAGE TO LARGE TO BRING TO MY HOME? I CAN SEE NO SENSE IN SHIPPING AN UNDELIVERABLE PAKAGE THRU A SERVICE THAT IS NOT EASILY TRACKABLE- THE TREES WERE A MONTH LATE, HAD SPROUTED 5-6 INCHES DURING THIS LONG ORDEAL AND THE "FREE" GIFT WAS A MOULDY PILE OF GOO!
SEVERAL OF THE TREES DIED WITHIN A MONTH DESPITE CARE OF A TYPE THAT HAS GROWN FABULOUS TREES IN THE PAST IN A LOCATION/SUN/SOIL AAAAA++++. WHEN I CALLED IN TO CLAIM THE REPLACEMENT THEY TRIED TO TELL ME TO BEAT ON THE DEAD TREES WITH A ROLLED UP MAGAZINE! ONLY WITH GREAT INSISTENCE DID THEY AGREE TO REPLACE THEM IF I AGREED TO PAY SHIPPING NEVER NEVER NEVER DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT! THE STARK OF OLD.

Stark is known far and wide and I've been impressed with what I've ordered. I am dismayed, however, that they have very little for the southeastern area. None of their apples, for instance, are those that grow well in our horrible conditions, but other companies offer varieties that would do well here. Same with most of their fruits. Don't forget us in the south, Stark, because there are a lot of people down here.

I purchased their Supreme Peach Lover's Assortment this spring. The "supreme" means they prune the trees and include a kit of fertilizer tablets, a weed barrier and tree guard.They had send only one kit but shipped the other two after I called. I noticed when planting that one of the tree's roots had been pruned severely. This tree later died. I sent Stark's an email about it, telling them I would like a replacement. They replied in two days with a new order number and delivery date. Their web site says they will replace trees if the customer pays shipping. They did not charge me for the shipping of the replacement tree. I don't know why, but they didn't. I received it two days ago and it looks great. Also, their customer service staff was very helpful and prompt with my questions about planting. I would buy from them again.

A couple of years ago I bought some currant bushes, several strawberry plants, a "fruit cocktail" tree, a necterine, and an apricot tree from them. They sent everything in one shipment, but when I got my credit card statement they had overcharged me. So I called them and they argued that There had been two shipments and the charges were correct. They refuesed to remove the charges. I contacted the credit card company who promised to take care of it. Stark Bros. challanged the credit card company and I had to fight them for months, they could never be bothered to check their shipping records for the mystery second order.

My family has bought from them from years, but that was the last order we will ever place with them.

Oh yeah, the strawberry plants died within a month, different plants that I bought locally at the same time are still thiving. The currents looked dead when the arrived and never produced so much as a leaf. The fruit cocktail tree hasn't grown an inch in almost three years. I would contact them to complain, but I can already see where that would go!

This spring (2003) I ordered 30 H. poplars bareroot & 6 fruit trees for my new property near Corning, CA. They arrived when promised, were super-healthy, and well packed. Mine was kind of a tricky situation because I was not physically at the property & so thanks to developing a great relationship with the nicest, most patient office lady I've EVER dealt with (Diana Clair of Stark Bros.), we coordinated the trees' arrival via UPS without a hitch. The trees have been in the ground over 3 months and are lush and healthy and growing by leaps and bounds. We did lose a peach and an apricot due to too much cold and wet weather this spring, but Diana assures me this will be replaced as soon as it is time for bareroot in CA. I will never hesitate to order from Stark Bros again, and hope others will discount the bankruptcy negativity and try them again. Service & trees both awesome. Ali Massey, Corning, CA

This Spring I ordered some strawberries, blueberries, and soil acidifier. Stark Brothers packaged them carefully and all arrived safely. The included instructions were helpful and I'm very happy that the strawberries have grown so well and are blossoming; and the blueberries are progressing quite nicely as well--the soil acidifier seemed to really "perk up" the blueberry plants.

Placed my first and last Start Bros. order. I ordered 6 roses. Received duplicate order. Called them and they requested that I package the duplicate order back up and ship back to them. Spent approx. 1 hr. one night packaging the order back up like they had it, didn't really expect the tiny little roses to survive another shipment though.
Husband took the box to the Post Office. Once I realized they had refunded the charge for the roses, I requested a refund of the shipping charges (used the same amount they charged me to ship the first time). They told me before they could refund my shipping, they would need a receipt for our shipping charges. My husband did not get a receipt. "Customer Service Rep" said she would see what she could do for me after speaking with her supervisor - did not hear back from them. This was their mistake. I didn't charge for my time and mileage, etc., for shipping the plants back. All I wanted was refund for the same shipping charge that they charged me. In trying to do the "right thing", it cost me for their mistake in the first place. Buyer beware!

I just received my first order from Stark. I was very impressed! Some of the best looking specimens I have ever received. A cherry tree and a Hydrangea, larger than most and very healthy! I intend to go over their catalogue now to see what else I need.

I placed my first order with Stark Bros. this spring, and purchased 2 fruit trees, an ornamental tree and some thornless blackberries. What I received was three bareroot trees with great root systems (and each much bigger than described), and three very healthy blackberry vines. I wasn't quite ready for the trees, so I soaked them in my bathtub overnight and planted them the next day. Within 2 days, I had buds on all 3 of them. Blackberries are still thriving as well. I was quite impressed, and will definitely order from them again.

I ordered six trees from Stark's in 1991. I got seven. They sent an extra peach tree (take two, they're small?) They were small. One I eventually decided to cut down, because it never grew very well (runt of the litter?) but the other one continues to grow and bear. It's a Burbank July Elberta and it's wonderful. Also wonderful is the Starking Delicious plum. My Starkspur Dwarf Montmorency was wonderful, but it died due to underground rodent (woodchuck or vole) damage and a split trunk.
Stark's holds a number of great varieties exclusively, which is why I order from them. However their customer service is horrible. I wrote to them about the split trunk of my Montmorency, just seeking information, since the tree was already dead--as I explained in my letter. I described how the split trunk developed over several years, from the tree crotch down, toward the ground. I also mentioned that I grow my trees organically. I got a letter back that said the problem was due to borers, that attack the tree from the ground level and cause splits in the bark that work their way up the tree, and that I could save the tree by frequent applications of (not organic) borer-killer insecticide. They also sent another leaflet advising spraying every ten days all season with a combination insecticide-fungicide ( a spraying schedule much heavier than even commercial non-organic orchards use--guaranteed to put unnecessary and dangerous poisons into the environment and my system--kill all beneficials, cause cancer and nervous-system damage, etc.).
My one previous experience with Stark customer service was also negative. In 1991 one of my trees had bark damage. The customer service advised covering the damage with an asphalt-tree-coat product. It did not work, and I have since learned that professional pruners advise against use of that stuff. Stark's did refund the price of that tree. I replaced it with one from Miller's (I wanted Santa Rosa, which Stark's did not have).
My impression is that Stark's customer service are poorly trained and ignorant about fruit growing. They are not ones to ask any questions you may have. My experience writing to them about the Montmorency tree suggests that maybe they can't read. I said the tree was dead. They did not pay attention to the details or really, anything I said--and sent me a form letter. Also they have no sympathy for organic, or IPM, or even common sense (don't spray for fungus when you have insect damage, and vice-versa; don't spray for pests you don't have). Is it cheap insurance for them? Advise people to spray continuously and there's less chance they will request replacement trees? Or a chance to sell more of their products? (The sprays in their catalog). Either way it is bad horticulture.
Stark's is a great nursery because of what it was a hundred years ago--because they have a number of Luther Burbank'c varieties, and others developed since then (not including the "improved" Red and Yellow Delicious). I' ve gotten some wonderful tree varieties from them that I could not have gotten anywhere else.
But don't call their customer service looking for any tree-growing info or advice. You'd be better off reading a book.
It's probably an improvement that they are only offering a one year guarantee. Trees aren't "products, guaranteed or your money back." They're living things, and after delivery of a healthy tree, the rest depends on the care given them by the customer. And sometimes uncontrollable acts of Nature. The old Stark's may have gone bankrupt partly because of too
many replacements and refunds. I hope they are better managed in the future.
I just got a new Starkspur Dwark Montmorency--looks all right so far--smaller than I expected, no packing material, just wet roots wrapped in plastic--but very much alive, in fact already sprouting leaves. I hope this tree grows better than the one I planted in 1991 (prune to central leader this time and I think I can avoid the split problem, and protect from woodchucks and voles with buried fencing. Hope this works.)

I ordered some fruit trees and they arrived in excellent shape and were well packed to prevent drying out. They also did not bill my Visa until a week before the order shipped. I hate companies that bill you immediately and then send the order weeks and months later.

About five years ago I ordered 2 hybrid elm trees. they sent me two trees, but one turned out dead (they replaced) the other was a poplar. When I complained they said the popular was a type similar to the elm. Silly me I believe them, assuming they meant some special hybrid poplar. But no it was the usual tall stick, ugly as sin and awful looking next to the elm (i had wanted two matching elms.

I also order a sycamore and the y sent me something, that looks and grows like a poplar (tall and narrow).

I have not dealt with them again.

In 2002, I ordered a 3 fruit trees and 3 ribes from Stark Bros. All arrived on time and in very healthy condition. I was impressed with the way they were packaged. When one of the gooseberries failed to thrive (which I attribute to the unusually hot and dry summer), they sent not one but TWO replacements. I was elated! I received excellent service and will definitely deal with this company again.

we have ordered trees and plants from this company for several years and have always had excellent service. We had a sweet cherry die and they replaced it with an even nicer tree than before. very pleased with service and products

I ordered four apple trees from them last fall -- My order arrived in less than a week, in great shape. My trees were four feet tall, pre-pruned & well branched. They also included a bonus I hadn't expected as I had ordered from the new website; so I didn't know they were offering it. Pleasant surprise! Planting & care instructions were included and were clear and to the point. My contact with their customer service was pleasant & I plan to order from them again.

Several years ago I bought a dwarf peach and apricot tree from Stark's by mail. The trees arrived in good condition and grew well but have never blossomed! One call to Stark's and I'm told to use nitrogen, another call and I'm told NOT to use nitrogen,another call tells me it is a pollination problem .... how can it be pollination when I never had any blossoms to pollinate to begin with?! A Bonanza genetic dwarf peach from Home Depot is in the same area and has always blossomed and bore fruit.

I have heard from others with this same problem with Stark's fruit trees ... are they sterile or what?

I bought 17 fruit trees from Stark in October, 2000. 9 never leafed out. I called Stark in early April 2001, I was told the trees were still dormant. I called again in June. An answering machine told me that the company was out of business. When I received a catalogue in December 2001, I requested a refund. It was not honered, only replacements would be. I decided to get replacements. April 2002 came, but no trees. I called to find out what happened to my replacements. Stark did not have my order. I faxed them copy of my request and original invoices. 6 trees arrived with no explanation why 6, not 9. Another call resulted in a promise of shipment within 2 - 3 weeks. No trees. After another call, I was told a credit had been given to my account to apply to the next purchase. I just placed my order for the replacements. Let's see whether I'll get another run around. It will be 3 lost growing seasons from the original purchase.

I ordered 8 fruit trees for delivery in Spring. They arrived last month (and were billed last month!) I was totally unprepared/ pre-Christmas cash crunch. However, the trees themselves are very nice, the nectarine being outstanding. My co-worker ordered 33 + trees for fall; they are dribbling in to her. Company has good customer service, confused shipping department. The customer service dept. is friendly. Go ahead and order but SPEAK VERY SLOWLY.

I purchased raspberry plants from Stark's 4 years ago. They did not produce the first two years (I thought I would give them plenty of time to become aclimated). All other raspberries that I have planted in the past have borne the first year after planting (fall planting). The third year, when they still did not bear, I called Stark's to complain. I was told that they were under new management, and to call back in about 3 months. When I called back, I was told that their warranty covered only one year. I tried to complain to the customer service rep's higher up and was told that he was not available. I will never buy from Stark's again, especially since I have discovered Millers.

Stark Brothers in no longer affilated with Foster and gall. anymore they do have anew owner with a one year one time replacement. The company seems to not have any of the pass history. But the history was not passed on to the new owners. the company is tring to work with the customer on pass orders. On the Plout and Aprium if you would call and ask about how to get fruit off the trees they will help you on that also. This company is a very good company. You just have to have pateince and they are welling to help you on anything. so if you have anyquestion just give them a call.

I have purchased some apple trees, cherry trees in the years prior to their bankruptcy problem. All have been doing well. Just before theeir bankruptcy problem, I purchased a group of nine rasberry bushes. All but two died. I sent a letter to the President of the reorganized company regarding the problem. They sent nine new replacement bushes without charge. All have taken hold. Stark honors their promises.

We ordered from Stark Bros. right before they went bankrupt. I was sent a refund check, it bounced and a $5.00 fee was charged to my acct. My wife called the customer service and was told to mail a copy of our order. To make a long story short, we received a postcard in the mail with a 1-800 no. to call. Not only did they promptly ship me my order, it arrived in good shape. By the way, we failed to mail them a copy of our order; they found it somehow and took the initiative to contact us! I will highly recommend them to anyone seeking good service and stock, just call them if you have any probs. They really do care.

I have ordered a total of about ten fruit trees from them. All arrived in good shape. One nectarine turned out to be a peach tree. I bought a pluot and aprium set that were sold as a pollinating combination. Years later I found out that pluots and apriums do not pollinate each other. Repeated calls and letters yielded nothing more than an offer to sell me a plum for my pluot and an apricot pollinator for my aprium.

Only ordered once from Stark Brothers, Two Dessert Plum trees,(their premium trees). Both arrived quickly for fall planting. They were pre-pruned. approx 5' tall and grew beautifully last sping and summer. Survived the winter in great shape and bloomed this year. No fruit yet, but hoping for next year when they should be big enough. Thumbs up to them. NOTE: This was before they went under this past year. Recently went to their Web site to take a peak, but the site is down. New Owners? are revamping???
Don't know, of course, what the new Stark Bros will be like.

I ordered last year before they filed bankruptcy and received an order full of moldy and dying plants. I complained, was told my order was being resent, and waited until I heard of the bankruptcy. This year I recieve a catalog almost identical to the previous years. I read the new warranty and called customer service. I told them my name and they had my address and everything. They then stated the replacement would be sent when the weather was right. Weather got right and I got a form letter that they didn't get order records (apparently they did get mailing lists) from the former owners and asking me to prove I ordered. I sent packing lists and still no reply. If your'e not going to honor a warranty, don't offer.
Rob B.

I ordered a banana, orange, lemon and weigela this year. They shipped too early during freezing temps. The banana and orange died from the damage. The weigela is growing well and I nursed the lemon back to health. I have ordered four trees from them in the past. Two lived and two died. With this 50-50 ratio I think I will ask for the refund and shop elsewhere in the future.

I ordered trees from Stark Brothers in the past with good results. Last year, however, the majority of the trees I ordered never leafed out and remain lifeless sticks. I have had a miserable time getting the company, which is under new management, to make good on their guarantee. At this point I am still dissatisfied and will never order from them again. Here's what happened: I called in the summer to request replacements as promised in their guarantee, but received only a cryptic answering machine message that they were closed and may or may not reopen. This winter I was relieved to get their catalog in the mail indicating they were back in business. I checked the website, which was prominently advertised on the catalog, but nothing was there. I sent an email to the address listed, and it rejected. I tried again a couple weeks later with the same results. (Apparently, while they advertise they have a web presence, they have absolutely nothing.) I sent a fax. I received a letter saying they would give me a credit but not a refund. I called their customer service line to find out why they were not honoring their "Promise of Satisfaction". I was told the previous owners ran off with all the company's money (including the employees') and the new owner would only honor guarantees on future purchases. I am preparing to write a complaint to the owner, asking why he writes in the catalog that "nothing has changed", yet refuses to carry out their guarantee.

I ordered for the first time from Stark late in the season of 2000. I had a few tree out of about 40 and plants that did not make it; but Stark gladly replaced them. I was very impressed and I will continue to purchase from them.

They have turned things around. When I found out that a former employee bought the company, I called them up and told them that two trees I had bought from them two years earlier had died. Previously, Stark Brothers offered a replacement at any time, but now they only offer a one year replacement. However, after talking to a representative, they agreed to replace my trees, which they did not have to do. I just received them, and they are a lot nicer trees than any sent to me 3 years ago - very nice size caliper and root system. It appears it's time to start buying from them again.

I have been trying to have Stark Bros. replace two failed fruit trees (or obtain a refund) since Summer 2001, with negative results. After I contacted the Missouri AG's office, I learned that the company declared bankruptcy. Imagine may surprise when I received a Stark Bros. Spring 2002 catalog in my mailbox in early December 2001! I've since written to the Missouri AG about this shady business practice, but I don't expect any relief

They are sending out catalogs this year (2002).
Based on my past experience with them I have always gotten great plants that really take off and establish quickly.
Little high in price but have always sent quality plants.

I'm certainly glad to see Stark Brothers back in business!! I hope that the new owners honor the company's age-old philosophy of providing great customer service and superior products!!

I bought 7 fruit trees in October 2000. The trees looked great in shipping and planting. I had 2 cherry trees to and would like to replace them and get some more fruit trees to plant. The 2 that died I believe it was the location I planted them in. I would still to business with Stark Bros. again, so hurry up.

This company has now been bought out by a local business man. He said that he wants to run it as it was before
the it was bought by the company that filed for bankruptcy.

I just received (on Dec 28th, 2001) a catalog from Stark Bros. with the season Spring 2002. Their website is still down and the info@starkbros.com email link is a dead-end.

I have been a customer of Stark Bros. for years and very disappointed to find out that they are no longer in business. My plants, etc. were received in excellent condition and of very good quality. Should I even have a partial order that did not fare well after planting, a simple phone call to any of the companies resulted in a prompt replacement and usually a replacement of the entire order. I'll also miss the many catalogs to read during the winter months.

I have ordered from Stark Brothers for the past two years. I have been favorably impressed with the products and they have replaced promptly any items that died or did not sprout. I was disappointed too hear that the parent company was having financial trouble.

Just wanted to let folks know that I ordered from Stark Brothers a number of fruit trees and kiwi vines 3 years ago. Everything that did not make it was replaced. However, some of the replacements did not make it (I don't think cherry trees are going to grow in Mississippi, even though they say they will grow in zone 8). I just received their 2002 catalogue, and, after having read about all their problems at this website, called them to find out what is going on. Here is the gist of what the person on the phone said. The company has been bought by someone who worked at Stark Brothers for a number of years, so it is up and running and taking orders. I explained to the person on the phone that the replacement trees did not make it, and she has said that she will send me another set of replacements, even though their new warranty is replacement for one year only rather than the lifetime warranty in the previous Stark Brothers incarnation. They certainly appear to be trying to straighten out the problems that they had while under the old management. You may want to give them a try again, but I wouldn't spend a lot of money until you have a chance to judge their performance.