Comments regarding Gardener's Choice

I ordered 2 Tomato trees last year and i recieved them in a plastic bag and they were really wilted. However i got them into some soil immediatly and they both survived they both produced big tomatos but i only let them get three feet high. I saved my seeds and now this year i have 40 extremely healthy tree tomato plants. I am going to be doing some experimenting to see if i can truly get it 8 feet high . By growing my own plants I now see how dumb i was to pay 6 bucks for two plants... thats crazy. I would recommend doing a search for "giant tree tomato" on ebay and you can order 10 seeds for right around $3.00 after shipping. yeah its a little bit more work but growing a plant from a seed is cheeper and the plant is as healthy as you work for it to be. If you order from gardners choice your gonna be doing a lot of work anyway nursing the plant back to full health so i would just recommend buying the seed.

Ordered Tomato Trees, and Zucchini Vining Plants from Gardener's Choice. All arrived in a bag of dried up dirt, nearly dead. I planted them anyway, in the late evening so they would have the littlest amount of shock. However, the zucchini plants were very dead by morning, and the tomato trees died 3 days later. I pampered and cared for them, but it was no use. They had been dead too long. I emailed for a reshipment, but have gotten no response yet. I will not be using them again. I truly believe the plants were shipped half dead. They came UPS, and the driver told me they were shipped 3 day service. They would not have dried out in only 3 days had they been watered.

Alot of folks are also complaining about the Royal Paulowina Tree. I live in Texas, and I bought two off of ebay Spring of 2005. I planted both. One died, but the other took off and grew 7 ft. between April and October. This Spring, it got leaves early, as we had 96 degree days in February. Then, we got a freeze in March, ( I know, Texas weather is crazy). The leaves turned brown and died. However, new leaves came on and it looks great again. The trees do grow fast, and they need lots and lots of water. The more water, the faster they grow. If you live in a warm climate, like Texas; you must water everything, every evening.

Have a nice growing season fellow gardeners.

Bob A

They sent me an unrequested check, payable to a name I don't use (my first and my spouse's last name (and misspelled)), at a misspelled street address, wrong zip code, for $4.07.

I've never heard of them or any associated company listed on this site. No one owes me $4.07. No explanation. The listed date of order was 3/29/2006 at midnight. Nothing went out of my inbox at midnight that day. Company name shown is Gardener's Choice II, po box 8000, Hartford. Stamped with signature of Shelly Paxson. Sure looks like paper spam to me.

I ordered 4 Giant Tree Tomato plants on Feb. 21 2006 , I paid for UPS 3 day shipping and priority handling . The ad in AARP Bulletin stated that they would be shipped " pre-treated , pre-sown ,pre-fed nurseryman's starter pots " . They arrived April 3 2006 in a cardboard shipping container by US mail with a postage paid of 29.2 cents - I had paid $ 9.61 for UPS and PRIORITY HANDLING . Instead of plant pots the plants were in a plastic bag with a tablespoon of dried out potting soil I tried for 3 days to call them but never got anything but a busy signal . I have filed a complaint with AARP ad department for allowing ripoff companies to advertise in their literature . I sent a copy of my email to Gardener's Choice and I have also filed a complaint with the FTC . So far AARP and the FTC have acknowledged receipt of my complaints but I have heard nothing from Gardeners Choice . I advise everyone ripped of by them to contact the publication where they saw the ad and file with the FTC . PS : the plants were dried up and basically dead .

I wanted to write to warn others about Gardner's Choice, based on my experience with them.
Through a Gardners Choice ad in Parade Magazine I ordered the super growing "Royal Paulownia". I ordered 3 trees. According to the ad "...you can take out a ruler and measure the incredible difference in height every 2 to 3 days!...skyrocketing to 30-40-even 50 feet heigh, or more...in just one single season." Well, it took 8 weeks for my bare root half dead 4" plants to arrive. I promptly planted them and took care to make sure they were in good soil and properly watered. Within days 2 of the plants were completely dead. The 3rd plant survived and to my amazement ( checking with a ruler every 2-3 days) the plant skyrocketed from 4" to 4.25" in only 3 months!!! Imagine my shock and amazement at the incredable growth. This is as high as the plant got that year. The next spring I transplanted itto new soil and over the next 3 months the plant doubled in size. 8".! Wow. The plant doubled in size in just 15 months! Well, another year has gone by and the plant has never flowered and is standing as a brittle dead stick at 8" tall.
Ever wonder why the catalogue is filled with drawings, artists' renderings of the plants instead of actual photos? If the plants will do exactly what they claim they will why not prove it with actual photos in the ads. Wouldn't you be proud of what the plants can actually do?
Gardeners Choice is actually owned a company called Lipenwald Inc. According to the Better Business Bureau's file information, Lipenwald, Incorporated does business under numerous promotional names. This company offers a variety of unrelated mail ordered product sales through newspaper advertisements and catalogs.

This company has an unsatisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau due to unanswered and unresolved complaints. According to the Federal Trade Commission's Mail Order Merchandise Rule, by law a company should ship your order within the time stated in its ads. If no time is promised, the company should ship your order within thirty days of receiving your properly completed order, including your name, address and payment. If the company is unable to ship within the promised time, it must notify you by mail or telephone, give a revised shipping date, and give you the option to cancel for a full refund.
If payment is made by check or money order, the company must issue you a refund within seven business days. If you authorized a charge to a credit card account, the company must credit the account within one billing cycle, not give credit toward a future purchase.

Additional Doing-Business-As Names:

Alpha AHR Research Project

Cosmetic Laboratory sales

Diversified Fulfillment

E.S. Enterprises Inc

Gardeners' Choice

National Growers Nursery

National Magnet Therapy

National Motor Museum Mint

National TV Bargains

New England Mint

Posterworks

Prosta Trol

Retinol Lab Sales

Retinol Laboratory

Video Bargains

Video Memories

(there may be more)
Additional Addresses: 15 Great Pasture, Danbury, CT 06492
P.O. Box 8000, Hartford, MI 49057
P.O. Box 8005, Hartford, MI 49057

Additional Phone Numbers:
269-621-2244
269-621-2447
203-831-2846 Fax
203-857-3800

I ordered 2 tomato trees in late Feb via an ad in the newspaper. I knew they wouldn't arrive until optimum planting time in my area. So I wasn't worried when they didn't show up within 2 weeks. They were here by April.

I wasn't prepared for them not being in planting pots (as stated in the ad) or for the condition of the plants. They looked like tomato plants rather than anything that would grow into a tree.

I fussed over them & got them out of their withered state, transplanted them 3 weeks ago to the yard from the pots I'd had them in (figured when they got to be trees, they'd need plenty of root room).

They are still small & our gardener cut one down today. (I'm MAD after all my hard work & putting bricks as well as a tomato cage around it to keep him from cutting it.) I am trying to salvage it with Rootone & fertilizer. It's back in the pot I originally had it in. I know I won't receive a refund on it & can't return the plant (don't want to since shipping wouldn't be refunded & it'd die enroute). The roots of the plant are still where I had the plant. I am hoping those will allow the plant to grow up from that while the three whole pieces of the tomato tree will root & continue to grow.

The other tomato tree is on the other side of the porch & wasn't cut down. I think I'll put "LIVE TOMATO PLANTS! DO NOT CUT!" the next time our gardener comes. GRRR!!! (The plants were both next to trellises too!!! Go figure!)

Will I order from this company again? I honestly don't know. I'll decide after I see how these tomato trees do.

Lily

We started getting this company's catalogs in the mail about 8+ years ago. Discovering they were just down the road from where my wife grew up, we were happy to order. Our numerous experiences were all the same-- falsely-portrayed items in their catalog; poor-quality or already-dead plants (none of which ever came close to surviving or recovering, from 4 yrs worth of orders); and abysmal (abrasive?) customer service with a "don't care" snotty attitude. We tried to use their guarantee-- GOOD LUCK!

I placed an order for 2 tomato tree plants, a paulownia tree, a raspberry plant, and a strawberry plant. All of the plants were in horrible condition when I received them and extremely small, not to mention that the order took forever to get to me. The order was placed in March at the prime planting time, and I didn't receive the order until the end of april after prime planting time.

The paulownia tree stem was broken and the plant shriveled up and died within 48 hours. The rest of the plants survived but are not thriving, my strawberry plant has never looked fully healthy and hasn't produced any blooms, the same goes for the raspberry, which is still extremely small and seems not to be growing at all.

I emailed the company requesting a replacement for the paulownia tree. They emailed me back once to say they would issue a refund, however that was in April and no refund or replacement as been issued as of July. All further attempts to contact them has been in vane. The phone is always busy during their business hours and all of my emails receive no response.

I would never order from this company again or recommend them to anyone.

we ordered the tomato tree plants and where told we would recieve them May 6th we finally recieved them June 16th they were half dead we planted them anyway but they didn't survive. I have since e-mail them asking for our money back will let you know if I have any luck. I learned one thing I will never order anything again from them. Glad I only ordered those so won't be out that much.

I too ordered four tomato trees, with great expectatoins. They finally arrived yesterday, 13 June, well past the prime planting date, and like other folks have reported, they arrived whithered and one of them was broken, unfortunately the one that was broken was the healthiest of the whole bunch..I have sent them an email, but based on what I've read here and other places, it is unlikely they'll do anything to make up for it.

Did anyone report the SPRING RIVER NURSERY to the Better Business Bureau??

The nursery was listed in the June issue of Woman's Day for the first place to buy everblooming daylilies!!! Now I am hesitant to buy anything from them.

I was enticed by an ad I saw from Gardener's Choice (Hartford, MI) for "Rainbow-Colored Gigantic Tomatoes" in early April 2005. I ordered 6 plants through the mail - order sent 4/4/05. My check cleared 4/12/05. As of 5/12/05 I had not received anything, so I emailed Gardener's Choice customer service (customerservice@gardenerschoice.net) to try to find out the status of my order. The email address was not easy to find as no website, phone or email contact info was included on the ad and an internet search brought up more complaints than anything, but I finally found an email address for them after looking through several different websites - I don't even think I found the company's actual website, but got the info through consumer complaint websites.

The email was not returned "undeliverable" to me, so I conclude it was received on their end. I never received a reply email from their customer service department, though they claim that all inquiries will be responded to within 48 hours. I wonder if I would have ever received the products I paid for if I had not made the effort to contact them to inquire about my order? Only after ordering the plants did this trusting consumer learn of the problems others had had with this company, so I wondered if I, too, would be a victim. Unfortunately, I was. On 5/28/05 a box arrived from Gardener's Choice. It contained 6 dead plants - completely wilted. All the plants appeared beyond saving, but since they were not dried out yet, being optimistic, I planted them immediately in large pots which contained other young tomato plants that were thriving.
My effort was in vain. They never had a chance and one week later all six tomato plants have now completely died. Thankfully, I only lost $8.98 + $.37 stamp to mail the order. Many others across the country have been duped out of much more money and had much more frustrating and disappointing experiences than me.
Due to the very numerous complaints filed online on various watchdog and consumer complaint websites, I wonder when this dishonest sham operation will be held accountable ... and stopped once and for all from being allowed to continue this deceptive rip-off sham?!?

Hi there,

I'm a producer for WCBS-News, Channel 2 in New York, working on a story about on-line gardening centers. In paticular, we are looking into "Gardener's Choice" because of all the complaints they've received. If you are in our area and would like to share your complaint, please contact me. Thanks for your time, Mary McGeever
mmmcgeever@cbs.com

Omigosh - I have NEVER had such a negative experience with a service rep - I called, and was yellled at, told I had only placed my order two weeks before, and my stuff would get there when it "damn well gets there". I had, in fact, placed my order 2 MONTHS before, paid online with a credit card, and I take HUGE exception to being lied to. And just so you know, the number they give on their website is a sham - the REAL numbers are 269-621-2244 and 269-621-2447 - they'll answer the phone "Unix", but it IS them. When you call, tell them what their GardenWatchdog rating is NOW - grrrrrrr!

My husband and I ordered $70.00 worth of product from Gardener's Choice-Hartford, MI. We recieved MOST of our order. I EMailed the company to let them know and to ask if another shipment was due to arrive. I have yet to recieve a reply. As of right now we are out 150 Gladiolus Bulbs and 2 Paulownia trees. The merchandise we did get came in excellent condition and I let them know that. They have great prices if you gamble on getting everything that is ordered. We will not be ordering from this company again....

I ordered two Giant Tree Tomatoes. My check was cashed on 4/11/05, and I received my seed starts on 5/17/05. When I opened the box, I was extremely dissapointed to see that both of the plants (about 4" long) were broken. I clipped off the broken pieces and planted them this morning anyway. I called Gardener's choice and was told that this is the first year that they have run out and that I will receive a refund check. I have to wait and see if my starts will grow and if I will receive my check.

Ordered 2 tree tomato plants.After waiting approximately 3 weeks.Contacted them.GC shipped two dead plants.One broken.Both were shipped in a plastic bag nothing on the roots.I asked for replacements,but they said they would send me a refund which I have not received.Plan to contact the BBB.

I ordered six tomato plants ( gigantic rainbow colored ) and two trees (Royal Paulownia) on March 13, 2005 I sent a check for these with my order and I havent received anything since then. My checks for these items have cleared my bank last month. I would like to know why I havent received these plants and trees.

I ordered 1 paulownia tree. Received a 3" tall, completely wilted seeding which had lost all but two of its leaves in the bag. Glad I did not order more than I did. Will be contacting them to see about replacement

I also ordered from this company. They sent me a letter last week (Apr6) saying they received my order and would start shipping to Alabama March 14th. I hate to tell them, it's nearly April 14th. Haven't received any part of a large order. I have e-mailed them with No Response. I don't know if their plants are any good, but they are very very slow or don't intend to ship at all.

Last year we ordered 2 giant tomato trees from Gardener's Choice. After waiting a very long time past prime planting time in our area, I contacted them. I was told they would ship the plants and refund our money (after I spent 3 days trying to reach someone there). We did receive a refund and the plants. However, the plants were almost dead when we got them; and only 1 lived to produce any tomatoes. The produce was not as it was touted to be. I would not order from them again.

I ordered from GC before I read the negative information on this website. I did have to send an email and ask about my order but received a prompt reply and received my plants in the time they told me they would arrive. I must say that I was less than pleased with the condition of the tomato plants so I took digital pictures and sent an email to GC customer service. They replied back in a reasonable time period and said if I had any problems with the plants or if they died to let them know. I think they have done everything they can to satisfy my questions and concerns.

Looks like you roll the dice with these folks! I ordered their cherry bush and my grandfather ordered the tomato tree. I wanted to know the exact scientific name of the tree and I eventually found out but it took a bunch of phone calls. They did answer the phone usually and were pretty nice. As far as the cherry bush goes, it was an experiment to see if it would grow unprotected and virtually abandoned (hunting camp) on a mountain unattended in upper NY state...and despite being continually harassed by deer, groundhogs, etc. it's a survivor. Now, mind you the thing hasn't grown much- still a scrawny tiny little thing- BUT was alive despite a particularly harsh summer (long droughts) and winter (went down to 20 below on a dozen occasions)- . For all you shouting "cruelty to plants!" I am planning on bringing the little bugger home this year (I now own a home) if it makes it through this once again harsh winter. As for the tomato tree, gotta say that grandpa was pretty happy with it and it grew as described.
So why in the world would anyone order from this place in light of the negative ratings and relatively high prices? Because they offer a few varieties that are kinda hard to find elsewhere - the "fruit salad tree" comes to mind for example.
My advice would be to order as close to shipping time as possible and use a credit card- if you're not happy you have 60 or 90 days to refuse payment from your credit card company if you are dissatisfied.

I placed my order on February 22, 2005.

I just called their number, it rang a few times and some one answered. They said I should have my plants (Trees, Strawberries, and lavender) second week of april.

We shall see. I will post more when and if I get them.

To begin they dont even return your phone calls. Now the word is that SpringHill Nurseries, G.Choice's sister company is about to roll out a national campaign for fall bulbs that bloom in the spring. BUYER BEWARE. Springhill is owned by Brian Paxson, the same guy that owns G.Choice and thier marketing buddies in CT, Lipenwald Inc. who has also been sued for patent violations. This is a notorious group of scam artists that should have been shut down by the FTC eons ago. Do yourself a favor, DONT SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THEM.

I give up. Unfortunately, I don't have any papers or the exact date.

Last year, I ordered a black walnut tree from this company that claimed the tree would grow very fast. Months had passed and I forgot I even ordered one until it came in the mail.

When it arrived, the plant was very dry and looked like a twig. I planted it, it turned black. Later on, a small branch grew from the bottom of it but it died off during winter.

I left it planted because I noticed come this spring, the 'twig' had thickened up. It burst forth with branches and I was really surprised. Until all the branches died off and it's shriveling up.

I'm tempted to throw the tree away because it really isn't doing anything.

Where's the fast-growing aspect? It still hasn't reached my knee and it's been over a year. This has left me very dissatisfied.

I sent a check for $22.47 to Gardener's Choice in April for 6 Royal Paulownia trees. When the "trees" finally arrived the last week of May, 4 were in poor shape, one was weak, and one was good. After planting and following directions, only one is alive now. The other shriveled up and died.

I contacted this company twice by email to their customer service dept and did not receive a reply. I then tried their non-800 number and received a busy signal 8 times and got through to their system 4 times only to be put in a telephone queue that resulted in a phone ringing off the hook. It is impossible to contact them for a resolution/refund.

How I wish that I had seen this website before I ordered.

I ordered 6 rainbow tomato plants on 3/4/2004. Check was promptly cashed and I have yet to see any plants and it is now 5/30/04. Gardener's Choice responded to one email and said I would have my plants in 2 weeks. Didn't happen. They busy out their phone and have not answered 7 other requests for plants or a refund. I have contacted the Michigan Attorney General's Office and reported them. They should not be allowed to operate in this manner, and from all the negative feedback, it appears to be their norm. I wish I had checked out this website before I ordered.

Despite being very wary, I decided to give the tomato trees a try. I am a seasoned gardener, and did this on a whim. After ordering 4 plants of the tree variety I became quite concerned reading results such as those on this page after I had placed my order. To my great surprise, I rec'vd about 4 weeks after my order 4 very healthy plants which are now thriving very well in my garden. The end results are yet to be seen, and from what I have read about this variety, I most likely will not "reap" the best results until next year.So in all fairness, I must say at this point that I have gotten exactly what I ordered. These plants are "zooming up" and very healthy. I will report back later in the season as to their progression. I can not say I am disappointed at this time.Patience is often the key to success.

On 3/5/04 my father, who lives with me, purchased Old English Lavender from the Spring River Nurseries Inc. He paid $22.00 for the plants, all of which have died! He is an avid gardner and at the age of 90 (91 in June) he knows what he is doing. I have tried to contact the company with no results. To say that this was a bad experience would be putting it lightly. He is on a very fixed income and gardening is one of his only hobbies.
Sandy McKenna
Mokena, IL 60448

March 5, 2004 ordered 10 EmpressRoyal Trees,Part #400030-10
Order #10045, checked but they did not reply April 6,2004 and today 5-19-04 Marianna Matkin, mmatkin@bluebonnt.net
P O Box 1103 Mt Pleasant TX 75456-1103, 903, 572-3508

I ordered six (6)Rainbow-Colored Gigantic Tomatoes on 13 March 2004 and paid for by check which was processed on 6 April 2004. To date no plants, no communication with company. What goes? My experience is questionable.

R.F. Hiteshew, 5135 w 100 N, Kokomo, IN 46901

We ordered $192.52 worth of plants, etc. from this outfit over 5 weeks ago. Today, I found this website (too late) and realized the problem and the reason why we have not received our plants, etc. We paid with Visa, so I plan on getting my money back. Also, since we are members of BBB, we will most assuredly let them know our plight. What a shame that we have to fight internal wars with scam companies!

Ordered a Paulownia Tree from them. They never delivered and pocketed the money. They have a bogus telephone number listed that just gives a busy signal when you call. Upon further investigation, I found they are listed on the Better Business Bureau's "Rogue's Gallery". I don't how they can continue this without getting shut down, fined, or out and out arrested.

Looks like I'm one of the lucky ones. I've ordered and planted tomato and lavender plants that arrived healthy and are doing well. It looks like trees are a problem with this company as most complaints are targeted to trees. I am very happy with my flowering and vegetable plants.

we ordered some plants from gardeners choice and we received the cancelled checks in the mail. i say that a lawsuit should be filed on everyone behalf they seem to take the product and either you don't receive the merchandise or the merchandise is shabby i have read all the complaints too numerous to mention and i am considering litigation against the company anyone who wants to join in the class action suit can notify me joel daily at 405 387-3718 or by email dlenn50@aol.com or by mail joel daily 1 daily mobile home park blanchard oklahoma. it is a crime to not stand by your product.if we all stand together the company may produce. i am very disappointed in their company tactics i have tried to contact them but i get the run around. they got my money now where is the merchandise.

I placed two orders, one in Jan. and another in March. A partial shipment of my March order came first, the trees arrived in a box without anything around the roots, which crumbled in my hand as I took them out of the box. It had only taken 28 days to get here. When I finally reached them by phone, they told me to let them soak for 48 hrs and they would perk up. The remainder of my order had already been shipped out, the January order was ready to go out that day. I then received the rest of the March order, 10 days later, it looked as though everything had been thrown in the box. Most of the plants were root bare and dried out, had lost their soil during shipment. The others were withered. Needless to say they died even though I planted them that day. If you want a refund or new plants you have to send the plants back to them for verification that they did die, at your expense no less. After repeatly calling and emailing them, I contacted both the BBB and VISA. I had my money back in about a week. They tried to deliver the January order two weeks after I received my credit.

I've ordered the following items from Gardener's Choice this year (2003):

Three English Carpathian Walnut trees
Four "Fruit Salad" trees
Three 3-in-1 Cherry Trees
Two Monroe Peach trees

Result:

All three English carpathian walnut trees were successful in producing new foliage within 60 days of transplanting.

All three 3-in-1 cherry trees were also successful.

One of the four "Fruit Salad" trees sprouted their grafts well. Another sprouted only three grafts. The remaining two trees were showing no new growth six weeks after transplanting.

Both of the Monroe peach trees arrived in bad shape from dehydration. They appeared dead on arrival. I soaked them for an hour in water and planted them in pots with potting soil, and watered. I don't know at present whether they'll grow.

Gardener's Choice has not been successful enough in delivering quality goods to make me want to order from them again. I'll toss their GC's catalogs in the trash from now on.

I ordered (2) Empress Paulownia trees from Gardners'Choice. After a couple months passed, I wanted to contact them to see where my trees were so I looked them up on the web and I found this site....a bit too late however....I emailed customer service and they told me they were shipping my order out...well, the box came in the mail and when I took out the trees, or should i say what should have been trees, were (2) 1" semi-green leaf stems - wrapped in newspaper - I quickly planted them in dirt and gave them water, but they were basically DOA. Dead on Arrival. I reported them to the BBB because they are still advertising their so called products. PLEASE REPORT THEM TO THE BBB. IT'S EASY TO DO OVER THE INTERNET - I WANT THIS COMPANY TO STOP STEALING MONEY FROM PEOPLE FOR DEAD PLANTS & TREES.