Comments regarding Gardener's Choice

I placed an order for 6 Blue Daisies from this company out of Hartford Michigan called Gardeners Choice and only received half of my order.

I too was taken in by "buying" a tomato tree. for anyone interested, I just looked up their website and the domain name "Gardener's Choice" is up for sale ($2200) I guess we've all been had!

I ordered the chocolate peppers, Tri-Star Strawberries, Rainbow Plant and Cherry Bush two months ago. The shipment came today, very unprofessionally packaged. I guess this served as a foreshadow. The Rainbow plant and Cherry bush were absent. However, the Cherry Bush is not on the receipt while the plant is. The bill doesn't even say how much was paid for each plant - it just lists 0.00s everywhere. Now, reading the rest of the complaints here, I am afraid that all the plants that came are doomed. The check, of course, was deposited. I hope this letter will help people realize that ordering from Gardener's Choice is one 5-pound tomato of a MISTAKE.

Well, Add me to the list of unhappy people. I ordered 6 Empress Paulownia Flowering Shade trees from Gardner's Choice. I received after waiting three months a post card saying they were back ordered. Then three months later a postcard saying they were waiting for a new crop to mature ad I would receive them within my areas planting time zone. I received the plants in November with two extra trees thrown in for waiting so long. Two of the plants were dead, the remaining four were in dried and very unhealthy looking. They were very small. It was too late to plant them here in Tennessee so we tried to nurse them to better health within our garage where we have warmth, light and air. They all died. I wrote a letter asking for a refund or replacement plants for the next growing season and never heard from them.

I too ordered 6 Paulownia trees in February 2001. I called the company to see if they were still in stock and was assured that they were, so I placed my order. I also requested a catalog and did receive it -- but no trees.I wrote the company but received no reply. I sent an e-mail today - but their e-mail button to customer service is disabled. I sent the e-mail to nursery questions. As I read what the rest of you have to say - I guess I should kiss the trees and money goodbye. And print off all your complaints and write a letter to the local BBB.I used to order stock from another company who advertised in local Sunday papers and always had good service. At least I only lost a little money - but they make it so that legitimate businesses suffer because I will not order plants or bulbs by mail again. [update] I e-mailed Gardeners Choice today and also sent them a copy of the complaints I have found on- line and they responded and said they would send my order.

Well call me sucker # who knows what, but they got me also for $12.73. I sent for a giant tomato tree and some giant sunflower seeds. Thinking about it, really giant tomato tree? What was I thinking, what a fool I am LOL - I got what I deserved nothing for $12.73. If this is all I ever have to pay for a lesson like this, I will call it WORTH it. Beware ALL

I ordered 2 Golden Egg Trees months ago and can not even get an answer from Gardeners Choice. How long can they go before someone busts them? I have hunted for egg trees for several years and then to get a stupid phony company, really lows my mind. Of course I had to pay in advance plus shipping and handling.

I too ordered some plants from Gardeners Choice back in January 2001. My canceled check came back. It is now mid-April. I have not heard the first word from this company. Like a few other I consider this mail fraud.

I too sent a money order for $ 29.66 to Gardener's choice and after 3 months, I have received nothing.

I can't understand any company still in business with this kind of record. I did not have this list of complaints when I ordered my plants. The plants that I received were small and yellow; some were about dead. The strawberry plants never survived. Now this month I have received additional charge on my bill that I did not know about. I don't know if I can cancel it or not. Just think how many people that have ordered from this company that see this list of complaints. I have never seen such plants that I received. Strawberry plants were dead. Potatoes plants were dry and about three inches tall with most of the leaves missing. The pepper and tomatoes plants were about three inches tall and leaves turning yellow showing signs of lack of fertilizer. The plants were late for planting. All of the plants I received were too small to sell.

I placed an order for Royal Paulownia trees and I have NOT received them. My story is the same as the others my check was promptly cashed and I have no product.

I, too placed an order for $43.62 in plants. My check was cashed right away, but I never received my plants. I will try calling, but if I don't get results right away, I will do whatever it takes to put this company out of business.

I ordered my trees February 16, 2001. They have still not arrived. I intended to plant these trees for my invalid Mother for her Easter present, since they bloom and grow so fast. I have called a number of times with no answer. I will report them to the BBB and Federal Trade Commission. They cashed my check immediately too, just like the previous comments.

Add another victim to the Gardener's Choice scam. I ordered last fall and have received only a post card promising delivery. Phone calls have not produced the trees or a live operator. I too shall try the BBB and will spread the word about this sham company.

I too, unfortunately, ordered the giant tomato trees. The check was cashed right away, but the trees took months to come. When they did arrive they were packaged in a plain cardboard box and they were more like twigs, yellow, wilted, and mostly dead. I can make almost anything live and these have died, just two days after I received them.

I agree that something must be done to deal with this company. The United States Post Office deals with mail fraud and has enforcement powers. Unfortunately, the Better Business Bureaus have no authority or power to do anything about this. Each of you who had bad experiences, should contact your local Post Office, report the problem and ask them what can be done to stop this bogus mail order company.

On June 26, 2000 I ordered several trees from this company. Months rolled by and I heard nothing. I sent a letter on September 12 asking if there was a problem, since they had charged my credit card and I had not yet received the trees. No response. No reverse of charges on my credit card. Nothing. Today, December 14, I'm trying to locate information on the internet on this company and happened to run across this comment section. Sure do wish I'd run across this before I spent my hard earned dollars on such a scam!

I am calling the CT office this afternoon and if no satisfaction, the BBB in Michigan and Connecticut. It is ridiculous that companies are still scamming people and getting away with it.

In regards to Gardeners' Choice: Just got off the phone with the account manager for GC at Better Homes and Gardens. She says there have been lots of complaints and that she has a direct line and lots of weight with these wretched people. Mags like Parade, Vets of Foreign Wars, Enquirer, and local newspapers have all been hit by these guys. BHG rep says she will take action if we contact her. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH HER ASAP. Better Homes and Gardens 125 Park Ave New York, NY 10017These people are scamming enough cash to fund $$$$ ads in national magazines, so the effect snowballs. Get your money back and tell everyone you know! Also, contact Federal authorities! There is an inordinate amount of negative response to this company. Further research on the web will lead you to entire sites dedicated to lambasting this company. It has been reported repeatedly to the BBB, Postal Mail Fraud, and now to the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center. Magazines like Parade, Enquirer, Better Homes and Gardens, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc., have all responded to this company by suspending their ads and apologizing to subscribers. Please, please help get the word out that this company is reputable only in the most negative sense. Help other gardeners protect themselves and their hard-earned cash! ResponseMay 25, 2001: Joe Robinson had a telephone conversation with a direct marketing department representative of Meredith Corporation, parent company of Better Homes and Gardens. Apparently the direct telephone line as well as the business email account of the BHG account manager mentioned in Jennifer's email had been deluged with communications from Gardener's Choice customers in the 10-12 weeks since appearing on the PBM-FAQ site. Many of these communications were from Gardener's Choice customers who wanted Better Homes and Gardens to help them with their plant orders, something not within BHG's sphere of influence if the order wasn't done through the magazine. Sadly, some folks simply flamed Better Homes and Gardens, thinking they were addressing Gardener's Choice. Because the contact listed in Jennifer's email was not a Gardener's Choice rep but an advertising account manager of BHG, I am honoring Meredith Corp's request to remove the specific contact information.I left the mailing address for the magazine intact for those who've ordered from Gardener's Choice through BHG. For all others, here's a statement from Better Homes and Gardens:"Better Homes and Gardens cannot help anyone who did not order through our magazine. We suggest you contact Gardener's Choice customer service at 203-857-3800 or 203-852-0001. Their web address is http://www.gardenerschoice.net. They can be contacted via email at either customerservice@gardenerschoice.net or nikki@gardenerschoice.net.

I too ordered three Royal Paulownia trees in May 2000, and here it is October 2000 and no trees! I did receive a post card that stated that I would be getting my trees the best time for planting (they would ship them Sept. 15). I have had no further correspondence from them. I called and got their phone number from directory assistance and was given this number 616-621-2483; which I have called for two weeks and no one answered. I had the operator check the number and no one answered, there was no line trouble, and this was their number.

I saw an ad in the Good Old Days magazine for Tree Tomatoes. I mailed in an order for 1 pack of 2 trees. I never heard from them again. I tried to find a phone listing for them. No luck. I believe I sent a follow up letter. No luck. Money's gone, nothing received. I called the phone number 1-203-857-3800. I got answered and waited for 7 minuets for my turn to talk to an operator. I heard a child crying in the background. If I can produce a canceled check she said they would refund my money, but not the cost of calling her or the cost of getting a copy of the check. I also got another phone number: 888-215-6468.

I had ordered in the spring of 2000, 3 trees I received them and planted them. They were 1 1/2 inches tall at planting and they grew to three to four feet that summer. I have had great success with them.

I to ordered plants from Gardener's Choice in about March. I've been emailing them and calling since June. Was told various reasons and finally in mid-July I sent an e-mail canceling my order since it was for Tomato Trees, and the growing season was over here. Finally I received a refund today for $10.98. This is good but since I sent them $13.48 it really makes you wonder what kind of crooks these people are. So I figured if all you nice people out there will send me $13.48, I will be more than happy to send you back a check for $10.98. Well I guess I will e-mail them again and see what the excuse is now.

Well, here is another victim of the Paulownia Tree Scam. I ordered trees and still have not received them. I'd like to know how to contact the company myself. I'm very upset.

I ordered off the computer March 1999; put in an order of $70.00 of stuff. Kept calling about my order, they told me it would be mail out. Then I called again and they told me I never put I order in - if I didn't put an order in why did they get my an order number? Then I re-sent an email tell me they would double my order; they were sorry for the mix up. So I re-sent it; they told it would be mail out this year for planting; so I call them today and the lady told me I never put an order in; talked to a lot of people that are having trouble with this company. Poor way to do business and was never talk to rudely when I call them the last time.

Unfortunately, I must add my name to this wall of shame. Even though I had a bad 'feeling' about this company, (no listed phone or street address). I had seen the advertisements in several very reputable magazines over a period of at least two/three years. I placed an order for various plants on 6/3/00, the check was cashed on 6/30/00 and guess what, no plants received! As a Federal investigator, when will I learn to listen to my gut instinct in my own life the way I do on the job! Live and Learn + Learn + Learn!

I ordered three trees in May. They cashed the check and I haven't heard from them since. All the complaint action online gives me the idea these folks are rip-off artists. I am going to try to deal with the Parade Magazine people who regularly run the ads.

I ordered and quickly received plants earlier this year but they were all dead or as near dead as possible. I have been contacting the company since both by the internet and by mail and they have not responded. Today I am forwarding my third letter and third email to them advising them of my position. All I want is the products I ordered but so far this has taken three months with no response.

I have ordered from this company twice and have been totally dissatisfied. They keep sending me dead trees (Royal Paulownia.) They finally credited my credit card, but they have yet to issue me a refund after 2 months of letter writing and phone calls. Buyer beware on this nursery!

I ordered several vegetable plants, I only received part of my order and they were all in terrible condition. I sent several e-mails with only a auto-reply from them telling of overwhelming orders from their 'new' web site. Needless to say I lost most all of the plants. I have just received a message from them today that is nothing in the way of a reply to my messages. I was asking for a refund for the plants that did not survive and to credit back to my credit card for the plants I did not receive. They seem to think that I did not receive my order at all? Go figure. This message board has been most helpful in providing address etc., now I can plan some sort of action. They will never get an order from me again!

I also ordered 2 Royal Paulownia trees from Gardener's Choice. I received the trees months after the check was cashed and they were dead! They didn't ship them when I was told they would so we weren't even expecting them until later when the weather was more conducive to planting (and that was their reason for shipping later not ours!). Instead they arrived withered anyway on the hottest week of the whole summer (our temperatures were around 110!). I won't even bother writing the company. It sounds like the way to get your money back is to go straight to the Better Business Bureau.

I ordered a plant from Gardeners Choice. It took several weeks until I got a card from them stating that they would send my tree in September so that temperatures would be lower and successful planting would occur. My plant arrived so wilted and withered I doubt that it is going to survive!

My father ordered tomato plants on 5/1/2000. He sent a letter of inquiry on 6/3/2000 and again on 6/23/2000 with no response from Gardeners Choice. They did manage to cash his check with no problem.

Back in April I ordered from Gardener's Choice. My order was for trees and some other kinds of plants. I sent a check $449.05. The check was cashed, but I never heard anything back from them. I was coming to the computer because I was going to ask for a refund. And found your site. I called the company they hadn't any record of it. The girl was very nice. She told me to get the cancelled check from my bank and fax it to them. I called my bank they have it for me. So now we will see what happens. I sure am glad I found this site, and thank all of you for telling your stories. So to continue with the site to help others I am also telling mine.

I also ordered from Gardener's Choice in April 2000. I have received a square green card with information stating they hadn't received any order so I sent them a copy of my cancelled check the cashed. I'm waiting too.

Finally some good news on Gardeners Choice. In the spring of 1999, I also ordered 3 Royal Paulownia seedlings from them. It did take some time for me to receive them and my check was not cashed until after the shipment was made. The seedlings came in wet soil wrapped and in good condition. I planted two of the seedlings and gave one to my sister to plant. One of mine died, but the other has lived. It is now approximately 7' tall. My sister's also lived and it is not growing as fast, but is about 4' tall. I think the key to making these trees live is to fertilize well when planting.

I've had the same experience that just about everyone else here has had. I ordered two Paulownia trees in March 2000 and finally received two dead trees (they were shipped the absolutely slowest method possible through USPS, and baked in the summer heat) in late July. No one answers the 800 number in Michigan, so I dialed the 203.857.3800 number in Connecticut. I was put on hold for 45 minutes (still no answer) before I elected to leave a message for customer service. Once there, I was informed that "general phone messages cannot be returned". On a whim, I pressed "0", and got a real person! She was able to help me, pulling my order up on her computer within seconds. I opted for a replacement of my two trees, and she assured me that the company would send me a post card confirming my replacements, and that I would receive my new trees in September. We'll see.

Add me to the list. I too ordered three trees and received three dead trees. E-mail answers to my problem consisted three times about how the trees are shipped. No one answers the customer telephone line.

I received 2 Empress Tree Seedling on 7-10-00; one was broken in half and the other one was dried out so I planted in potting soil and in a pot I don't think it will make it either. I need two replacement trees there were order in the Spring and received in the middle of summer. They were kept over the weekend in a post office some where.