Be Cautious With Plants Through The Post- Update

When I shared with you the pathetic dry little plants which Michigan Bulb Company shipped to us last week, I promised to publish an update if they attempted to remedy the problem.

Two of the three plants received from Michigan Bulb Company on April 11, 2014.

The customer service department responded to the email I sent last Friday evening on Monday morning, with an apology and a promise to re-ship the order with replacement plants.   Sam wrote:

Thank you for your email. We guarantee all of our plants to reach you in healthy condition. If you’re not happy with any item you order from us, you can notify us anytime within 30 days after receipt of merchandise. We will immediately send you a merchandise certificate which you may use for any purchase through our catalog or website. Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed!

If we can be of further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Sam
Customer Service

They did re-ship, apparently on Monday, and the package arrived today, five days later.

Package from Michigan Bulb Company received on Saturday, April 19, 2014 to replace the earlier shipment.

At least all three of the tiny pots were still slightly moist when the package arrived.  This little fig cutting still has some green leaves, and I’m sure it will grow well.  It has roots trailing out of the pot.  I’m off to pot it up into something larger after I post this update.

The little Colocasias are still very tiny and sad looking.  At least these are a little greener.  Still no bulbs in stock to send, apparently, so I’ll just grow these seedlings  on and expect the best.

So, the moral of the story, for me at least, is this:  Order from a discount company only if you’re prepared to accept small, inferior “project” plants in order to get something at a great price.  Know, when you order, that it may take several years before the plant will grow into the beautiful  plant in your imagination.

I appreciate Michigan Bulb Company standing behind their guarantee and immediately replacing the earlier shipment .

Now, off to the potting bench….

 

All Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014

These Brugmansia, Angel’s Trumpet, arrived from Park Seed yesterday. These came moist and green.   Several leaves came off in shipping, but there is plenty of time for new ones to grow in.    These plants should be 6′ tall by July.

 

Be Cautious With Plants Through the Post

 

You Get What You Pay For

Be Cautious with Plants Through the Post….

This is the shipment I received today from the Michigan Bulb Company.  Have you seen their glossy ads?  Have you ordered from them?

A dwarf fig tree and a Colocasia received in today’s post from The Michigan Bulb Company. A second Colocasia, not in the photo, looks a little bit more healthy than this.

This company gives very variable service.  In honesty, I have gotten decent products from them at times in the past.    This is the worst I’ve ever seen from this company in terms of the quality of the stock, and the condition on arrival.

The larger plant is a fig tree.  It retailed for $5.00, and as you can see, is a well rooted cutting.  But, it arrived bone dry and shriveled.  The box passed from the postman to me about 5:30 PM this evening.  I opened it and photographed the plants before it had been in the house for 30 minutes.  And this sad lot is what I found.

(Yes, the plants are all getting a drink while I type.)

Now the Colocasia, also yellow and shriveled, isn’t even what I ordered.   I ordered the bare root tuber, and received this little potted start.

I actually ordered two of these, and didn’t photograph the one which arrived in slightly better shape.  This tiny, yellow, shriveled Colocasia actually cost $7.49.  And, there were shipping charges on top of it all.

Now in case you’re thinking it’s the fault of USPS that the plants are dry, the package was only in transit for four days.  The invoice was printed on April 7, and I’m receiving the order on April 11.  How do you think these plants looked when they went into the box?  Not so good, right?

This fig tree is absolutely bone dry as I unwrap it on delivery.

This is why I prefer to shop locally whenever possible.  If you are able to find a good garden center who will stock the plants you want, you will nearly always get a better plant .  At least you have a choice in whether or not you want to purchase the plant before bringing it home.

In this case, I paid for these plants in early March.  My money has been tied up for six weeks, and this is what I get for it.

Lowes or Home Depot would have consigned these to the compost at least a week ago, yet Michigan Bulb Company shipped them out to me, and thinks I might order from them again.

What do you think? 

I’m getting ready to send them an email now.  And a copy of the photos.  And a link to this post.

Should the company make this good and replace the shriveled stock, you’ll be the second to know about it… right after my partner, who will probably bring the box up to me, from the postman.

Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014

Just to end on a happy note, here are some of the beautiful plants we purchased earlier this afternoon at the Homestead Garden Center.  No plant in this entire box cost more than $5.00, by the way.  Look how healthy and well cared for they are!

Plants Through The Post