The scoop on 'Thompson and Morgan (UK)'

Okay...so this is negative for my current experience. I'm here to moan about the delivery time. The site says, dispatched within a max of 5 woking days...oh, but wait, the 2008 book says two! So which am I to believe?

I have always loved spending hours choosing from T&M catalogues, and especially enjoyed their seasonal offers and vouchers etc, but the delivery this time is appalling!

I ordered just before Easter (bad move I know, but the voucher date would have expired if I did it after), and it's been 7 working days! I made allowances for the Easter bank holiday yet it STILL hasn't arrived. And on top of that, if they haven't dealt with my order yet, the voucher will have run out now and they will probably claim to have not received it on time **Bares teeth***

And I was really looking forward to coming home and seeing them on the doorstep!!! :'( Arrrghhhhh

We purchased a Christmas pot for a friend as a Christmas present. That was on the 17th December 2007. They guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Our friend didn't get it. Since then we have phoned and e-mailed multiple times and it's the same response - "there's a slight delay and the nursery will send it" They always imply that the "nursery" is out of their control. We have asked for our money back (it's now 21st January 2008!!!) and get the response "Only the supervisor can arrange that". But the supervisor is busy. They promise to get them to phone back. But they don't. This company's customer service is appalling. In our experience I would keep well away from them. Any problems at all and you're asking for trouble. They have already taken our money and not delivered. Thompson and Morgan is a really bad company. They don't deliver and keep your money.

I agree that their seeds are more expensive than a lot of other places. I agree that their selection is vast. I’ve been ordering seeds from T&M for a number of years and have always been happy with them.

One thing comes to mind about Thompson & Morgan prices that I’d like to share with other members. A lot of places have seeds that are a little less expensive, to be sure, and there are a lot of places that are more expensive than Thompson & Morgan, but most of them package their seeds in paper/wax paper envelopes that are folded over and placed inside the seed package.

T&M usually seals their seeds in a waterproof pouch that has a plastic inner lining. It could be pouring rain outside and it would have no affect on the seed. To me, it means the quality of the seed is higher and the germination rate is increased.

Seed count matters too. I have never been shorted seeds. If the package says there are 10 seeds, or 250 seeds, you can be sure the seeds are there and often times there are extras.

Since Pelleted seeds have been around, T&M have offered numerous Pelleted seeds to their customers. We all know that Pelleted seeds cost more, no matter who we buy our seeds from. To the best of my knowledge, T&M stays “Up to date” with new things coming along and often has things in advance of other companies. Ergo the selection and colours are greater.

I'm pleased with them, obviously, and hope you find them as valuable as I have.

Darrell

I have been buying seeds and plants from Thompson & Morgan for the past 3 years - ever since I first got into gardening. They were recommended to me by a friend, and I have been extremely happy with the both the products and the service. I have found the specialist plant catalogues (Clematis, Fuschia, Geranium) particularly good as there is a huge choice of plants and all of my purchases have been of excellent quality. On the only occasion that I did have a problem (the wrong seeds were sent) a telephone call soon put it right. The seeds are a little more expensive than other companies, but the choice makes up for that. The web site is user friendly and the "Tips & Guides" section is excellent.

Bought from the company three times in 2005 - every time I received what I had ordered within 8-10 days.
Unfortunately the number of F1-varieties is very high, but you are still able to find some OP varieties.
The winners of the year were "Sun Bright" Runner Bean (nice light green foliage) and "Sungella" Tomato (early, productive, tasty, nice colour) - both OP.

ordered corms from them on the 25/02/04 - package turned up on the 20/03/04, guess what? the package was empty, so I had to call - they are sending a replacement, but god knows when this will arrive. i would never deal with this company again no matter what they are offering!!! Don't bother with this company as there are much more reliable ones around.

I have not yet planted any of the seeds which I ordered from T&M, so I cannot comment yet on the germination rates... but I have to say that my order (£24) was processed well, packaged well, 100% correct varieties, included some nice freebie seeds (lucky dip offer) and arrived in a timely fashion (less than 2 weeks from my order time). I ordered one of their web special 'grab bag' type offers in addition to my regular seed order.. just for fun and trading... and they were very generous in their selection and value of seeds.

I would definitely recommend them for seeds...

Regards,
Annie in Norway

I've dealt with Thompson & Morgan for a few years and they are okay. Shipping is quick and the seeds are clean. Be sure to let them know if you don't want them to send you substitutions, in case they are sold out of something you ordered. Can be a bit expensive but they have a tremendous selection and quite a few varieties that are rather uncommon. Beautiful catalogs, average germination.

I have ordered twice from this company and had mixed results. Each time, I ordered because they offered two or three varieties of seeds that were difficult to get all from one company. The first order did at least contain the right seeds, germination was poor to moderate. The second order also had poor germination rates and one, possibly two, of the seeds turned out not to be correct when they flowered. Beautiful catalogues, choose from them and then buy elsewhere. Beware the T&M exclusives, horribly overpriced and often available elsewhere.

Discovered this site while trying to locate sources of dahlia seed. Order filled promptly and accurately. The seeds have produced beautiful, healthy plants. Recommend them highly. Note: This is a UK company, but there is a US branch.

Has a "lucious" catalog and well printed. I have in past years used their catalog as reference material.

I would, however, caution prospective buyers to check the
plant names listed. Plants and seeds which are common in
the USA are considered rare in the UK, thus a discrepancy
exists. Also, things listed in their catalog under foreign
names, might be the same as something known by other names
here in the USA. I'd be real careful and research.

There are things listed in their catalog I have not seen
elsewhere but I have exercised extreme caution. Things like
okra are common here in the south, they list them (at least
in past years) as being "exotic" rotfl

Prices are high IMHO in most cases. I have only ordered
from them a few times over 15+ years.

Overall I am impressed and on a 1-10 scale give their
catalog a 10 and otherwise a 9--!

I have had good luck with their seeds, and found some I could NOT find anywhere else. I keep all their old catalogs as reference.
I love that company.

Always enjoy the bright catalogue and their entensive listing of seeds. Have ordered for many years and in general have been rather pleased. Yes, I agree sometimes the seed count is not very high and have had very poor results with the germination of their primroses. But, all in all have been pleased! Terry

High prices, skimpy seed quantities, poor germination rates
--no reason to deal with this company again when I've found many reliable companies that offer wide varieties of selections and reasonable prices.

Upon placing an order by their website while living in the UK I was expecting some really fine things. But the ones that turned up were dry and seemed underdone, the soil was seperated from the roots. Anyway, I asked for a replacement but was dealt with by a fairly uninterested lady. Overall experience - expensive and bad quality.

The "Rolls Royce" of Seed Companies available to us here in the U.S. Spectacular cataologue with realistic full-color photos, great customer service and good cultural information regarding propagation, etc. Always a pleasure to order from them and a huge "thank you" to them for their wonderful introductions from year to year! A must catalogue for the serious plantsman.

I am not very pleased with this companies seeds over the last few years, germination is very poor, i know you can complain but by the time you realise the seeds are no good you have lost serious planting time.

I am thoroughly satisfied with the products and service i get from them. My seeds have germinated well. And they deliver internationally with very minimal (actually, no) paperwork or exhorbitant shipping charges, unlike most American companies.

The catalogues are gorgeous. Very tempting. But I had poor results this year. But I had poor results in general this year - wet spring to blame maybe?

I'd look for alternative sources in future and use them only for the very tempting choices.

Has some very tempting seeds and a great catalogue but are very expensive compared to other sources. Unless you order very easily grown seeds the germination rate is very poor.

At least 3 packets of seed I've received from them in the past has been wrongly labelled. In one particular instance, I'd sent back a wrongly labelled packet only to receive a bonus packet which was also wrongly labelled and wasn't even a cultivar listed in their catalogue!

I have been disappointed many times with seeds from T&M. Prices are too high, germination has been poor, and the quantity of seeds in each pack is almost laughable. I have vowed not to be seduced by their catalog again.

I have only ordered once, seeds were good, not much to say about them haven't dealt enough with them to form an opinion.