The scoop on 'Caladium Bulbs 4 Less'

In March I ordered 30 #1 Florida Fantasy Caladiums to be sent to me on May 15th. A few days before they were to be shipped, Bill informed me that the #1 bulbs of that variety, were not up to their standards, so he was shipping me 60 #2 bulbs at the same price. They arrived on May 16 in great condition, and they look as large as #1 bulbs I have ordered in the past from other suppliers. I am very pleased.

Over the years I had bought a lot of Caladiums from various growers and I have to tell you that the ones I got from biLL were the most generous in size of all. I had ordered 400 mixed #2 bulbs and all bulbs were firm and healthy. Some of the early varieties had started to make a sprout, but that's OK, it's time for them since you can not stop Mother Nature. Packing was great and no bulbs were damaged in transit. I'll be back next year.

NEGATIVE! I ordered the 40lb mixed caladium rainbow mix. I was stunned to find a simple (damp) large box intermixed with just bulbs and styrene peanuts. It took hours to carefully pick the bulbs out of the packing material.

Most had shoots, so I had to very careful not to break any off. Do you realize how much care that takes? Maybe I should have just dumped the single large box into a trash barrel of water and scooped the styrene out first and then drained the barrel!

But I did it the careful way, one bulb at a time. Foolish me, I did expect the bulbs to come in plastic or mesh containers in some set quantity like daffodils or tulips.

I don't care how good the bulbs are (and they don't seem that impressive - many are soft), I will never order from Caladium Bulbs 4 Less again!

I've been stewing over this for 2 weeks since they arrived. They were planted immediately, but I don't have good hopes. I'm not posting a negative report happily.

Mostly, I just want to suggest that the shipping/packing is awful! But a lot of the bulbs seemed very soft and I assume that is not good. If I get 30% growing, I'll consider myself lucky.

I was new to co-ops and didnt know what to expect.
Many DGers spoke so highly of Bill's business and showed pictures of the bulbs they recieved last year.
I took a chance, I wasnt dissapointed expectations were exceeded. 10 count bags with 11 bulbs? common Bill where's your math lol
The 5 pound assorted bag looks like 100 bulbs at least.
All bulbs are huge and well packed for shipping.
Kudos to you Bill and I'll be back next year.

I ordered Elephant Ears. They were lovely, big and firm. Quick delivery. Highly recomend this company.

Great product, fast shipping and great communication from Vendor. Would recommend them and will shop there again.

I received my order of Tuberose's from this company today. They sent beautiful big healthy bulbs. They were packaged well and they arrived in no time at all. I highly recommend this company and I will be ordering from them again. A+++++

I know very little about caladiums other then I bought 3 pretty red ones at a garden center that I've had for a while. I am doing some landscaping and I was asked if I could add some like mine into the patio scape. .".....well, sure I guess?"


Jumped online, found the closest mail order company and placed an order. Dave called me the next day, in person to tell me why he couldnt ship them, when he could, how to care for them and some great uses for the bulbs. He even said being so close in Florida he could cut me a deal on the shipping for a large shipment next year.

WOW

It had to be one of the best, most personal customer service experiences I've ever had. I can't wait for my bulbs to get here....I'll up date it then!

I have just received my second order from these guys, and I am very happy. The first ones i received are thriving, and shipping is fast, prices are good, great selection.
Will definitely order from them again!

I have nothing but praise for this company! My bulbs arrived in less than three days and are wonderful. They are large and healthy. Planting instructions were also included. Bill is friendly and easy to talk to about your order and most willing to help. Great compay!

I just ordered from Bill and my order is amazing. He included a personal message to me for which I'm grateful. I will be ordering from him again. Tina

My second year to order from Bill and again the order was amazing. Incredibly healthy and large bulbs as well as fantastic and speedy shipping! I didn't think it was possible, but I think they're growing even better this year! Thanks again!

Kat

After reading such glowing comments about Caladiium Bulbs 4 Less, I decided to give them a try. Wow. It takes alot to impress me, and I am very impressed! Ordered on Wed. night, shipped Thursday, arrived Sat.!! 5 pound mixed bag. Great packing. Large healthy bulbs. Excellent instructions. Can't wait to get started planting them. All I can say, is this is a company you can finally trust in the mail order business. Thanks!!

I've received assorted caladiums from Caladium Bulbs 4 Less, first last year and again this year. The bulbs arrived large and healthy, and they grow beautifully. Kudos, Bill!

I ordered 5 tuberose bulbs from Bill via the DG marketplace.
They arrived within 2 days of my payment and were in great shape. I have to say they are also very very large clumps!
The price including shipping were so reasonable too.
Thanks Bill for being such a great vendor and nice guy to do business with!

Although I spent my first ten years on the *original* caladium farm in Lake Placid, my life and interests went in other directions than the family business -- long since sold -- and I knew virtually nothing about caladiums. Thus, when my older daughter said she wanted to use some of the varieties her grandfather had developed at her wedding, my wife and I were at a bit of a loss.

After several phone calls to older members of the family, we were able to determine the names of some of the cultivars my father, Capt. T. W. Webb, had bred. Time was short, and the wedding was a month ahead of the "regular" caladium season. We had a problem.

We decided to drive over to Lake Placid and check out the situation. Bill was the second wholesaler we called. Although it was a Saturday, he met us at his shop and walked us through a lengthy mini-course in caladium horticulture, including detailed instructions on how to force the bulbs.

We left with several bulbs each of Freda Hemple, Candidum, Red Flash, and a couple of other varieties. Bill had been out of Lord Derby, which our daughter had especially liked, but a box arrived three days later with the Lord on board -- at no additional charge.

The wedding was a smashing success, the caladiums were spectacular and -- as a poignant afternote -- they were on hand to be used at the funeral of Capt. Webb's wife, Claire, a month later. (She died, at age 99, two weeks after the wedding.)

Photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/digitalzen/Caladiums/photo#52022...

Thanks, Bill. You'll be seeing us again.

Bill and Michele Webb

Bill and his crew are EXCELLENT to work with! Every bulb is fresh, healthy, and LARGE! Great color selection from a top seller. I'm a repeat repeat repeat buyer from CaladiumBulbs4Less for a reason...they are THAT good!

I had been hearing such good things about Caladium Bulbs 4 Less from gardening friends on the Dave's Garden website, but must admit that I am skeptical when ordering through the mail without first seeing what I'm going to get.

Well, I can't say enough about this first experience with Caladium Bulbs 4 Less! I ordered 30 caladium bulbs and 3 clumps of tuberose. I am so pleased with these bulbs, I now wish I had ordered more! My order was shipped yesterday and arrived via FedEx at my door at 9 a.m. this morning! I received large sized healthy bulbs and tuberose clumps along with planting instructions.

I have bookmarked their website and will definitely be ordering from them again ... probably before summer even arrives!

I ordered caladiums and elephant ears from this company, and Bill could not have been more helpful in answering several questions via email prior to my order, as well as in shipping my order promptly. All of the bulbs are superior in quality and were carefully prepared for shipping. The instructions included with the order were excellent. I will order many more things from Bill!!! This is the best mail order experience I have had. If there were a "superior" rating, this company would get it!

I've grown many caladiums in my life, and hopefully many more in the future. I've bought from many sources and grown most of the popular varieties out there.

I have never grown caladiums as large, healthy and full as the ones you sent me. Your caladiums were top notch quality and were absolutely lovely in our front landscaping. I do want to encourage you; your caladiums you sent were incredible; far and away the highest quality caladiums we have ever grown! I hope you stay in the business for many years to come for the sake of all caladium lovers!

Thanks Dave!!
My favorite feedback yet, especially since it's coming from "The Man" himself

I ordered a dozen Gingerland caladiums last winter from Caladium Bulbs 4 Less. I didn't know caladium bulbs GOT that big! Ones I had ordered from another company were tiny and only sprouted a leaf or 2 (and cost twice as much!), but these filled two large areas in my shade garden with beautiful large leaves. Everyone who visited commented on them! Customer service was excellent as well (I was beginning to think service had gone out of style:-)). It's wonderful to deal with such a great company- price, product, AND service! I am definitely ordering more next year from this company!

I, too, purchased the flat rate box. It is PACKED with bulbs and arrived quickly. I am thrilled! Bill helped me by answering questions. Bill and his bulbs are A+ and the flat rate box is a true bargain!

I bought the Flat rate box from DG's Classified and I could not be happier! I had no clue so many bulbs could fit in one box. Bill was very helpful and quickly answered all my questions and was even happy to fill a special request. I will be back for more soon I'm sure!
Thank you!!

This was my first year growing caladiums. I first ordered from Bill in March and he was great at communicating with me via email, watching the weather and finding a safe window of opportunity to ship my bulbs. He patiently and promptly answered my questions via email and directed me to other sources of information about caladiums as well. I ordered additional bulbs in June. His bulbs are huge and the quality is excellent. I have several containers brimming with caladiums. Although I am going to try to winter over the bulbs that I bought this year, I know I will be ordering from Bill again next year, to try some more varieties.

By far the best caladium bulbs I have ever grown! All of the bulbs were large, firm, and healthy. Every one of them grew into vigorous plants :) All of the bulbs were clearly labeled, with the different varieties packaged in separate bags.

Very nice!

I placed a late-in-the-season order with Bill for a 10 lb mixed bulb special. Healthy bulbs shipped immediately, and sprouted quicly into vigorous plants. A great vendor!

Received my order of 3 lbs mixed caladium bulbs yesterday. VERY nice bulbs, VERY fast service. Thank you!

Very nice clusters of bulbs, not just one bulb alone. I've never grown caladiums before, but am looking forward to it, & I'm sure these will be beautiful. Excellent customer service!! Here is a picture of the bulbs: mixed dozen size #1 http://davesgarden.com/journal/edit/showimage.php?eid=123945

I ordered 8 dozen bulbs from Bill at Caladiums4Less and they are some of the nicest sized bulbs I have ever seen. You can't beat the size and quality of these bulbs and the great customer service from this company. One of the best I have bought from.

Nana3

one of the members posted the link to caladiun bulbs4less, so i went on the web site,I never knew there was so many different kinds and colors,i was hook,sent Bill a email and couldn,t belive the wonderfull help he gave me,So i order,i got them and there such nice bulbs
If you guys like caladium, please visit his site,you want be sorry

I happened to see this company's add in the Dave's Classified. I was looking for a specific color of Caldium I had seen in a store once.

Bill was great in answerign all my emails and helping me to find the specific Caladiums I wanted. I order sevral types of the Jumbos and his Mammoth bulbs.

I have nevr seen Caldiums bulbs this huge before. The service and communication were excellent with this company and the product.. well I am still in awe of the size and quality of these bulbs.

I will definately be ordering many more bulbs from this company. : )

Thank you Caldiums 4 Less for such a pleasant and satifying shopping experience.

If you want great customer service, expert advice on their product and caladiums that are second to none this is the place to go. I recieved caladiums last year and they were gorgeous and will be again this year.

And the bulbs I recieved this year are huge. I can't wait till they sprout.
He also sells on ebay.

Great all the way around.

I ordered a 3# mix because I wanted to experiment with growing caladium for the first time and just did not know what I wanted colorwise and figured this was the way to go to maybe get some colors I liked. I did have grave doubts about what I might received.
What a pleasant surprise!! Fast service, and really impressive bulbs!! Several really big ones, though only one was promised in ad I saw, the rest were bigger than the ones I had looked at in prepackaged box store displays! I highly recommend this dealer.

These are the largest bulbs I've ever purchased. Was also quite impressed with the personal attention I received. Buy from this vendor with complete confidence.

Bill, is absolutely wonderful to work with. I asked him a million and one questions via email and he promptly answered everyone and was very helpful and gracious with his knowlege. He shipped them out when he promised and they arrived right on time. The bulbs were very large and healthy and packaged nicely. Each one was separately labeled with instructions on how to store them until they could be planted. He even added a bonus of his famous fertilizer mix just for caladiums! This is one of the best experiences I have had ordering anything from a company. Bill stands by his product and knows the answers to all the questions! He even looked at pictures of my garden to help me decide how many I would need to get the effect I was looking for....what a wonderful company to do business with...I will certainly be recommending his company to others as well as purchasing from him in the future! Thanks Bill for making this such a great experience!
JanetS

i found this company by accident as i was cruising through the watchdog. i've always wanted Miss Muffet so i thought i would him (bill) a try.

wow! i'm so impressed. nice, big, fat bulbs and the fastest shipping i've ever seen. not only that, this is one heck of a nice guy you're going to be dealing with, folks! there were instructions included and a free pen too.

i'll be back!

In all the years that I've ordered caladiums, I would say that CaladiumBulbs4Less stands out as the best I've ever dealt with & received bulbs from. Bill is one of the best people I've had the pleasure of dealing with on any internet order I've placed. If you're looking for nice big caladium bulbs and the best customer service, then you've found it here.

I highly recommend this company!

I cannot say enough about this company! Bill was one of the nicest and most helpful people I have ever bought from on the internet. When he tells you something, you can believe it! I have never seen such HUGE caladium bulbs in my life! He was so helpful and friendly! I will always get my bulbs from him, because I know I will get better than expected bulbs, but most importantly....the best advise and customer service! Thank you so much Bill!

Excellent size, quality, healthy bulbs. Great customer service for a personal touch that you won't get at most companies. Every order is hand inspected by the owner and you will not be dissappointed.

Highly recommend.
Kathy

Exceptional Seller! Customer service is the absolute best! I received a few extras of everything I ordered! The bulbs are huge, healthy, and have lots of eyes. I'm very glad to have done business with Caladium Bulbs 4 Less, and I'm sure I'll be a repeat customer. Thank you, Bill!