The scoop on 'Volkmann Bros. Greenhouses'

r July 24,2007 I sent in a small order to Volkmann Bros.greenhouses. They weren't listed on GW, but had a full page ad in African Violet Magazine, so I took that as a plus.

I used snailmail & personal check, expecting that my order wouldnt be sent out until my check cleared. Fine. Bank statement came & went - check was cashed - No response from vendor.

Emails & voice mail were ignored- frustration growing. My sister from the southwest was due to arrive 9-13 for a very short stay. She had wondered how her houseplants(streps) would survive during her upcoming winter vacation. I suggested wick watering. Having no personal experience with the method(I live in humid midwest) I ordered a wicking kit for her, and a couple items for myself, so I could experiment with the system.

August came & went - no order confirmation, no shipping info.tracking # - zilch. I left a message that I would be reporting my experience to Garden Watchdog and that I hoped the vendors first review would be a favorable one.That seemed to open lines of communication.

Vendor said he had been in an accident 7-20, had head trauma and was only just getting back. They always manage to cash your check tho, don't they?

Then got some contradictory emails. package went out - (never arrived here must have landed in the black hole), he would send order & refund my payment (sure). Most recently an email saying package had gone out 7-21 (I didn't mail in my order until 7-24).

It was a small order $ 17.43 - a third of it postage. Just a simple order: wicking pot, wicking saucer, 10 feet of wicking material, a wicking kit for my sister. I stressed that the whole idea was to present to my sister when she visited 9-13. I needed the order by that date.

Got an email that he would triple check with manager re:package that allegedly went out much earlier. Another email saying that he personally took package to p.o. & I would receive before 9-13. priority mail.

Well the package arrived today(9-11), he beat the deadline. I have been as patient as possible in not posting a scathing review- I cannot abide by deceit. GW readers know all the excuses vendors cough up- divorce, accident,illness, the dog ate the package, etc. but, I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt.

I considered customer relations to be sorely lacking but,hopefully this criticism will be a learning experience, so I am posting a Neutral.

Package arrived somewhat battered. There was no invoice, no packing material . Inside the wicking kit was a small package of wicking soil mix - in an open ended plastic bag., it has scattered over the items in the box.

Items sent were not the type to be easily broken, so maybe they didn't care to use any peanuts, or newspaper to pack. However, they do bend. which was not of great consequence.
Pots, saucer, appear to be good material. The wicking soil mix (what remained in bag) was totally dried out and hard lumps.(peat moss). You know how hard it is to re-wet parched peat moss. I'll toss that and make up my own to give my sister.

In all this was a very frustrating experience that ended(finally)on a good note. Maybe others will have a better encounter.
Would I order from them again ? No, once bit, twice shy.