| Negative | dshattie
(2 reviews) | On May 20, 2006, dshattie Aiken, SC wrote: There has been a significant error regarding charges made to the credit card
account that I provided to Flowerville Farms for my purchase of 13 phlox plants on 3/24/2006.
$51.67 was charged to my account on May 1. My order totaled $43.97. I assume
that the balance of $7.70 was the charge for packing and shipping. The order was shipped today, May 20
Upon checking activity in my account, today I find an additional debit by
Flowerville Farms of $51.67. I have responded to their email which they sent today and requested that they "Please rectify this error immediately."
I will post a follow-up once this matter is resolved.
On May 20th, 2006, dshattie added the following:
There was an error in my previos post of today's date:
Upon checking activity in my account, today I find an additional debit by
Flowerville Farms of $32.50, NOT $51.67
On June 1st, 2006, dshattie added the following:
I promised a follow-up, so here it is:
The 16.5 lb shipment arrived May 23, very well packed and within 2 days of the shipping date. The charges were $25.10 plus insurance. That part of the process was exceptional, but then so was the shipping cost which nearly doubled my order cost. However, I was shorted 4 of the plants I ordered and have 3 unwanted substutions.
I received 12 plants of the 13 plants I ordered. Received only 3 "David" phlox, not 6, but they were perfect specimens. "David" was my reason for placing the order in the first place. I assume the 3 other plants were David
substitutions - they have serrated leaves and one was labeled white turtlehead. The 3 "orange perfection" were fine specimens. The 3 "magic blue" were diminutive in size and had black spot and yellowed leaves. "Tenor" phlox was not sent.
I reported the preceeding info to Flowerville Farms and was instructed to return the 3 white turtleheads by priority mail that they sent in error, and upon their receipt, my 3 "David" phlox as originally ordered would be sent as well as the "Tenor" phlox that was never sent. I did as they requested and sent the 3 plants back May 23 at a postage cost to me of another $9.80. My total postage cost has now risen to $42.30 for an original order of 13 plants originally quoted as $ 43.97before postage. Keep in mind that my cost at this point has grown to $93.97.
The final order correcting their mistake arrived today, June 1. It cost them another $12 for postage for the error. The 4 plants are of considerably poorer quality compared to the original order. The "David" phlox are a third the size of the initial order, and I will not know if they are "David" until they bloom.
I would NEVER order again from this company after this run-around and their excessive postage costs that they say are beyond their control. It would have been a nice consideration had they told me to keep the white turtleheads for the inconvenience, but I had to pay $9.80 to return them before they would correct their own error and send me my ordered plants. They never offered to reimburse me for that postage. I felt as though they held me hostage before I could get what I paid for. Be aware, be VERY aware before you order from this company!
On May 20, 2006, Flowerville Farms responded with: "
On Jun 12, 2006 8:19 AM, Flowerville Farms added:Mr. Shattie,
The note you put on your order when it was placed read; "Just canceled a large order with another company due to their excessive shipping costs. Willing to give you folks a chance".
When you placed this order you paid no attention to the prominently displayed wording that informs shoppers that at any time the sizes and/or prices of a plant can change without notice due to their rapidly changing sizes and perishable nature. You also neglected to read the note about Shipping & Handling charges on your actual shopping cart. It clearly states that there are boxing and handling fees for each plant ordered.
No one has taken advantage of you. You have failed to read the directions. This service of shipping is not free or cheap, the process of pulling, packing or actually sending live plants actually costs money. Had you driven from South Carolina to Michigan to pick up your order there would have been no shipping or handling costs added to your purchase price. 13 plants is a Handling fee of $7.50 which you would have been aware of if you had read the explanation on your shopping cart. $25.10 + $7.50 = $32.60... you got a $0.10 discount on shipping & handling as we only invoiced you for $32.50.
Flowerville Farms NEVER substitutes plant types. The note that you recieved Chelone instead of Phlox on part of your order was a surprise. As we are human, we are capable of error from time to time. However, since no knowledge of the wrong plants being put into the box was an awareness on this end I believe in all fairness it is our right to actually SEE our error in order to know that we have made an error. You are hundreds of miles away from here or we could have drove over and took a peek at the problem. If you go to a garden center in your area and the tray of 30 plants has 6 of a different kind hidden in the middle of it when you get home, you cannot just call up, tell them off and expect them to deliver the right stuff. You have to drive back to the store to exchange the erroneous contents.
The plants you recieved in the correcting shipment are definitely David, they are just from a different grower than the first ones you recieved. The prices changed due to rodent damage to our own crop over the winter. We note this can happen in our online catalog. Had I caught the error before your box left, the David would have been all the same size. The second set of David you recieved was not greenhouse grown and was still in the process of waking up due to the lengthy cold, wet weather Michigan had this spring. Phlox is not an early riser as it blooms mid season, they will gain far more top growth with sunshine and warm temperatures. Flowerville strives to fill every order in full, to the best of our capabilities and connections. We understand that the selection process of which actual plants are desired for each season's garden additions is very important to each shopper.
No one has held you hostage. We simply required proof that there was an error even made. Our postage cost is not excessive, the handling fees that you paid no attention to when placing your order should not be a surprise to you, you had them right there on your order form. Flowerville ships the least expensive and fastest delivery method. Perhaps you would be happier if we doubled the plant prices and offered free shipping. This is an honest small farm business. Before your lengthy explative you will note that we had all good ratings.
It is interesting to note that the other mail order nursery you entered a Garden Watchdog rating on you also distrust whether or not you actually recieved what you ordered this spring.
It is also noted that you left out your comments on our beautiful packaging methods. Perhaps we should resort to smashing plants into a box over filled with styrofoam peanuts like many mail order nurseries instead of carefully ensuring they arrive in good shape. A check for $9.80 has been mailed to you.
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