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Last summer I ordered 3 fruit trees and some raspberries, with a stated delivery time of early November. This is a bit late for our area, but I hoped that the weather would cooperate once the trees got here. The trees arrived late in November, and were planted promptly. The berries did not arrive, and a December shipping date was given. That is just not realistic at all, so I asked them to change the shipping date to spring. Although I had checked the packing slip when the trees arrived, this spring I checked the tags on the trees themselves. Instead of 2 pears, I had a pear and a cherry. When I notified the company, they did not want to replace the cherry, stating that it could just have the wrong tag. I insisted that I didn't want to lose a growing season and that any error was theirs, so they somewhat grudgingly agreed to send another tree. All trees are doing well, and it does appear that the "cherry" is actually a cherry. The raspberries arrived at an appropriate time this spring and are growing.
All plants arrived healthy. Packing had little material around roots, and it shook loose during shipping. Shipping times need to be more in tune to the growing area. Previous experiences with Stark's have been very good, but this was more trouble than it needed to be.
Just recieved my order of fruit trees in a timely manner, and on the exact date specified. I ordered two sweet cherries, (Royalton & Starkrimson) and a pie cherry (Balaton,) all grafted onto semi-dwarfing rootstock. To be perfectly fair, their website does not specify the tree size offered; that should have clued me in right away that I would be recieving WHIPS. The Balaton is aproximately 3 feet tall, planted. The sweet cherries are less than 4 feet tall.
By comparison, both my local Home Depot and Lowes have semi-dwarf sweet (Bing and Black Tartanian) and pie cherries, ( North Star, I believe,) that are 6 feet tall and very heavilly branched- for the same price.
I have no reason to expect that the trees I recieved will not thrive, however, for a company that specilizes in fruit trees, I would have expected much better from Stark Bros. I will not be ordering from them again.
On May 22, 2007, Jim618 Maryville, IL (Zone 6b) wrote:
On 11/12/2006, I planted a Balaton Semi-Dwarf Pie Cherry and North Star Dwarf Pie Cherry from Staks. They were both received in good condition and were good looking trees. They are now both growing very well even though it went down to 23 after they started leafing out.
Stark did a good job. If you live where you can plant trees in the fall then I encourage you to do so. I am in zone 6 and have bought numerous trees from Stark and those received and planted in the fall do the best with the least hassle.
On May 22nd, 2007, Jim618 changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following:
I planted 3 Bristol Black Raspberries on 3/31/2007. They were received a week late but in good condition. I ordered these in the spring because I think they are better to plant in the spring. The plants I received were very small. Two of them are a couple inches tall now and look like they will grow fine. One tried its best but never got more than two leaves before it bit the dust.
Although I like Stark's trees very much, I would consider order berries from someone else.
Recently received 2 apple, 1 cherry, and 1 pear tree from Stark's. Had originally ordered 2 pear trees, 1 of which was out of stock. This was a little annoying because I needed a pollinator and this was the only other tree that would grow in my zone so I had to order more pear trees from a different company. And also, in all, about 1/2 of my order was out of stock. Out of what I did recieve, the apple and cherry trees are doing very well. Have only been in the ground for about 2 weeks but completely leafed out. The pear tree has me a little nervous though. Had barely no roots and just looks like a stick out of the ground. We'll see... All in all, I would probably give them another try.
On Apr 26, 2007, PollyPolly Sussex, WI (Zone 4a) wrote:
I received an order yesterday from Stark. The order was incomplete. Of the items I ordered: Blackberries, Jupiter Seedless Grape, Neptune EZ Start Seedless Grape, Concord Seedless Grape and Heritage Red Raspberry, I only received the blackberries and one of the Neptune Grapes. I didn't order a Sensation Lilac and a Pink Butterfly Bush but I received both of those. I called Stark. The customer service person was very nice and re-ordered all of my items. However, the Concord Seedless Grapes are now out of stock so I won't be getting those even though I ordered them in March. She offered me a credit or an order next year. I took the credit. The stock I did get is outstanding in quality but the hassle of re-ordering, waiting and not getting one thing I really wanted is irritating.
I have had both a posititve and a negative experience with this company. Last year I ordered a cherry tree and paid $25.00 for it. I got a little whip not much bigger than what the Arbor Day Society sends you. I called and they sent me another whip. LOL
This year, I ordered two trees and was very satisfied with their sizes and their packing. They were sold out of one of the ones I wanted but then again, so was everyone else. Must have been a big year for Cinnamon Apple Heratige Trees...
Overall, I have to say I'll probably take my chances with them again.
On Feb 2, 2007, elfeik Near Kansas City, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:
In recent years I have ordered 4 Blueberry plants - (on half price) - & a miniature Orange Tree both are doing well. But the Rhubarb I ordered was dead and when I called I recieved more dead as a replacement - so I called again and was given a refund for the cost of the plants but not the shipping
On Mar 24, 2006, tobee43 a sub zone 4A in a 6A, NJ (Zone 4a) wrote:
Placed my order in Dec for Spring Shipping. I ordered a Lavender Twist Redbud and a Pink Cascade Weeping Peach Tree. The Redbud was supposed to have been 3-5 feet while the Peach was supposed to have been 3-4 feet.
The Redbud arrived with a good root system, however it was less than 2 feet in total. The peach was atleast 3 feet but had some rotten branches and some were also broken. I called and immediate was told that they could not replace the redbud since they were sold out. Makes one wonder if they ever had the 3-5 footers since I ordered so early. However, the customer service person was extremely nice and offered an immediate refund for the tree. Although the Peach had rotten and broken branches it did have a good root system but was immediately replaced when I mentioned it to the customer service person. (although I have not rec'd it as yet). There trees are shipped bare root to save on shipping cost but packed well and were still moist when I received them. If the customer service person had not been so nice this experience would have been neutral. I have hopes that the replacement Peach will be alright.
On April 8th, 2006, tobee43 added the following:
wow....the peach came and it was ok....looks like they are getting on the right road!! but still would have loved that redbud!On May 2nd, 2006, tobee43 changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following:
i have also had a declining experience with this company. i rec'd my trees a few weeks back, bare foot, one broken and one much smaller than they advertised. however, they gave me credit because they were out of one and replaced the other. i had decided to get two weeping peach to replace the red bud that was no longer available. that is a total of 4 trees. since i have worked with bare root items before, i carefully potted them and began to establish their roots. well......weeks later ALL are dead. ( i have 5 other trees from other places that did just fine and was budding) NOT a one of theirs made it. the only reason that i have rated them a "neutral" is because they did give me credit for the two trees....but somehow their credit didn't seem to cover the order. i don't have the time to argue about the amount or be on the phone all day...so i just accepted what they gave me along with a lesson well learned. i'm NOT buying anything here again!
Stark is known far and wide and I've been impressed with what I've ordered. I am dismayed, however, that they have very little for the southeastern area. None of their apples, for instance, are those that grow well in our horrible conditions, but other companies offer varieties that would do well here. Same with most of their fruits. Don't forget us in the south, Stark, because there are a lot of people down here.
I ordered six trees from Stark's in 1991. I got seven. They sent an extra peach tree (take two, they're small?) They were small. One I eventually decided to cut down, because it never grew very well (runt of the litter?) but the other one continues to grow and bear. It's a Burbank July Elberta and it's wonderful. Also wonderful is the Starking Delicious plum. My Starkspur Dwarf Montmorency was wonderful, but it died due to underground rodent (woodchuck or vole) damage and a split trunk.
Stark's holds a number of great varieties exclusively, which is why I order from them. However their customer service is horrible. I wrote to them about the split trunk of my Montmorency, just seeking information, since the tree was already dead--as I explained in my letter. I described how the split trunk developed over several years, from the tree crotch down, toward the ground. I also mentioned that I grow my trees organically. I got a letter back that said the problem was due to borers, that attack the tree from the ground level and cause splits in the bark that work their way up the tree, and that I could save the tree by frequent applications of (not organic) borer-killer insecticide. They also sent another leaflet advising spraying every ten days all season with a combination insecticide-fungicide ( a spraying schedule much heavier than even commercial non-organic orchards use--guaranteed to put unnecessary and dangerous poisons into the environment and my system--kill all beneficials, cause cancer and nervous-system damage, etc.).
My one previous experience with Stark customer service was also negative. In 1991 one of my trees had bark damage. The customer service advised covering the damage with an asphalt-tree-coat product. It did not work, and I have since learned that professional pruners advise against use of that stuff. Stark's did refund the price of that tree. I replaced it with one from Miller's (I wanted Santa Rosa, which Stark's did not have).
My impression is that Stark's customer service are poorly trained and ignorant about fruit growing. They are not ones to ask any questions you may have. My experience writing to them about the Montmorency tree suggests that maybe they can't read. I said the tree was dead. They did not pay attention to the details or really, anything I said--and sent me a form letter. Also they have no sympathy for organic, or IPM, or even common sense (don't spray for fungus when you have insect damage, and vice-versa; don't spray for pests you don't have). Is it cheap insurance for them? Advise people to spray continuously and there's less chance they will request replacement trees? Or a chance to sell more of their products? (The sprays in their catalog). Either way it is bad horticulture.
Stark's is a great nursery because of what it was a hundred years ago--because they have a number of Luther Burbank'c varieties, and others developed since then (not including the "improved" Red and Yellow Delicious). I' ve gotten some wonderful tree varieties from them that I could not have gotten anywhere else.
But don't call their customer service looking for any tree-growing info or advice. You'd be better off reading a book.
It's probably an improvement that they are only offering a one year guarantee. Trees aren't "products, guaranteed or your money back." They're living things, and after delivery of a healthy tree, the rest depends on the care given them by the customer. And sometimes uncontrollable acts of Nature. The old Stark's may have gone bankrupt partly because of too
many replacements and refunds. I hope they are better managed in the future.
I just got a new Starkspur Dwark Montmorency--looks all right so far--smaller than I expected, no packing material, just wet roots wrapped in plastic--but very much alive, in fact already sprouting leaves. I hope this tree grows better than the one I planted in 1991 (prune to central leader this time and I think I can avoid the split problem, and protect from woodchucks and voles with buried fencing. Hope this works.)
I ordered 8 fruit trees for delivery in Spring. They arrived last month (and were billed last month!) I was totally unprepared/ pre-Christmas cash crunch. However, the trees themselves are very nice, the nectarine being outstanding. My co-worker ordered 33 + trees for fall; they are dribbling in to her. Company has good customer service, confused shipping department. The customer service dept. is friendly. Go ahead and order but SPEAK VERY SLOWLY.
I ordered trees from Stark Brothers in the past with good results. Last year, however, the majority of the trees I ordered never leafed out and remain lifeless sticks. I have had a miserable time getting the company, which is under new management, to make good on their guarantee. At this point I am still dissatisfied and will never order from them again. Here's what happened: I called in the summer to request replacements as promised in their guarantee, but received only a cryptic answering machine message that they were closed and may or may not reopen. This winter I was relieved to get their catalog in the mail indicating they were back in business. I checked the website, which was prominently advertised on the catalog, but nothing was there. I sent an email to the address listed, and it rejected. I tried again a couple weeks later with the same results. (Apparently, while they advertise they have a web presence, they have absolutely nothing.) I sent a fax. I received a letter saying they would give me a credit but not a refund. I called their customer service line to find out why they were not honoring their "Promise of Satisfaction". I was told the previous owners ran off with all the company's money (including the employees') and the new owner would only honor guarantees on future purchases. I am preparing to write a complaint to the owner, asking why he writes in the catalog that "nothing has changed", yet refuses to carry out their guarantee.
On Dec 2, 2001, chumly Warsaw, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
This company has now been bought out by a local business man. He said that he wants to run it as it was before
the it was bought by the company that filed for bankruptcy.
On Dec 1, 2001, MichaelGorski Indianola United States wrote:
I just received (on Dec 28th, 2001) a catalog from Stark Bros. with the season Spring 2002. Their website is still down and the info@starkbros.com email link is a dead-end.
This spring, I ordered two celastrus scandens (American bittersweet) vines from Starks. Didn't do any reseach before placing the order.When the order came (late Apr 99), the plants were in very good condition. I also got a pack of 6 free bulbs, labled "lily fairy."I did some research on the bittersweet, and found out that there needs to be a male and female plant in order to get the orange berries in the fall. The catalog doesn't indicate this. It says "for best results, plant two ormore three feet apart." The plants were not labeled male/female, so I don't know what I got.I called to ask about all this. The CSR wasn't sure, so she asked her supervisor. First, they said that the male/female thing wasn't true; that the only plant they sold that required male/female was the kiwi. I said "that's not what I found." Then they said "that's why we recommend you order 3 or more plants, so there's a pretty good chance you'll get one ofeach." I read back to her the "two or more" line from the catalog. They said "oh that must be a typo, our computer says 3 or more." To which I replied "I wasn't informed of this whenI placed the order." She talked to the supervisor again, and this time they said that I should plant them, and the male will grow "noticeably faster" than the female. I didn't feel like arguing anymore, so I gave up; I'll try to find another source so I can get one of each.The next question I had for them was about the freebie "lily fairy." What are its planting requirements and/or bloom time? The CSR said "I would ASSUME you'd plant it just like any other lily." However, these bulbs are about the size ofa crocus bulb, which would lead me to believe it's different from the typical summer bulbs (e.g., asiatic, oriental). But, they were free, so I can't complain there.The actual PLANTS (bare-root) were in great shape. They started budding out the day after I planted them (a few days of 70+ degree weather certainly helped).Nevertheless, customer service always makes a big impression on me, so I will probably not order from them again.
I wish I could comment upon their service and quality of product. Virtually everything I wanted to order could not be shipped to California. I know that California has strict agricultural restrictions, but other companies usually have very limited numbers of nursery stock which cannot be shipped to California. I cannot help wondering why they even sent me the catalog.
I have ordered from Stark's several times. They have a good variety and offer many unique fruit varieties. However, I have never been impressed with the size or quality of the stock which I received. They did replace the trees that died over the winter. Once these trees got established they were fine.
