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Hello, I recently made a negative comment on Gourmet seeds Internationally due to how I was very angry on the past company "Harvest Moon Farms". I was aware they did a merge and honestly thought they would still be in it. I did contact them and thought they wouldnt give me support due to how it might not be their problem but after contacting them
they did help me out!!!
I was able to contact the manager and he was able to help me out with my past problem and i was able to purchase some seeds from them in February and they arrived great, they are of very nice quality and I love the mini greenhouse they have for sale...it just eliminated the weak plastic ones you buy in lowes, or other nusurys(burpees, etc)
These should last a long time for me.
Thank you very much Gourmet Seeds, and Please continue giving great customer service, discounts, and gifts as well.
On Feb 7, 2009, DennInMI West Bloomfield, MI wrote:
I just placed my first order with them last week. Service was certainly excellent, received the order (about $60 worth) 5 days after submitting the order online.
I was pleasantly surprised with how generous the packages seem to be on the seed count. I haven't opened any of them, because they're all plastic, hermetically sealed packets.
I've noticed some of the comments here about about the dating on the packets -- I think a lot of the concern is just a misunderstanding by the customer of the dating system. Many of my packets came with a "packed on" as well as a "use by" date. I don't have any concern about the fact that seed might have been packed a year or so ago, as long as they're still within the "use by" date -- a lot of technology went into the hermetic packaging and special seed preparation prior to packaging to ensure freshness and viability. I used to work at a commercial greenhouse prior to changing careers, and this type of packaging has been pretty standard for commercial grower for a while now, but the retail consumer hasn't been fully educated about it yet, I guess.
So, I'm happy with my order, looking foward to spring sowing of their products, and I'm glad I found a new source of unusual varieties.
On Jan 27, 2009, Jayryunen Sapello, NM (Zone 5b) wrote:
I ordered 'Norli' peas from this company last year, and they delivered my seeds promptly. They were the only company I could find that carried 'Norli', so I was pleased.
I was also tickled that they are right here in NM, my home state. So I was discouraged when I read of the negative experiences others have had with the company, especially as I had just placed this year's seed order with them.
Happily, my seeds arrived today (Tues) after I had ordered them Sat.! I only ordered 6 seed packets from them, but the order is correct. Two of the packets are dated for this year, the others for 2010 or beyond.
As for the remarks about the packaging... 4 of the packets were obviously packaged in Italy. They do things differently in other countries... get over it. If you're a relatively new gardener, the cultivation instructions are in Italian, so maybe this isn't where you want to start? LOL
My one disappointment with this company is... no current catalogue in the box. I haven't received this years catalogue yet, so I was ordering from last years, and I was hoping I'd get a current one in my order. GI, if you want to compete, you've got to get your catalogue out around Xmas... that's when I got Cook's Garden (you're better than they are for European seed selection)
I'll be ordering again... if I can get a catalogue! =o)
I have had the pleasure of buying form this company for years. I must say that their seeds have been of very good quality and their customer is outstanding! I would gladly recommend this company to any gardener.
On Aug 7, 2008, pghurbanfarm Pittsburgh, PA wrote:
I have ordered from this company for years, (Harvest Moon Farms before?) and it is now the company I buy most of my seeds from. I buy some seeds from Native Seed Search, and sunflowers, potatoes and second crop peas elsewhere, but the rest come from here.
I've placed several orders from GSI.
Each time, something is slightly amiss such as wrong size packet/ wrong variety/ forgotten item. In each case the company has corrected the mistake in a fair way, but it's a hassle to have to deal with.
My most recent order was for one 100g packet of seeds and several hand tools (they sell nice quality no-frills tools from Italy that are a much better value that the Chinese garbage peddled by the box stores). The tools all arrived in a timely fashion, but no seeds were enclosed, and no indication of the status was provided (out of stock, back-ordered, or just plain forgotten). An e-mail to customer service was not acknowledged within 1 week, so today I made phone call to CS (again). Helpful as usual, and maybe I'll get the seeds I need for fall planting, but I'm just not sure that it's worth the hassle to have to follow through and get every order corrected...This would be a great company if they were just a little more detail oriented.
On July 21st, 2008, JJFarmer added the following:
I'm sorry to have provoked a defensive response here---as I've said, the company has good customer service. With the exception of their email response (I never got one), I don't dispute GSI's characterization of the transaction---I think this it's consistent with my comment.
This is a good company with nice products and ample customer service, but I do think it's a fair to observe that they have a pattern of not quite getting it right when it comes to order fulfillment (at least for me, but other posts also seem consistent with this).
I have no doubt this wrangling of and reshipping of orders is bad for their bottom line, it's also not a fantastic way to engender customer satisfaction. Gourmet Seed does offer a unique product line and I've been happy with all my purchases so I'll likely continue to order from them and would encourage others to do so. Just don't be surprised if it takes an iteration or two to complete your order.
I'll happily change this rating to positive as soon as I've placed an order or two that come off without a hitch...On July 24th, 2008, JJFarmer added the following:
A quick follow-up: The missing spinach seeds arrived today. To my astonishment, they are the wrong variety! No note or packing slip was enclosed, so I can't say whether this was a substitution or another mistake. Either way it's bad news since I got a bulk package of a cool weather only variety (one that I coincidently already have seeds of) when what I wanted was a slow-to-bolt variety suitable for getting a jump on the fall crop.
Is there a pattern here?
details, details, details...
For purposes of full disclosure, I've e-mailed GSI's customer service and have not yet heard back. We'll see.On July 25th, 2008, JJFarmer changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
Another update: Today I received an e-mail confirming another package has been shipped to me. A customer service rep. followed up with a phone call this evening to apologize for the error and inform me that the correct seeds were sent via priority mail (a very nice touch, that I do appreciate)
Again, very good customer service (a rare thing these days). I sincerely hope GSI can work the kinks out of their order fulfillment system. This is a good company and they sell products that can't be found elsewhere. I'll certainly continue to patronize them.
I figure I've probably spent over $100 with this company, but I'd be surprised if they turned a profit on the transactions...I'm changing my rating to positive---at least they'll earn some good feedback from me for all the trouble. On Jul 21, 2008, Gourmet Seed International responded with:
"
On Jul 21, 2008 12:26 PM, Gourmet Seed International added:
We thank this customer for his business and apologize for the error in filling his order. Here are the details of this transaction:
He placed the order on 11 July, and it was delivered to him on Thursday afternoon, 17 July. He sent us an email 9:26pm that evening. We responded to his email on Friday morning (apparently he did not receive it) telling him that we would send the missing item right away. It was shipped out that afternoon (Friday 18 July).
The customer called us this morning (Monday 21 July), and as the person answering the phone was not aware of the details, they offered to call back with any information, which they did. However, before they made the call, the customer filed this report.
We erred in filling the customer's order, and for that we are truly sorry. Not only do errors of this type not please the customer, but they cost us greatly in correcting the problem. However, as is true for any merchant, we appreciate it when any customer will give us a reasonable amount of time to respond and fix the problem.
Phil
Gourmet Seed International, LLC"
Last year a friend ordered seed from this company and complained that it "wasn't dated for this year" but had a "use by" date. I bought the seed from her, and nearly every seed germinated. I got good crops and was very satisfied, and ordered from them directly this year. Their selection is excellent and I like the airproof packaging, since I think it's very wasteful to throw away seed that is still in perfect condition.
On Mar 17, 2008, pollywoggy19 Humansville, MO wrote:
I just received my first order and was I ever pleased ! I love the foil packaging . This allows for the seeds to be viable much longer then the paper envelopes most companies use. I will be buying my LONG TERM STORAGE seeds from them for sure. I got prompt replies to my questions and fast delivery of my order. TWO THUMBS UP !
This is the second year I have placed a small order with Gourmet Seeds for unusual and hard-to-find vegetables, and I am very pleased with their products and their customer service. Seeds arrived within a week of ordering, and my written request for one variety was filled even though the on-line ordering system said it was out of stock. It doesn't appear that I was charged for the extra item either, though I am quite willing to pay for it. The seed packages are often in German or Italian but I don't care, as the quality, and quantity, of the seeds surpass many American companies. It's nice to have a company that cares for small orders - and I will definitely be making larger ones after this.
On Dec 15, 2007, paracelsus Elmira, NY (Zone 6a) wrote:
This is a great place to get unusual veggie seeds from Europe. For instance, they have a bunch of old-time British turnip varieties I have never seen anywhere. I really like the large and very beautiful seed packets from the Italian seed companies they carry too. The art of the seed packet has obviously not been forgotten in Italy. They also include a very generous number of seeds.
Rarely am I contacted by a company when they are out of something, but this company did. They were out of a yellow bush bean I ordered and emailed to ask me if I wanted a substitute. I said yes, and they sent me a double amount of another yellow bush bean. They also shipped priority mail, which is unusual in the seed biz.
I really like this company for European veggie varieties.
On Oct 27, 2007, RemyO Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6b) wrote:
I love this company to get unusual seeds. The European seed packets in general are much larger than the usual American ones. The prices are very good if you factor in the European seed counts.(I hope the company keeps it this way!) I have no problem not being able to read the packet info. I would rather receive them in their original packets than pay more for repackaging into packets written in English. Cultural info can easily be found here and on other places on the internet.
The shipping may seem high, but seeds are delivered quickly by Priority mail.
On Oct 5, 2007, pajaritomt Los Alamos, NM (Zone 5a) wrote:
I have ordered several times from this company and have enjoyed the selection of European seed which is hard if not impossible to locate in other companies in the US. The European seed packages are lots more generous than American ones as well, it seems to me.
The only problem that I have had is that their web site would not my perfectly ordinary credit card that worked everywhere else. I even called them and had the person on the phone try to enter it and she couldn't either. So, I had to mail them a paper order and a check. Bummer.
But I got great seeds from them!
On Oct 5, 2007, Gourmet Seed International responded with:
"
On Oct 5, 2007 10:45 AM, Gourmet Seed International added:
We want to thank pajaritomt for their kind words about our product line. We continually search to find new varieties to enhance the culinary experience you can get from your garden.
As to the credit card issue, we are sorry that the card would not process, but as any online merchant will tell you, we do not have control of this nor is this type of issue normally caused by the website itself. When paying for an order online, there are several players 'behind the scenes' involved with the secure processing of that payment, and for any number of reasons a payment can fail, even ones as simple as a key server being temporarily down or the security code being incorrectly entered.
If any of our customers have difficulty processing a payment, we invite them to contact us as this customer did, and we will attempt everything we can on our end to resolve the problem. However, as we do not actually process the payment (which is similar to a regular walk-in store), we are at the mercy of the various gateways and banks involved.
Again, thanks for the kind words, and as always we will continue to strive to provide an exceptional product at a fair price with exceptional service.
Phil Winteregg
Gourmet Seed International, LLC"
On Feb 20, 2007, DrCochran Mammoth Spring, AR wrote:
I have traded with this company for a few years now and find them to be one of the best. They don't waste time with flashy catalogs like Burpee's, and their selection is unique. The seed quality is excellent, as well.
On Feb 11, 2007, cyndiehook Central, ME (Zone 5a) wrote:
Received my order via Priority Mail. Was very impressed with fast delivery of order. Ordered over the weekend and received here in Maine during the week. The seeds I ordered were types that I haven't seen available in the US. These are varieties from other countries so the package won't necessarily be in English. I did find an English translation on the web. Can't wait to try some new veggies. Package quantities are much larger than packets from US companies.
On Jul 7, 2006, Violet Springfield, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:
I have just completed creating an online order with the company. I have read the reviews and am giving this company the benefit of the doubt regarding shipping time, germination rates, and accurate processing of the order or 27 varieties of seed. I will be planting in a public demonstration garden that has had compost added to the soil for 10 years straight with consistent, timed watering. I will report back on service, packaging, seed quality, and germination rates as well as to the PlantFiles database on quality of the plants and produce. I hope to be able to post positive reviews.
On July 14th, 2006, Violet added the following:
Since my order was placed Friday evening, the order was processed and shipped Monday, July 9. I received an email saying it was shipped via Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation and provided a USPS tracking number. And I received an immediate, detailed receipt via email as soon as I placed the order on Friday, July 7.
(I've been checking the tracking number and I don't know why, but the package status only ever said: Your item is enroute and was last scanned at 7:37 PM on 07/10/2006 in ROSWELL,NM 88201. It was never updated even up into the time I actually received the order. I find that odd but this has nothing to do with Harvest Moon Farms.)
So as far as prompt shipping, I was pleased. Also, perhaps shipping costs have improved because despite previous feedback, my Shipping & Handling was $8.81 for an order of $74.39 and I did not ask for priority mail shipping, it was a pleasant surprise but it still took until today (Friday) for it to arrive from being shipped Monday.
I opened it and compared the contents to the order. To my surprise, three of the items I ordered were marked "REFUNDED" on the order form. I've checked with my bank and they did in fact refund the proper amount.
Now normally this wouldn't bother me but considering the time frame of a fall planting for a state gardening conference in a public demonstration garden - and this is specifically for a Square Foot Garden which has specific dimensions so if any space is empty, I need to fill it.
I would have appreciated being notified and informed of the varieties that were not available so that I could have immediately looked for other varieties from their offerings and had them send those instead with my consent. Because I still have three empty spaces and timing of planting is critical so now I've lost five days unnecessarily.
Now for what I did receive out of my order of 27 varieties of seed.
3 were discovered not available upon receipt.
(Could they update their website so mark them "Sold Out"?
20 of the items were correct.
I received and did not order the following 3 items:
(AB02-HM) RED NOODLE ASPARAGUS BEAN
(BR07-SG) BROCCOLO SPIGARIELLO
(GG02-GS) ITALIAN COLTIVATA ARUGULA
I ordered and did not receive the following 4 items:
(AB03-HM) MOSAIC ASPARAGUS BEAN
TP02-BA) RED MILAN
(BR13-SG) SESSANTINA
(GG06-HM) WILD ARUGULA "LISCIA"
I have emailed their customer service and asked that they call me to discuss and correct the order and am awaiting their response. On July 14th, 2006, Violet added the following:
I should also confirm previous posts regarding packaging. They are definitely from country of origin of the original seed company.
This makes comparing the contents of your order against the order form somewhat time consuming because the variety name can be on the back of the pack and not obvious. But that doesn't bother me. It does, however, make me wonder exactly how their seeds are organized in the warehouse, because if they are sorted by catalog number and clearly marked, I don't see how the incorrect varieties are being shipped.
Since the packages are not re-marked, it seems that this should be more incentive for double and tripple checking the order for accuracy before shipping in order to save everyone time and for them, shipping costs from having to correct an order.
Apparently non-US seed companies fill their seed packets with far more seed than you'll ever see in US seed packs. I find this refreshing and this is perfect for those who do online seed trading on a regular basis. You get a good amount of seed for a very reasonable cost and the selection of varieties (assuming they're in stock) is phenomenal even when compared to Asian seed companies, heirloom seed companies, and seed saving organizations.
On July 15th, 2006, Violet changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
Even though this company is closed on Saturday, I received a phone call Saturday morning from the customer service department. They have the seeds varieties I did not receive, in stock and will be shipping them - I am assuming - today. They are also including a return label so I can return the seeds I did not order. They also wanted to confirm that there was one item on my "I did not order" list that I in fact did order. I looked again at the seed pack and due to the fonts and package design was focusing on "cavolo" instead of "spigariello".
I also placed one more order with them the evening of July 12, and it was promptly shipped with tracking number on July 13. So far my experience with this company and it's service has been positive.
I will be planting seeds today in pro-mix and look forward to reporting back on germination. On July 17th, 2006, Violet added the following:
Second order shipped on July 13 arrived today with all items ordered.On December 3rd, 2006, Violet added the following:
Everything had an excellent germination rate except for one variety which may require cold stratification. I am please with the results and the service.
Delivery is fast! Only 4 days from putting in the on-line order to having the seeds in my hands. Good variety of vegetable seeds, including a lot of cultivars I've not seen anywhere else.
One caveat, though: Harvest Moon reships a lot of seeds from European seed companies, and their catalog does not indicate where the seeds originally come from, and it can be a bit of a challenge trying to figure out just how what you have matches what you ordered. On the other hand, I now know the Italian for beet, cauliflower and lettuce!
On Feb 2, 2006, sugarlily Gridley, CA (Zone 8a) wrote:
WOW! First, their selection is incredible. Second, their service is lightening quick. I ordered online Sunday morning, received my order Wednesday morning...everything there and in excellent condition The seed packets are plump full and from all over the world. Can't wait to plant them...and order again. This company rocks!
On Jan 9, 2006, Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:
An interesting company, They have lots of European vegetable cultivars that are hard to get in the USA. They apparently do not relabel. Only one packet was in English, and that one was from the UK. I rarely have germination problems so I am rateing them positive for prompt shipping and good selection of hard to find cultivars.
On Jun 6, 2005, PurplePansies Deal, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote:
Rave reviews for this great company! EXCELLENT selection (of vegetables) (and a few flowers and herbs).... average prices (some items pricey.... most average) and generous seed packets in large quantities. Easy order. Easy to read and navigate page (web page) and speedy delivery. Everything arrived in good condition with no mistakes on the order. Highly recommended!
Holy moly! I ordered my seeds on Friday and got them the following Wednesday. I haven't had service that fast from a seed company for a really long time. I haven't planted the seeds yet, so no reports there, but they look good. It might be worth noting that this company sells seed packets from other companies (though perhaps not exclusively?) Three out of four of my packets were from Italian companies, so I can't read the cultivation information on the back. This doesn't particularly bother me, but I know it might bug some people.
On Jan 17, 2005, skunkster Moscow, ID (Zone 6a) wrote:
I have had good luck with this company, while not the best customer service in the past they seem to be improving and their selection is unmatched. Good amounts of seed for the price. I think they have also improved their seed packaging this year by switching to small plastic bags with more detailed labels.
On Apr 29, 2004, pajohnso Marquette, MI (Zone 5a) wrote:
We ordered a greenhouse from this company 3 weeks ago. We have called repeatedly to find out the status of the greenhouse as they said it would be shipped the next day. We have left messages, and sent e-mails and have had no response. I am very unhappy with the service this company provides. Unless they add more staff and start providing better (or any) customer service, I would not order from this company.
On April 30th, 2004, pajohnso changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following:
I finanlly got in touch with Harvest Moon and they were very nice and did rectify the problem. They indicated they had sent me a few e-mails, however, I didn't ever receive any of them. Just wanted to post an update and let you know that they did fix the problem.
This was my first year ordering from Harvest Moon and I have had great service. They were out of a few varieties that I ordered but when I called them they helped me choose similar varieties and sent them to me promptly. The seed quantity is great, and so far germination has also been great. The selection is above average, with many seed found no where else. They are really heavy on European varieties.I will be certain to do more business with them next year.
Great Company, had questions on a variety they offered and had a personalized response that day!! Ordered alot of seed and never expected to get all the amount of seed I got for the price. Huge selection of stuff and so far Ive gotten 98 tomato plants out of 100 seeds!! Never had that before happen. Will be ordering from them alot more as their selection will keep me trying more stuff!!!!!
Just found this company and ordered some seeds for fall planting, seemed to have a large selection of really nice varieties, arrived a little later than anticipated about 8 days after I ordered, not nearly as late as some companies though, and WOW!!!!!! couldnt believe the amount of seed I got for the price!! I never had seed germinate so good either!!! Still cant get over the selection!! They definatley have all my business for this spring. I highly recommend their Wild Arugula, the best Ive ever had!!
