Comments regarding Growquest Growers (also dba Olive-Trees.net and Surf & Sierra Wholesale Nurseries, LLC)
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Avoid doing business with this guy, Chris. He strung me along for one month on an order for an avocado tree. He confirmed a delivery schedule time after time, and never delivered with some reason or another. I followed up by email & phone and got only lies from him.
Buyer beware: I had prepaid for these roses (even forgot to deduct my "prepay" discount). Even so, they never came. The first time I emailed, I received an immediate response indicating that they would be sent in short order w/ an extra plant. I waited. Still, they never came. I sent several more emails, this time requesting a refund as I had reached the point of giving up on them and never received a response. I'll give them a week to send me a refund.
On Feb 5, 2013, mebrann Dove Creek, CO (Zone 5b) wrote:
Growquest Nursery, Christopher Morgan Gilcrest, is a total scam. Do not be fooled by their beautiful website. Mr. Gilcrest will gladly take your money. You will never, ever receive your product and you will never, ever receive your order. I ordered and paid for 3 roses, plus shipping in August, 2011. He has been dancing me around since then despite my calls and e-mails. He has finally just stopped responding to me.
Posted on August 16, 2012, updated August 17, 2012
Posted on March 13, 2012, updated August 16, 2012
Posted on March 12, 2012, updated March 13, 2012
Hello Everyone,
I can't beleive all the the negative things that I have read. My name is Chris and I just placed an order from this company for one large strong Hass Avocado tree. One hour later, I got a call from Chris (the owner), he was very professional, nice and very pleasing to deal with. Here is what he did for me. He told me that he will give me two trees one "A" and one "B" to pollinate the other. He looked up my address on the google maps, look at the google earth to see my house and backyard, zoomed in and he told me how and where to plant my two Avocado trees, what kind he will give me and what I need to do to protect them from the frost. He is sending his driver over to my house tonight to drop my two trees off including some Gypsum powder for the soil. He told me that he will give me the very best strong trees that he has so they will survive the heat and frost that I get at my house. He even offered to come over to my house later this week to paint the trunk of the tree with white latex paint to protect it.
I think Chris is very nice. I work in an industry that I come in contact with over 2,000 people a year, so I can spread the word of how Chris treats his customers and how he goes out of his way to help others.
NOTE: Once I get my product tonight, then I will write him a check, per his instruction. He saved me a bunch of money, instead of shipping the tree, he is throwing in a second tree for the price of shipping cost. Basically, my bill never went up and he is giving me more than I even asked for.
WOW, awesome, business man!! I will spread the word around to buy from Chris at GROWQUEST.COM
Chris, Love your videos, thank you!!
Customer for life,
ChrisJR
P.S. Chris, I hope all your family issues are getting better. I have read so much about it. Urg!!
I stand by you and your products. I think that some people can not ever be pleased in this world and hurt others.
On March 13th, 2012, chrisjr added the following:
UPDATE: My two trees were hand delivered last night at 6:00pm. After placing the order at Noon, I received my order just 6 hours later. I have never had a faster shipment in my life as I did with this one.
I have to say the trees look very good. They both are helathy and strong with a lot of new growth on them. The large tree is over 10 feet tall, I was shocked (in a good way) when I got it. Some nurseries sell crap and small trees for a large price plus delivery. I know, I was taken from another nursery (full refund was given).
I have to admit Chris and his team really came through for me. His driver that delivered the trees was very nice and friendly. He asked me if my trees look good enough and he even wheeled them to the backyard for me. He didnt leave until I was fully satisfied. I appreciate the speedy service and honest feedback that I was given. I will always buy more trees from them. Thanks. On August 16th, 2012, chrisjr changed the rating from positive to negative and added the following:
You are right. Chris Gilcrest is a total fraud. He should be in jail or someone should put a stop to him. He stole my money. He is a lier, calls you names and steals from you. He even denys you ave him money. He disconnects his phones from time to time and then adds another address to his business. This LOSER, LIER, THEFT NEEDS TO BE CAUGHT AND IN JAIL. CAN ANYONE HELP???
NEVER USE GROWQUEST GROWERS AT ALL. BE CAREFUL HE HAS MANY WEBSITES OUT THERE.
WRITE TO BBB AND THE FBI LIKE I DID
I have changed my rating because the trees that Chris LOSER sold me was dieased and DIED. I had them checked out by a true professional and he told me that he didnt grow them right and used not only bad soil, but also salt in the water and killed the roots. He is a total FRUAD. He takes your money and sends you dead trees. Many people have stated that he in fact stole their money. Now the FBI is onto him. read it all online. Check out BBB. Its all there. Last night he called me 5 times cursing me out like a littel child over and over again. Then he emailed me over and over again, which I called the police, filed a report and wrote to BBB what he has done. I also called the FBI and filed a complaint. I sent the police all the emails he sent me. He is very RUDE, NASTY, UNPROFESSIONAL, LIER THEFT AND NO GOOD LOSER. HE IS NOT A MAN AT ALL, BUT A MENTAL ISSNESS CASE. Serisouly someone needs to put a stop to him. I will not be insulted at all. I am blogging everywhere. Its called freedom of speech Chris, so take that LOSER!!! He will steal your money and send you plants that will die. Good luck!!! BBB has an alert out on his company that is run from an apartment and garage. BE CAREFUL!!! Read some forums, I beleive their is a class action suit that is filed. I will jump onto that. On August 17th, 2012, chrisjr added the following:
Chris Gilcrest is a total fraud. He should be in jail. He stole my money. He is a lier, calls you names and steals from you. He disconnects his phones from time to time and then adds another address to his business. He bounces around from place to place after he got kick out of Tulare country. Now he is in Ventura Country. This LOSER, LIER, THEIF should be in jail. Someone needs to put a stop to him.
NEVER USE GROWQUEST GROWERS AT ALL. BE CAREFUL HE HAS MANY WEBSITES OUT THERE. WRITE TO BBB AND THE FBI LIKE I DID. When you call his bluff or write something bad, he will get very mad at you, call you names and treats you like a child. Something is totally wrong with him mentally. Seriously many people have stated this.
The trees that Chris LOSER sold me were diseased and DIED. I had them checked out by a true professional. The trees he sent had too much salt, bugs and was root bound. I found out that he never grew this himself. These are knock off trees from a discount place. Basically, these trees were trashed and he sold them to me. He doesn’t even ship them to you, but throw them in an old crappy van laying down in the hot sun. He damaged these trees. It is on purpose. Check out BBB. Don’t buy from him!! HE CHARGES YOU FOR UPS SHIPPING BUT NEVER SHIPS THEM. THIS IS BAD!!!
He has many you tube videos that shows his plants, DONT believe it. Look at all of them, every video is from a different nursery. He goes around taking videos, post them on You tube as his own, which is a crime and then he sells you crap. He doesn’t sell you these trees at all. What a TOTAL JERK AND SCAM.
HIS BUSINESS IS MAINLY FROM YOU TUBE SO PLEASE DONT BUY FROM HIM AND IN FACT CHECK OUT WHAT TRUE CUSTOMER POSTS.
I KNOW HIS GAME. WHAT A TOTALL LOSER AND JERK.
I know his game well and here is the story. You can confirm everything by going to you tube and reading all the negative things about him. None of this is made up at all by me. THIS IS THE TRUTH. READ ON.
This guy is a thief big time. He has no nursery at all. He works out of a garage with an apartment. He drives around from nursery to nursery taking videos and then post them online to sell you items. His wife left him. His family is mad at him. His children, well, I won’t go into that. Recently his brother is in trouble. Chris Morgan Gilcrest has been in jail, and has to pay a fine. He was required to cease and decease order by the FBI. Now he is being investigated by the FBI and BBB. BBB also has alert out on his business and name. Please look online, you will find everything. I am not making any of this up.
He will either send you trees that will die or not send you anything at all. My job is to stop him and post whatever and whenever I can. There are many customers doing the same thing. We have the right to as freedom of speech. In fact what he is doing is breaking the law and is a federal crime, since he stole over $1,000.00 from customers. I hope he is jailed. I have called the FBI and BBB.
CHRIS LOSER GILCREST, I HOPE YOU READ THIS, LOSER. YOU KNOW ALL THIS IS TRUE. DONT DENY OR LIE. BE HONEST AND BE A MAN. YOU ACT LIKE A CHILD.
On Jul 24, 2012, karentom2174 Ingleside, TX wrote:
Posted on July 9, 2012, updated July 24, 2012
Posted on June 28, 2012, updated July 9, 2012
Posted on June 23, 2012, updated June 28, 2012
Posted on June 21, 2012, updated June 23, 2012
Posted on June 4, 2012, updated June 21, 2012
Posted on June 4, 2011, updated June 4, 2012
Posted on June 3, 2011, updated June 4, 2011
Like many others, I ordered, paid, and have not heard from Chris or Growquest since, except for additional invoices of varying amounts. I have filed an FBI complaint ( cybercrime and interstate fraud ), so anything I say here is a matter of public record. CHRIS: send me my money or my trees, and I will cancel the federal felony complaints.
On June 4th, 2011, karentom2174 added the following:
Chris: Have you ever heard of the " 3 strikes and you're out law? Is 50 years of your life spent behind bars worth it to you to stiff me on 2 trees?On June 4th, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
6/3/2012. STILL NO RESOLUTION FROM CHRIS OR GROWQUEST. Instead of name calling or further venting, I will point out that anyone who is willing to wait 14 months or more for a refund or thier order should feel free to order from Growquest. If you want customer service, adequate response time, and/or a resolution, go elsewhere.On June 21st, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
Chris sent me a few e mails, but still no trees or refund. WHY, CHRIS? YOU HAVE HAD MY MONEY FOR WELL OVER A YEAR< GIVE IT BACK OR SHIP MY TREES!On June 23rd, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
When I logged in at Growquest, I find that now they have no record of my order, even after I sent them a copy of my cancelled check with my order number on it. ( 10011987 )On June 28th, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
O.K. EVERYONE, GRAB A PEN AND PAPER!! CONTACT THE FBI ON E MAIL, REFERENCE INTERSTATE CYBERTHEFT COMPLAINT# 110527045956812, LEAVING YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, ( INCLUDING STATE), INVOICE # AND PARTICULARS. LET"S SEE HOW CHRIS LIKES A 50K FINE, AND 15-25 YEARS IN A FEDERAL PEN!On July 9th, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
HEY CHRIS: CHECK OUT YOUR KID'S VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE!! I BET THEY'RE REAL PROUD OF DAD!!On July 24th, 2012, karentom2174 added the following:
Hey Chris: We have reported you to YouTube's legal dept. to get all of your video's banned, just like HGTV. Next up, I will format all complaints into the FBI complaint that I listed. Care to guess how many charges you'll face?
On Jul 19, 2012, scottishgent Conroe, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
Order placed 3/19/2011, for 5 bare root roses, paid this character $140 w/cashiers check, after sending him a Chase Quick Pay which he never picked up. No plants received, but several e-mails were received:
On 3/26/2011:
YOUR ORDER Has been processed & adjustments have been made based upon current market place prices, seasonal & availability issues.
One 3/30/2011:
Sorry I got married and went on my honeymoon and I have been back at work for a few days, but I am not going to be able answer you specific email because I have fallen too far behind with emails and my packing and shipping. ..........
And, on 7/28/2011:
I am contacting because I am missing a lot of records for orders from this last winter and spring.
If you made payment to Growquest for this order please E-mail back the amount of the check or electronic payment you made. Remember that I do not charge credit cards.
I am in the process of personal reorganization this summer. I am taking the this time off right not to compile a list of refunds needed.
I have a large supply of olive, citrus and avocado trees at this time if you need those plants. I am not processing new orders for roses and not shipping old orders of roses at this time due to weather.
Please get back to me ASAP so I can get compile the list of shipments and refunds needed and act on it right away.
Thank You
Chris Gilcrest http://www.growquest.com
and the guy even has the nerve to have a page on Face Book :)!
I tried getting help from the authorities, federal and local in Santa Paula, CA; no one responded.
First bad experience with a plant or related vendor, and the last !
Filed a complaint on theripoffreport.com and an ex-employee replied and stated this guy has been doing this for years, and that he had very few actual plants in stock.
Obviously, stay way away from this character and business !
I HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF $262 I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE!
I TRIED TO ORDER FROM GROWQUEST EARLY IN 2011 AND COULDN'T EVEN GET ME ORDER TO PROCESS BUT AT MY END IT SAID IT HAD, SO I THOUGHT THE ORDER WAS PLACED AND I WOULD BE BILLED, EVERY EMAIL I SENT WENT UNANSWERED AND BY THE TIME I FIGURED IT OUT IT WAS TO LATE TO ORDER FROM ANYWHERE ELSE. IT WAS A DISASTER BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS YEAR.
OUT OF SHERE DESPERATION I PLACED AN ORDER WITH THEM ON 1-6-12, THE ORDER WENT THROUGH AND MY CREDIT CARD WAS CHARGED TO RESERVE MY ROSES. MY 1ST CLUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN I SENT CHRIS AN EMAIL TELLING HIM WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR THAT I WAS GIVING HIM A SECOND CHANCE AND NOT TO REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED AGAIN, HIS RESPONSE WAS RUDE, UNAPPOLIGETIC, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO ORDER OR NOT, HE DIDN'T CARE.
LIKE I SAID I WAS DESPERATE. IN APRIL, 3 MONTHS AFTER MY CREDIT CARD HAD BEEN CHARGED I STARTED CONTACTING CHRIS TO SEE WHEN MY ROSES WERE SHIPPING. EVERYTIME I CONTACTED HIM, IT TOOK 2-3 EMAILS TO GET A RESPONSE AND THEN HE WOULD GIVE ME A SHIPPING DATE, WHEN I STILL HADN'T RECIEVED MY ORDER A WEEK AFTER THE SHIPPING DATE I WOULD CONTACT HIM AGAIN, AFTER 2-3 EMAILS HE WOULD ANSWER AND GIVE ME A NEW SHIPPING DATE. THIS WENT ON FOR 2 MONTHS. I TRIED TO BE NICE AND UNDERSTANDING, I NEVER SAID A CROSS WORD TO HIM, SO I WOULDN'T BE GIVIVNG HIM ANY EXCUSE TO TREAT ME BADLY. IN JUNE I GAVE HIM A DEADLINE, EITHER SHIP THE ROSES BY DATE X OR GIVE ME A FULL REFUND, THAT I COULDN'T KEEP DOING THIS FOREVER, THAT I HAD BEEN THE IPITOMY OF PATIENCE AND TP PLEASE DO RIGHT BY ME. I GOT AN AMAIL THAT SAID HE WAS GOING TO SHIP THE ORDER ON HIS SCHEDULE AND HIS TIME! THAT I WOULD GET MY ORDER, MAYBE IN JUNE MAYBE IN SEPTEMBER! I WROTE BACK TOLD HIM I WASN'T WAITING UNTIL SEPTEMBER, THAT THE JUNE DATE I GAVE HIM WAS MY LAST DEADLINE AND THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE HE HAD TAKEN THAT ATTITUDE WITH ME. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE ORDER NEVER CAME AND I NOW TRIED TO GET A REFUND. IT BECAME EVEN HARDER NOW TO GET AN ANSWER FROM HIM, WHEN I FINALLY DID CHIS SAID "I AN SENDING YOUR ORDER AND THAT IS IT!" TRYING TO BULLY ME. I TOLD HIM I HAD HEARD THAT BEFORE THAT I DIDN'T TRUST HIM, THAT IT WAS TO LATE AND TO HOT TO PLANT THE ROSES, THEY WOULD DIE AND I WOULD LOSE OUT ON MY MONEY, I WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY ORDER EVEN IF HE DID SEND IT, WHICH I DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WOULD AND TO GIVE ME A FULL REFUND. HE HAS SINCE STOPPED ANSWERING ALTOGETHER. I THINK HE DID ALL THIS TO DRAG IT OUT BEYOND THE 6 MONTH DEADLINE WHEN CREDIT CARD COMPANIES DRAW THE DEADLINE TO DISPUTE A CHARGE AND TYPICALLY WON'T HELP YOU.I HAVE A GOOD CREDIT CARD COMPANY WHO MAY HELP ME BUT I STAND TO OUT AND OUT LOSE $262 AND FOR SOMEONE WHO IS DISABLED WITH 2 SURGURIES A YEAR AND BILLS THAT PILE UP FOR DRS , SPECIALISTS AND MEDICINE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THAT MUCH THAT I SLOWLY SAVED AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO JUST BECAUSE I TRIED TO BE NICE.
THIS GUY KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. TAKE IT FROM ME DON'T BUY FROM HIM, AND DON'T RECOMEND ANYONE BUY FROM HIM UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE THEM SUFFER AND ROBBED, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN. I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S ALOWED TO KEEP HIS WEB-SITE UP WHEN ITS KNOWN HE IS DOING THIS: ROBBING PEOPLE! BUT HE'S BANKING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE HIM TO COURT OVER THE AMMOUNT HE ROBS FROM US AND HE'S RIGHT.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE WERE THESE KIND OF REVIEWS ABOUT GROWQUEST AND CHRIS SPECIFFICALLY BEFORE I ORDERED. NUMBERS DON'T LIE. LOOK AT THE % OF PEOPLE HE HAS OUT AND OUT ROBBED!
Posted on July 24, 2009, updated June 18, 2012
I can't believe any of the recent posts that give Chris Gilcrest a positive rating. I notice that many of them are posts placed the same day as the username sign up so my guess is that he is on this website posting false positives. I joined just now to post a true negative rating. This guy ripped us off of our money, was the rudest person ever on the phone, even before it was stated I was looking for my money back - what kind of a businesss is this guy running. I know he is checking this site based on the positive comments so let me add - Hey Chris, did you notice your HGTV online story is gone - that is what bad business, no let me restate that as stealing people's money, will get you.
On June 18th, 2012, robbed added the following:
Unbelievable that this company still exists - hundreds of bad experiences, trouble with authorities over false sales, and he is still in business???????? how?
do not buy from Grow-tesque (growquest) growers.
complaints date back years now. this is ridiculous
DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM THIS SCAM ARTIST! I placed my order and paid for it in March and have yet to see a plant or a refund. I went around and around with this jerk for over a month hearing about broken transmissions, lack of personnel, and even being cursed at via email (Oh yes, Mr. Gilchrist- I have saved every one of them). He kept telling me that I needed to get my refund from Intuit. I kept telling him that HE has my money, not Intuit and HE needs to refund it. I email him on a daily basis and have contacted the BBB, the FTC, and the IC3. I now have a call in to Catherine Mano of the Ventura CA DA office 805-662-1703 asking to be added to the impending case against him (case # 9:10-BK-16202-RR). I suggest anyone else who has been scammed by him should do the same. This guy needs to be stopped. I don't have the money to throw away on supporting this kind of person, but apparently so far that is all my money is doing.
On May 26, 2012, Rhapsody616 Long Beach, CA wrote:
Growquest Nursery Order date: 4/16/2012. FaxMailOrder_10014631 Buddah's Hand Citron 5 gallon potted nursery tree Product number CtrCitron5 $39.99 Shipping & Handling: $10.75 / Grand Total: $50.74
I purchased a tree to be shipped to FL from Growquest TX or NC nursery trying to be in compliance with the citrus regulation that I had just been informed about in CA. I asked for my money back since it had not been shipped. He said no I will ship it to your CA address. I agreed. Twice he said he would ship the tree and I would have it in 48 hours. The first: Growquest Growers Monday April 30, 2012 1:10pm ended chat. The second: Growquest Growers Thursday May 10, 2012 10:19am ended chat. I contacted Intuit, the payment prepossessing company he used and was told the his account has been cancelled due to numerous customer complaints.
I am told that PayPal has also cancelled his account for the same reason. Christopher Morgan Gilcrest, owner of Growquest,has been reported to Ventura County District Attorney many times. One case number is 9:10-BK-16202-RR. This is not my case number. Mr Gilcrest is a fraud and seems to have scammed many more them myself. Please investigate Growquest and it's owner Christopher Morgan Gilcrest.
His business practices have got to be illegal and he simply must be stopped and caught under ALL of his nursery names
On May 21, 2012, texasroseguy Port Neches, TX wrote:
Posted on May 21, 2012, updated May 21, 2012
Posted on April 6, 2012, updated May 21, 2012
I ordered a Tahitian Sunset Rose plant from Chris on 2/11/2012. On 2/27/2012 I sent him a payment via Intuit at his request. I NEVER RECEIVED THE ROSE BUSH.On 3/23/2012, I called him to ask about the order and he said something about needing a book keeper, but that he would FedEx the plant and I would have it by that Monday. It never got here. Now, I cannot get him on the phone at all, regardless of repeated calls during his stated business hours. Every call goes to voice mail. I called Intuit, who was absolutely of no help, to get my money back. Now, I have started the process of disputing the transaction via my bank. At least I paid via credit card instead of check. I will NEVER order from Growquest again.
On May 21st, 2012, texasroseguy added the following:
UPDATE: I recently received a letter from my bank stating that they initiated an investigation and were unable to make contact with the owner. He won't even talk to my bank. They had refunded the charges made to my account (I used a debit card). Because they were unable to make contact with the owner, they removed the funds they had replaced. I am out the cost of the bush, plus shipping.
I should have known when he feels the need to state "Be sure that you can substantiate any negative comment because I will seek a legal remedy should there be anything in it you cannot prove to be true" on this web site, that he should be avoided. If only I had found Dave's Garden before I ordered.
If the DA in CA needs to talk to me, I am willing to give any information necessary. Growquest should not be allowed to stay in business. I would love for a class action suit to be filed against Growquest. I would join that suit QUICKLY.On May 21st, 2012, texasroseguy added the following:
Just saw this on another site, and wanted to add for anyone on here who needs this information. I will say that I have not yet verified that this is indeed a case against him. I will call to add my information as soon as I get the time to do so. Accoding to what I read, this is the case against Chris Morgan Gilcrest.
Contact Catherine Mano 805-662-1703 with the DA’s office to add a complaint to this case. Case Nbr 9:10-BK-16202-RR.
I can't believe this person is still in business. He has a new website claiming locations in TX, and NC.
Like most everyone, I paid and did not get anything back. Ordered roses, and after not recieving any delivery, called him several times. Each time he will politely apologize and promise to deliver within a few days. I finally just gave up after several weeks.
I don't know why his company is still around. I believe those "locations" in TX and NC which his company clains are all bogus. Last time I checked, his "nursery" is an abandoned store in Santa Paula, CA.
I don't know what the DA in Ventura is doing letting this person keep scamming people all over the US from Ventura County. He may have a few plants around and able to deliver to some people but for most, he takes your money and that is the end of it. You will not get anything back.
I ordered ladybugs online. However in the final bill, the pricing and quantity had changed, reducing the number of ladybugs from 4,500 which I ordered, to 2,500. It also increased the price from $12.99 to $14.99. No one answers their phone, so I left a message. I also sent an email, asking for clarification on the problem. I received a cryptic return email that did not answer the question, nor even address the question. I sent another email, got another bizarre off the point reply that did not address the question. Then I found this website, and I sent an email to GrowQuest cancelling the order. I hope he does. Chris is either a terrible businessman, or as I suspect, a scam artist.
On May 6, 2012, Gerbera_Lover Simi Valley, CA wrote:
Same saga as so many people, I ordered roses that no one else has (1st clue), paid, and then the long wait begins...
I called to try to find out whay I did not have my roses and spoke with a very rude person. He indictaed they would be sent that week that he was just behind on shipping. After another full week I emailed and was promised that the roses would be delivered in a few days. I gave him another week and nothing arrived.
That was it, I realized Growquest is a sham and does not have the roses or they would have been sent within a month. I filed a chargeback with by bank and was refunded immediately. At my bank's suggestion, I also filed a complaint with Intuit and the BBB.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS when using a credit card! Consumers using a credit card are proected form this type of fraud. But there is a time limit, you generally have 60-90 days (check with your card issuer) to dispute the charges. Consumers always have the last word in the dispute process (chargeack/representment). So if you do not receive your goods or receive poor quality goods, you can dispute the purchase. You will prevail as long as you follow the bank's requirements during the process.
It seems this company's business plan is to create the impression (falsifying a huge inventory and YouTube clips) that he runs a large, professionaly run nursery. As he gets orders he try to fill them, if he can't find the items locally, he just strings you along hoping you paid by check, let too much time pass or just forget about the order.
It seems he runs the business from a house and/or garage, not a nursery and certainly not the one(s) in the YouTube clips. All of the current and past addresses are definately not the facility in the video clips.
The BBB indicated Growquest is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the present time. Many business operate while under bankruptcy protection, but taking orders you cannot fill is fraud. I hope his website, which allows this crook to conduct the fraud, it shutdown eventually...
On May 6, 2012, catherineleal Mansfield, MA wrote:
Posted on April 7, 2012, updated May 6, 2012
I will never probably ever see the rose I ordered. I am also getting the run around and I have paid for the rose. I paid with my debit card and got an unfiendly e-mail that I had to pay using Intuit which a did about a month ago. Had a bad feeling about the place after the rude e-mail but ordered anyways. I was desperate to get this very hard to find rose that I could not seem op find anywhere else. Now I feel terrible because it is for the gravesite of my frends daughter who died 2 months ago at age 25 of cancer. She asked for this particular rose for her grave before she died. I will keep looking and hopefully this company goes to court someday.
On May 6th, 2012, catherineleal added the following:
After repeated e-mails annd phone calls to them, I still have not heard from this company about the rose I ordered. How awful of them to not fill this order since it was for the grave site of a 25 year old girl who died of cancer. Soon as I get the time I will file a formal compaint with BB and join in with the others like me who have filed legal claims.
Ordered roses on January 18th. Still haven't received them after several emails, phone messages, and promised delivery dates. This is Chris' response when I emailed to tell him I would be posting on the watchdog:
"WOW WTF. I have written several times. The order will be filled with large rose plants ASAP, I have a very complicated last 3 weeks and that is all I have to say about
I received this reply on March 30th and still no roses. Guess that speaks for itself.
A truly horrible company and an equally horrible, liar named Chris Morgan Gilcrest. I iniatially ordered roses from him in early February, after numerous calls and emails he sent the roses soaked in water with advanced root rot and dead feeder roots. It has been vertually impossible to communicate as no email or phone calls are returned. I will stay on this poor excuse of a scam artist until I get the replacement roses promised, a refund, or I just take this unethical individual to court.
Posted on April 28, 2012, updated April 28, 2012
The worst plant supplier I have encountered. They are quick to take your money, but do not ship the products. When you try to follow-up, you just get the run around. Just one big hastle and waste of time. I would never patronize this business EVER again!
On Apr 26, 2012, GROWQUEST_SUCKS San Jose, CA wrote:
I ordered a Sir Priz Avocado from Chris on Sunday April 22, 2012. The owner, Chris emailed me letting me know the tree would be delivered by his driver on Tuesday evening.
Tuesday: No Tree, No Call, No response to emails. I wasted my Tuesday evening waiting for this schmuck.
On Wednesday after emailing Chris again I was told the Tree would be delivered on Thursday. I received a lame excuse about why I did not receive a response and I was given the name and phone number of the driver.
Thursday night I received a call from the driver. He was in Sacramento. The driver sounded very scatterred, and told me he did not have a Sir Priz Avocado on his truck.
I emailed Chris asking him to call me (He will not return phone calls)....and Chris told me the delivery was delayed by rain (It barely rained today...slight drizzle in the am). Chris then said the driver was too far behind and the next time he would be in the area was next Wednesday. Another wasted evening.
When I cancelled the order and told him I would be posting about my negative experience, Chris could care less, claiming there are more buyers than trees.
I then looked up Growquest on the Internet and saw all the negative reviews. OH MY GOD.
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT PURCHASING ANYTHING FROM GROWQUEST.
READ ALL THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ABOUT GROWQUEST. THESE NEGATIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
On Mar 29, 2012, ubersmithey24 South Ogden, UT wrote:
I ordered a rose bush for my mom for Mother's Day in 2008 and she did not receive it. You might call me a little crazy, but I've been working on getting a refund for 4 years. This includes complaints to the BBB, law enforcement, and others.
On Mar 28, 2012, paulafriesen Rancho Santa Fe, CA wrote:
I only want to add one comment to all the NEGATIVE comments that have been posted that are all so TRUE and well written! If Chris speaks.....he's lying! Everything he says is a LIE. I ordered roses for my mother's 80th birthday, 6 weeks in advance. She never received them and the check has been cashed. How cruel to be so deceiving about a mother's birthday present. SHAME ON YOU. CHRIS. Wish I would have read all the reviews first.
On Mar 22, 2012, kathrynsuzane Los Angeles, CA wrote:
THIS GUY IS NOT RELIABLE- READ HIS CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTION ON HIS OWN WEBSITE. I wish I had read all the negative reviews before I mailed the check (after speaking to Chris on the phone and believing him to be honest) for two bareroot roses that I will probably never see. My check was cashed in January. When I called him in February to see why the roses hadn't come he said he thought I had canceled the order (2nd red flag, 1st red flag was when he insisted on a check after I tried to pay with credit card). Then he said the roses would come that Friday. They didn't, another phone call another promise... three rounds later it's March. I've emailed, I've called. I get no answers and as far as I'm concerned THIS GUY STOLE MY MONEY. I don't think he's intentionally a bad person, just an incredibly flakey confused individual. Either way, DO NOT SEND HIM YOUR MONEY.
December of 2010 I had ordered 6 different variety of roses from Dave and sent out a check payment of $169.49 for the roses since he informed me that there was an issue with using paypal or a credit card machine. Instead of listening to that little inner voice that said do not do it, I sent the check. I had ordered the roses in hopes that by my wedding in June 2011 I would have a few rose buds to add to my wedding in my hair and what not. Well by February there were no roses so I called Dave and was reassured I would get my roses and he would include one extra for all my trouble. In March still no roses and Dave gave me the excuse that someone had stolen his laptop and all the information was in it, then the excuse that his account had been hacked and he was in distraught over his personal trouble but he had no issues depositing my check. In April Dave quit returning my phone calls and ignored my calls and still no roses. So finally in May of 2011 I contacted the BBB and filed a complaint against him/ his company.
I was later contacted by the BBB out of California and informed there is an open case against him and his company through the Attorney General's office. So now everything is in the hands of the judicial system in California.
All I have to say is buyer beware do NOT purchase flowers from this man. He has every excuse in the world as to why he can't get your flowers to you.
On Mar 1, 2012, GuysGardening Laguna Niguel, CA wrote:
I found a Black Baccara rose on the Growquest site over a year ago. I sent a personal check to this man ASAP really excited about the bush. Never came for months. I called and talked to Mr. Gilcrest personally.He seemed rude, asked if I really paid him and said too late in the season for bare root roses now. He said I needed to buy a potted rose now. I was like what ever, I will pay the difference. He said OK I will send it to you and you can send me the difference when it gets there. Well it never came. I called again and he again was rude and implied he did not take my money. He claimed he had no record of me and now I needed to prove I really sent the money and made the order. I told him I would have to dig up the copy of the cashed check. Then he sent out a mass E-Mail claiming his life was terrible and he needed help. So I encouraged the man to get it back together, to try to breathe a little easier and when you feel better send me the rose and or the money back. Months went by and I seen the man was still operating as a plant provider to others, so I E-Mailed him and asked what is going on? He replied that I needed to send a copy of the invoice and the cashed check to him and he would send the rose next season. Totally insane, but I sent the info and thought great in a couple months I will have that Black Baccara I have been waiting a year for. Well I still have not seen my money or the rose bush. I sent another, final E-Mail, stating that he had stolen my money for over a year now and I wanted a refund or the rose bush ASAP. I also attached the copy of my cashed check again to prove I had paid him over a year ago. No reply and no rose bush. He stole my $40,00, let me sit here waiting for a year for a Black Baccara Rose, and forced me to put a bunch of time and energy into this matter. That is what I really resent! My family and I deserve better. He has drawn this out for over a year now and it has become very personal now.This man does not have the right to run any type of business anywhere in the world. He is immoral and has no ethics. Please do not order product from him until we members post that this man has dealt with all the folks he has already stolen from.
On Feb 26, 2012, mlaiuppa San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote:
Wish I had done some research on Growquest before ordering from them. A simple Google would have found this site and I would have saved myself $60.00 I'll never see again.
I ordered a Chihuly 36" standard rose tree from Chris on Dec. 1. He required payment through Intuit. I usually use Paypal. (They have a money back guarantee for non-delivery. Must be why Chris prefers Intuit, the do nothing tax people)
I waited for a bare root rose tree. Finally e-mailed him on Feb. 1 as I think 30 days is quite long enough to get a tree. He then e-mails me on Feb. 16 that he has to call me for a credit card for delivery since it's no longer in his system. (It was never in his system). The tree is all "boxed" and waiting for FedEx but I haven't paid for shipment. Apparently the $10 was for a wooden crate, not shipping a bare root rose in a cardboard box like any other nursery. Then he says he's just going to delivery it himself. Well, that's come and gone and still nothing.
So now I'm doing the research I should have done to begin with and I find this guy is a grifting fraud. He provides just enough to appear to be legit, while defrauding thousands of dollars from customers.
Hey, Chris. I'm not waiting any more. It appears I'll never see my $58.94 again. I could *really* use that money. You've got family problems? (Hey, you're a business and that shouldn't interfere. Man up.) Well, I've got my own. I'm a teacher, haven't had a raise in 6 years, plus I've got furlough days that further reduce my income. But the cost of everything goes up. I saved a long time to be able to afford a $60 tree rose because Chihuly is what I wanted. Thanks for stiffing me.
I've gone ahead and called Intuit. I'm going to try to get Chris' account closed so he can't use them to bilk people anymore. I've filed with the BBB (yeah, get in line). I'm posting here.
Not that I've heard he's got videos on YouTube I'll be posting comments there too.
If I can't get my $60 back in cash, I'll take it out in covering the net with negative feedback for Growquest. Oh, I'm Italian so retaliation is all part of the package.
I'm tempted to drive up to Santa Paula, show up at his door and demand my rose. But I really don't want to make a 7 hour round trip wasted trip because I'm pretty sure he doesn't have my rose and I'd leave empty-handed; no rose and no money.
Chris, I only hope God reins fitting Karma down on you. Like having all four tires go flat at the same time. Of course, then you'd just scam some more poor mark out of the money to replace them. I look forward to the indictment and jail time you'll serve when you finally defraud someone of enough to qualify as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.
On Feb 20, 2012, elisecaraveo Chappaqua, NY wrote:
I only discovered recently the Dave's site, which is why I'm only relating now my experience with Growquest from 2010. Hopefully, it will help other people.
I sent a check to pay for my order which was $333.96 in 2010. He asked that I send the check first, then he would inform me of the shipping costs. He deposited my check on 6/4/10, but I didn't hear back from him, nor did I get my order. Eventually I asked that he refund me, threatening to get the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Department of Agriculture involved if he didn't. His only response (email) was: "Well it would be better for you if I was to ship it. The proper place to complain to would be the BBB, in any event." He said he would call me a few days later to get my credit card info to finally ship the plants. That was September 26, 2010 but I never received anything, despite the $333.96 check he used.
Posted on February 6, 2012, updated February 20, 2012
Ordered 5 roses in December. I am very disappointed in myself that I did not read the reviews before using Growquest. Would never have ordered from them. Was promised shipment the first week of January. It didn't happen. After emails and calls, was told that they had been shipped. Wrong again. Didn't happen. It is now February 6th and multiple emails and phone calls and still no roses and many promises and lies. Don't know who is giving him positive reviews, must be his friends. If you want good service and an easy transaction, do use them.
On February 20th, 2012, neilljudy added the following:
Finally received the roses I ordered with one substitute, after giving up and buying them at our local nursery for less. Won't do that again.
Posted on February 9, 2012, updated February 18, 2012
Posted on February 8, 2012, updated February 9, 2012
Posted on November 8, 2011, updated February 8, 2012
Posted on June 13, 2011, updated July 26, 2011
Posted on May 25, 2011, updated June 13, 2011
Posted on May 23, 2011, updated May 25, 2011
I ordered and paid for a little cado tree in July of 2010. Here it is, the end of May 2011 and still no tree. After numerous phone conversations and emails over the last 9 months, I still have no tree.
Chris, if you are reading this, I would like a refund of my $72.00 or the little cado tree you promised me last year. Every communication with you is a lesson in conniving and lying. You make excuses... I don't care about your family issues or your marriage or your divorce... this is business... or did you use my $72.00 for your wedding? If you can't supply the demand, stop indicating you can. Stop taking money from folks who could spend it elsewhere and actually GET the merchandise they've purchased.
Today is May 23, 2011. If I don't hear from you in 24 hours, I will be another victim filing a complaint with the District Attorney.
On May 25th, 2011, MzTicklz added the following:
Today is May 25, 2011 and I got a response yesterday simply asking for the order number. I'm waiting a couple of days and then I will be contacting the District Attorney of Ventura County, CA. Evidently, if you tell Chris if you don't hear from him within 24 hours, you'll be contacting the DA, then and ONLY then will you receive a response.
On June 13th, 2011, MzTicklz added the following:
UPDATE: Sunday, June 12, 2011, Chris sent me an email. All it says is:
the order will be refunded per your request
chris
===========================
I'll believe it when I see it but will keep you updated. I'm going to order a little cado from Amazon.com. I've always had good luck with them.
Will keep you posted!
TicklzOn July 26th, 2011, MzTicklz added the following:
Here it is July 26th, 2011 and still no refund, no tree and no answers for my emails/phone calls. Please stop posting positive comments in hopes of getting your trees. It's not going to happen. He's got your money, now he just wants you to quit bothering him.
To Chris' new girlfriend: Beware honey, he's a no-good thieving liar. And that's not liable, it's TRUE!On February 8th, 2012, MzTicklz added the following:
I posted some comments on the YouTube videos growquest has online and got this response from Chris
"Oh, you are nut case that keeps trashing my positive posts at Daves Garden, I have your order paper here. I have been debating about what to do with your issue. On one hand you are owed a refund in full, on the other hand your ass is on the chopping block for a civil action.
What I decided last week was that I was going to refund the order first, give you about 3 to 7 days to remove every oneo f your post from the GWD except for your fist post and clean up any other remarks you have around the web. If those things were not fixed that file the summons and complaint that I written up, that has been gather some dust.
So yeah look for that refund payment in your email in the next few days, and since we are topic know you will have less than a week to remove all other post other than your first post, or spend a lot of money in court.
Chris"
I wonder what he meant by "MY" positive posts
And I'M the nutcase? OH... OK...On February 9th, 2012, MzTicklz added the following:
OK so when I checked my email this morning, this was in my inbox from Chris. I wish I would have saved the entire email but I accidentally deleted it from the youtube inbox. And when I clicked reply, I cannot send him an email anymore... I don't know if he deleted the account after sending the following or if he just blocked me. Either way, it forced me to get in touch with him, again, through posting on his YouTube video sites. Here's what I managed to save:
"please forward a copy of the payment. While the 72.00 figure may be correct it is not a typical payment for a Little Cado which is the tree plus a 8 or 10 dollar box charge.
What you are doing on the GWD is really going to be expensive to you. Since each post creates a new negative point against me and seems to encourage non customer copy cat posts.
You are factually wrong on almost everything you write on the internet and going to find it hard to remove it or costly to leave it. As soon as I get a copy of the payment it will be refunded, which has been my stated policy since last summer. When I get into positive growth I would be refunding old orders.
I the mean time you authoring content that based upon a lot of false information that you create or repeat from others. You need to know that I do not have ability to respond to any of those posts, the GWD staff blocked me 2 or 3 years ago and cannot investigate most of them, since the... "
I'm not copying anyone's negative information. Everything I've typed is true and I have all the documentation to back it up. I saved ALL of the email correspondence! I've sent a copy of the check I sent and the documentation showing where it was paid from my account to his "office" and "sales" email accounts. It's all I can do since I'm no longer able to send email to his youtube account.
BTW - I ordered an avocado tree from Amazon.com and it was sent from Clifton's Nursery. It's beautiful and came within 10 days. Amazon also has a huge selection of Dwarf citrus trees through various nurseries in addition to Dwarf Avocado trees! And if you're lucky enough to live in CA, Home Depot had them as well as the citrus fruit salad trees!On February 18th, 2012, MzTicklz added the following:
I told Chris I would set the record straight once I received my refund. Well, it's official, I got my $72.00 back. So I have to say, it took almost two years, but he DID refund my money.
HOWEVER, it was not a positive experience. It was not a neutral experience. It took over 20 long distance calls and I had to put up with threats, negative comments and insults from this seller; therefore I'm leaving my rating as negative.
In addition, I am not removing anything I've posted because everything is true and I have documentation to back up everything I've typed in this forum.
Oh but I'd better take back the part about his being a thief. He just "BORROWED" my money... for a year and half... without asking.
Oh and maybe he's not a liar, he just didn't tell the truth to me... for a year and a half...
I've done nothing illegal so threats of legal action against me carry no weight.
I will remember to check this watchdog site any time I consider buying from anyone online aside from Amazon. Good luck everyone!
On Feb 9, 2012, hardyinokc Oklahoma City, OK wrote:
I've never actually ordered from this company, but I can say that after reading Chris' response and threats of legal action, I will NEVER order from this company. I do not understand how ignoring and then threatening your customers with legal action could ever help improve Growquest's image/reputation. And all of those Positive posts do seem very suspicious, as they all seem to be the only reviews those "people" have ever left. Chris, you cannot ignore and then threaten your customers & still expect for people to want to order from you. Very bad business practice in my opinion.
I ordered 16 roses from Dave (Owner of Growquest) and was promised delivery on Jan 8 or 9, 2012; they did not arrive. He kept pushing the delivery date out. He finally gave me Fed Ex tracking # - only 6 of 16 roses arrived Jan 24th. I complained, he told me other box was delivered to wrong customer and would be here late Friday (Jan 27th) - they did not arrive. I sent e-mail & he replied telling me to "chill dude" they're on the way. I sent e-mail back cancelling remainder of order, called my credit card company (Chase) and they took immediate action to refund the money we paid for the 10 roses that were not sent. I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY AGAIN.
I ordered an Improved Meyer Lemon tree and some praying Mantis egg casings in May 2011. Order confirmation made it apparent that I couldn't get the praying mantis eggs. No prob. I sent $42 for the tree. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. I emailed several times and finally got a response eluding to some legal issues that apparently involve his children. I sympathize, I do. But this was a business exchange, not a charitable donation. January 2012 and still no response to emails or phone calls. I would very interested in contacting whatever DA I need to so that I can get my tree or my money. Terrible service. I will never buy from them again. Buyer be ware!!!
I ordered, and paid for, an avacado tree from Growquest Nursery on January 29, 2011. The check I sent as full payment was cashed. Numerous phone calls have been made and many, many e-mails sent, most with no response. I have provided copies of the original order form and copies (front and back) of the cashed check to prove that I ordered and paid for a tree. The few responses were very apologetic, and I was always assured that my tree, or refund, would be sent. It is now November 9, 2011...I no longer receive responses to my inquiries, I still have no tree and I have not received a refund. It's hard to believe that Growquest Nursery is still taking hard earned money from others. I strongly recommend that no one do business with this nursery!!!!
DLFryer
Redlands, CA
I wish I had found this site sooner so I could have avoided sending my money to this fraud!!! In early May after several emails to Growquest about best varities of olives to grow in Hawaii I ordered $301.86 of olive trees for immediate shipping. Chris sent a thank you for the payment email and said he'd send a few extra trees to try over here.
Needless to say, it is now Sept. 3, and all we've received from Growquest are a few emails. No trees, no refund. Clearly neither are forthcoming and it's time for legal action.
Please save yourselves the money and headache of "doing business' with Growquest. We learned the hard way.
On Aug 29, 2011, cholgreenhouse Burlington, MA wrote:
Posted on July 13, 2011, updated August 29, 2011
Posted on March 1, 2010, updated July 13, 2011
I have worked with Chris for more than 4 years with great experience and courtesy from him. I was new to gardening and did not have good knowledge to take care of the plants. Chris has educated me tirelessly to make sure I am comfortable working with my plants. The plants I ordered from him mostly are rare tropical plants. Although Chris did not have them at the time I needed, he took time to find the plants for you. He selected the high quality plants for me. The quality of his plants is superb. When the problems were encountered, he took care of the problems for me as soon as he could get into them. I am aware that he is always busy working with many large orders. I sometimes had to wait for the order, but I understood the situation and his limitation and was willing to wait for him. When I called his office, I learned that my plants were there and Chris wanted to take care of my order by himself. I appreciated his time in caring my plants and my need. Often time he sent me pictures of the plants before shipping them out to make sure that I was satisfied with them. When the plants arrived, they were as what I saw from the pictures. If there was any problem, he sent me replacement.
His price and services are superb for me. Unlike some nurseries I used to work with in Texas and Florida. Their plants stayed for a short time and died or they are not growing. When I called or sent them an email informing them of the situation, they just said sorry or never heard from them again.
We are in the East Coast. I am glad to hear that he will have a new location in the East. It will help us to get pants faster. I also love his new marketing strategy and education he puts up on Youtube and Twitter. I continue being his loyal customer. I ordered many plants from him for resale every year. My customers love his plants and they keep coming back.
On July 13th, 2011, cholgreenhouse changed the rating from positive to negative and added the following:
He asked me to give him a good comment and he would send me my trees, but he did not. Here is his message why he wanted good comment.
"thats fine it more for the factI have anew girlfriend nad do not want her family seeing all that lying ass crap up there without some nice things. I had a lot of nice comments and then the crazies went out and buried them with negative shit.
THANK YOU MY LOVE LIFE NEEDED THAT
CHRISTOPEHR"
On July 17, 2010 I wrote a check $450 to deposit on his Bank of America account for my order on 50 Kaffir Lime trees. I never received my trees for this order. I sent him so many emails and called him for more than 3 years for my order (this and previous), but never received the trees from him. I usually paid by credit card in the past, but he requested a check for this order. He keeps lying to me or ignoring me.
He sent me an email with his Bank of America's account # to request the advance payment. He indicated that the nursery where he would get the trees for me needed advance payment. I desperately needed my trees because I have been waiting for many years. I checked with that nursery later and found that there was no contact about this transaction.
here is a message from him ----
"I was told this morning due to other bad customers and the economy that all orders must be paid in advance from my grower. So you will need to pay for 35 (15 at no charge) trees at 19.00 each prior to shipping $665.00
Chris,
The policy for payment of orders is as follows.
Propagated Orders: 1. “The order will become effective when signed by Buyer and when deposit is received by Seller. Buyer's deposit is not refundable. Deposit(s) must be received by the date noted or this order shall be automatically canceled.” 2. “The balance of the total price including all sales taxes and delivery charges will be due and payable prior to shipment”.
Non-Propagated Orders: 1. “Full payment of the amount owed including all sales taxes and delivery charges will be due and payable prior to shipment”.
you can deposit the money any time at Bank of america account Chris gilcrest 0151374123 call me after you make the deposit, plants will be shipped UPS Friday after noon."
In the past years (2008-2009) the trees were damaged from the shipment. he promised to replace them, but I never had the trees. I claimed to UPS and UPS sent the check of $100 to him because he shipped under my UPS shipping account. He cashed the check and claimed that he did not received the check. He promised to replace 10-15 tress, but I never got them.
What can we do to help the other people not to lose money any more?On August 29th, 2011, cholgreenhouse added the following:
After reviewing all feed backs on Chris's business, I agreed with Nature4life of Visalia, CA that many "positive" feed backs are fake.
I believe that Chris started working on calling or sending emails to the people to ask for writing the positive feed back for him like he did with me, or creating the fake accounts and wrote comments on his own. This heavily "positive" feed backs happened after he saw my feed back was changed from positive to negative and I posted his email content on this section. He madly replied to my post on July 15 at 11:53 pm. I then saw many positive feed backs from July 16 on. Those accounts were just created for this purpose and they are now mostly gone, removed. Some user name he used was a part of my name such as "cholt" and the content was a part of my complaint, "50 trees".
I hope the people who read this posting do not believe those "positive" posting.
Please help to think what we should do with this man. I may be the one who gave him the most money, $450 not counting the outstanding amount that he had to compensate me for the previous orders.
I already reported to the DA of Ventura county with full documents. What should we do to get our money back and get him punished? How can this man is still in business? Please help call follow up with the DA office. We should not let him cheat the people any more.
Posted on July 6, 2011, updated July 23, 2011
I ordered two calamondin plant in April 2011 and I paid 78.00 by check as instructed. It was cash in on May 5. Two months later I have not received the plants. I emailed and called him but all I got was answering machine.
I google it and found out there are hundreds of complaint about this scammer.
I filed a complaint with Better Business Bureau and I am wondering how we can take him down to jail?
I am hoping this will get to right authority.
On July 23rd, 2011, jksee added the following:
please email Ventura County District attorney to complaint about Chris so we can lock him in jail forever.
I did file a complaint with DA. I found out he is being investigated.
Posted on July 13, 2011, updated July 16, 2011
Posted on July 3, 2011, updated July 13, 2011
Posted on February 10, 2011, updated July 3, 2011
I wonder who wrote this one? I doubt anybody believes somebody would read all these posts and order from this crook anyway. And then take the time to sign up for a new DG account to give this guy a good rating. Don't think anybody believes this to be real
On July 3rd, 2011, nature4life added the following:
Again, I don't believe a real customer would come on here giving a positive review after reading all these horrible experiences. Anyone who actually received their order would consider themselves lucky and reading all this and thanking their lucky stars. Simply, not believable...On July 13th, 2011, nature4life added the following:
Do what the others recommend and file a complaint with the DA and with the BBB. The DA says the investigation is still open and case is not closed.
Other victims of Growquest can contact the Ventura County DA - (805) 654-3110 - to add their information to its fraud investigation.On July 16th, 2011, nature4life added the following:
I'm not buying into any of these positives here...maybe they're just like this one below who changed their positive to negative...
He asked me to give him a good comment and he would send me my trees, but he did not. Here is his message why he wanted good comment.
"thats fine it more for the factI have anew girlfriend nad do not want her family seeing all that lying ass crap up there without some nice things. I had a lot of nice comments and then the crazies went out and buried them with negative shit.
THANK YOU MY LOVE LIFE NEEDED THAT
CHRISTOPEHR"
Amusing though isn't it! Aint dat gramur o hes gr8...
These positives will probably be changing to negatives too.
On Jul 14, 2011, foxysplants Greenville, NC wrote:
THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIS GILCHRIST OF GROW QUEST. PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID. UNLESS YOU LIKE TO BE CALLED NAMES, INSULTED AND TOLD HE DIDN'T INTEND TO FILL MY ORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE VOIDED THE ORDER THE SAME DAY HE GOT IT?? SAYS HE SENT EMAIL BUT NEVER RECEIVED. PLEASE KEEP READING...I DELETED MY NAME AND EMAIL FOR CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES BUT THIS IS REAL FOLKS.
Re: EmailOrder_10013265 -
7/13/11
Reply ▼
Growquest Growers
Add to contacts
To
Well excuse me, but you are blathering stupid fool with remarks like that. In between your yellow highlights is this paragraph
“We will email you back
> your invoice for review and approval.
> Payment of this order must be made with a check or your own bank's
> bill pay. We offer payment through Chase Bank Quick Pay, Bank
> of America Bill.”
Now to the very best of my knowledge I have not accepted a check from you for the plant. I know I have not emailed you a quick pay and had totally no interest in filling the order. It was voided the day it came in and notice of that was sent to you from the QB folder, maybe it went into your junk mail, I don’t know.
The voicemail that offended you, is current, and it is very clear I DON’T WANT TO PROCESS ANY SMALL ORDERS, and that is very much the case for roses going to the midwest and east coast.
So open your eyes, clear your ears and pay attention, NO WHERE DOES IT SAY I WANTED YOUR MONEY, WAS ASKING YOU FOR MONEY and my own voice is CLEAR, DON’T SEND ME THE ORDER.
Why? Because I am taking the summer to clear the mistakes of this last winter/ spring.
I INTEND TO REPORT GROWQUEST TO THE BETTER
BUSINESS BUREAU AND ANYWHERE ELSE I CAN
TO LET PEOPLE KNOW NOT TO DO
BUSINESS WITH YOUR COMPANY. I HAVE READ
YOUR MANY, MANY NEGATIVE REVIEWS
AND I SEE WHY YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT
MY ORDER. I WILL BE ADDING TO THOSE
NEGATIVE REVIEWS.
MAYBE ONE DAY THE INTERNET CAN BE REGULATED
ENOUGH TO KEEP THIEVES LIKE YOU FROM OPERATING
ONLINE BUSINESS AND TAKING PEOPLE'S MONEY!!
Payment By: Visa 4XXXXXXXXXXX3499
> Order: EmailOrder_10013265
>
> Product Name: Blue Girl potted rose bush, ready for full bud
> and bloom
> Item#: PRS0134
> Unit Price: $24.99
> Quantity: 1
>
> Shipping & Handling: $10.75
> Grand Total: $35.74
ATTENTION: OWNER - GROWQUEST.COM,
I WAS SO EXCITED TO FIND THIS "BLUE GIRL" ROSE BUT NOW I FIND MYSELF WONDERING IF THIS IS JUST A RIP OFF OR WHAT!!
IT PLAINLY STATES BELOW THAT IT TAKES 2 TO 7 DAYS TO PROCESS AND PREPARE FOR SHIPPING!!
I PLACED THIS ORDER ON JUNE 26, 2011, WHICH WAS 16 DAYS AGO AND HAVE NOT HEARD ONE WORD
EXCEPT FOR THIS USELESS EMAIL!! EVERYTIME I CHECK THE STATUS OF THE ORDER IT JUST SAYS "IN PROCESS".
I HAVE CALLED YOUR NUMBER EVERYDAY AND THE ONLY THING I GET IS A RECORDING STATING THAT
TODAY IS JUNE 23RD.....CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF MY ORDER, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPORTANT
TO ME, IF NOT TO YOU. THIS IS NOT WHAT I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WILL BE CHECKING MY
BANK ACCOUNT TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT CHARGE ME UNLESS IT IS SHIPPING RIGHT THEN... AND I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
A REPLY FROM SOMEONE IN THIS COMPANY IMMEDIATELY OR I WILL BE CALLING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT!! IF YOU ARE GOING TO OPERATE AN ONLINE BUSINESS YOU REALLY SHOULD
KEEP IT UP TO DATE, INCLUDING YOUR VOICEMAIL, AND DO A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING THE CUSTOMER
INFORMED OF THEIR ORDER STATUS....LIKE WHETHER THERE ARE DELAYS DUE TO WEATHER OR SOMETHING!!
ANYTHING THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT MY ORDER AND YOU WANT ME TO ORDER FROM
YOU AGAIN OR RECOMMEND YOUR WEBSITE TO ANYONE ELSE!
I'LL PLASTER THIS ALL OVER FACEBOOK IF YOU DON'T LET ME KNOW SOMETHING.......SOON!!
THANK YOU,
________________________________________________
> Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:55:02 -0600
> From: shipping@growquest.com
> To: > Subject: Growquest Nursery Order Receipt
>
> Updated 6/16/2011
> EXTRA OR FREE LADYBUGS ARE ADDED TO YOUR ORDER AT TIME OF PACKING,
> THEY DO NOT SHOW UP ON THIS CHECK OUT RECEIPT.
> This order will be reviewed any adjustments that may be required
> due too; weather, plant availability, current market prices,
> shipping costs and nursery regulations. We will email you back
> your invoice for review and approval.
> Payment of this order must be made with a check or your own bank's
> bill pay. We offer payment through Chase Bank Quick Pay, Bank
> of America Bill.
>
> All plants are shipped FOB Ventura County, CA. Nearly all plants
> travel ground freight and take 2 to 7 days in transit. Orders
> take 2 to 7 business days to process and prepare for shipping.
> Bare root season is over. Roses are potted, rooted and ready
> to bloom and most are 29.99 for 1-2 plants, 27.00 for 3 to 4
> and market priced for larger orders. Trees Roses are $48.00 to
> $58.00 each.
> Plant orders are packed & shipped FedEx Ground. Shipping charges
> are billed through FedEx or UPS and are be in addition to any
> boxing fees and done when your order leaves. For more specific
> details look at our shipping page http://www.growquest.com/Growquest Terms Of Purchase.htm
>
> ========== GENERAL INFORMATION ==========
> Company: Growquest Nursery
> Order date: 6/26/2011
>
> ========== ORDER INFORMATION ==========
> Payment By: Visa 4XXXXXXXXXXX3499
> Order: EmailOrder_10013265
>
> Product Name: Blue Girl potted rose bush, ready for full bud
> and bloom
> Item#: PRS0134
> Unit Price: $24.99
> Quantity: 1
>
> Shipping & Handling: $10.75
> Grand Total: $35.74
>
> ========== CHECK ORDER STATUS ==========
> [HYPERLINK@www.rtcart.net]
>
> ========== SHIPPING/BILLING INFORMATION ==========
> Name:
> Company: .
> Day Phone:
> Email:
>
I should have caught-on when I paid with my credit card and then received an email stating I needed to transfer cash instead. Suffice it to say, as everyone else, the money is gone and the lady bugs, I was told had already shipped, haven't arrived. Daily calls and emails remain unresponded. To those of you who actually received your product....consider yourself lucky! To everyone: NOT WORTH THE RISK!
Chris Gilcrest/Growquest cashed my check and did not ship. They avoided communication until I e-mailed that I was going to the Ventura County DA. Chris Gilcrest then sent me a string of insults by e-mail that avoided the business matter of shipping plants or refunding money. Ventura County sent me paperwork to get me on a "victim's list". I am trying to work with Ventura County now in hopes that enough complaints might get something done.
