You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
On Jul 11, 2009, jajtiii Richmond, VA (Zone 7b) wrote:
For background, I have been gardening for several decades, but only decided to build a greenhouse and expand my pursuits three years ago. Since then, I have been actively spending a lot of money at various online nurseries/retailers and can say that these guys are horrible when it comes to quality and customer service.
There are two examples, but I will focus on one to demonstrate my point and warn others away from these guys.
1. Last Fall, I decided to get heavily into Daylily Hybridization. I was advised to use a starting tray that Harris and another retailer carry. I ordered several from both.
2. Harris sent me less plugs then promised and the trays were not only noticeably inferior to the other company's, but they actually caused more labor due to the said inferiority (it was damaged and cost me seedlings).
3. The inferior trays, I did not have a major problem with (heck, I did get 75% of them to work, so life goes on). But, I wanted them to make good on the missing plugs. So, I put an order in for the plugs with Harris and advised them that they had shorted me in the initial shipment and to make good when they sent my new order.
I received (and still have) a receipt, but never heard back from them. I never received the plugs that I ordered, nor did I receive the plugs that they shorted me.
I can honestly say that I have never gotten such poor service - not even from what I call the 'cheapo' online nurseries. I strongly urge anyone considering this company to look elsewhere.
On July 31st, 2009, jajtiii changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
After making this post, DG copied Harris Seeds on my post. To be fair, they immediately contacted me and resolved my issue by replacing the plugs that had been shorted before.
It would appear that my initial complaint was misunderstood. I suppose that I should have contacted them again to give them a chance to respond, but I assumed (incorrectly, it would seem) that they were ignoring me.
It is very positive that they made the issue right. I only wish that it would have been resolved after my initial correspondence with them.
I placed an order for seeds and seed starting supplies which was delivered promptly. However, I started the pansies and was not impressed with the germination rate, so I checked the packages, and they are all packed for last year! They gave me 2003 seeds instead of 2004. When I pay full price for a seed package, I really expect fresh seeds. Otherwise, I'd go to the local home improvement store where I can get them for 50% off and not have to pay any shipping.
I'm marking this a neutral as I have complained to the company and am awaiting their response.
My order took quite a while to arrive. The package came damaged, with a hole in it. It was a package simply made of weak paper, unlike other companies that ship their seeds in durable Jiffy envelopes. The seed packets are simple, but with good instructions. The seeds themselves were of good quality, although they were teated heavily, more so than other companies usually do. I ordered treated seeds by mistake. But, I expect they will sprout well and have no problems this way. I am willing to order from Harris again.
Decent selection, but prices a bit high. was a little slower on shipping than other companies I ordered from, but not terrible (ordered from Pinetree and Cook's on the same day as from Harris, got their orders within a week, Harris took two weeks). Also they called and left a message that there was a problem with my credit card, when I called back to the extension they left, the woman I spoke with was nice seemed a bit clueless. said she wasn't the one who called, didn't have my info available, but took my info and said would look into it. My order did come through so guess everything was OK
If you are an organic grower, note that it seems their seeds are treated unless specifically noted that they are untreated. Also if you are a seed-saver, be careful when ordering from their website. I placed my order out of their online site, when I got my seeds, I discovered that a couple of the varieties I ordered, specifically with the intent of being able to save seed, were F1 hybrids. I checked back on the website, thinking I may have just overlooked that, but it was not noted anywhere in the descriptions (even though another variety of the same species as one of them was indicated as such). I cross-checked with the print catalog, they did have it correctly labelled as an F1 in there. So if you care if what you get is hybrid, I recommend checking their print catalog.
On Apr 1, 2000, Nell495 Manassas, VA (Zone 6b) wrote:
I would like to add a comment on Harris. I ordered an inexpensive propagation chamber (a Styrofoam cooler heated with a light bulb) and an Abutilon plant, not seed. The "cooler" came long before the plant. While waiting for the plant, I started Abutilon seeds from Burpee. I had 15 gorgeous 6" plants weeks before the poor spindly 8" plant arrived. I have worked and worked with the plant but I think it's a goner. The "cooler" on the other hand is an unqualified success. I have started many plants in it and have had uniform (excellent) germination. I will order more propagation systems and never order another plant! Don't know about their seeds.
