Acceptable shipping practices?

[SouthPark]

If that is roughed up a little bit, then the definition of roughed up a little bit more would be our definition of decimated ----- maybe.

[hypostatic]

I always know I'm taking a risk when ordering online from a new source. I mostly wanted to confirm that it wasn't outrageous that I'd ask for a refund on a damaged package, which is insured by the carrier....

Originally Posted by Leafmite

The first thing I would do is to soak the orchid pot in distilled/rain water for a few days to see if it becomes plump again. Some orchids will recover completely and some won't, depending on the type of orchid

I'll try this. The orchid is a sarcochilus.

Originally Posted by Leafmite

The second thing I would do is ask the vendor whether this orchid was recently imported into the US. Sometimes, recently imported orchids do look like this because they are brought into the US bare-root and the shipping can take a few weeks. They do recover with quite a bit of tender care. The vendor might admit that the orchid was recently imported and then recommend what care is needed for the orchid. Still, I would not order from this vendor again. Responsible vendors who buy from overseas keep the orchids until they are fully recovered and growing again before selling them but there are those other vendors who buy from others, raise the price, then quickly flip all the orchids because they don't want to waste money to have the dedicated greenhouse space. It is best to avoid orchid flippers (many can be found on Ebay).


If the orchid should never look like that and it doesn't re-hydrate, then yes, I would wish to have a full refund and a good vendor will not hesitate to compensate you.

Yeah, I'm 99% sure the seller is a "flipper". Found on Facebook. Healthy examples of sarcochilus don't look like you steamed them...

Originally Posted by Leafmite

What vendor is this?

I'll do a post in "vendor feedback". This isn't my only issue with the vendor, but it's the most egregious problem.

Originally Posted by SouthPark

The orchid next to it appears to be nice - good leaves.

Yeah, on the bottom right there is a different sarco peeking out. That's what it should look like. Dark green. Glossy. SMOOTH...

Originally Posted by Ray

I really hope you paid by credit card. Challenge the charge with the card issuer, stating you received damaged goods.

Luckily I did the exchange through paypal, and they typically side with the buyer, especially if there's proof.

I sent the seller pictures of the damaged box, and the seller said he was going to file a claim with the carrier, so he would technically be profiting from this twice...

[Leafmite]

I am glad you are taking action to get your money returned to you. It is a real pity that the vendor treated you in this way. I wish you the best of luck in getting everything resolved to your satisfaction.

[DirtyCoconuts]

same here..good luck. i hope they get a karma bite in the a$$

[aliceinwl]

I’m not taking sides but in terms of the Sarcochilis, I bought a Sarconopsis division at a sale where it was in a bin exposed to sunshine: it developed identical damage by the time I brought it home. Based on this experience, I could see the leaf wrinkling visible in the photo being due to damage incurred during shipping.

[SouthPark]

Me too Alice. But I'm assuming that the O.P. has two sarcs, next to each other. One is a 'little' roughed up, while the other one appears to be completely unscathed.

[hypostatic]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Me too Alice. But I'm assuming that the O.P. has two sarcs, next to each other. One is a 'little' roughed up, while the other one appears to be completely unscathed.

Yeah, in the pic on the bottom right, you can see some leaves of the healthier Sarcochilus. It's not wrinkled. But also, whether it's sun damage or disease, I don't think it's acceptable to sell an orchid in such a condition.

The other orchids have damage from the leaves folding during shipping, but they're not obviously in poor health like that one

I posted a full review here
Triton Orchids / Michael J Cook Jr.

[aliceinwl]

I saw your post. Everything considered, it looks like the poor condition is probably the fault of the vendor rather than shipping damage

[SouthPark]

That was a great helpful piece of information you provided earlier Alice. That it certainly is possible for some plants to become very dehydrated during shipment, after leaving the seller's hands. Can definitely happen - such as in your case.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That it certainly is possible for some plants to become very dehydrated during shipment, after leaving the seller's hands.

Dehydration takes a long time. Domestic transit times are just not long enough.