What's your experience in mail-ordering orchids?

[bullsie]

Originally Posted by JanS

....you do get to Norman's Orchids. I just wish their web site skills matched the honesty of their plants.

I totally agree!

[landanew]

I have ordered from Norman's several times. I have ordered both in Spike/Bloom as well as Mature. All of the plants came thru healthy and in good shape, buds and all. The one that I was not totally satisfied with was a little smaller than I thought it would be compared to the description. But, it was in great shape, buds and flowers were in great shape.

I have also ordered from Big Leaf, Orchid Web, Incredible Orchids, etc. Most all have been good and the ones that weren't made the transactions good. Most of these guys will work with you. Don't give up! I would like to know if Norman's will work with you.

Brad

[trdyl]

Jan, I think you'd like the Vender Feedback Section of the forum. Lots of good info in there.

[Pelepel]

I live in an area that is ideal for orchids; so thus, we have a few really good orchid stores.

However. I saw many beautiful plants on Ebay.

Many. I began to drool. I had to have them.

I'm absolutely hooked on sedireas and neos of every shape and size.

My problem is this. You're taking a crap shoot. For whatever reason I have had 50/50 with the plants coming with pests. You can't exactly inspect the plant. I've bought a lot of Neo Falcatas online, from the same source, and some had a type of mite. I bought a few draculas which were infested as well with several pests. But I just got the most BEAUTIFUL Dendrobium spectabile....huge, healthy...a real keeper. Perfect.

I had contacted these sellers and they all happily replaced my plants or refunded. Sadly, one was replaced with the same pests...go figure. ;/ All my orchids are kept indoors so I have to go to natural means of pest control with a little one in the house. Not always 100% effective.

I haven't ordered anywhere else, this is just my experience from Ebay. There are A LOT of great sellers with wonderful, perfect stock. You just have to keep those things in mind.

[PleuroPal]

The saddest part of your story is that you live in San Diego, and maybe you didn't realize what an incredible resource you have right in your own back yard.

Sorry about your experience though. That extra ten bucks thing is a bummer.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You can always purchase from the OB too, when there is something posted that you like.

[mab3362]

Typical of the place you ordered from. Customer service you will find is not very good as well.

[NeoNJ]

This time of year, the problem is shipping. Living in the Northeast, right now it's a bit cold, and orchid vendors from the West coast will not ship to the East coast due to our temps. I normally buy/order orchids all year long...
so I'm not sure I understand why experienced Orchid growers don't know how to ship plants for Winter. So I focus on Ebay and orchid vendors on the East coast,
and so far I'm very pleased.

[Paul Mc]

If you're going to buy from people and live in the cold regions, you should ask them about the use of heat packs, overnight shipping and asking them to specifically ship so you will be home on the arrival day.

J&L orchids actually watch the weather patterns and they won't send unless the route is clear enough and weather is good enough to do so. They've actually held off on shipping an order to me for about 3 weeks due to weather here in St. Louis first which hit them several days later.

[goofy]

I too had bad experience with mail order.
I usually buy orchids in person as I like to choose the "best" ones.
The only time I ordered orchid was when I bought the Supergrande Phrag and another paph "Fox Valley" that I couldn't find anywhere "in person".
I ordered them from the Hausermann nursery, which many of you had good experience with. But for me, it was bad. The shipment cost $20.00 for a tiny box. It took 5 days in the hot summer sun to arrived. The Supergrande was almost dead, I am trying to nurse it back to life. The "Fox Valley" paph was tiny teeny with only a few leaves. Both of them cost $100.00. I was disappointed. I emailed them, but had no reply. I would never mail order from them again.

Thuy