What's your experience in mail-ordering orchids?

[camille1585]

I don't see a reason to get upset that vendors refuse to ship during certain periods of the winter. Even with heat packs and fast shipping they can't control what happens to the package after it leaves, and if something happens the customer wants the grower to compensate them for it.

I order in the winter at my own risk, and if a grower says that they won't ship (even with a heat pack), to me it means that they really care about getting healthy plants to you. One very good grower I know of stopped shipping the entire month of december when Europe was buried in snow. OK, I had to wait over a month to get my plants, but it was worth it.

[Paul Mc]

I kind of agree with Camille on this point. I've been waiting for over a month for an orchid due to weather extremes. The growers were hit hard with a massive snow and ice storm, and then hit again and again through the past few weeks. I understand that their conditions are better now, but we just slammed here with massive ice, snow and extreme cold and they are still refusing to ship.

I'm personally very grateful to them for having the courtesy to ensure that my new "baby" will arrive as safe and sound as humanly possible. I know it's frustrating to wait, but I feel it's really worth it.

I have also gotten other orchids during the winter, with and without heat packs, and I must say that it took them a while to adjust. One is actually still in the intensive care unit after half of it's leaves fell off. It appears to be happy again as it hasn't dropped anymore leaves, but it has taken almost a month to stop them from falling.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by NeoNJ

I agree, these Vendors should be using FEDEX Next Day Delivery and there would be no problem. The Vendor needs to know to appropriately wrap and package the plants! That's the key!

If you re-read my post before, you'll see that I DID use FedEx next day....and I'm without my plants-- they have the package in Wyoming instead of Colorado where I live!!!

FedEx is to be blamed, not the vendor. No idea if my plants will survive or not, but I will try to get Fedex to give me a shipping refund. They're two days late with my package!!!!

[NeoNJ]

Yeah, Ryan, I read your post. I heard ya. I know you said you used FEDEX. Don't get so testy !

My point is the customer needs to be offered the option of having their order shipped FEDEX. MANY VENDORS do not give you the option of having your order shipped FEDEX, therefore, they control IF and WHEN you get your order.

And I don't agree with Camille or the other member. I thank them both for their Opinions, but it is THEIR opinion, and I do not agree with them !

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by NeoNJ

Yeah, Ryan, I read your post. I heard ya. I know you said you used FEDEX. Don't get so testy !

Totally not getting testy with you. Hope your order situation works out for you.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by NeoNJ

Yeah, Ryan, I read your post. I heard ya. I know you said you used FEDEX. Don't get so testy !

My point is the customer needs to be offered the option of having their order shipped FEDEX. MANY VENDORS do not give you the option of having your order shipped FEDEX, therefore, they control IF and WHEN you get your order.

And I don't agree with Camille or the other member. I thank them both for their Opinions, but it is THEIR opinion, and I do not agree with them !

No need to be so defensive and touchy!

I totally agree with you, but only if the goods being shipped are not plants! It is a GOOD thing that growers control the 'if' and 'when' of shipping, that way they can insure that plants arrive healthy. Even with overnight delivery things happen. Fine, you can blame Fedex or DHL, but wouldn't it have been nicer to spare yourself the headache, have waited a few weeks more and gotten a boxfull of healthy plants?

Yes, you have a right to your opinion. I'm not trying to bully you into changing it. I just want you to realize what you want is a bit unreasonable when it comes to plants.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Even with overnight delivery things happen.

They sure can. A couple weeks back I received 2 orchid shipments swiftly by Fedex, including one from Normans. At my workplace in that same time frame, on the other hand, a very different story. I work for an ISP and we needed to have a replacement router shipped to a customer's premises as close to instantly as possible to replace one that was crashing numerous times daily. The manufacturer processed the RMA Monday (1/24) and submitted shipment info to Fedex that day for "Priority Overnight" shipment. Alas, due to ice storms down south affecting Fedex's Memphis hub, the router finally arrived the following Monday (1/31).