Spring 2012 project- FIRST POLL (participants only!)

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I found the Bulbo (lobbii) and the Den at Tropical Orchid Farm in Hawaii. The reviews on OB about them are fantastic. It may be worth giving them a call.

I can second (third, fourth, whatever) any positive reviews, they really have excellent plants and great service. LOTS of hard-to-find species, too, the worst thing about ordering from them is that the TCs might get a bit out of control!

--Nat

[bballr4567]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

I can second (third, fourth, whatever) any positive reviews, they really have excellent plants and great service. LOTS of hard-to-find species, too, the worst thing about ordering from them is that the TCs might get a bit out of control!

--Nat

Which it looks like it might because they have a $40 minimum order.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

Which it looks like it might because they have a $40 minimum order.

But that's only about 2 - 3 plants! When I order I get at least that many because it makes me feel better about the shipping and packing costs. Buying just one makes the shipping seem way too much! Just an excuse to buy more!

[bballr4567]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

But that's only about 2 - 3 plants! When I order I get at least that many because it makes me feel better about the shipping and packing costs. Buying just one makes the shipping seem way too much! Just an excuse to buy more!

But then most places add a surcharge for the order costs AND throw in more shipping costs.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

But then most places add a surcharge for the order costs AND throw in more shipping costs.

Yeah this hobby is hard on the piggy bank!

[camille1585]

It's common to have surcharges in addition to shipping? Not nice. Over here I know only 1-2 growers that do that, and it's only if your order is below 25€ or similar.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by camille1585

It's common to have surcharges in addition to shipping? Not nice. Over here I know only 1-2 growers that do that, and it's only if your order is below 25€ or similar.

Sometimes they charge shipping and a packing fee. But not every grower charges the packing fee. I think they do that because some growers hire people just to pack orders and they need to be able to pay them.

[Leafmite]

The companies I've dealt with have never added extra fees. They have a price that usually goes along with their method of shipping that is clearly stated and sometimes we've been charged less. With so many great orchid vendors out there, there is no need to pay extra (unless they are bringing it from a different continent after getting permission to climb up a tree for it, just for you).

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

The companies I've dealt with have never added extra fees. They have a price that usually goes along with their method of shipping that is clearly stated and sometimes we've been charged less. With so many great orchid vendors out there, there is no need to pay extra (unless they are bringing it from a different continent after getting permission to climb up a tree for it, just for you).

I have never had a grower add in fees that I didn't know about. The fees are always clearly stated. But usually they call it shipping and packing charges. They have to charge something for the packing supplies. That's why shipping is usually more than what it would cost if we shipped the same package. The cost of packing supplies are part of the shipping cost.

[bballr4567]

Some places are just crazy these days. I just despise the packaging fee for the most part. Charge me a $1 or 2 extra on actual shipping because I know it doesn't take $8 to package a plant.

Just a little pet peeve because I buy lots of stuff for biking online and 95% of the time it's free but the part might cost $2-3 more than the one that charges you $9 to ship.

Anyways, heard anymore from the vendors Camille?