Online Storefront Orders vs. Group Sales and Auctions

[mopwr]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

What I DO have a problem with is when a vendor sells their “premium” “reserve” orchids on their “private” page… and then the when you order that same cross or species for sale through their website (even paying extra for a premium one) you get an unhealthy load of garbage with no roots, busted up leaves, and bugs. That is definitely not cool or good practice.

Yes, and there's also this, and I 100% agree with Ray that care and conditions can have a big impact.

I want to be clear, that I understand their efforts are valuable and they should sell the plants for what the market commands. I wanted a premium plant, and I selected the most expensive option listed on the website. If there had been a "previously bloomed, choice / select color" option, I would have probably anted up for that too, but I wasn't presented with anything like that.

I've been out of the hobby for a lot of years and before didn't have to.deal with a lot of the pitfalls of ordering online that I'm now wrangling with, and didn't expect to discover that going to their website put me at a disadvantage of sorts in that regard.

To what Ray said, not to toot my own horn, but I've grown this plant very well, it's doubled or tripled it's root system (clear pot, so I can see) and it's grown two perfect new leaves in addition to the spike it now has all in my care in just a few months, so soon enough I'll know if it was worth the time or if I'll be selling it to make room to get what I was hoping for to begin with. My primary concern is that I was hoping for a nice indigo purple blue (you know that color - we call it blue, but...), but I may end up with Fuscia at this point.

As far as a vendor I've dealt with that I feel handles this fairly and is very clear and up front (who also carries quality plants just in general), Big Leaf Orchids does a better job. He prices unbloomed plants the same, and he prices plants in flower based on the quality of the plant / flower, he does it all on the same website and it's first come first serve. He does have a Facebook group, but mostly to announce when things may be coming in stock, or to ask about preferences / gauge demand for something.