Carter & Holmes: Can't beat this with a stick!

[ElenaMarie]

Hi Everyone!


I purchased a Dtps. Taiwan Red Cat 'Red Cat' in bud from Carter and Holmes last week during an on-site trip. At that time Mr. Mac Holmes told me that if the Red Cat did not have the picotee and such that I could exchange the plant.


Alas, my Red Cat is one of those that reverted. I called yesterday and Mr. Holmes repeated the offer to replace it. Because I am quite a drive from their nursery I asked if we could do it via mail. He offered to send me a new Red Cat free of charge if I purchased any other orchid to ship with it. Well heck, twist my arm.


I just ordered a Paph. Pinnochio! So excited to be getting that little guy, and a new Red Cat that hopefully will have that dramatic picotee.


So anyway, I wanted to offer kudos to Carter and Holmes for honoring their word. Far too many businesses these days don't and I definitely enjoy doing business with a company that does. I will be ordering from Carter and Holmes for many years after this experience.

[Pilot]

Glad to hear of your positive experience. I accidentally ordered a plant last night from them when I didn't mean to because I was expecting them to display the shipping charges but they never did. So I emailed to cancel the order as I later found out it would cost 17 dollars to ship this one plant. It's the only one I wanted so I saw no point in adding more plants to make up for the shipping. This is not to say I has a bad experience per se but they never clearly tell you what to expect for shipping. This day and age that's both dangerous and unreasonable given shipping costs have gone up and technologies available to generated at least a good guess of shipping costs.

I hope they do reply with a reasonable price. I'm having a terrible time finding a phal Gigantea that has proven lineage!!!

[tucker85]

I've only ordered from Carter and Holmes once and I was very pleased with the plants I received and prompt service the company provided. One of the plants I purchased was Paph. Pinnochio. It's a small plant with only one fan but within a couple of weeks it developed a second growth and a flower spike. The first bud should be opening any day. I wish you luck with your purchases also.

[ElenaMarie]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Glad to hear of your positive experience. I accidentally ordered a plant last night from them when I didn't mean to because I was expecting them to display the shipping charges but they never did. So I emailed to cancel the order as I later found out it would cost 17 dollars to ship this one plant. It's the only one I wanted so I saw no point in adding more plants to make up for the shipping. This is not to say I has a bad experience per se but they never clearly tell you what to expect for shipping. This day and age that's both dangerous and unreasonable given shipping costs have gone up and technologies available to generated at least a good guess of shipping costs.

I hope they do reply with a reasonable price. I'm having a terrible time finding a phal Gigantea that has proven lineage!!!

As I understand it, all their live-plant shipping is done by overnight Fed Ex, which is pretty pricey but best for the plants. They also pack the plants very carefully, and if in bud have a neat way of protecting the buds (it involves shredded plastic and masking tape and the like. Took forever to get it off but none of my buds were the least bit damaged.) I paid $17.99 for packing and shipping but given the items I was okay with that.

I didn't update this thread but I received two new Red Cats. They were concerned about the roots on one of the plants and sent another just in case the other didn't make it. I think the roots are fine but I'm not going to look that gift horse in the mouth.

This is part of the confirmation email I received from them. Hope it helps!

Our orchid packing and shipping charge and our free packing and shipping for orders of ten or more plants do not apply to some orders. Exceptions include shipments to California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and orders with AOS Coupons. We pack these orders for free and ship them for our actual cost of shipping.

In some cases, supply items can be combined with orchids and/or other supplies, so we cannot determine your shipping costs when you place your order. An estimate of shipping charges for supply orders will be determined by our staff once your order is received and we will contact you with that information as soon as possible. We will not process your order (or run your credit card) until we have made you aware of the costs.

We guarantee safe delivery of domestic orchid orders within the contiguous United States by Federal Express. Weather permitting, we ship domestic orchid orders in the sequence in which we receive them. During our busy spring season there may be delays of two to three weeks. We will work to ship your plants as quickly as possible. Please be patient.

Please review the following information and report any discrepancies immediately. Make sure your order number is included in all correspondence related to this order. Please notice that discounts and shipping costs are not indicated below but will be calculated while processing your order.

[Paul Mc]

I've bought repeatedly from them in the past. Great quality from what I can tell thus far, and great job packing them. I've only bought babies though from them. But my first ordered plants from a few years ago started blooming this year, so more to come soon hopefully.

[ElenaMarie]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I've only ordered from Carter and Holmes once and I was very pleased with the plants I received and prompt service the company provided. One of the plants I purchased was Paph. Pinnochio. It's a small plant with only one fan but within a couple of weeks it developed a second growth and a flower spike. The first bud should be opening any day. I wish you luck with your purchases also.

Mine has one fan too. It's still getting acclimated I think, but it seems to be doing well. No new growths yet though. I've heard these guys bloom like crazy once they're mature. Here's hoping!

Glad your experience was good too. I really enjoying visiting the greenhouse but hadn't ordered by mail from them until now.

[Pilot]

It all sounds very positive and I have no reason to say otherwise, just want thrilled with the checking out part. I don't think of myself as a dim individual and I was surprised when I saw I had bought the plant. Lol!

I would buy more from them but haven't seen anything else I wanted besides the Gigantea. Perhaps I'll get two to make the shipping worth it. It's becoming worth the money to buy a plant with know heritage than not so hopefully I hear from them soon.

[Paul Mc]

Pilot, I understand what you are saying and I do not discredit it at all, especially with the rising costs of shipping. I get it. For me personally, the want ("need" lol...) for the orchid outweighed the costs of shipping, but it's a personal choice and not everyone feels the same or is capable of paying the prices associated with shipping from various companies. I've always ordered from them on Amazon so I know the cost of shipping before I buy. I have no experience ordering from their website, although I have looked around it a bit.

[ElenaMarie]

Originally Posted by Pilot

It all sounds very positive and I have no reason to say otherwise, just want thrilled with the checking out part. I don't think of myself as a dim individual and I was surprised when I saw I had bought the plant. Lol!

Oh gosh, I hope I didn't come across as thinking you're dim. Not at all. If that's the way it sounded I apologize.

I would buy more from them but haven't seen anything else I wanted besides the Gigantea. Perhaps I'll get two to make the shipping worth it. It's becoming worth the money to buy a plant with know heritage than not so hopefully I hear from them soon.

You'll probably have to wait until Monday for an email response. I had good results with a phone call so if you don't hear anything I'd make a call and ask to talk with Mac Holmes.

[Paul Mc]

I don't think you came across that way. I just wanted him to know that I completely understood his thoughts on the matter. I'd probably have the same reservations if I were in his shoes.