RF Orchids....a huge thumbs down!

[peeweelovesbooks]

My Vanda Maria Bos is sick. I have no idea what's wrong with it, but as soon as it stopped blooming, the back side of the leaves turned yellow with black spots.

I'm trying to revive it. I bought it from RF orchids last year in October. When I originally purchased it, RF didn't have that many. They were placed on a side bench along with Vanda Usha, which I also bought. I was surprised to see that about 1/2 of the plants were not tagged, which at the time, wasn't a problem because you can distinguish the plants by the blooms.

Forward to today. I go back because I want to buy another V. Maria Bos. I ask the salesperson where they are, and he leads me to the same side bench where they were last year. To my surprise, there was one tag on a Vanda Usha, a tag that was broken at the tip without the information, and the rest of the plants were untagged.

At the far side of the bench was some ascocentrum hybrid, that you could tell that it wasn't either a V. Usha or a Maria Bos because the leaves were thicker.

So basically, it's between a Vanda Usha and A Vanda Maria Bos. Last year I bought them for 45 dollars each, now they are asking 50-60 dollars each, which is not a problem, but I'd want the right plant.

I ask the salesperson again whether there are any more in the back, he says no. At this point he starts getting irritated and actually tells me, "Well if you want the Maria Bos, then take one of the untagged ones and when it blooms you can come back with the plant and get your money back." "The owner says they are all Maria Bos, and he should know."

I tell him that they are all not Vanda Maria Bos, as evidenced by the fact that there is at least one Vanda Usha on the bench.

Why did this irritate me? Well, I drove down there ealy enough and I was literally the ONLY CUSTOMER there. The "boss" was walking around. I passed him several times and he didn't even deign to say hello. He went inside and didn't even come out to speak with me.

I'm very irritated. Actually, I"m a LOT irritated.

[DavidCampen]

Yes, I would be very irritated also. RF charges premium prices. I would certainly want the owners to know that they lost a customer.

I just bought 4 Cattleya species from them and while I haven't seen any flowers yet they do appear to be the species I wanted. I did pay a premiun price for both the plants and the shipping and so I too would have been upset to have received anything less than premium plants and service.

[Bud]

For those price range you mentioned: I would be able toget a big healthy specimen from one of the Hawaiian vendors (there are 5 selling Vandas) and they are from the far side of the pond....
from a vendor in your local neighborhood....@$50to$60 a Vanda: it better have blooms ...a nice presentable basket and wrapped professionally in tissue paper when I leave the store....
I heard of $80 Vanda coerulea but it was a 36' tall specimen and in bloom
a seedling Vanda 5' tall would cost $9.99 on Ebay

*change your location for your Vanda Maria Bos....it seems to be sun burning...your grow zone allows you to grow your Vandas outdoors in theshade.

[tucker85]

I would be upset also. RF charges top dollar for their plants so I think they could show their customers a little more respect. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience.

[isurus79]

Wow, that is a really bad experience. RF is supposed to be one of the US's flagship vendors. I wonder if this is an isolated incident or a more widespread problem within the company.

[trdyl]

Sorry to hear about your experience Maria. I would hope all of thier sales people are not that way all of the time.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I would buy it from another vendor, but I don't think anyone has them any more.

Sigh. You know, I love going to RF. I'm not much of a vanda collector, but I've spent quite a bit there on Renantheras and other plants. I also have spent a lot of $ buying their teak mounts, etc. So, it's not as if they've never seen me before. I can tell you I've been going there regularly at least for 4 years, so much so that some of the workers know me.

Unfortunately, this is generally the same treatment I get whenever I go. I usually drive down there very early in the mornings and there are usually not any other people by the time I go, or there are very few people. I see the owners milling around, talking and chatting up with other customers, but for some reason, I've always gotten the cold shoulder whenever I go. I've always chalked it up to maybe they were too distracted by other customers.

Today it irritated me more because I was LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON THERE. Literally. I got there at 9:30 this morning and there was not another soul except the workers and me.

For me, it's really not about the money I spend. What I mean, whether I spend a lot or a little, I expect to be treated with courtesy. I felt today as if I was begging them for something or they were doing me a favor by selling me a plant.

SIGH.

[stefpix]

Maybe you go too early in the morning and the staff is grumpy as they are just out of bed and did not drink enough coffee yet!

Anyway, in seriousness… I would not go to give my business somewhere I do not feel treated with respect. You have many other options and for those prices you can find nice vendors online.

If I went back in your case I may ask the vendors why you are not given the attention they give to some other clients. Did you ever had any past issues / discussions with them in teh past?

no matter of what they should make you feel welcome. their prices are high, they should make feel the customer pampered.

[cday2inflorida]

I'm not a fan of this vendor. The prices they charge are outrageous. You are not getting anything extraordinary for the priced charged...Remember this vendor imports seedlings to grow out and then adds their name to them.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

See if Martin Motes has it.