Camp Lotta Noise...VENGEFUL!

[hosshead]

I NEVER trash-talk a vendor....until now.

Here's the dealie-oh;
1st week in August, placed an order for some stuff that's difficult to come by. One plant a gift for my sister. NOTHING in my order was I.D.'d as "Out of Stock" at the time of purchase.
Suddenly, yesterday, I get a partial refund from them, no explanation of what items were not available, just that 'some items are unavailable from any source'.

Messaged them, requesting info about just what items were not available, and registering some disappointment, a hint that clear info as to exactly which items in the order were unavailable might have been good to know, and a suggestion that items out of stock should have been noted on the ordering page... I even remarked that I wasn't trying to be mean, just feedback that they could have been a little more timely with the whole thing,(2 weeks delay?), and accurate about exactly what was canceled. Kind of normal customer feedback and maybe help them improve service. At no time during the 2 weeks did they communicate that there was a problem,and did I want a substitute?, etc.

Today, I received an email saying that, because they don't like unhappy customers, they were dumping the entire order. Yes, they refunded me... but, DANG!
Just kind of a clear, "We don't like your attitude and your feedback, so here, have some revenge!"
No attempt to communicate further, sort it out...just a "well scr*w you then!".

I just saw it and said, "Wow!"
Didn't think I was being that inflammatory, even remarked to the contrary in my communication.
I re-read my remarks to them in an effort to be objective about whether I was particularly rude or exaggerate in registering my disappointment, and I don't really think that I was. I did, actually, commend their efforts to fill the order....

I've NEVER had a seller respond,(to any correct feedback re' disappointment in an ordering process), in this way.
It's quite unprofessional and really, very discouraging. I certainly won't return to their store.

I guess I post this as a Heads Up to my fellow orchid enthusiasts...get your orchids BEFORE you give them feedback, is all I can say!

bummer.

[Leafmite]

That is unusual. I have never ordered from them but when I have made polite inqueries to other plant/orchid vendors, I have always had polite, helpful, responses in return, even if it was obvious the response was written in a hurry from someone very busy. The people who care about customers clearly understand how to run a business. In the age of Internet, 'word of mouth' (reputation) goes quite a bit further than ever and thus it makes no sense at all to be rude. Wow.

[hosshead]

That's exactly what I thought.

This was my first experience with them.
It was pretty amazing, a sort of going out of their way to be spiteful.
Besides the word of mouth thing... they cost themselves a pretty large sum of money! Plus any future orders I might have made down the road....

If I'm selling something, and somebody expresses disappointment, I try to sort the issue, learn from feedback. Try to be as exacting in my communication as I can. I don't imply that something is for sale if I don't have it on hand, you know?
At least would say, "Out of stock, do you want to reserve if we can get more?" somewhere in there.
If I mess up, I would expect a buyer to be, at least a little, disappointed.
I don't think I would be vengeful, to the point of costing myself nearly 200 bux!

crazy.

[plumania]

That is a bad business attitude. You were quite reasonable in your request,in my opinion.
I do not understand why they use 3 names(Clan Orchids, Camp lot a noise and Orchids r us).....weird.

You may want to post your review on Dave's Garden watchdog section, if you have membership.
Here is one review I found-http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/1928/#b

Hope you find a better nursery who treats customers with dignity.

[hosshead]

Interesting.
I read that...it was posted in 2007.
Lot can happen in 5 years, I guess.

I wonder if using 3 names is in case somebody has negative interactions with one entity, well, still, there are 2 others that the negative might not register on.

The whole thing seemed kind of arrogant.
Or else, they just must not need customers too badly.

maybe they won the lotto....


snicker.

In the mean while....
anybody know where else I can find an Eulophia or 2?
The latest AOS mag has me jonezing.

[gerneveyn]

Withing the past two years, I have ordered several times from them without problem. They're one of my favorite places to order from, and I wish you had had a better experience.

[DavidCampen]

I don't critique vendors for not having exact counts of their stock. The vendor may only have a few plants of some things. Maybe another employee sold the last of something and forgot to say anything. These are generally small operations and I doubt that they have any sophisticated inventory control software.

I would be critical of a vendor who delayed shipping for 2 weeks without telling me anything, I like to stay on top of when the plants will arrive.

[ronaldhanko]

Dealers who cancel orders from customers because the customers ask questions aren't going to stay in business very long. Weird.