My new, belated credo: investigate BEFORE ordering

[bethmarie]

I impulse bought orchids online. In retrospect, a risky thing to do if dealing with a company or person for the first time. I've had it work out well for me on several occasions. Luck, I've decided. From now on, research first, order later.

The hook was this: I got the hots for Den. Lori Tokunaga and after coast to coast searching found it only turned up at Aloha orchids, which I hadn't heard of and didn't research. I ordered two. After a couple of days I received my order. There were blooms present, ones that made it clear the plants weren't Lori Tokunaga. The absence of any label left me knowing only that I'd gotten a couple of NOID dens.That alone was hard to accept. They'd also been shipped clear cross country through some pretty wicked wintry weather (20's here in NC) with no heat pack. All but a few leaves developed bacterial brown spot and dropped in a couple of days.
The vendor responded to my unhappy email. They said Lori Tokunaga was no longer available although I ordered from a page that said 28 were in stock. They offered to send me a free Den. to make up for my disappointment.
I said no thanks. I asked for my money refunded. And waited a few days and tried to make contact again. And again. And once more just in case. No more communication from the vendor.
Live and learn. Research first, purchase second. In the meantime, does anybody have a Den. Lori Tokunaga they're looking to part with?

Beth Niver