Purchased from Orchids.com - Need Advice

[james mickelso]

Once you accepted the plant, once you handled the plant, once you paid for the plant, it is all on you. I'd like to know if they are really the growers. Through the few years I've been on the board, what I have read leads me to believe that they aren't the grower but only the middleman. So they have no recourse but to be rude and be obnoxious to their one time customers. If you go back a second time, you need help. Even if they sent you another plant in better condition, and were pleasant, Once bad plant is enough. Poor quality control is bad business practice.

[Optimist]

I agree with all of the above. The actual plant looks like it would be very strong. It has a lot of leaves. I can see the tell tale bump of a root about to erupt. I think it is unfathomable that a company would sell plants with roots like this, but I also think you have a good chance of saving it.

[Cntry]

Originally Posted by MrsH530

LOL! Yes, perhaps you should!

I totally agree with that statement. Post it so others will know what to do and look for. They doing that on purpose so you can't complain about what is going wrong with your orchid. Not good at all.

[MrsH530]

Like I said, live and learn. Hopefully, they will deal with me in kindness and fairness. I will go into my customer service experience with them with an open mind.

That being said, I will adhere to "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me", and not be a repeat customer. Not fun paying a good chunk'o'change for a sickly plant.

---------- Post added at 06:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I have heard of countless problems regarding this vendor (experience of others; not my first-hand experience).

Yes, nice pictures etc. on the website, but high prices. Far more important IMO are the accounts I have read regarding the condition that plants arrive in, and the poor customer service. I agree about the 30-day no-repot advice - hogwash! I have never ordered from them, & never will.

Yes, I should have done my homework before ordering. I am, unfortunately, an impulse buyer. So I saw a pretty plant and went for it. Won't happen again, I will tell you that. I've learned my lesson.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I would complain about it. That plant definitely has bad roots.

I ditto! You acted in good faith and you deserve better!!!

---------- Post added at 07:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Once you accepted the plant, once you handled the plant, once you paid for the plant, it is all on you. I'd like to know if they are really the growers. Through the few years I've been on the board, what I have read leads me to believe that they aren't the grower but only the middleman. So they have no recourse but to be rude and be obnoxious to their one time customers. If you go back a second time, you need help. Even if they sent you another plant in better condition, and were pleasant, Once bad plant is enough. Poor quality control is bad business practice.

+1!!!

Always remember, the Capitalist model puts the power in the hands of the consumer.....to determine the success or failure of any given business.

Well, to the extent anti trust actions are brought and followed up on; these days, alas, not so much.

No mea culpas, life is all about the adventure of learning and growing, including the caveat emptor part.

But don't let them off the hook, they will just go on getting over on others!

Again, you acted in good faith, with reasonable expectations, and they abrogated.

[MrsH530]

I wanted to update you all on my experience with Orchids.com. Last week, I emailed them the pictures of the plant, and told them that I would either like a replacement plant with a good root system, or a refund.

Ultimately, I was refunded the money, because when they pulled the other plants out to have a look, they all had to be repotted because their root system was lacking. The refund has already shown up in my account, and while I'm disappointed that my plant is not healthy, I can't complain about their customer service.

I may purchase from them again. I think I'll be more tempted to buy from Hausermanns or others first, as I was very happy with the condition of my plants from them, but I wouldn't rule out Orchids.com if they had a plant that I really wanted.

Thanks for all the feedback and helpful advice!

[quiltergal]

Yep, there is a reason for them telling you not to repot for 30 days, and it's not a good reason. They know they are selling crap. They may as well be selling cut flowers. If memory serves I think Philip worked for them for a little while. He had some pretty interesting stories.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Yep, there is a reason for them telling you not to repot for 30 days, and it's not a good reason. They know they are selling crap. They may as well be selling cut flowers. If memory serves I think Philip worked for them for a little while. He had some pretty interesting stories.

I never understand how lowlife, ignoble vendors manage to stay in business. All this....is DISGUSTING.

---------- Post added at 03:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by MrsH530

I wanted to update you all on my experience with Orchids.com. Last week, I emailed them the pictures of the plant, and told them that I would either like a replacement plant with a good root system, or a refund.

Ultimately, I was refunded the money, because when they pulled the other plants out to have a look, they all had to be repotted because their root system was lacking. The refund has already shown up in my account, and while I'm disappointed that my plant is not healthy, I can't complain about their customer service.

I may purchase from them again. I think I'll be more tempted to buy from Hausermanns or others first, as I was very happy with the condition of my plants from them, but I wouldn't rule out Orchids.com if they had a plant that I really wanted.

Thanks for all the feedback and helpful advice!

Reclaim your power as a pro active consumer re the Capitalist model! Do not support any such vendor. Think about all their future victims who dealt in good faith!

Snake oil, smoke and mirrors, terrible stuff.

[quiltergal]

As if that weren't bad enough many people have had orchids purchased from them test positive for mosaic virus. I'm pretty sure they are aware they are selling virused plants. They just don't give a rats ass.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

As if that weren't bad enough many people have had orchids purchased from them test positive for mosaic virus. I'm pretty sure they are aware they are selling virused plants. They just don't give a rats ass.

O M G!!!!

Not much worse than being Faust in any way!!!! How can any Faustian being ever know happiness in the moment?

Maybe someone can post accounts on some consumer complaints site?

We are not meant to be powerless in these events!!!
And, we are all in this together. Well, I think.