Orchidweb - what is your experience?

[astrid]

Hello everyone!!

I did a quick search to see what has been said about orchidweb.com, but I did not find many posts discussing them. I saw one positive review of them, but otherwise I don't see much on here!

So I wanted to ask, what's your experience?

Do they ship well-packaged plants?
Do the plants arrive healthy?
How is their customer service?
Do they replace sickly plants?

Thank you!!
I want to buy a second sedirea japonica from them (I bought a mounted one from Andy's) and maybe buy from them in the future.

I think I worry because "orchidweb" sounds so similar to "orchids.com" and I know orchids.com has some pretty negative feedback on here (bad customer service, sick plants arriving, and so on).

[Plodde]

I like orchid web. Everything I've gotten from them has been happy and healthy.
I too have a mounted sedirea japonica from Andy's that went into spike about a month after I got it. Andy's is top notch

[AnonYMouse]

Try looking under Orchids Limited.

[Chani]

Hello!

I'm a real newbie, so take everything I say with a grain of salt, but...

1. My gosh, the plant I ordered from them could've withstood a nuclear blast it was so well packed. Several layers of packing. Plant came completely undamaged aside from some black dots on a few of the leaves which, from my talk with the vendor, must have arisen due to condensation in the package combined with the cold temperatures (even though there was a heat pack inside the box). I've had the plant for a few months and the spots haven't spread in any way, so I believe him.

2. Again, I'm a newbie, but aside from those spots, it looked healthy as can be. You can actually see pictures of the plant in my gallery if you'd like to form your own opinion.

3. Customer service was top notch. When I emailed with my concern about the spots, I was answered back within 15 minutes, I believe. Had a few emails go back and forth and was promptly answered every time other than once since he was busy with the store.

4. I'm not 100% sure, but I feel like I read their policy on this somewhere. Either on their website or on one of the sheets that came with the plant, which unfortunately, I threw out.

For me, the only drawback to this site is the prices (plus the shipping is a ton!), but from my experience, I really liked them. I hope this helps!

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Chani

Hello!

I'm a real newbie, so take everything I say with a grain of salt, but...

1. My gosh, the plant I ordered from them could've withstood a nuclear blast it was so well packed. Several layers of packing. Plant came completely undamaged aside from some black dots on a few of the leaves which, from my talk with the vendor, must have arisen due to condensation in the package combined with the cold temperatures (even though there was a heat pack inside the box). I've had the plant for a few months and the spots haven't spread in any way, so I believe him.

2. Again, I'm a newbie, but aside from those spots, it looked healthy as can be. You can actually see pictures of the plant in my gallery if you'd like to form your own opinion.

3. Customer service was top notch. When I emailed with my concern about the spots, I was answered back within 15 minutes, I believe. Had a few emails go back and forth and was promptly answered every time other than once since he was busy with the store.

4. I'm not 100% sure, but I feel like I read their policy on this somewhere. Either on their website or on one of the sheets that came with the plant, which unfortunately, I threw out.

For me, the only drawback to this site is the prices (plus the shipping is a ton!), but from my experience, I really liked them. I hope this helps!

Yeah, orchid shipping is spendy, but you get what you pay for! A well-packaged, properly fastened, indestructible box of an orchid.

All of your points sound like good signs to me! Very good indeed. That is what I would look for in a good vendor. Thanks for your input!

[Chani]

Originally Posted by astrid

Yeah, orchid shipping is spendy, but you get what you pay for! A well-packaged, properly fastened, indestructible box of an orchid.

All of your points sound like good signs to me! Very good indeed. That is what I would look for in a good vendor. Thanks for your input!

You're very welcome

[katrina]

They are a top-notch vendor!

Google Jerry Fischer (son Jason)...they are very well known in the orchid world.

The price of their plants are a bit steep but the plants are of great quality and I'm sure it costs a LOT of money to heat greenhouses in Minnesota.

[terryros]

I know them and the operation very well because I live close and visit often. Almost everything I have is from them. Long experience, knowledge, quality, and service can't come cheaply. Consider how much time and effort it takes to raise a quality plant from the point of crossing on to a flowering sized plant. There is high expense in acquiring and maintaining the best species and hybrid plants for breeding purposes.

I know that cost matters to almost everyone and that Phals and a few other high demand orchid genera can be produced in high volume more cheaply in other parts of the world. Often the buyers/receivers of these plants don't care what the true names or breeding of the plants might be or whether the plants are virus/disease free, etc. They are pretty plants not meant to last for years. This market can introduce people to orchids.

But, if there aren't enough of us who care about more than this, willing to spend more money, we will continue to experience the dwindling of US orchid breeders and growers.


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[PaphMadMan]

There isn't a more reputable orchid vendor than Orchids Limited (orchidweb.com). They aren't cheap, but the quality and service are usually well worth it.

[astrid]

You guys all mention that they're not cheap! But they are selling a sedirea japonica for $25, which is pretty darn good!
I may never be the person dropping $500 on an orchid, but I don't mind spending $40 for a particular plant that I'm dying to have!!

If I want a cheap orchid, I'll just but a $6 phal from Trader Joe's. If I want an awesome and specific orchid, I'm willing to spend a bit.