Ahtanum Orchids

[shadytrake]

The jury is still out on this vendor.

History: I placed a large order with them in January 2016 after doing a Google search for a particular orchid.

You know how it is when you are looking for that one elusive plant for your collection.

Not only did they have the one I was searching for, but they also had two forms of V. denisoniana (the orange and the green).

I couldn't really find any reviews so I took the chance and emailed them about the size of the plants. The response seemed pretty good. Plants were large.

I placed the order and they charged me tax even though I am in TN and they are in WA. I contacted them about the error and they said they charge it anyway and will send me a heat pak in lieu of tax. Well, that was kind of a but not enough to discourage me from getting the order.

Order arrived and the plants were big (NO HEAT PAK - in January). I was excited that they were not damaged from the cold. I isolated them (as I always do now) and good thing because they had mealies. I immediately drenched.

So no biggie...I got rid of the guests and they started growing.

Fast forward to a little over a month ago...I see a spike on my V. denisoniana (green form) and I am over the moon excited! I carefully train it with styrofoam inserts so that it grows straight and away from the leaves. I'm counting buds and making sure the humidity is perfect. It had 12-14 buds working.

About 10 days ago, I start to suspect not V. denisoniana. The buds started turning purple! NOOoooooo! It can't be, I thought. Please when it opens, be green.

Oh no, not green. Not even Vanda. It opens and I have an Aerides x Vanda. I should have suspected sooner when I saw purple root tips instead of green, but I wasn't thinking.

So I email Ahtanum and tell them the situation and ask them how we should remedy as now their website says out of stock.

No reply. I call and leave a message just in case. Mind you, this was a total $333 order and this plant alone was $40 + tax that I shouldn't have had to pay + shipping.

No reply. I am seriously bummed about this and now more than a little irritated. So I called my credit card company (paid through PayPal, but with my Capital One card). They are pretty good with disputes.

I explain the whole situation and ask them how we can dispute only that portion of the purchase (I'm giving Ahtanum the benefit of the doubt that the other orchids are correctly labeled). Capital One is sending me a special dispute form.

In the meantime, I am still trying to contact Paul at Ahtanum to see if he will make it right.

Attached is a photo. I'm pretty sure it is (Aerides lawrenceae x Vandachostylis Sasicha), which is a popular cross. I'm checking for the grape scent which will pretty much determine that.

So the jury is still out, but it is not looking good at this point.

[Leafmite]

I am very sorry to hear.

[emmajs243]

Hey Shadytrake! I just came by this thread because just like you....searching for that one illusive orchid and they just ALWAYS seem to be the one person that has them! Which I found a little sketchy from the start...Nobody has these orchids and you have all of them for half the price?

So I decided to jump on here and see if anyone had posted about them and sure enough, found this! I do know that the Oregon Orchid Society has them on their list as members/vendors they encourage members to buy from but other then that, like you, I haven't been able to find ANY reviews about them which I also found strange.

I don't think I will risk it! I love the orchid but not THAT much! That sounds like an extremely disappointing occurrence! Did they ever even make it right with you?

[shadytrake]

Hi emmajs243,

Actually they never responded to my emails so I contacted my credit card and explained the situation. I had saved the original advertisement, showed them the type of bloom that should have resulted, and explained that I was only requesting a refund for the cost of that plant.

My CC was awesome and opened a claim, did not receive a response from the grower, then ultimately credited me for that plant.

I was able to get my other plants to grow, but in hindsight I won't order from them again. There are too many great growers with healthy plants available.

Of course, that elusive missing plant is always a draw so I just tell you buyer beware. If you don't have proof of the bloom, make sure you use a CC that has an awesome claim department.

[emmajs243]

Wow! That is SO unfortunate we have people in the world willing to do things like that! The fact that even on Facebook, they had zero reviews on them....Idk I just found it very sketchy and agree with you...There are plenty of wonderful growers out there that want to make their customers happy!

Thank you for sharing an update with me!

[Ray]

Emma,

For all any of us know, it may have been an honest mistake - the vendor may be a reseller, rather than a breeder/grower, and ordered the proper plant and got the wrong ones in, mislabeled. I mostly bought and resold plants when I was in that business, and even with reputable sources, such things happen.

However, the lack of response is a major nail in the coffin for me. Whenever something went awry with my plant orders, I offered an immediate refund, often with a free replacement.

Let this be another lesson to all that mail order:

USE A CREDIT CARD! You MUST (by law) get what you ordered, or you don't have to pay for it.

[emmajs243]

Oh! Very good To know about using a credit card and getting what you paid for by law!!!

I do agree with you though....I have no problem with the plants getting mixed up....that definitely happens to the best of us I'm sure in a growing situation! Like you said, it's the not trying to respond or make amends afterwards....

Well and, it is just SO odd to find a grower with absolutely zero reviews or ratings...especially when they have a Facebook page normally you would find SOMETHING in this day in age online whether on a forum or review site or something you know! That seemed just a little odd to me.

I have no problem giving a less known grower a try and just start with a single plant, but I do research them first....articles, AOS awards, reviews, forum talk, something!

---------- Post added at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------

However....I definitely never thought about using a credit card! That is a REALLY good point Ray....I like using my debit card for everything because I hate bills hanging over my head but maybe I'll have to change that when buying from at least new sellers...

---------- Post added at 11:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

Oh ALSO! If anyone cares....ALWAYS check to make sure their website includes "https" instead of "http" before making a payment on their website! I learned that in a work "online security training" recently. Without the "s", it is not a secure site and has no SSL certificate!!

That goes for ANY online shopping!