What to buy? Placing an order with Seattle Orchid

[plantluvver]

I have been looking at the offerings at Seattle Orchid, and the prices seem really affordable to me. Also, I live in Portland, OR which will keep shipping times at a minimum.

I am thinking of purchasing an assortment of 8 oncidiums.

I would also like to order something fragrant that will do well for me on a windowsill and be easy to get to bloom, and will have long lasting blooms. Preferably a winter bloomer.

Any suggestions?

Feel free to PM me if you would like to share your personal experience with this vendor.

[plantluvver]

I could not resist... I called Seattle Orchids today, and the man who spoke to me recommended Angracum dideri. However, since they are low in stock of the bareroot sale Oncidiums, I did not place an order today.

At some point in the middle of the conversation, I pointed out that I was taking up a great deal of his time, and he said that was part of his business.

He suggested I look for Odontoglossums and Zygopetalum. I let my house get quite cool in the winter (as low as 60 in the day), and he thought the Odontoglossoms would do better for me. (I don't remember the reason he recommended Zygopetalums.)

Since I am planning a trip next month that will take me through Seattle, I will likely visit in person.

[quiltergal]

You might want to check the vendor feedback section. If memory serves me correctly several people have had problems with them.

[plantluvver]

Thank you Terry, I am new here, and I had never scrolled down far enough to see the vendor feedback section.

I searched it, and there is no actual feedback, either good or bad about Seattle Orchid's plants or customer service.

Thank you for pointing out this section of the forum to me.

[Paul]

I do remember there being an ongoing issue with this company repeatedly stealing pictures (using the pictures of one of our members without that person's permission).

[plantluvver]

Yes, I saw that thread. That thread is closed, and I am hoping that the issue has been resolved between the interested parties.

[IncredibleOrchids]

Seattle Orchid are quite friendly and accommodating and have the best customer service. They are a Better Business Bureau affiliated company and have a great score. The root problem of photos comes back to their suppliers who have provided them stock photos. Respectively they remove any photos that is claimed to be unauthorized. Seems that judgement is made without factual data.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by IncredibleOrchids

Seattle Orchid are quite friendly and accommodating and have the best customer service. They are a Better Business Bureau affiliated company and have a great score. The root problem of photos comes back to their suppliers who have provided them stock photos. Respectively they remove any photos that is claimed to be unauthorized. Seems that judgement is made without factual data. Don't they call this the gossip game?

Aren't you an affiliated business? Don't they call this self-promotion (ie 'spam')?

Honestly, I can't say I think much of a policy on intellectual property that is solely complaint-based. If you or your supplier don't own or have expressly granted rights to commercial use of a photo, don't use it! Easy enough to link to someone's photo so it's properly attributed; several ebay sellers routinely link to IOSPE if they don't have a bloom picture.

--Nat

[IncredibleOrchids]

My intentions for the post was not to pick an argument. I love this forum as to respond in a friendly demeanor and provide feedback based on experience. I do not sell orchids anymore nor have any business affiliation with this company. I do not respect those who intentionally steal photos but since I know these folks, I base my opinion solely on first hand perception and great reviews from local members. It is virtually impossible for them to check every photo from their vendors to validate commercial use. If anything, suppliers are doing bad to those who have taken great photos. Supplying a link is a great idea, unfortunately Ebay no longer allows links in auctions. Again, no sense in bantering or creating conflict here... just providing some feedback based on experience. I've known great nurseries to have used photos that weren't theres, but at least they appropriately remove the intellectual property and I continue to buy their plants based on the most important aspects: Plant Quality, Diversity, and most importantly Customer Service. :-)

[otruelove]

Here is the review I left on yelp. I can't belive i recommended this to a friend. First she ordered an orchid with expedited service. It came late. So that was a waste of money. Then they not only sent a sick plant but when the flower finally open it was the wrong one. It was even missed labeled.
Then before we figured out that ordeal we had put in an order for about 6plants. They never shipped. Then we were told the orchids were out of stock after multiple emails and phone callsOnly a partial shipping was available. It finally came yester day after three weeks of waiting. All the plants we got were in horrid conditions, cut leaves, blotched flowers, looks diseased. And one of the orchids we were expecting was missing.
Needless to say we canceled the remaining order. Will never ever order from them again and they dont seem to care at all. These plants might not even be salvagable and im afraid to put them anywhere near my other orchids