ClaessenOrchids
 

I just recently saw ClaessenOrchids list an orchid I'd never seen for sale before but left it and then regretted it when it sold out instantly. you know how it is, the nagging feeling made me check if they were going to get any more in and I got a sad message from them that they are selling off their orchid stock and specialising in houseplants instead

Oh geez ...... unbelievable. Even in Australia - some nurseries sell both orchids and non-orchids - for survivability.

Eg.

My Garden Path: Indoor Wholesale Nurserymen - YouTube

Honestly, I don't think we're losing out on much. The quality of their plants has gone seriously downhill since I first started shopping there in 2011, and I haven't ordered from them in years because of this. Many people find the quality to be hit or miss, and when you inform them of a problem they don't do anything or deny that there's a problem. Maybe that's why people don't buy orchids from them anymore???

What plant was it? Maybe other people here will know where to find it.

I've seen pretty bad reviews from them and have been willing to check physically what they have in stock, but they closed the store due to Covid.

Based on the astonishing number of plants they have for sale, and the pics that come from well known nurseries, I'm assuming that they're just importing everything and reselling ASAP.

€27 for a Phalaenopsis amboinensis? €40 for a Vanda denisoniana that's not a Vanda denisoniana?
I'm not going to pay premium price for somethings that's not being taken care of.

My girlfriend bought me a C. araguaiensis for gift. Blooming size. This species is a miniature Cattleya itself, but the plant sent was almost a deflask and with no roots and ill. Plant lost, and customer too. Mails has been never answered. NOPE.

That's not good at all. It's sad to know of that sort of thing - for both sides - customer and seller.

Sometimes, we don't know if the seller is just over-whelmed with work - depending on how many people are employed there. If they're flat-out all the time, with packing, shipping, tending etc ....... with limited staff, then it could lead to various issues - ultimately linked to customer service etc.

I can understand if it's a temporary dip in quality. But when it's a gradual decline into poor quality, it's safe to assume that the vendor has made certain choices ($$) that led to it.

I stopped giving them my money when I complained about a rootless plant and their reply was "it's a recent import so it's normal that it's rootless. But don't worry it's a healthy plant and will grow more roots". Sorry, but it's up to the vendor to establish/adjust newly imported plants, not the customer. And if you sell fresh imports, at least have the decency to indicate it on the website. Needless to say that the plant died.

Camille ------ that's crazy ..... in that they would say it's 'normal' for customers to be sent a rootless plant. What do they take us for? 1 year olds?

Totally with you on what you did there. Sorry ------- they were wrong to do that to you and anybody. Totally understandable.