Thompson and Morgan (US)


P.O. Box 4086
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025 (United States)
1(800) 274-7333
888-466-4769

Notes

Thompson & Morgan (US) provides a great selection of the well-known and not so well-known seed varieties. We specialize in bring you the newest flower and vegetable seeds, as well as rare and unusual items. Our seeds are tested continuously throughout the year for good germination and vigor and all exceed the USDA standards. Nothing is genetically modified and we have signed the safe seed pledge. The seeds are sent fresh to us here in New Jersey directly from England, where we have strived for over 150 years to bring you the best from around the world. If you are not sure about how to grow your seeds, we’ll be happy to help you. Email us at tminc@tmseeds.com. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or we'll give you a replacement or refund.

posted on April 1, 2009

Reviews:

positives
neutrals
negatives

Displaying the 50 most recent reviews

RatingContent
Negative
On Jul 1, 2019, gourdobean (14 reviews) from Minden, NV (Zone 5a)

The link to their website takes the gardener to Gurney's. Warning! Take appropriate measures (integrated pest management) to avoid business with this company. No longer the Thompson Morgan of yesteryear who sold a wonderful selection of dianthus and other chalk soil friendly plants.

Negative
On Feb 7, 2016, lokidog (4 reviews) from Logan, UT

Please remove the description provided, it's false in numerous ways. This is now a shell of a company without anything of real value to offer. It's retreated to the UK and even that company is a mere shadow of what it once was.

Negative
On Feb 3, 2016, goulot (3 reviews) from Canton, MI

When I asked for a catalog (by e-mail), I got an e-mail saying it would be sent shortly. That was over one month ago. When I came here, I found that they are now part of the GardenAlive/etc. group. I think I will have to look elsewhere for the seeds I want.

Negative
On Jun 19, 2015, iowhen (8 reviews) from Iowa City, IA (Zone 5a)

It would be nice to know what happened to T&M US. I used to order annuals and perennials from them and appreciated the quality, variety and customer service. Over the last two years, their website inventory has gotten smaller, until now they have maybe 10 varieties of seeds available. It seems ridiculous that they even have a website with so little to offer. Disappointing.

Negative
On May 30, 2015, AstilbeHere (1 reviews) from Toronto,
Canada

Unfortunately, Thompson and Morgan in the USA and in Canada is in 'name only' -- if you look at the website, it's Breck's, d/b/a. d/b/a means "doing business as" without any legal connection to the T&M company in the UK. They appear to be using the name without the consent (or denial) of Thompson and Morgan in the UK. It's a good company in the UK. It's a classic example of businesses cashing in on a good name, and then unable to deliver, or worse, ripping people off. I have emailed T&M UK and all they say is "we don't send to Canada, you must work through T&M Canada" ie. They don't actually care that their good name is being trashed in Canada and the USA. Used to get great seeds through T&M - variety differences and stuff that would be great to start in a greenhouse. But, that's finished. Junky catalogs are all you get now.

Negative
On Feb 27, 2015, Stroudwater (2 reviews) from Portland, ME

What on earth is going on with Thompson and Morgan US? The website is steadily diminishing in stock. I used to get the catalog (coveted by my fellow gardeners) and have ordered in the past but now they say that you "must" order from T & M US. There is almost nothing to order! Does anyone know what is going on with this company? It is a shame because they are an excellent source. I haven't rec'd a catalog in 2 years. I reside in the eastern US.

Negative
On May 12, 2014, nowMNzone4b (5 reviews) from Kasson, MN

Posted on June 4, 2012, updated May 12, 2014 I ordered late but received my order promptly, correct, and in good condition. All were discounted near end of season so I believe I got a great deal!


On May 12th, 2014, nowMNzone4b changed the rating from positive to negative and added the following: May 2014... What I thought was a goo deal by ordering at the end of the season may not have been such a good deal after all. I had very good results for some seed germination and terrible germination on others. When you plant four seeds per cell and only two seeds of a dozen cells germination something is wrong. I noticed that Thompson and Morgan does not date it's seed packets...I suspect the some of the seed packets are "old". This year I received numerous seed catalogs that I never requested. The irony is that when I ordered on-line and didn't request a catalog expecting one to arrive with my order, which wasn't included. I requested one on-line and it's been over a month so I guess hopefully I'll receive it "next year". I received an "out of stock" post card worth $5 on my next order. The trouble is that I've been ordering my gardening needs on-line for several yrs. now and their system has no way to accommodate these out of stock cards so I'm left with two choices: (1) call an order in , or (2) mail my order in. I find that VERY IRRIATING. Also what was brought to my attention was I received the same type of out-of-stock post card from another company and both companies have given me the exactly the same account #. The other company has the same policy of not being able to use the card with their computer system. WARNING!!! If you order from this company be prepared to receive many unsolicited gardening catalogs and hope you don't receive an out-of-stock post card.
Company representative comment on June 8, 2012:
On Jun 8, 2012 4:11 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you, we appreciate the feedback.

Negative
On Mar 9, 2014, nvadave (1 reviews) from Fairfax, VA

My question is "Is Thompson & Morgan" still in business? I just tried placing an order with them. I couldn't find my catalog, so I went back and duplicated my 2013 order. Eleven items, total, all flower seeds. Seven were "out of stock!" Two - off Express Order - were "Not Found." Only two were available. Incredible! This is early March, 2014. The height of gardening/seed starting season. If you don't have seeds now, just what is going on? Twenty years ago I ordered almost all my flower seeds - and it was a lot - from T&M. Since they sold the U.S. business to Gardens Alive it has gone rapidly downhill in selection and customer service. I would no longer recommend them. A sad state of affairs.

Negative
On Sep 28, 2013, cjparker (16 reviews) from Kennewick, WA (Zone 7a)

Really frustrated with this company! I ordered many packets of seeds during their 99 cent sale. They immediately cancelled 10 items, saying they were out of stock. A few days later, they were "on sale" at more than 99 cents. I ordered on Aug 21, and here it is over 5 weeks later and I still haven't received all my order. Six packets haven't even shipped yet. Yeah, yeah, I know it's not like I need to plant them tomorrow, but I have better things to do with my day than track my seed orders.


Company representative comment on September 30, 2013:
On Sep 30, 2013 9:44 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. I apologize for the problem with the seeds. I will have one of our customer service representatives contact you for your account information and check on delivery of your order.

Negative
On Sep 28, 2013, mbhughes (4 reviews) from Grosse Pointe, MI

Why do I not learn? I told myself I would not order from T&M again especially from their seed sale. Recently I ordered 11 seed varieties and when 2 packets arrived the shipping papers noted that 5 of those ordered were out of stock. A few weeks later I received an email stating that another variety is no longer available. And today I checked the website for an update on the rest of the order and found out on the order status page that the rest of the order has been cancelled. I think I should just get off their email list and cancel the mailing of their catalogue. I paid shipping for two sale seed packets? What a joke! I can find most of their seeds elsewhere and will!


Company representative comment on September 30, 2013:
On Sep 30, 2013 9:43 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. I apologize for the problem with the seeds. I will have one of our customer service representatives contact you for your account information.

Negative
On Jul 22, 2013, squirrellady (1 reviews) from Hadley, MI

Ordered 7 flower seed packets on 7/7/13. Via email 7/16/13, I was notified that 4 of the 7 packets would be mailed between 7/15/13 - 7/19/13 and that the remaining 3 would be mailed between 7/22/13 - 7/24/13. I did receive the 4 seed packets. Never received the others, so I decided to check my account to see what happened to the others. The account said the remaining 3 were cancelled. No explanation, no email notification. I guess if I hadn't checked their website, I wouldn't have known. I called their 800 # and "Cindy" apologized and said, "I don't know why they don't notify". Really this isn't the way to do business. I also mentioned that I wouldn't have ordered only 4 skimpy filled seed packets for $3.95 shipping. I kindly told "Cindy" that I probably wouldn't be ordering anything else because this isn't the first problems that I've had with T & M.


Company representative comment on August 1, 2013:
On Aug 1, 2013 4:20 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for letting us know about the problem with your order. I would be happy to have one of our customer service representatives contact you for your account information and help you with this order.

Positive
On Jan 25, 2013, abhege (1 reviews) from Grantville, GA

I have ordered from T&M in the past because they have items I have been unable to find other places and have always been happy with their products and service. I recently placed another, rather large order and received it promptly, but when I started to plant some of the seeds, I was not happy with the packaging. Very tiny seeds placed inside the hard to open envelope without the benefit of a smaller glasine envelope. I lost several seeds because of trying to wrangle with the packaging and seeds are becoming more and more expensive so I was not happy. I contacted CS at Thompson & Morgan and the following morning not only did I get an apology, there was already a replacement order on the way. Very good CS. I am still hoping they reconsider their packaging. By the way, not all the seeds were packaged this way, so I'm not sure how that works.


Company representative comment on February 19, 2013:
On Feb 19, 2013 10:50 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you, we appreciate you sharing and we will always do anything we can to make it right.

Positive
On Dec 27, 2012, midvalleydad (7 reviews) from Dickson City, PA

Posted on February 12, 2011, updated December 27, 2012 Ordered from T&M last year without a problem. Shipping could have been quicker, but I received my order in plenty of time to start my seeds early in my "basement greenhouse". I will order from them again. Good stuff.


On December 27th, 2012, midvalleydad added the following: Did have a problem with this year's (summer 2012) order. Lousy germination on two packets of Petunia seeds, Blue Daddy and Prism Sunshine. That was $9.00 down the drain. Other brands germinated near 100% in the same greenhouse. One type of seed wasn't available, my money was refunded, that's OK with me. On the upside, the shipping times were MUCH faster this time around, and the perennial seeds I ordered grew just fine. Not sure if I'll order from T&M this year, but I still think they offer good stuff.
Company representative comment on February 15, 2011:
On Feb 15, 2011 12:46 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for the feedback. We appreciate the information that is given to us as we use what our customers tell us to better improve our service.

Neutral
On Nov 22, 2012, icebird28 (11 reviews) from Coppell, TX (Zone 8a)

I used to order a lot of seeds from T&M and most of the time, they had full color pictures of the plants and instructions on the back for the seeds. In addition, I like the added touch of a sealed packet with date and lot code. Now, having ordered some sweet william, there are no pictures on the packets, just some generic packet. The instructions and info look like they were printed with an inkjet. And on top of that, no sealed packet anymore to protect them from drying out. Have no idea what success I'm going to have with these seeds. They may not have as great of selection, but check out Harris. They may not have flashy packets but they are sealed packets.


Company representative comment on November 28, 2012:
On Nov 28, 2012 10:21 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. We will definitely take your comments into consideration, but at this time the seed packets will not have the pictures or foil packets.

Negative
On Jul 26, 2012, sakaje (1 reviews) from Ramtown, NJ (Zone 10a)

I worked for this company in the USA Operation in Jackson, New Jersey for over 10 years. The company was a great place to work at first, but changed drmatically along with their products. First the company was sold to International Garden Products, who killed the company. Releasing top horticulturists, and then releasing top customer service and warehouse personnel. The plan was to take a small success and grow it much larger. That destroyed the niche of the perfect and professional gardener the company sought to have. After a flawed strategy of trying to make the company into another Burpee, thus destroying the uniqueness, it was sold back to the T & M family. A year or two later, more lay-offs, terminations and the selling of the company once again.This time to its' present location in Indiana. The catalog is informative and educational, but the products are returned and sold again year after year,hence the foil packaging. I'd keep the catalog as a resource, but buy elsewhere!


Company representative comment on August 24, 2012:
On Aug 24, 2012 11:55 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. The company is under new ownership and we pride ourselves on our products and our service. The seeds that are returned are sold for a reduced price at our outlet center. The seed that is in our catalogs are shipped in foil packages.

Negative
On Jul 6, 2012, hairyjo (21 reviews) from Danville, CA

Posted on April 6, 2011, updated July 6, 2012 Posted on February 19, 2011, updated April 6, 2011 This is another very reliable website for seeds. They have a lovely site and very unusual and pretty flower seeds. I have never had a problem with them. They are fast and have wonderful stuff. I have been shopping with them for several years.


On April 6th, 2011, hairyjo changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following: They skirting a less than great rating in the plant department. I have always ordered seeds and never plants from TM, and never had a problem with seeds. With plants, very difficult to get a response to an email. I had to email several times before I got a response about the ship date. Since they aren't going to ship until May (seriously a bit late for sweet peas in my area). I asked if I could add on to my order. No response. I don't want to bother to continue to email. Just too frustrating. I will wait and see if anyone feels the need to respond before I drop this rating one more level.
On July 6th, 2012, hairyjo changed the rating from neutral to negative and added the following: I order seeds from them every now and then. Last year I ordered some of their plants. They all arrived dead or dying - not one made it - and I never got a response when I complained. I noticed they don't do plants anymore, but they could have at least issued a credit if no refund. I would not rate this as a trust-worthy company.
Company representative comment on April 7, 2011:
On Feb 21, 2011 8:18 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. We do our best to provide the best service possible for our customers. Happy Gardening!


On Apr 7, 2011 8:35 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) added:

I apologize for the delay in response to your email. A customer service representative will contact you for your account information and check on your order for you.

Positive
On Jun 21, 2012, anne500 (1 reviews) from Philadelphia, PA

I've been a happy customer of T&M since 2006. Am a bit dismayed to read all the negative ratings here. Granted I only buy vegetable and herb seeds, almost never flowers, but I've been very happy with their seeds and their service. Am particularly delighted with their seeds and seed selection from Italy, (herbs, beans, kale, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.), they germinate well and produce vigorous, happy plants. Also have a soft-spot for their seeds from the UK. Keep up the good work, Thompson & Morgan.

Neutral
On Jun 8, 2012, InsaniD (9 reviews) from Columbia, MO

Posted on June 8, 2012, updated June 8, 2012 Posted on March 31, 2010, updated June 8, 2012 I ordered something like 14 packets of seeds from them this year, and had no problem with germination on what we've sown so far, with 2 exceptions - salpiglossis and lupins. The stained glass flower is relatively difficult to grow, but lupins shouldn't be - of 40 seeds, 6 came up and I did soak them overnight - the 6 I got are lovely and healthy, and cheaper still, than buying the plants... My main beef with this company is that the phone staff is a bit abrupt and email replies might never come. And it took 3 weeks to get my second order. And the seeds are very pricy and shipping is $6.95 no matter if you order one packet or ten. And the site will accept a coupon code and then suddenly when you check out, the code is forgotten/won't take. They are/have moved to Indiana this winter/spring, so maybe that will make a difference in office... I'm not sure I would recommend to a friend, but I might order from them again.


On June 8th, 2012, InsaniD added the following: Echinacea 'Magic Box' is a "mix" of Pink and White. I had a great rate of germination, with 27 growing up to flower and 24 are pink and 3 are white. Very disappointing considering the picture they show of the "mix". Looking around the net, it looks like I got lucky in that I also got some white - most folks are saying they only got pink. Still waiting for my money back on them.
On June 8th, 2012, InsaniD added the following: Would also like to add that while this company has a rating/review system onsite, I've never had a review that I've left actually go on the site, neither good reviews nor bad reviews. Like they don't want folks knowing how their seed is really perceived by the public. If this is the case, why even have the rating system to begin with?
Company representative comment on April 9, 2010:
On Apr 9, 2010 2:21 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate you taking the time to post. We are always here to answer any questions you may have or assist in any way we can. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience.

Negative
On Mar 17, 2012, echinaceamaniac (15 reviews) from (Clint) Medina, TN (Zone 7b)

I have ordered from this company many times. Their seeds are advertised as "mixed" or certain colors but they usually aren't like the pictures... 1) Asclepias 'Gay Butterflies' mix - They show these on their site with bright reds in them. Not one out of several packs was red. The photo makes it look like the dominant color. 2) Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' looked a bright red on the catalog. Not one bloom was that color. Most were an ugly brown color. 3) Echinacea 'Magic Box' was advertised as a mix of colors with yellows and oranges, etc. All were pink in two packets I planted. Others posted about this in the Coneflower forum. Nobody got a color other than pink. This company should test their seeds and not continue misleading the public after they are told of the issues. They still are using photos they know are false representations of what their seeds will produce.


Company representative comment on March 20, 2012:
On Mar 20, 2012 3:31 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your posting. A customer service representative will contact you for your account information. We will send along your concerns to our Marketing Department.

Negative
On Mar 2, 2012, kellydgarden (1 reviews) from Edmonton,
Canada

In January 2012, I ordered over $68 of seeds from Thomson &Morgan. Only a portion of the order arrived a few weeks later. This week I contacted their customer service department to find out when the balance of my order would be shipped. In my email, I attached my Shipping Confirmation email received from them along with the original order - which clearly shows that I did not receive all my products, nor their "free gardening booklet". Last night, I was advised by email that I received all my products with the original order. If I had received all my products, I wouldn't have contacted them! Today, again I have attached their shipping confirmation email so they can compare to my original order. Very unreliable company...in the future I will stick with my local greenhouses for seeds, at least I will be getting what I paid for. I should have checked the online reviews before I placed the order, there's way too many red flags.


Company representative comment on March 13, 2012:
On Mar 13, 2012 10:23 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for posting and I apologize for the inconvenience. A customer service representative will contact you for your account information and check on the rest of your order for you.

Negative
On Feb 21, 2012, reeve1 (59 reviews) from Plano, TX (Zone 8b)

Posted on February 3, 2012, updated February 21, 2012 Posted on January 26, 2012, updated February 3, 2012 I also ordered seeds from T&M (right at $100.00 worth) and was very displeased with what I received from them. Many of the small seeds are sent loose in their package and are crushed and stuck under the sealed edge of the package. It appears that the package was sealed over some of the tiny seeds. It used to be that they would put small seeds in a paper insert so that they would be protected from this type of damage and so you could easily locate all the seeds without tearing the seed package apart and into pieces. Further, of the 3 seed packs that I've attempted to germinate seeds from so far, less than 10% have yet proven to be viable. I notice, too, that now my Michigan Bulb Customer ID is the same one they use at Thompson & Morgan. Apparently they have joined together in some way. This in itself is not a problem if they provide seeds that will grow and deliver them without making them into dust first. Paying $3.99 for each seed packet and receiving this @#%$^ is unacceptable. Beware!


On February 3rd, 2012, reeve1 added the following: Thank you for your response, but I'm afraid that shipping the same product would only cause the same problem. The issue is in the packaging of your seeds. Since Michigan Bulb has taken over the company, although you continue to charge a premium for your seeds ($3.99 for a few seeds in most cases) you have stopped providing the paper inserts within the foil seed packets to keep tiny seeds together and provide protection for them. Now, the most tiny of seeds are just left loose in the foil bag making it difficult to locate all of them. To make matters worse, these foil packets often will incur a static charge, which is common from them rubbing against each other, and this makes it near impossibile to locate and remove all the seeds from the packet. Some are magnetically stuck in corners and at the top of the bag and are inadvertently removed when opening the seed packet in the prescribed way on the package. It shouldn't be this difficult to extract the product I have purchased from the bag or to receive them as dust because of improper storage or care, particularly when you are charging twice as much and providing half the product as others. Please pass on my comments to management that I am no longer purchasing my seeds from TM seeds because of this. Thank you!
On February 21st, 2012, reeve1 added the following: Let me add that of the few seeds that arrived in good condition, the seed counts were all way off. On "item 93978 Zinnia 'Zahara Raspberry Lemonade' it is listed as having 15 seeds. The two packets I ordered had 11 and 12 seeds respectively. The same with 91041 Petunia 'Double Cascade Burgundy Plum Vein' was listed as having 25 seeds and contained 22. All seeds packs were this way, never containing the number indicated, but always less, and many times as much as 25% less. This is a huge ripoff when you're supposed to be getting 15 seeds to begin with and paying $4.00 for them, and end up getting 11. This is intentional deception when it is this widespread across ALL seed packets and it is not consistent with past conduct of Thompson and Morgan's seeds. Seed counts were always generous and NEVER below that which was printed on the package. You have gone from one of the best to among the very worst. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! I won't be ordering twice.
Company representative comment on January 27, 2012:
On Jan 27, 2012 9:24 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate you letting us know about the problems with your seeds and apologize for the inconvenience. We will be happy to reship them to you. A customer service representative will contact you for your account information and take care of this for you.

Positive
On Dec 18, 2011, ansonfan (1 reviews) from Polkton, NC (Zone 7b)

I have been ordering seeds from T&M for several years. I have had very good sucess with germination, and been very satisfied with the outcome of the plants. They have always had great customer service if I had a question and I have never had a shipment lost or damaged. They will continue to be my number one souce for seeds.


Company representative comment on December 30, 2011:
On Dec 30, 2011 9:27 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Happy Spring to you!

Neutral
On Aug 9, 2011, 1997 (4 reviews) from Ossian, IN (Zone 5a)

I ordered some seeds (around nine packets) from this company during a sale last year. They got here in a timely manner and were nicely packaged. I wish they would show color illustrations on all the packets. I had fair success with the seeds despite their rating here on the watchdog and I think they deserve better ratings. If I had known what experience others had had with T+M's seeds, I would not have bought from them, but I was pleasantly surprised that I did have good success. I do prefer heirloom and organic seeds, so this year I am planning on buying from companies like Diane's Seeds and Botanical Interests. I was slightly disappointed with the number of seeds in the packets, but because I had good success, this does not matter much. This company seems very fickle, though is good for those on a limited budget. One of the packets I ordered was backordered or so the email said. On the website though, the seeds were in stock. This was confusing. Although I had good success, I will order seeds from more worthy companies in the future.


Company representative comment on August 10, 2011:
On Aug 10, 2011 10:57 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate you taking the time to post. I also want to let you know that we do offer some organic vegetable seeds as well as a variety of heirloom seeds. Please check us out again, we do offer top quality seeds and service.
http://www.tmseeds.com/category/s?keyword=heirloom
http://www.tmseeds.com/category/Shop_Organic_Seed

Negative
On May 27, 2011, delphm3 (1 reviews) from Audubon, NJ

I just received a shipment of "easy starts", and it was a total disaster. Ordered 3 types of plants. First type was half dead, spindly and weak, second was completely dumped out of the cells and was received as a mushy mass of soil and plant material that couldn't be salvaged. Third type was just completely dead. Even if they had survived the shipping process, the plants were ridiculously small. Very disappointed in T&M.


Company representative comment on May 30, 2011:
On May 30, 2011 9:14 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We apologize for the problem with your plants. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information and take care of the problem for your.

Negative
On May 24, 2011, auhilie (1 reviews) from Zagreb,
Croatia

I'm a very experienced gardener since childhood and rarely have problems with growing plants. Last three years I've been making big orders from Thompson and Morgan, since I visit UK occasionally and I liked the variety of choice. Now it's the third year that I'm consistently disappointed with the quality of the seeds, even with the best care that I give them. Very low viability and the plants that come out are usually weak and slow growing, except for the most common and easiest to grow plants. Some of the seeds I ordered twice and never had anything come out. I feel very frustrated with spending a lot of money for such low quality.


Company representative comment on May 25, 2011:
On May 25, 2011 12:34 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback and we apologize for the trouble with the seeds. A customer service representative will contact you for your account information and we can have the seeds reshipped to you.

Neutral
On May 22, 2011, HeidiNH (11 reviews) from Brentwood, NH (Zone 6a)

Posted on May 13, 2011, updated May 22, 2011 I sent an email to T&M US and received no confirmation and no reply, so I'll post my complaint here. Like many others, it seems, I've purchased seeds twice in a row for Tinkerbelle Nicotiana that have not germinated. I've grown them for years so I know what I'm doing but when not one sprouts, it's not me, it's the seeds. Not sure what happened to this company, they used to have good quality seeds, now, not so much. Of the ten mixed color Echinaceas I planted, only four have germinated, not much joy there either. The sweet peas, they seem to have made it, so far.


On May 22nd, 2011, HeidiNH changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following: Changing my rating to neutral, because T&M did replace the seeds that didn't germinate. I'll hold that rating until I see whether or not these seeds germinate.
Company representative comment on May 13, 2011:
On May 13, 2011 2:17 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for letting us know about the problem with your seeds. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information. We will pass this onto our quality department.

Negative
On May 19, 2011, mardij (1 reviews) from Wheatland, MO

I placed my order on March 1, and received my first part of the order on May 2, and then one packet on May 18. Half of the order is estimated to be delivered August. These are seeds, and I can't see a reason to not have seeds on hand for the orders. I also ordered starter plants and the delivery date keeps changing with the latest being June 6. I had placed orders from 3 seed catalogs and received the orders from the other two companies within a week. I had planned a garden around these orders, and wasn't able to do it. I won't order from this company again, or any company affiliated with them.


Company representative comment on May 20, 2011:
On May 20, 2011 9:24 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information to check on your order for you. We apologize for the confusion.

Neutral
On May 11, 2011, Blancheann (3 reviews) from Ellsworth, ME

This spring I ordered seeds from the USA Thompson and Morgan's. I was surprised to find Michigan Bulb Company trying to get money from my account. I would never order from them as a friend had trouble with a fall bulb garden. When I called them(MB) to find out what was going on, after some initial confusion it was found they are a Thompson and Morgan company and the name Michigan Bulb had been sent to my account in error. I wanted people to be aware the two companies are connected. The person I spoke to on the phone was helpful and polite but the company(MB) doesn't have a free number so I paid for it.


Company representative comment on May 12, 2011:
On May 12, 2011 7:48 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback and we apologize for the confusion. Yes, Michigan Bulb is one of our sister companies, with the same owner but the facilities for these companies are completely separate.

Positive
On May 7, 2011, aileen246 (19 reviews) from Priest River, ID

I have ordered quite a few flower seeds this year and am very pleased with the germination I've had with the seeds from TM. I've ordered from them for about eight years and have ordered many different seeds that were not available in the US at the time. I like their inner envelopes in the packets to keep the seeds fresh and really use their seed germination booklet, a must for seed sowing. I will continue to order from TM.


Company representative comment on May 11, 2011:
On May 11, 2011 9:07 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We want our customers to receive the best possible product and service. Happy Gardening!

Negative
On Apr 13, 2011, dmc065 (1 reviews) from Ennis,
Ireland

Bought 8 pkts of various Thomson & Morgan veg seeds on the 15th Mar 2011.Next day i put about 30 tomato and brocolli seeds in compost tray .Only 2 out of 30 tomato seeds germinated and about half the brocolli seeds, all of these were weak , spindly,and lacking viguor.,like you would get with very old seeds. The owner of Clonroad Garden Centre Ennis refused to take them back,when i phoned him and suggested i didnt sow them properly even though ive been planting successfully since i was a boy.im now 60!.He also made an excuse that it was too late,This is only April 13th 2011. This is my first time trying T& M seeds.Never again! I dont have any confidence in their seeds.,Beware!buy them only if you like being dissappointed!


Company representative comment on April 16, 2011:
On Apr 16, 2011 8:08 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for sharing your concern about the problems you had with your seed. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information so we can locate your account with us and reship some new seeds to you.

Positive
On Apr 10, 2011, Duns (1 reviews) from Varna, IL (Zone 5a)

Posted on April 2, 2011, updated April 10, 2011 I am happy with the germination so far, good success. However I felt I was short-seeded with the number of seeds in the package. They were not always the amount indicated on the package. Is this normal with seeds?


On April 10th, 2011, Duns changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following: Thompson and Morgan responding quickly to my question . They have promised and made ammends to my concerns. I am happy with their response and actions.
Company representative comment on April 5, 2011:
On Apr 5, 2011 2:57 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information and have your seeds reshipped to you. You should definately receive the amount of seeds indicated on the package.

Neutral
On Apr 3, 2011, dawnsharon2001 (2 reviews) from New York, NY (Zone 7a)

They still have varieties I haven't seen elsewhere. But I miss the old catalog. They're leaving out information I used to depend on, like whether a plant is toxic or poisonous, and how difficult seed is to germinate. (I especially miss the "direct sow" emblem, though that was only used for a couple of years.) On the website, where are the indexes and A-Z listings (especially the one by botanical Latin name?) Why is it so difficult to view, e.g., all alyssum varieties together? Why are there only three sugar snap peas? Are they leaving out varieties that are sold out? I understand that those listings can't generate immediate revenue, but it makes a difference to customers. I want to know whether I need to order earlier next year to get the ones I want, or order from a different seed company. To sum up: used to be a wonderful seed company, beautiful flowers and great information. The flowers are still beautiful, but the information isn't what it used to be, and I'm darned if I can figure out why. Isn't the point of a website, in particular, that you don't have to leave out information for lack of space?


Company representative comment on April 5, 2011:
On Apr 5, 2011 2:55 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will definately pass along your comments to our web department. We always appreciate your feedback.

Neutral
On Mar 30, 2011, sassybutterfly8 (3 reviews) from Powder Springs, GA

It was a rainy day here so I decided to do some seed shopping. Per an email I received they were having a huge sale on seeds. I happily spent nearly 2 hours perusing the website, filled up my cart and was inputting my cc info and shipping info... then I decided to go back and increase a few of the varieties because they were such a great deal. I updated the cart and when I continued to the payment portion of the checkout, all the seed prices had reverted back to their 'normal' prices.. most of them double the what the sales price had been. I kept trying to use the 'back' button, even totally cleaned out my cart and re-added the purchases but no matter what I did the prices remained the original prices.. NOT the sale prices that had shown only an hour or so before. I finally gave up after getting completely frustrated. I would have loved to have made my purchase and I'm not sure what happened or how/why the prices would revert back like that so quickly. Has anyone else ever had that happen? :(


Company representative comment on March 31, 2011:
On Mar 31, 2011 8:24 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you letting us know so we can take care of the problem on our website. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information so we can place your order for you with the sale pricing.

Negative
On Mar 15, 2011, jrtinker (2 reviews) from Palmer, AK (Zone 3b)

I used to love this company, and shopped with them every year, but this year, their online catalogue will no longer ship to Alaska. Some local garden centers do offer small T & M seed racks, but not the full selection of their catalog. I'll be boycotting them as long they don't want my Alaskan business. Phooey!


Company representative comment on March 16, 2011:
On Mar 16, 2011 8:11 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for feedback. Unfortunately due to the high cost of shipping as well as long transit times we are unable to ship to Alaska at this time.

Negative
On Feb 3, 2011, akredpoll (1 reviews) from Galena, AK

I've been ordering from Thompson and Morgan for the past 15 years. They won't let me order anymore. In fact, no Alaska orders are accepted. My negative experience started in October, when I asked for a catalogue online. No response. I asked for another catalogue about six weeks later. Again, no response. Just before the new year I spoke with a customer service representative, who promised a catalogue soon. After seeing nothing, I called this morning (3 Feb 2011) and spoke with another customer service representative. She was about to place the order when I asked to make sure that the catalogue wasn't accidentially sent to Alabama or Arkansas, which is a common mistake. She came back on the phone to tell me that the company is no longer taking orders from Alaska (or Hawaii). There was no explanation. She was polite, and gave me the address of someone in charge of these things in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, but the new policy is baffling. Apparently the company can send seeds to the far reaches of the Norwegian arctic and to the Yukon Territory, but it can't send a packet of seeds to Alaska. What a stupid business decision. I'm an avid gardener who spends literally hundreds of dollars every year on seeds. I can understand not sending bulbs or trees this distance; the decision not to send a packet of seeds is indefensible. I have grown many Thompson and Morgan seeds in the past - their geranium offerings are superb - and they have decided to reject a customer who wants their product. Absolutely stupid. There are dozens of seed companies that happily send me seeds every year, including companies in Europe. I might even go through the pain of having my sister in North Carolina get a catalogue, send it to me, then have her order it online and mail it back to me. However, you'd think that a company interested in profitability would give a damn up front. I'm pretty sure there are some surprised Hawaiians out there, too.

Positive
On Jan 19, 2011, Ishtar64 (5 reviews) from Cedartown, GA

I placed a phone order with T&M on 1/10/11. My order arrived on 1/18/11, rather speedy considering that my area was nearly paralyzed by snow and ice for over a week. T&M has been for years one of the companies I order from. Last year, after the company was sold, I didn't order, because I thought the new ownership might not improve the service and product. When the 2011 catalog arrived (now a magazine size edition compared to the old paperback size), I read it very carefully. As far as I can tell, some of the symbols over the seed listings have been changed. No longer will a customer know if a plant is easy to raise, unless the description says so. However, overall the details are good, and the pictures are top notch. T&M is for me the go-to place for unusual seeds. I've ordered cycads and adansonia seeds (still have one baobab tree in a container!) and several other seeds I've never seen anywhere else. Germination is usually good, some seeds remain viable for years, but I refrigerate the seeds immediately and keep them cold until just before sowing. A few seeds didn't sprout - the cycads, for instance. Customer service is usually good, and delivery is usually speedy, I don't recall any severe problems. When I did have a problem it was solved with either replacement or credit. I noticed my new order was shipped in a small, flat envelope. The seeds were ok, but in the case of large seeds (like the sweet peas I ordered) damage might occur through rough handling. A padded envelope is definitely better! One thing I really like about T&M is that the company refrains from cutesy additions such as pictures of the crew or satisfied customer blurbs praising the product and service. Frankly, I don't really care who works at T&M (or any other seed seller), and I don't like it when a catalog touts itself even more by publishing customer feedback. After all, good service and products should be the norm, not the exeption. Why should I care if Mr. A.Z. from Norway is very happy with the seeds/plants/service he received? Does that guarantee I will receive the same? Feedback is good for forums like this one, but has no place in a catalog. Some of the worst ranking sellers print the most favorable blurbs! Some sellers really need to review their catalogs and cut out the maudlin sentimentalities, self-aggrandizing statements in the forms of customer feedback and bible verse studded ads. T&M sells flowers and vegetable seeds, some plants, supplies and books, but no philosopy, theology or lifestyle advice, and I like it! So, in conclusion, T&M will continue to get some of my business. I don't buy much, and the seeds aren't cheap, but when what I want is available, I get it. I will plant the new seeds and report later, if anything unusual occurs.

Positive
On Jan 15, 2011, Buddy44 (25 reviews) from Eagle Rock, VA

I have ordered from T & M for years. My seeds always arrive in a timely manner, as they did this year. The seeds germinate well whether I start them in my greenhouse or sow them directly.


Company representative comment on January 18, 2011:
On Jan 18, 2011 10:33 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for sharing your experience with our seeds. We appreciate the feedback. Happy Gardening.

Negative
On Jan 12, 2011, jcvchef (1 reviews) from West Kingston, RI

I think T & M has "outsourced" their customer ordering service. I had to call the company because I did not get an email order confirmation....was told one would get sent to me right away...did not happen.....called again...did not happen.....finally an email was sent that my my order was shipped....this shipping confirmation was all messed up.....I called...they said to wait til my order came in....It was delivered and 3 items were back ordered.....1 item was missing.....and 2 items I did not order were in the package of which when I opened up the Zinnia starlight (which I did not order), the package was empty! I emailed the company to complain & thoroughly explained my experience. The email that came back said that the order was already shipped and that what I said was missing was actually in the order. Did I not just email and say to them that it was not there???? Am I speaking English and you do not understand? I always loved their variety of seeds, but I must say, that I will no longer be ordering from T&M again! I have unsubscribed to their site and hope that the rest of my order shows up!


Company representative comment on January 13, 2011:
On Jan 13, 2011 10:42 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank your for your feedback. I apologize for the trouble with your order. A customer service representative will be contacting you for your account information and make sure your order is taken care of.

Negative
On Aug 30, 2010, poffcanada (1 reviews) from Halifax,
Canada

I tried to order from Thompson@Morgan U.S.They said I couldn't order from them and told me I had to go to the Canadian site and order.The problem is they don't have the seeds I wanted on sale on the Canadian site.They should never have the U.S and Canadian site linked because the Canadian site is 10 times the U.S price.The dollar is almoust at par so why should I pay 10 times the price. poffcanada


Company representative comment on September 3, 2010:
On Sep 3, 2010 2:20 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for your feedback. You raise a good point - why two sites? It can be confusing to see two sites from the same company, selling many of the same products, but because of shipping, cost, and inventory issues that arise when selling into Canada, we have to keep the US and Canadian sites separate. From time to time, we offer sales specific to individual websites based on product availability. Those sales do not apply to other sites, despite their shared brand name. The prices are set at the beginning of the selling season, and do not fluctuate with volatile currency exchange rates. Thank you for your understanding.

Neutral
On Aug 11, 2010, Thornns (7 reviews) from Genoa, NY

After an extensive search for blight resistant tomatoes, I came upon two varieties available from this company - "Legend" and "Ferline". I ordered them - and to the company's credit, my order arrived extremely promptly. No issue there. My issue arose after having carefully nurtured my tomatoes from seeds started indoors in the spring...transplanted them into raised beds with potting soil...only to find that the seeds labelled as Legend do not yield a regular sized red tomato - instead they are cherry-sized yellow tomatoes! Very productive, good flavor - which would have been wonderful if that was what I had ordered. The other variety - Ferline - does not have blight, but has been suffering from wilt. Still alive - after I cut off severly wilted portions...but worrisome nonetheless.

Positive
On Aug 4, 2010, silverkelt (4 reviews) from Waterboro, ME

Wow, Ive ordered from them from years.. sure maybe a mix up here or there or some seed count issues. But I never bothered looking them up till today and I couldnt believe all the negatives. They really are a good seed company to order from, Ive always found thier germination rates to be comparable to other seed companies Ive ordered from. I would give them 3 out of 4 stars. Silverkelt

Positive
On Jul 18, 2010, sunnybritefarm (11 reviews) from Naalehu, HI

I've read some of the negative comments, but to tell you the truth, I've had nothing but good experiences. I'll continue to order because they have some vegetables that are hard to find anywhere else. I've never had a problem with the veggie seeds germinating, either. I find that some of their prices may seem high, but then again, these are varieties not offered anywhere else in the U.S. I like some of the U.K. veggie varieties, so I figure it's cheaper than buying them from a supplier in the U.K. ( or flying over to London, though I wouldn'd mind the vacation!)


Company representative comment on July 22, 2010:
On Jul 22, 2010 7:44 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. Your feedback is appreciated and used to help provide better service to our customers. Happy Gardening!

Negative
On May 28, 2010, RandLee (1 reviews) from Santa Fe, NM

I have always loved the T&M catalogues, but I stopped ordering from them last year for one reason: no matter how carefully I try I can seldom get T&M's seeds to germinate. This happened so many times, year after year, that it finally dawned on me that it might not be something I was doing wrong. The other posts on this site confirm this. How sad; I grew up with T&M.


Company representative comment on June 8, 2010:
On Jun 8, 2010 10:45 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. Your feedback is used to help provide better service to our customers. A customer service representative will be contacting you for more information.

Neutral
On May 21, 2010, pgitta (2 reviews) from Marengo, IL

Posted on April 26, 2010, updated May 21, 2010 Posted on April 19, 2010, updated April 26, 2010 It seems like there are no "medium" internet companies. Either they're great, or they suck. This one falls into the latter category. Granted, my order was small, ($9), but that's no excuse to still not have shipped after three weeks with no explanation. Even after two contacts, I can't get these people to move. Soon, it will be too hot for the lettuce I ordered. "Thanks a lot Thompson & Morgan" Yeah, I know...I know. You strive for "100% customer satisfaction" And I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid.


On April 26th, 2010, pgitta added the following: Update: I have received my seeds after getting responses from at least four different people AFTER placing this review here. They claimed "Spring, busy", etc, etc and I may give them another chance, but for now I will not change my assessment from "Negative" until I see a smooth prompt transaction. I took me almost a month to get my order, and I believe I'd still be waiting had I not posted my comments here. Note to T&M: Most people are understanding. Emails are still free. If you are behind, a few kind words and explanations would make all the difference! Your silence is killing your reputation. Hire a teenager in the spring to do nothing but make polite excuses. At least people would feel someone gives a crap, even if you don't. After the fact, "We strive for 100% satisfaction" comments makes it even worse!!!
On May 21st, 2010, pgitta changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
Company representative comment on April 23, 2010:
On Apr 23, 2010 8:41 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

Thank you for taking the time to post. A customer service representative will be contacting you for you account information to locate your order and have it shipped as soon as possible.

Negative
On May 3, 2010, derp (1 reviews) from Chicago, IL

Posted on April 20, 2010, updated May 3, 2010 In the last 8 months, I've spent over $250 with T&M and watched their delivery times get longer and longer and their web ordering system get worse and worse. Their average shipment time is 13.8 days (the longest being 24), and that doesn't include the actual time in transit. I guess they weren't kidding last September 17 when they said to plan for next year! I should have ordered then to get things on time. Orders are taken for out of stock items, but you have trouble finding that out until you get a slip in the mail. Why not email *right away*? Why even advertise the item or add it to the cart? You can't even tell what you ordered in some cases because their order status page is next to useless. It won't list items that weren't shipped. It won't even email you telling you what you ordered or how much you're going to pay, so unless you recorded it somewhere before hitting confirm, you just get to wait and see. Calling their customer service is an exercise in futility, as they are pretty much only allowed to answer phones and apologize that they can't help because *another department* has to handle serious inquiries... and they're probably gone for the day. Beyond that, the germination rate of some seeds is nil. Some of these seeds should be able to germinate in space, literally. (i.e., Nigella damascena) I understand that others are more difficult to get going and that's fine, but this is just the icing on the cake. I was never overcharged or overtly mistreated, but the whole waiting game, worst technology implementation ever, and dismal germination rates on enough of the seeds has pretty much made the decision to focus on other providers in the future clear. It's unfortunate, because T&M does have a great selection (when it is available.) Maybe that whole acquisition by Gardens Alive! last September put the last nail in... (By the way, if you're wondering why you're being not intuitively at all being charged by Michigan Bulb Co., that's why.)


On May 3rd, 2010, derp added the following: Reiterating the part about T&M not knowing which orifice their head is in, another order was silently canceled. This is fine, but I'd prefer to know beforehand. If that's not possible, I'd like to know ASAFP. I expect a little card in the mail explaining this to me, but email is practically free and immediate. I did get a refund in the mail for shipping charges ($1.43 or something) in the past, so they're not thieves. They're just incompetent. "Donna" did contact me to ply me with a refund or a reshipment. I don't care about either. I want the seeds that I order in a timely fashion. That's all. If you don't have them, don't sell them. If you have problems, let me know as soon as you know. If you have supply chain problems or overall "spring slowness", let me know. If the delivered seeds are not viable, then it is a different story. Work on the delivery part first, because your dead seeds don't even get here. Really, you're trading possible attrition for definite hate. Which is worse? Also, I too have a few packets of completely worthless nasturtiums. How the hell does that happen? Did you microwave them in vinegar or something?
Company representative comment on April 23, 2010:
On Apr 23, 2010 9:00 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. Your feedback is taken seriously and used to help provide better service to our customers. A customer service representative will be contacting you for more information.

Negative
On Apr 26, 2010, xiaoren (1 reviews) from Fairbanks, AK

I have ordered catalog seeds for 20 years, and T&M has been a consistant disappointment. I go through all of the other companies' catalogs and if NO ONE else has the seeds I want, I will order from T&M. But this year 2010 has been the worst. I live in Alaska and no one I know even got a catalog. This year I went on their web-site, and it was a train wreck. As usual their prices were higher, their shipping was high and my order from them showed up weeks after all the others. As usual their packages of seeds had less than anyone elses. Will I order from them again...probably. But only if they are the only ones that have a particular kind of seed. I hope that new ownership will improve things in the future.


Company representative comment on April 27, 2010:
On Apr 27, 2010 10:24 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We as the new owners of T&M appreciate you taking the time to post. We are always here to answer any questions you may have or assist in any way we can.

Neutral
On Apr 26, 2010, AndyUK (1 reviews) from winchester,
United Kingdom

I'm from the UK and the Cobra nasturtium appears to have some problems with germination, I sowed over forty seeds and only one seed germinated. I must say however that T.M do appear to accept there is some problem with these seeds as they had no hesitation in replacing all the packets I had purchased, However as yet these have not germinated either, but will give then another week.


Company representative comment on April 26, 2010:
On Apr 26, 2010 4:30 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. We apologize for the problem with the seed. We do our best to ship quality products and your feedback helps to make sure we do just that.

Negative
On Apr 23, 2010, warrennj (9 reviews) from Great Meadows, NJ

Posted on February 2, 2010, updated April 23, 2010 Was very surprised to see a charge from Michigan Bulb on my CC when I would NEVER order from them, even more surprised to find out that the charge was for my T&M order. I guess they have now joined forces, I don't see this turning out well for T&M.


On April 23rd, 2010, warrennj changed the rating from neutral to negative and added the following: I have ordered from T&M for many years despite the somewhat low germination rates that seem to be the norm for this company. They usually have some very unusual seeds so I am willing to deal with low germination rates. Well, this year we have gone from low germination rates to 0% germination. I realize that some of the "exotic" seeds require extra skill and care to germinate but seeds like Nasturtiums can be grown by children. Of the 10 varieties of Nasturtium I ordered from various companies, ONLY the 'Cobra' from T&M had a 0% germination. In fact this year not a single seed of any of the items I ordered from this company germinated. I grow hundreds of seedlings from the common to the exotic each spring without a problem, but the T&M seed is just JUNK! A shame to see a once quality company go to pot.
Company representative comment on April 23, 2010:
On Apr 23, 2010 9:13 AM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate your feedback. We apologize for the problem with the seed. A customer service representative will be contacting you for more information.

Neutral
On Apr 13, 2010, Rozscent (2 reviews) from Merced, CA

Posted on April 6, 2010, updated April 13, 2010 I don't know yet about the germination of the seeds, but I paid by check and at least one packet in my order was not available. I received a postcard note assuring me that "I have not been charged." However, the check was cashed, and there has been no note about a refund or that I have credit with the company for a later seed purchase.


On April 13th, 2010, Rozscent changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following: I changed my comment to neutral because I received a refund check for the items that were not available.
Company representative comment on April 9, 2010:
On Apr 9, 2010 2:18 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate you taking the time to post. A customer service representative will be contacting you about your order and refund.

Negative
On Apr 6, 2010, jgandrg02 (6 reviews) from Coppell, TX

I am not happy about the seeds I got from this company either. They did not send out the seeds to me as the shipping times stated. Took too long to get the seeds. Of the seeds I ordered only one has done anything. Never again!


Company representative comment on April 9, 2010:
On Apr 9, 2010 2:17 PM, Thompson and Morgan (US) responded with:

We appreciate you taking the time to post. We strive for 100% Customer Satisfaction. We are always here to answer any questions you may have or assist in any way we can. A customer service representative will be contacting you about your order.

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