P.O. Box 15247
Sarasota, Florida 34232 (United States)
941 356 5566

Reviews:

positives
neutrals
negatives

Displaying the 5 most recent reviews

RatingContent
Positive
On Dec 4, 2015, CaliJ (1 reviews)

I'm compelled to report my experience, especially with regards to the crazy negative I read below. I've been ordering from Sylvie's Orchids for well over 5 years now. The orchids are always a touch above the average, and I am a loyal customer. I wanted to let everyone know, things do happen, but Amy always puts customers first. AAAA+++

Positive
On Oct 26, 2015, rmpratt (1 reviews) from Kansas City, MO

I ordered an orchid from slyvies The plant showed up very quickly in great shape. It's in the greenhouse and doing very well. Thank you very much Amy. Will absolutely order again.

Positive
On Jul 10, 2015, binkwinky (3 reviews) from Sarasota, FL

I love Sylvie's Orchids orchids and highly recommend them.

Positive
On Sep 2, 2012, GeezerBill (1 reviews) from Lilburn, GA

I have been raising orchids of all kinds for nearly 50years. During that time,I have done business with some of the best orchid firms in the business, worldwide;many no longer in business because of economic conditions.I have done business with Sylvies over the past 5-6 years and found her to be one of the most honest and concientious people to deal with.She has gone out of her way to find special plants for me without so much as a whimper. She has even gone to the trouble to divide some of her own private plants when she could not obtain them from any other source! She continues to be one of my first'Go-To'sources whenever I am looking for something special.I would vouch for her integrity to anyone,anytime!!

Negative
On Oct 4, 2011, milocat4 (3 reviews) from New York, NY

Posted on October 4, 2011, updated October 4, 2011 Posted on October 4, 2011, updated October 4, 2011 Posted on October 4, 2011, updated October 4, 2011 Posted on October 3, 2011, updated October 4, 2011 Posted on September 30, 2011, updated October 3, 2011 Posted on September 30, 2011, updated September 30, 2011 Posted on September 30, 2011, updated September 30, 2011 I had bid on and won a Pure's Wax orchid from them on theorchidauction. I've been looking for a Pure's Wax orchid so I was very happy to have won it. However, my joy soon turn into a nightmare as I still haven't received my orchid. I had requested it be sent to my workplace since nobody is home during the day. Saturday comes and I open my mailbox to find a notice from the post office. I assumed it was an oversized catalog since I get lots of junk mail and was not expecting any delivery at my home address. By Tuesday I was worried so I decided to look up the notice that was left by the post office to see where it was coming from. Imagine my horror to find that it was coming from Sarasota, FL...the same place my orchid was coming from. I immediately emailed them to tell them. I received a reply a few days later. They apologized for the misdelivery and admitted that they had my work address with my order but still somehow manage to sent it to the home address. When I first contacted them after I won, I was very specific in telling them to please send it to my work address explaining why. I still don't understand how they botched it since it was also stated in PayPal under notes to seller. It was fortunate that I looked up the delivery notice instead of waiting until the weekend to go pick it up. As a result, I had to go in to work late so i can pick up the package. I'm lucky to have a understanding boss. I would not recommend buying from them especially if you have specific instructions. So far the orchid is ok but only time will tell if sitting at the post office over several days had any detrimental effects on its growth cycle.


On September 30th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: Note: I did not receive any tracking number from the seller. It was due to having received a notice left by the post office in my mailbox that I found out it was delivered to the wrong address. Had I received any tracking number from the seller I would've looked it up to track when it was coming and noticed it was going to be sent to my home address instead of my work address, and be given a chance to make arrangements to receive my order. I only received one email from them and that was confirming that my order will be sent to the address requested. If they do keep track of orders using a tracking number then why not provide it to the customer? The orchid is ok so far but of course any damage wouldn't be known until much later. Again had I not checked on my order myself and suspected something might be wrong my orchid would be sitting longer at the post office.
On September 30th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: I'm not sure what they meant to work with the buyer to the best of their ability since all I received was an apology. Other sellers would've at the very least offer to refund the shipping cost. Mistakes do happen but when it does a business usually offers to compensate as an offer of good faith and to maintain the customer's trust in their service.
On October 3rd, 2011, milocat4 added the following: Please note this business is the only one that I've ordered from that does not send the customer a confirmation email with the tracking number. They seem to rely on the PayPal sending the information to the customer. However, in my case, I received the tracking details from PayPal after I received the notice in my mailbox. Ironically, the seller would reply quickly if you had a question regarding the item on auction. This seller had originally posted a few lisitings on eBay in which they encouraged buyers to go to another auction site. However, when I tried to look it up again after I became aware of the misdelivery I was unable to find them on eBay. The seller also expects the customer to ask for compensation even though they clearly made the error. I've emailed them back telling them a business that had made the error normally automatically offers. Their attitude that it was just an error that was no big deal shows how little regard they have for the customers. I had paid for shipping so it's not like it was free. My orchid did not get deliver to the address that it was suppose to, and as a result, I was forced to go into work late to pick it up from my post office. My job is paid hourly so I get less if I go in late, and I cannot stay later to makeup for it. The assumption from the seller that all post office is quality control is erroneous. The post office near my home lacks any quality...mail often end up missing or damaged. Hence, I had requested delivery to my work address. Currently, the seller is requesting Dave's to investigate my comments and rating. I'm certain it won't be the last that I hear from the seller.
On October 4th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: I received the following email from the seller. Please read their email and my reply, and judge for yourselves if my posting merits validity. Thank you. "Hi Cindy, I don't understand why you aren't letting this go, is it money that you're looking for? If you'd have told me that in the beginning there would ne no problem, however at this point you continue to write on Daves Garden and it's only to create more negativity. I would be more than happy to work with you on some shipping refund, however, I would like the negative removed from Daves Garden first and I will not allow you to purchase from either my auctions or my business in the future. i feel you are perpetuatin this, not clearly understanding that shipping is not a windfall, and that the orchdi you purchased was available at a very reasonable price. However if you must have something, my terms are above. All the best, Amy" My reply follows: "Hi Amy. No, it is not money that I'm looking for. To even ask me that is a big insult. For you to ask the negative be removed shows that you still do not understand why I'm upset. My posting on Dave's is my experience with your business. It has been a negative experience and continues to be so. I posted in response to what you had posted which I'm allowed to and have a right to do, and did not continue to post out of negativity as you had implied. If you truly believe in your business then my post should not have such a strong affect on you since I am sharing my experience with others. And to threaten banning me from purchasing from you until the negative is removed (which by the way after all this, do you really think I want to repeat the experience?) reflects poorly on your business. To be fair, I will be posting your email and reply to it. Please allow the Dave's Garden community to be the judge and decide for themselves, and don't try to force the removal of a rating through threats. Thank you, Cindy"
On October 4th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: After posting their email and my reply, I received two more emails from them (each within 5 minutes of each other). Apparently, they feel if they bombard me with emails I will change my rating. Please read their emails and my reply. My apologies to the Dave's community. Sent 3:43PM “You clearly stated in 'Daves Garden' that you did not receive the orchid, NOT that it went to the wrong address. You then stated that other sellers would have offered a shipping refund and that's what working with people means to you. I offered an apology, you refused it and went on to make false claims. I then offered you what you wanted as stated in your email, which is money, and now you refuse that as wellI don't know what else to offer. If you are so very unhappy, please returnt he orchid, I will refund your the price of the orchid + your shipping fee for returning it. I did have to ship the orchid to you, that's not money in my pocket. I'm glad you put the email on Daves so it's very clear that there is nothing I can do to work with you. I am sorry for that,. I don't believe I've ever come across such a situation, and part of being in business mean I have a desire to keep customers happy in order that they are return customers. Sometimes, there's nothing I can do, and I have to accept and understand that. You may continue to post in Dave's Garden and continue emailing me, I don't know what to do for you, I can't turn back time, and as much as I apologize, I don't believe a horrifying experience is when a plant is sent to the wrong address, I believe it was a mistake and as the orchid arrived in good condition as it was packaged well and USPS does have climate control, all is well but for a glitch in shipping. which again I apologize for, and I understand you were frustrated, but at this point, the continuation is baffling. When you know what you'd like please email me and I'm sure I can work with you. I will not have you as a future customer as I am partial to all of my orchids, true, and I try to work with everyone, true, but when a situation accelerates beyond reasonable business interaction, I can't help. You've tied my hands and I am sorry that you are so very upset. All the best, Amy” My reply: "And I am within my rights to post on a forum encouraging customers to share their experience with a vendor. I'm not the one who keeps emailing. You are the one who keeps emailing me. I am merely replying to your emails. As I've stated earlier, I do not want any money from your business nor would I ever plan to buy from your business again. I have never stated that I would like money. I was using that as an example that some vendors would automatically offer. But of course, that point has also gone over your head as have the point of admitting the error and trying to understand it is your attitude of treating it like it's no big deal that is upsetting. No doubt had I agreed to any offer from you, I would've been accused of trying to get something for free. The bombardment of emails from you to get me to remove my rating from Dave's is borderline harassment. Please note that I will be posting this and your emails on Dave's and please stop emailing me. Thank you." Sent 3:50PM “There were no threats. Allow me to reiterate. I will not allow you at any point in the future to bid on my orchids, or to buy from my store. If I make a mistake and overlook it but realize it's you before I ship, I will refund your money and not ship. Just because I have a business does not mean I can't refuse service to people. I am perfectly within my rights. I never want a situation like this to occur again. I'm not saying I haven't had unhappy customers, that does come about, but never have I had what I'm dealing with now, which is an individual who will not make clear what she wants, continues with saying she didn't receive the orchid and keeps emailing me and posting in a public forum when it's not necessary. We're talking upwards of a week of incessant emails and issues with no positive outcome. I would work with you, you refuse what I suggest, even when it's your own suggestion. I am terribly sorry you are so upset. There is nothing I can do because all you want is to continue to complain and at this point harass me with an orchid that arrived and is healthy and doing fine. All the best, Amy”
On October 4th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: Sorry the post didn't come out in order. Here is the corrected format: Sent 3:43PM “You clearly stated in 'Daves Garden' that you did not receive the orchid, NOT that it went to the wrong address. You then stated that other sellers would have offered a shipping refund and that's what working with people means to you. I offered an apology, you refused it and went on to make false claims. I then offered you what you wanted as stated in your email, which is money, and now you refuse that as wellI don't know what else to offer. If you are so very unhappy, please returnt he orchid, I will refund your the price of the orchid + your shipping fee for returning it. I did have to ship the orchid to you, that's not money in my pocket. I'm glad you put the email on Daves so it's very clear that there is nothing I can do to work with you. I am sorry for that,. I don't believe I've ever come across such a situation, and part of being in business mean I have a desire to keep customers happy in order that they are return customers. Sometimes, there's nothing I can do, and I have to accept and understand that. You may continue to post in Dave's Garden and continue emailing me, I don't know what to do for you, I can't turn back time, and as much as I apologize, I don't believe a horrifying experience is when a plant is sent to the wrong address, I believe it was a mistake and as the orchid arrived in good condition as it was packaged well and USPS does have climate control, all is well but for a glitch in shipping. which again I apologize for, and I understand you were frustrated, but at this point, the continuation is baffling. When you know what you'd like please email me and I'm sure I can work with you. I will not have you as a future customer as I am partial to all of my orchids, true, and I try to work with everyone, true, but when a situation accelerates beyond reasonable business interaction, I can't help. You've tied my hands and I am sorry that you are so very upset. All the best, Amy” Sent 3:50PM “There were no threats. Allow me to reiterate. I will not allow you at any point in the future to bid on my orchids, or to buy from my store. If I make a mistake and overlook it but realize it's you before I ship, I will refund your money and not ship. Just because I have a business does not mean I can't refuse service to people. I am perfectly within my rights. I never want a situation like this to occur again. I'm not saying I haven't had unhappy customers, that does come about, but never have I had what I'm dealing with now, which is an individual who will not make clear what she wants, continues with saying she didn't receive the orchid and keeps emailing me and posting in a public forum when it's not necessary. We're talking upwards of a week of incessant emails and issues with no positive outcome. I would work with you, you refuse what I suggest, even when it's your own suggestion. I am terribly sorry you are so upset. There is nothing I can do because all you want is to continue to complain and at this point harass me with an orchid that arrived and is healthy and doing fine. All the best, Amy” My reply: “And I am within my rights to post on a forum encouraging customers to share their experience with a vendor. I'm not the one who keeps emailing. You are the one who keeps emailing me. I am merely replying to your emails. As I've stated earlier, I do not want any money from your business nor would I ever plan to buy from your business again. I have never stated that I would like money. I was using that as an example that some vendors would automatically offer. But of course, that point has also gone over your head as have the point of admitting the error and trying to understand it is your attitude of treating it like it's no big deal that is upsetting. No doubt had I agreed to any offer from you, I would've been accused of trying to get something for free. The bombardment of emails from you to get me to remove my rating from Dave's is borderline harassment. Please note that I will be posting this and your emails on Dave's and please stop emailing me. Thank you.”
On October 4th, 2011, milocat4 added the following: Yet another email from them after I've requested for them to email me: Sent 7:10pm "Of course you can post but when you don't tell the truth, or you tell a half truth, or you mislead, well that's not exactly what the forums are for are they? You can post whatever I write, I have no issue. I did what I could, you refuse to state what exactly you want for a mistake in shipping - it went to your other address not a different person - the orchid is fine and still you continue. If I hear from you again I am going to start a case against you as I am now stating clearly that I am no longer comfortable with the level to which you are escalating a simple business matter. I will, if necessary, take this up in the court of your area. I have no wish to hear from you or deal with you in any way shape or form. You are apparently an extreme individual and your motives are clearly questionable. I am writing to you very clearly now. Cease and desist, or I will take legal action. I am considering your continued contact harassment and I will not stand for it. All the best, Amy"
Company representative comment on October 1, 2011:
On Sep 30, 2011 4:39 PM, Sylvies Orchids responded with:

I was contacted by the buyer and notified of the mistake in address. She did let me know it was received and for all concerned, I use USPS Priority. USPS does not leave their priority packages out in the weather during shipping. Everything is done in a controlled environment. Packages can be located quickly via tracking number, online anytime day or night. My orchids are packed carefully with professional packing materials to insure they do not suffer in shipping, save for stress, which is natural with orchids, and sometimes, though rarely, apparent.
The orchid arrived well albeit to the wrong address, which could certainly have been avoided. It does happen that we make mistakes occasionally, I always try to work with the buyer to the best of my ability, so they are satisfied.


On Oct 1, 2011 3:22 PM, Sylvies Orchids added:

I did receive this email and the bottom line is this is a major issue companies have in doing business online. If there was a reson for a refund I would have gladly worked with this customer.

"Hi. I never stated that I did not received it. I merely stated that it was not received at the delivery address that was requested. The main issue is it was sent to the wrong address even though it was requested twice to be sent to a different address (and confirmed by you that that request was received and processed but not followed through).
It was luck that I decided to check where the package that I was to receive was coming from using the notice that was left by the post office. Had I not done that and waited until the weekend when I'm able to go to the post office to pick it up, the orchid would've sat there unattended longer.

Perhaps you don't undertstand that when I get out from work the post office is closed so I cannot go there until the weekend when I'm not working.. My post office opens at 8:30am but I have to be in work by 9:30am and my commute is one hour.

It's not unrealistic for me to expect my orchid to be delivered to my workplace especially since I had specified that it be sent there and received by email a confirmation that it will be sent there. I've purchased orchids from other places and they have never misdelivered my order. Perhaps these other businesses understand the importance of making sure someone is there to receive the order. Had your business had a problem with delivering it to another address, it should have stated so during the process of ordering. Once an order is accepted, the customer has the right to believe there won't be a problem with the order.
In the future, it might help to provide a tracking number for each order. A lot of other large and small businesses selling plants are doing that and it helps prevent confusion.


Sincerely,
Cindy"



To everyone reading this, please understand that mistakes do happen, though rarely, and that we definitely understand there may be frustration if this happens. We always work with customers tot he best of our ability, however, that does not mean a refund where one is not appropriate.

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