Comments regarding Specialty Perennials

Posted on April 13, 2011, updated April 18, 2011
On 02/09/2010 I ordered 37.92$ worth of seeds from this company (hardyplants.com) and immediately received an invoice via email stating that orders are shipped within 5-14 days. I payed via mastercard. I waited a couple months since I figured they might have been out of stock on some of the varieties I ordered but when they never came, I then sent them multiple emails and phone calls with NO reply/response. I just filed a complaint with the BBB and noticed their company has a rating of "F". I called my CC company to have the payment reversed but they said it has been too long (apparently one can only reverse a CC payment within 90 days- good to know!) I am thoroughly disappointed with this company and would not recommend them to anyone! I'm going to keep calling and annoying them until they either send my seeds or refund my money. If not I might take them to small claims court. I don't like handing over money and not receiving my goods!

I placed a small order yesterday. I accidentally chose the option to pay by check, as that is one of the choices given. I e-mailed them this morning asking that they cancel my order so that I can add to it and pay by way of credit card. Have not heard back yet. The telephone number is disabled; not in service.

Having read all the negative comments on this page, I think I will let the order stand as is. Probably will not get my seeds. If I do, I will send them a check.

I ordered 25 dollars worth of seeds on November 11th. My credit card was debited that same day. Today is December 22nd and I have still not received my seeds. I've sent email after email and have not gotten any reply. I did reach an elderly gentlemen by phone last week who took my information and said he would give it to his son and have him call me. I haven't had a call. I'm so disappointed! My hope is I'll get my order soon...but it doesn't look like it. I'll report to the BBB if I don't hear something soon.

Slower than a wet week! Also, they won't reply to my emails. Only thing that has happened fast was the withdrawal of funds from my credit card, and that was instantaneous. If there is some hold up in obtaining seed, a courtesy email explaining the delay and giving an estimate of delivery time would be of benefit to the customer.
It is a shame, because they have a lot of uncommon species on their lists that are hard to obtain elsewhere. However, the long delays suggest they may not actually have all the seeds available as advertised and have to harvest them or obtain them from third parties. Again, a courtesy email explaining the situation to customers would go a long way towards improving their customer relations.

What was I thinking not to check up on this company through GWD.....
Thinking it had been a while i sent a email to check if the order was sent, of course i didnt get a response and after reading everyone elses comments- i dont expect a response. Its only been a couple of weeks so i am willing to wait another week before i call this a dud order.
This is not a very professionaly run company , it shouldnt take that long to ship a 4 small pkg of seeds, and not responding to email for a internet based buisness is not acceptable imo!!
Dont waste your time ordering from this place, it will be winter before you receive your order.

My order for $33.50 was placed on 11/24/07. My credit card was charged on 11/26/07. After reading the bad reviews, I decided to send an email to the company on 12/12/07 to check on my order. I did not get an answer.

The next week, I called the business phone number and had to leave a message. No return call.

On 1/11/08, I called back and spoke to Harvey Henjum. He said that he would check on my order and get it sent out if it hadn't already been mailed. I also told him about the bad reviews his company was rec'g on DG Watchdog site.

On 1/14/08, I called back to follow-up. No answer, so I left a message.

On 1/15/08 (at 6:30am) I call and spoke to Harvey. Once again, he stated that he didn't know what was going on with my order and that hew would have to 'check'. (He couldn't check on it at the moment.) He said that he or his son would call me back. I sent an email to follow-up on the order. I have figured out by this time that the company is a small, family business ran by Paul Henjum and his Father, Harvey. It seems that Harvey handles the phone calls and Paul handles the packaging and mailing from a different residence.

At this point, I am starting to feel jaded and sad that I wouldn't be getting my order. These were seeds that I hadn't been able to find anywhere else. I am also getting concerned that even if I did cancel the order, I wouldn't get my money back. I researched everything I could on the internet about this company and the two owners. I called the BBB in their city and found out that they had 4 unresolved complaints on file.

On 1/16/08, I called Harvey at 7:30am (early morning seems to be the best time to get an answer). He still didn't have any information on the order other than "they would have to re-send it". I was nice and told him that I would call back tomorrow to check up on it.

That evening, I received an email that my order had shipped! I was in shock! I didn't want to get too excited until I actually had the seeds in hand. The seeds got to me on 1/22/08. They were well packaged and 10 extra seed packages were included.

I don't know if I will order from them again. I hope that Specialty Perennials can get their act together and start redeeming themselves. I like the seeds that they offer and the prices are fair.

My advice to those of you who are still waiting on seeds is to call the company instead of sending an email.

I ordered seeds on 7/1/07, and my American Express account was charged $33.08 the same day. On 7/24/07 I asked them by e-mail, when my order would be shipped. A few days later I called them and left a message, but they did not call me back, and I did not receive an answer to my e-mail. On 10/14/07 I sent another e-mail, but I have not received a reply from them. I'm still waiting for my seeds. My order number was 2999.

Ordered seeds Aug 15th, credit card was billed. Have not received anything, same experiences as others in trying to contact them. Contact a man who says he will have his son deal with it. Never get return calls or e-mails or seeds. DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY