Comments regarding Out of Africa

Posted on May 13, 2019, updated May 15, 2019
Posted on May 13, 2019, updated May 13, 2019
POOA used to be THE place to get great deals on pachypodiums, euphorbias and many others. Their prices were incredibly reasonable with many starter plants below $10. I got many, many fabulous plants from POOA. However, they have moved from Florida to South Carolina and with that move, their entire business has changed for the worse. Their selection has decreased dramatically, their prices are extremely high, there are no more starter plants, no more $10 specials, they do not answer the phone, email and they NOW have a minimum $75 order and $25 shipping/handling fee. I say, WTF. This nursery has turned from one of the best I have ever dealt with to a nursery you would NEVER want to order ANYTHING from. Forget about POOA.

In the past Out of Africa has been very good at customer service. However recently I purchased a plant that was field collected. The plant never woke up from hibernation. I'm out $100.00 dollars. The policy is that if the plant is over a week old to bad, they keep your money and offer no refunds. I've been buying from this vendor for over 20 yrs. I have to say that I'm done purchasing plants from here and I'm spreading the news. They could of at least replaced the plant or given a refund. Buying a plant from here is risky just remember.

Posted on September 19, 2017, updated October 5, 2017
I have ordered a lot of plants from them. I wanted information about the soil to use and was told to see their website. Fine. I had an additional question and they completely ignored me?! I tried a few times and nothing?! I gave them the benefit of the doubt at this ignorant behavior. I later wanted to ask a question about a plant I was interested in buying. I called and spoke to Maureen, the owner. She was cold, condescending and outright rude?! Seriously?! I wanted to buy another plant but thought they have to know how I feel. Their customer service couldn't be worse. Zero people skills. I ordered their plant and told Maureen how I felt and said if you have a problem with that, send my money back. They sent back my money with no response! I have spent a lot of money with these horrible people. I like their plants but don't ever look for any kind of customer service. Amazingly, pompous and disgusting people.

Careful! I had totally positive experiences with them, ordering multiple times over several years. Until...

Three years ago I received an order of their plants, (all of which were ordered according to pictures on their specimen page), one of them was not the actual plant I had ordered, another one had rot on the bottom, and the third had soft black areas throughout. Naturally, I found this unacceptable, and sent the plants back, emailing them at the same time and telling them the problem and tracking number of the package.

To his/her credit, the owner acknowledged the problem and agreed to either give me a refund (which I REALLY should have took!) or credit. I figured since I would be ordering from them in the future, a credit for a future order would be fine.

WRONG! Later on I tried ordering more plants from them, using the credit. Nothing happened. I tried many times, but I would get no reply from them. This went on for about one year.

Until the summer of 2005, when the owner finally replied and said he would fill an order with my credit (more than $300), and even give me larger plants than I had ordered. I was relieved that it seemed this lengthy ordeal would be over.

WRONG AGAIN! I placed an order and waited to receive my plants. Nothing happened. After repeated emails, and phone calls (only answering machine picked up). Nothing. Absolutely nothing for the last year. I have not been able to get the owner to honor his promise.

So I would advise people to beware of the perils of ordering from Out of Africa!