Comments regarding Henry Field's Seed & Nursery

I ordered 175 strawberry plants about 3 weeks ago and shortly after ordering them I received a e-mail confirming they had been shipped. They have been in shipping for 10 days and still no strawberry plants. I called them and they told me this was normal, well if it's normal I certainly won't be ordering from them again.

I ordered some items that I knew would thrive in my area, and all in all the order was okay. Of my wood poopy cormbs, one was rotten, which the company promptly replaced. They were small, as was the Virginia Bluebell. My 3 heleborus look pretty good- they were in stabilized packaging (which prevented some of the problems other customers have reported.) My peonies were very cheap, and were better sized than the roots I'd ordered from another company (possibly Gurneys, so really, the same compnay!) a few years ago. I only placed an order from Henry Fields because the prices were good-- Once I'm richer and older, I'll use a smaller and more careful company, but for a 20-something in her first house, it's fun to order from the gamut of the Garden's Alive companies and get the cheapest prices possible. It's like playing a game, ordering just enough to get the $25 dollars off. I agree, however, with the previous commenters that it would be a lot simplier if the company would just sell the plants at a profit point that works for them. I know I won't have the time or paitence to play the numbers next year.

On 2/8/07, I ordered thru the mail a few seed packets,some angel trumpet vines and some peach trees. I also ordered the 71550 peach tru gold std 2-4' and the 71548 apricot sugar pearls sd2 fruit thee. I received my order in the mail today informing me the fruit trees are no longer available.In Addiition, the order states if there is a credit, which my order has, you may use this credit toward another purchase. I had ordered from this company in the past and have been told in
the past that items are not available. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in not receiving my complete order and there is no mention on sales invoice when a refund would be sent to me.
My person feeling is that I will not longer order anything from this company and anyone who does better be prepared to be disappointed.
joe s

Ordered 2 apple trees online (which arrived in good condition). The order total on the website and email confirmation was $28.75. When I received my order they charged $31.80. I was using their $50/$25 off discount. The website included shipping towards the discount.
I don't disagree with a policy where they don't include shipping towards the $50; however, it is criminal to confirm on a price two times (when placing the order & in email confirmation) and then sneak the additional charge in at shipping.
I emailed with my complaint and simply received an explanation of what they had done as far as not including shipping towards the discount.
It's only a few dollars but I am truly aghast at the deceptive nature of how they do business.
-Drake

In 2006 I ordered all my vegetable seeds from them and they all did well. Compared to other vendors, they are a few pennies more expensive but then you also get a lot more seeds per pakket. I still have left over.
I ordered one plant from them and it was DOA.
Usually when I try a new vendor I will put in a small order of seeds and one plant. So if the seeds are old and the plant dies, I don't lose much $$$.
I will only order my seeds from them in the next few weeks.

I hate the bait and switch theme these companies use that are owned by Gardens Alive. This morning I tried to order seeds from Henry Fields using coupon codes. Each time you would click on one using a link, the price would go up on the items. For example, going directly to their site it would say all items are half price. If you used a coupon code, even for free shipping, the prices would revert to full price. I wanted to order 4 packs of seeds and it would have cost me $6. for shipping. If I used the free shipping coupon code, the price of the seeds jumped up and it cost about the same. My suggestion is to stop the promotions and just sell the stuff at a normal profit and stop the nonsense. I didn't order and won't. I also noticed on their site that if they are out of something, they substitute at their discretion, not mine and I don't get a choice. Actually, I do get a choice. The choice is to forget them.

I've been using Field's seeds for years and have always had success with them. I've also used their onion sets and seed potatoes with comparable results.

I've never had to use their customer service or ordered bare root products from them.

In the last few years, I've ordered from Field's on the Internet. Orders have always arrived in a timely and accurate fashion.

Bareroot trees are shipped with wet shredded newspaper around the roots, but it had slipped off of the roots on both trees that I purchased and the roots were dry. Both trees did make it, however. Hopefully they can come up with a wrap of some type to keep the material on the roots. Some plants ordered are not as healthy as I would like, but most do get going eventually.

On the positive side, prices are reasonable and replacement plants are sent with no questions if a plant dies.

Everything I order from Henry Field's comes in dead, molded, or on its last leg. Some of the "plants" (if you can even call them that) are not worth my time or trouble in planting, but, as service reps recommend, I do it anyway. Neighbors laugh at me, and call me the crazy lady for planting dead plants. Even the kids know the difference, and point.

Henry Field's does have a great gurantee, but you have to get the plant in a condition where it has a chance to survive first. In order to call about this, or any other problem you have with the company, you call a long distance number. I get tired of calling on my dime, so I use my cell phone when it is free after a late hour, only to find customer service is closed, and I need to call back later. Or, you get hung up on after being on hold for what seems like hours.

Overall, the only other company I have had as many problems with is Gurney's. Locally, even the famous international mass discounter has better stock. I keep hoping that all of my berry bushes, citrus trees, and other plants will have fairy dust spread over them, and magically have life in them after they are heeled or planted into the ground, but, "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!"

A local club does soil analysis, so I buy the plants for my soil types, and I get potting soil, not just 'dirt' to plant things in. I want these things to grow, and the majority of my plants do, except for the ones from here, and Gurney's. And, the ones with purple flowers because of a certain Schnauzer that likes to have snacks in my garden...... I take blame for things that could even remotely be my fault, but, if I wanted a dead garden, I would not spend money to have it done for me!

Purchased 4 rose bushes last year. When trying to find out about my order last year, received the same form letter via email 4 times-had to call them to get the answer.
A "Nearly Black " rose bush was dead. This year the "Chicago Peace" is dead. Have emailed them about it. Received emails from Lisa, Terry and Victoria- each asking for my account number and order number. Emailed each of them back saying when the invoice was paid, it was thrown away. Faxed a copy of my cancelled check to Lisa. They can not check my account any other way? Have sent a letter to them , they do not stand by their guarantee. Very, very disappointed with them and will never purchase from them again.

This is my first year of ordering from mail catalog and I was worried especially after reading all negative comments. But with $25 off coupon I decided to try.
I have overall positive experience so far. Seeds have been sent right away. Today I received most of my plant order.
Plants look good. I was just little bit frustrated waiting for order without any approximate shipping dates. I looked on a website for shipping dates for my zone, but it stated Apr 2 - June 16. That was not very helpful. I send e-mail and received answer next day that my order already shipped. I was pleased with fast and helpful response.
I will come back later and post updates on how plants and seeds are growing.

First off the $25 off coupon drew me in to checkout the catalog. I ordered 13 items, bulbs, bareroot, and plants. I received them all in good condition: the bulbs looked fresh and good sized, the bareroots had growth on them, and the plants looked healthy. They sent them all together when they said they would. I'll right back later in the season to see how everything was coming along.

This is my second order from them. I have been pleased both times. They have a good price on supplies. As far as seeds and plants I have not had any trouble. On some seeds you get more for the same price than you would in some seed packets sold on display at garden shops and nurseries.

I have bought a number of items from Henry Field’s Nursery over the years, and I am pleased with the dealings that I have had with them. They seem to have perfected a method of treating the roots of the bare root plants that they ship, that keeps the roots from drying out. This allows them to ship by a slower method, and also the packages are lighter, because they need a bare minimum of moisture holding packing around the roots: thus their shipping charges are low. Also I have noticed that their plants break dormancy faster than the plants that I have purchased from some other nurseries.
Most of the plants that I have received have been larger than I expected, a few have been smaller, but healthy and vigorous plants none the less, and most of these plants were purchased at “on sale” prices. Also the nursery staff have always been friendly and courteous. Henry Field’s is one of my favorite nurseries.

I ordered a Gingko Biloba tree from this company last year in March, taking advantage of the coupon in the catalog.
When the tree arrived I was surprised how puny it was, a mere seedling, and considering the full cost was nearly $30! Sadly, the tree died and I requested a replacement. A customer rep told me that the new tree would arrive in Feb. 06 - I don't recall why it wasn't sent when I called (Sept. 05), maybe they were sold out.
When Feb. 06 rolled around I called the company again to make sure that the replacement order was still on track, and found out that it was in fact so. The customer rep. was pleasant and even found and fixed a mistake in my records.
A week later I received an email notifying me that the tree had been shipped out and about a week later it arrived.
This new tree is considerably sturdier than the first one, and I was very pleased to see it was even larger than the catalog had promised. The roots were a bit mangled in the wrapper, but I feel that this new plant has a good chance of survival.
The reasons I'm not giving this company a positive rating are as follows: the quality of plants varies too much, it seems to be a matter of chance whether a good plant or a poor one is received, and that's too much of a chance for me to risk often. Also, I find the fact that H. F. doesn't have a toll free number very annoying. When I call the company with a problem it can take a while to work things out, and I don't see why that should cost me even more money.
Lastly, I'd like the company to improve on their packaging. My tree was in a plastic bag, with wet newspapers bunched around the roots, and the whole bundle loose in a cardboard box. I think if the company invested in stabilizing the plants within the cartons, a lot of damage could be avoided during the lengthy shipment. To sum up my experience: the replacement tree is a very nice one, but why couldn't the first plant have been this good? I don't enjoy reordering plants - it wastes my time, effort and my garden also suffers, plus I won't be likely to use the company again.

I ordered strawberries and asparagus early last spring. The junebearing strawberries and asparagus arrived on time and in good shape. The everbearing plants were backordered. By the time they came it was HOT and only 3 of 50 survived.
The junebearing grew very well and have sent runners throughout the bed. Hopefully they will produce well this year.
The asparagus was the royal Jersey Bargain - Jersey King and Jersey Knight. They grew amazingly well all summer BUT then they produced red berries in the fall!!! NOT Jersey if they produced berries. So now I have a full year invested in all female plants.
I should have known as several years ago I ordered seedless table grapes from Henry Fields, put 2 years into the cains before I let them fruit and they all were seeded thick skinned grapes.
**Do Not Use This Company**
Even if they grow, it's likely to not be the variety advertised.

I have done business with Henry Field's for several years now, taking advantage of their coupon offers. There have been a few problems with the plants, but they have always made it right ASAP, so I will continue to do business with them.

On 11/20/05 I received the "latest email specials" from this company - seeing a great deal on a heating cable I placed my order the same day. After waiting the "4-6 weeks" no news from Henry Fields, now we're into seedling starting time - I call the customer service people and find that my order had been cancelled. When I questioned why the order had been cancelled I get "sorry no longer out of season/out of stock". Since when is mid January out of season for seedling starting? Or is this a matter of having 1 or 2 of the items actually in stock? Baiting - hoping you order some of the other "wonderful" Henry Fields products?
I've listed their website emailas SPAMMMMMMM - novices beware!

I ordered from them this spring 2005. The main thing I ordered was the gooseberry combo, which consisted of 2 different gooseberry plants. I was quite suprised to see how big the plants were with the well-established root systems they have. The gooseberries were worth my money and some.

This company's "specials" are rejects or culls. 75% of their Daylilly collection died (locally purchased plants did well). I also ordered grapes, and they came with no water-holding media on the roots and loosely wrapped in plastic. Very dead. Replacement plants the same. Asked for my money back and have received nothing. DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS NURSERY.

"

This customer had been responded to on July 19. He was asked to respond with his account information so we could take care of refunding this customer for the order. As of today we have not received a response."

I've always been happy with the seeds I get from Henry Field.

I had ordered a clematis, strawberry plants, and gladiolus bulbs from Henry Fields. The clematis arrived, but was not in a living state! Later, the strawberries arrived, and were very healthy looking plants. Finally, the gladiolus arrived, but many were moldy arounf the base of the bulb. Fortunately, Fields has a good gurantee, and is going to make good on the clematis and the gladiolus. It would be better if the plant materials were healthy to start with, as it is a bit disappointing to find dead plants, when the packages finally arrive, and one's all set to plant! I am hopeful that the replacements will be of better quality, and wish Fields would improve their initial plant quality, as this would only be wise and descent business practice. Perhaps they will improve this aspect, and future sales will reflect greater care with the live plant materials.
With Sincerity,
Chuck

I ordered a Nikko blue hydrangea from this company. It was planted in March and is doing fine. However my 6 tomato plants arrived yesterday. The box was so small I thought it was one plant. The plants were all together and the root ball which was only as big as my fist had the roots of the plants quite tangled together. The plants themselves were only as tall as my index finger (I have small hands) and as thin as a drinking straw. I was quite disappointed. They also were quite yellow. I planted them and will wait to see how they do before I decide whether to make this comment negative, but this is the last order of tomato plants by mail. I have 6 pepper plants coming and I hope they will be in better shape than the tomatoes were.
Pat

I'm not complaining against a company, but not enough information. I had placed an order to Henry Fields, back in February. It was for a weiglia and a quince. When I received them, I put them in pots, but neither one did anything. I called the number on my Henry Fields packing lable. Imagine my surprise when the phone was answered by Michigan Bulb! The girl I spoke with told me that they were affliated with Henry Fields and they also sometimes answered their phones and took orders for them. Is it possible that they could also fill orders for Henry Fields? The order was taken care of and replacements will be sent out. That isn't the problem, the problem is that I NEVER would order again from Michigan Bulb, or anyone affiliated with them. I have had too many bad experiences with them and had I known that Henry Fields was affiliated with them, I never would have ordered from them.

I have ordered trees, seeds, and other gardening supplies from this company over the last few years. Some of their merchandise is overpriced, but with the twenty dollar coupon that is usually included, it makes ordering from them worthwhile. I will order from them in the future.

I have just received my order of a pink butterfly bush.
It is DEAD!!! I am extremely disappointed with this
company. They have offered reshipment of this plant,
but I will not order from them again!

C&NN

I placed an order, mostly comprised of seeds. I didn't have any luck with them, whether it be because that seeds I happened to get weren't healthy or because of my own inexperience. However, I sent an email to the company and requested a refund for the seeds, and was emailed very quickly saying the refund had been processed. The order was also shipped very quickly. I am still awaiting a shipment of ostrich ferns, and I will update about their condition when they arrive and establish themselves.

I have ordered from Henry Field's for several years. this year I ordered some raspberries and strawberries. I was charged for them but never received them. I made several calls and even e-mailed them. They gave me several different scenarios as to where my order was. Lastly, they said my post office had them. Of course I called---not true again!

Most of what I ordered was seeds and fertilizer, and my order was handled promptly. The roses I ordered were very small whips, but they were also fairly cheap. Like people say, "You get what you pay for." I'm not a huge fan of the company, but I don't have a negative feeling about them either. I'll do business with them again, I'm sure, especially if a come-on's involved!

I have ordered from Henry field's since 2000 and I have never been disapointed because they have always corrected any problem I have had quickly and curtiously.I order asiactic lily bulbs(field grade bulbs)They are always a good size and healthy and give me beautiful results.I ordered from them two weeks ago and recieved my bulbs today03/14/2005.Much to my surprise even though I ordered field grade bulbs I recieved Labeled bags of
Golden Stargazers,
Stargazers
Magenta Star gazers
White Star gazers!
15 bulbs per bag!Usually when I order they are in an unlabeled box so to know I recieved Star Gazers just tickled me pink!I can't speak for their other products but their asiactic bulbs(field grades) I have luck with.

My first time ordering from this place. Ordered two 4-5' Red Maples. They were delivered last week and well packaged in a box. They have a nice shape and are the size stated. I used a coupon to get 'one free', otherwise I thought they were a bit pricey.

I have ordered from Henry Fields for 3 years now. Several observations:

1. Plants are smaller - but you pay less - so obviously you get what you pay for and the deals were well worth the extra time that I had to wait for the plants to 'catch up'.
2. Some of the plants did not make it because they were either not for my planting area, were shipped too early and not kept fresh until planting, or the weather did them in. Most of these problems were not company generated and they were more than happy to refund or issue me a substitution if they were still available.
3. Absolutely no problem with any seeds that I ordered. Good germination and healthy seedlings. Hint - order early so that you don't have to worry about backorders. Catalogs come out in January. If you wait until March there's a good chance that you'll be wishing you didn't.

I will continue to order from them but I will do more research on my part as to what works and what does not. I see a lot of the negative responses and wonder if some of those are from the first two observations above.

Know your zone and your soil's capabilities. If your plants arrive early (weather changes you know) make sure that you have a place to keep them until they are ready to plant and that you keep them moist and cool (or whatever they require to be kept healthy and alive).

I read the Watchdog daily; it's my favorite part of the website when I'm not looking to grow something. Most negative remarks come because companies DID charge the order before it was shipped. Companies I typically deal with DO wait until the order is shipped before billing a credit card. Your experience was just unfortunate, it sounds; I certainly wouldn't terminate business with a company because of something as innocuous as changing credit card companies mid-stream. Best thing to do is to call them and explain the situation; if they're rude and uncooperative at that point, then bring on the negative complaints.

I placed an Internet order with Henry Fields in March 2004. I used my credit card to pay for the order. The order was processed online and I assumed everything was fine. I received my order and never thought anything else about it. On January 8, 2005 I just received a late notice letter informing that I owed Henry Fields for the March order. I was given 5 days to pay the amount or I'd be charged a $10.00 late fee. Apparently they do not process credit card orders until the order is shipped. We had switched credit card companies and I had never thought anything about it. Why hadn't Henry Fields ever notified me? I was livid from the whole tone of the letter. Apparently they don't keep their accounts straight. I thought it was horrible customer relations. I told them to take me off their mailing list and I will never orderf from them again. Their credit department should go for P.R. training.

Over the last 5 months, I've placed several orders with Henry Field's and its related company, Gardens Alive. I've ordered seeds, plants, gardening-related items, and humane mouse traps from them. Each time, I've received good-quality products and prompt, courteous customer service. I will definitely order from either or both companies again. I have no affiliation with either company, other than being a satisfied repeat customer.

I ordered several items from this company as usual this spring. I have always recieved good service and good quality plants. Any plants that died within the one year period have always been cheerfully replaced immediately if my report went in during the proper shipping time and they were not out of stock on that item. This year the service has been exceptionally good and I want to publicly praise them for it.

I tend to be able to overlook many mistakes made by nurseries this time of the year because of the volume of work being done by so many different people. Not all employees(especially part time temorary ones)are careful when doing their jobs. This is NOT the companies fault. Work ethics everywhere at really bad.

I will continue to do business with Henry Fields for many years to come.

Ordered a nectarine, plum, and seeds, with a $20 off $40 coupon, got the seeds almost immediately, the trees very early for zone 5, they shipped a differnet nectarine due to being out of the one I wanted. I called them to let them know I did not want the substituted variety, I told me to keep the tree and mailed be a voucher for the cost of the tree to use before july next year, very good service, although if they would have called first they could have not needed to send the substituted tree. I will continue to order as long as they keep sending the coupons, pretty good trees, and seeds.

I ordered two grapevines from Henry Field via the internet on April 19. They arrived today. The root systems made up at least 75% of each vine. The vines were wrapped in plastic and appeared to be dry, but when touched the roots were moist. I really liked the order confirmation and the tracking number emailed to me so that I could schedule time to plant the vines. The package arrived one day early. Would I order from Henry Field again? Yes!

Positive experience with their seeds. I'd order again.
Negative experience with plants - poor quality and poor survival.
Negative experience with potato eyes - poor quality and many did not sprout at all.