Comments regarding Pickering Nurseries

I hate to say this, but I have to give Pickering a negative. I placed a late season order with them for 7 bareroot hybrid teas. When they arrived, they were bone dry. Most of them had only one or two tiny canes. Quite frankly, I was shocked, especially after all of the positive comments posted about them. After a month in the ground, only two of the 7 roses look good. 4 are on life support and one is definitely dead. Perhaps it was my late season order and I was getting leftovers. Still, I would expect the roses to be viable and not all dried out.

I am very sorry to say that i had a negative experience with Pickerings.

In the late summer on 2002, i ordered 4 roses for fall planting. I received three, and they were very nice plants. I contacted them about the 4th, and was told that the rose had been forgotten and would be sent in the spring.

In the spring, i wrote them asking about the timing of my shipment, and then recieved notification that my rose would be coming, but either through my neglect or miscommunication, i didnt know when to expect it. After two months i wrote again explaining that i had not yet recieved my rose. I got a strange letter back asking me if i had not recived my rose, to please let them know.. I thought i just had, lol.

I wrote them again and they said they would investigate. Several weeks later i wrote or called, cant rememeber.. and was told that the plant had been destroyed in shipping, they would send another out when they could, as weather was bad. I can understand that.

A couple of months later, i noticed that many friends and aquaintences were recieving roses from Pickerings, so i called. I was told that they would be unable to ship me my rose at all. He said that it wasnt possible.I told the man that he could send me any rose, that would be fine. He said that he had none to send, but would send me a new rose in the spring if i called to remind him. I found that interesting as many people were recieving roses from them. Many people i knew were even getting extra roses for the trouble they had gone through due to Pickerings having such a bad year. I asked instead that my money be refunded.. to which the man, who was very nice, said that would be fine, but to please allow him to send me a rose in the spring anyway. That was the last time i heard from them. My money was never refunded. I was too embarresed to call and ask for my refund again.

Pickerings has always recieved such high marks from friends that i was looking forward to doing buisness with them. I can certainly understand bad weather, and miscommunications. Yet.. The complete lack of communication, unless i initiated it, is not something i am used to from my regular vendors.

The three roses i did get from them are doing just fine. Nice healthy plants, good roots when i recieved them. The man i spoke with was very nice.

I think i just fell through the cracks somehow with them. Yet.. it did happen.