Comments regarding Bloomin Designs Nursery

BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY! Do NOTORDER from this Company. There is a reason that there have been no reviews about them here in over a year and it is because they do not stand behind their products, they do not honor their word as a vendor. I purchase close to $300 in various Hosta plants in May 2015. They arrived dead and lying in a mess inside the box. I immediately (within 5 hours of receipt) notified them by email and spoke to "Mike" who I asked for a refund and also offered for him to arrange to send UPS to pick up the plants . At that time of my order, their FAQ guaranteed an "immediate refund or replacement of plants" if the items received were not satisfactory. Mike agreed right away in writing by email "to stand behind their guarantee" and give me a full refund back to my credit card. When I asked him in multiple follow-up emails when the refund would be issued, he never responded. Finally after several days, he replied asking me "whether the box was damaged", I answered his question, and again asked him when my refund that he promised me would be issued. After a few days of more unanswered emails that I sent him, he asked me to send him photos of everything. I then emailed him many photos. I again asked where was my refund. After a day, he replied that I needed to send the plants back to get my refund. By this time 5 days had gone by. Despite the fact that he never said anything prior to this about sending the plants back & never replied to my original offer to return the plants, now he wanted the plants back. I had discarded the rotting mess of plants on the 5th day and he knew that I did not have them any longer. This Company a few days later changed their FAQ to no longer say anything about a refund for plants that are unsatisfactory. So, the facts are that this is a dishonest Company that sent dead plants, lied about issuing me an immediate refund by standing behind their guarantee, deliberately took several days to not respond to my emails, asked for photos, etc. (all of which I sent them), then finally, days later, asked me to send the plants back in order to get a refund. Then they changed their FAQ about refund, entirely eliminating refunds as an option. Would you trust doing business with a company such as this, would you trust whatever they say about this situation with me?. I don't think so, and despite whatever they say in response to my review, I have everything I have said above documented in writing. Ultimately, the most important part of this for anyone as a potential customer is that Mike from their Company agreed at the beginning of this situation to give me a full refund, with no conditions to return the plants, just send him the photos, he would stand behind their refund guarantee. He lied, no refund was ever issued, and nothing they say can be trusted about their business because their word means nothing. Stay away from this Company. Buyer Beware!!!

"On Jul 3, 2015 6:05 PM, Bloomin Designs Nursery responded with:

Wish we could please everyone and we thought we "jumped through hoops" on this one. Customer pushed for immediate delivery, so we dug them and had them on their door step Friday, 5 days after the order.

They indicated plants must have been died when boxes were damaged during shipment. After several requests for pictures, we received 3 pictures that showed two holes punched in a box, but no pictures of plants.

Despite no proof of damage, we agreed to a refund upon the plants returned, but customer refused to return plants. After review of our records, their credit card company agreed with us. "

I will never buy from this company again. Over 50% of the bare root perennials that I purchased from them last fall did not make it through the winter despite taking all necessary precautions. The issue I have is that the company does not warranty its products. It only guarantees delivery of a plant but not its quality.

"On Apr 23, 2014 11:13 AM, Bloomin Designs Nursery responded with:

It was a tough winter on established plants much less new plantings. The plants lost were also border line hardy for the zone. While we do provide guarantees, we agree with Dave -
In the February 2008 issue of Garden Gate Magazine, the subject of plant guarantees was addressed by Dave Whitinger of 'Dave's Garden' in an article entitled "The Best and Worst Mail Order Nurseries",
"Check guarantees, substitutions and refunds. Make sure that the company guarantees the plant to be true to name as well as healthy and viable when it arrives. Nurseries can't be responsible for the health of the plant once it's in your care. But if there are problems within the first 48 hours, most companies will work with you to correct the problem."
Dave Whitinger

Hate to leave a negative feedback, but this company's customer service and replacement policy really sucks! They just don't stand behind their (dead) product and don't want to make things right. Very disappointed!

I ordered 6 Knock Out roses from them last fall, 3 rainbows and 3 pinks. I also ordered about 25 other roses from other companies last fall. All roses arrived dormant, as they should be, and the pink knockouts had wilted dead leaves on them, but I though: OK doesn't look good, but they must be dormant, let's wait till spring. By the way, the pink knockouts had their roots chopped like the home depot bag roses. I planted all the roses as soon as they arrived.
Comes spring, all roses that I ordered last Fall are growing nicely except these 3 dead pink knock outs, for which I paid $45 total. The 3 roses are totally dead (as they were upon arrival, but it was hard to be absolutely sure in the Fall).
So I just email the company, being sure that they would ship replacements, (which I would be happy to get) and here's what I got fro Mike:
"Hi, Regrets on the problem, however we cannot guarantee what may happen once a plant is shipped."

Our policy - "We can guarantee our plants to arrive at your doorstep healthy, viable, true to variety and labeled; no substitutions without your approval. If you think they may have been damaged during shipment or arrive in poor condition, we would like to know immediately. Within 48 hours of plant delivery, if there is any dissatisfaction, we will replace the plant or refund the purchase price."

Nice! So the plants were NOT viable, but how is one suppose to tell in 48 hours when it's Fall and they supposed to be "dormant" and should not show any growth till Spring? So, basically, the company's policy means that they reserve the right to ship you dead plants, and once it's shipped - it's your problem.

I have never experienced such unfriendly attitude from an online plant vendor, most online nurseries will guarantee their plants for 1 year and even if they don't have a guarantee they would usually try to make things right. Most will gladly ship you a replacement if something went wrong, ESPECIALlY if it is NOT a customer's fault! When you shop online, you can not physically choose your plants as you would in a regular nursery, so you trust the people to choose for you. I don't like paying for dead plants!
I have 15+ years of gardening experience and know how to plant and take care of a rose. Besides, the other 3 roses that this company shipped are growing just fine, so obviously there was an issue with the other 3, and this company does not want to acknowledge this and make things right.
I am very disappointed and will never order again from them and will warn my gardening friends about this company.

"On May 2, 2011 12:41 PM, Bloomin Designs Nursery responded with:

Well, after 10+ years shipping plants, we knew it would happen and hope you read any of the other posting about our plants. If you wish, we would be happy to discuss this transaction with anyone concerned about our plants and guarantee, but not in this forum."