Comments regarding Park Seed Company (aka Park's Gardens)

Way back in the 80's Park & Burpee were my go to companies but after years of bad germination I stopped using them. This season I needed some seed starting supplies and Park had great prices so I thought I would give them another try. They had seeds on sale so I purchased some of them alond with my supplies. Shipping was fast and well packed although I forgot what a PITA packing peanuts where. All the seeds germinated and are growing great so I placed a second order and had the same great experience. They will be added to my list of companies to order from next year.

On January 9 I placed a small order with Park Seed. After receiving no delivery information, on Jan. 27 I wrote them asking about the status of my order. Park responded to say that they were holding my order because one item was on back order, which they did not inform me of when I ordered. They did not tell me when the item would be available. They shipped my order on Jan. 31, minus my back order. The heading on the order invoice said: "THIS SHIPMENT MAY NOT INCLUDE ALL ITEMS ORDERED. CHECK OUR WEB SITE UNDER -ORDER STATUS- FOR INFO ON ANY ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN SHIPMENT." What kind of service is that; they do not even tell you what is on back order?

When I heard nothing further from Park Seed for another month, I assumed that the back ordered item had been cancelled according to Federal law. By Federal Law a company must ship a back ordered item within 30 days, cancel the back ordered item, or give me the opportunity to extend the back order period. Park did nothing.

On March 30 Park shipped my back ordered item. More than 2 1/2 months after the order was placed. To think they were planning to hold my order that entire time.

Park Seed was a good company in years past. I will never order from them again.

Posted on April 2, 2012, updated April 12, 2012
Posted on March 24, 2012, updated April 2, 2012
Ordered 3 packets of seeds, they sent me an email saying all three were shipped.
Two weeks later nothing has arrived, so I email them saying I received no seeds. They email me and say they are going to re-ship two of the seed packets but the 3rd seed packet is now "out-of-stock".
They email me 4 days later saying the two seed packets were shipped. Two and a half weeks later none of the seeds ever arrived.

So this whole time, they get to have my money, but I don't get to have my seeds, (which I really needed those seeds a month ago because it is going to be getting very hot here in Florida very soon).

I am never ordering from them ever again.

Sure wish I had known that Park Seed filed Bankruptcy, I would NOT have placed an order. As it stands, I've received nothing despite promise after promise after promise. They won't cancel my entire order and say if I refuse shipment -- if and when they ever ship it -- they'll give me a merchandise credit (eh-hum...WHEN they receive it) but they won't refund my money. Does their website reflect anything they say is on backorder? NO! But, that's their excuse, if they don't use the, "ship out immediately" one. Don't waste your time nor your hard-earned cash! ORDER AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

I recently purchased several packages of seeds from Parks. They were the only vendor that had Snapdragon Twinny Violet $3.95 Snapdragon Twinny Bronze Shades $3.95, Snapdragon Twinny Yellow Shades $3.95, Columbine Double Pleat Blue and White $1.95, Cantaloupe Ambrosia Hybrid $4.25. The prices were high and the shipping was $6.95. Very expensive for 5 packages of seeds. Well the snapdragon seeds germinated well but I had only 4 out of the 20 seeds of the Columbine germinate. I hope my Cantaloupe seeds germinate better then the Columbine. Now in Parks favor they did replace the Columbine seeds and I should receive them sometime next week. I think that their prices are very high for the amount of seeds they sell and the shipping cost are outrageous. However, their customer service was good. Overall I gave them a neutral rather then a Negative because they replaced the seeds and had good customer service. However, a 2 oz package sent first class USPS mail should only have cost 90 cents and not almost $7.00.

Ordered Bio-Dome products in January 2011 on a special sale. They were not delivered until the end of April 2011 - long after seed-started time for the season. I made multiple calls for help in getting the order delivered to no avail. Was promised many times that a supervisor would return my call but no one ever did.

I've bought flower and vegetable seed from the Park Seed Company for years and years, but this year I was disappointed to receive seeds marked "packed for 2012" on a label that was pasted over a label that read, "Packed for 2011"! Very disappointing. Shame on you, Park Seed! Looks like an old faithful has fallen onto bad times. I'll order elsewhere in the future.

Posted on February 20, 2012, updated February 20, 2012
Like others have mentioned, I have found inordinate delays in getting seed and other orders sent from Parks Seed. On 1/26/2012, we placed a seed order with Parks Seed. In the past, they have always sent partial seed orders if something was back ordered. THEY DIDN'T. I called on Monday, February 13 to see why we hadn't heard or been sent anything. The order was being held up because they didn't have two packages of seeds. They agreed to "rush" the rest of the order to me. Since I had received no acknowledgement of the order being sent, I called again today (February 20). The first customer service representative told me that the order had been shipped on Friday of last week and gave me a tracking number. I asked to speak to a supervisor who I was told would call me back in a few minutes...that was four hours ago. I checked with the US Postal Service. The second time I called at about 10 AM, they again stated the same as the previous and told me I had to go not to the postal service website to find the location of the package but to streamliteinc. I did. Again, when I couldn't find the package, I called back. This time, another representative stated that they were sending out the package TODAY and that I couldn't track it either through the postal service or Streamliteinc. OK. Now what? I await hearing from the "supervisor" to find out who is correct and why I am getting different stories.

This was our "last chance" for Parks Seed. In the past, they had always sent partial seed orders if they didn't have all of the stuff. NOW??? In the past, they had delayed other plant orders so that we got caladium bulbs, dried up petunias. etc that came in the heat of late May/early June. By August 1, the bulbs were so damaged they had produced only 3 small leaves. WOW!! These plant delays apparently come from their agronomist beliefs in the proper shipping times to the north. They were dead last by over three weeks in our plant orders from similar companies. I don't recommend ever this company. My mistake for giving them another opportunity.

Posted on March 29, 2011, updated February 20, 2012
Posted on February 8, 2010, updated March 29, 2011
I have ordered seed from Park Seed for over 25 years. In the past, orders have been processed in a reasonable period of time - even late orders were received within a week or two. Last year and this I waited up to a month before receiving anything. I realize mid/late winter is a busy time for seed companies but I received all seed from other suppliers within 2 weeks. It's unlikely I will order from Park again unless there is something that no one else carries.

Posted on April 23, 2011, updated February 12, 2012
Posted on April 23, 2011, updated April 23, 2011
I wanted to plant some Helleborus for my wife. In order to get all the varieties I wanted, I ended up buying from 3 different online vendors. Most sold them for $20 each, including Park Seed. One had an internet special for $10 each.

Park Seed plants arrived last out of the three. They were fairly large and healthy compared to the other companies.

I just planted them so it is too soon to tell how they will work out in the long term, but by comparison, I give them a positive rating.

Posted on April 18, 2010, updated February 10, 2012
My experience with Park Seed has been very positive since I began ordering seeds and seed-starting supplies (BioDomes and sponges) in 2006. This year I ordered about 25 different varieties of flower and vegetable seeds and received them all within a few weeks. As another reviewer noted, their prices aren't always the cheapest--though generally reasonable--but I've always had good germination with them and I like the detailed instructions on the website and in the printed catalog. I also ordered a three-tier L-5 plant grow-light system from them in February and received it in a few weeks, despite being told that it was back-ordered for two months! Don't know if this slight confusion was a result of their bankruptcy process, but I was pleased nonetheless to receive the setup so quickly!
I'm hoping that they emerge from bankruptcy reorganization in good shape because I've always relied on them and had good service.

Posted on January 14, 2010, updated February 9, 2012
Posted on October 21, 2006, updated January 13, 2010
I have been ordering from Park Seed for a good 30 years, since moving to Florida in 1975. They have always provided fast service, excellent seeds and plants, and excellent customer service. I just received two Verbena plants last week that looked OK upon arrival, but within 24 hours had shriveled folaige and now appear dead. I have e-mailed them about this, so we'll see if they are still the company they used to be. I expect they will be good to their word, and if they aren't I will be back to let you know.

I ordered assorted annual seeds over the internet on Jan. 29 and they arrived in my mail box Feb. 7. My family has ordered from Park for over 40 years and have been very satisfied with their service over that time.

I have ordered from Park Seed a few times over the years. I guess I have been very lucky because I have never had a problem with a single order. My last order was for seed starting supplies. They had some of the best prices on 1020 trays and cell flats I could find. Shipping was very reasonable. Roughly half the price of a very similar order I had placed elsewhere. Over all I'm very happy with Park Seed and will buy from them again.

Last winter (2011) I sent an order to Park Seed. I know Oregon is far from South Carolina, but it shouldn't take a month for a package to be shipped and arrive here. It did. I heard about restructuring of Park, that they were under new ownership, etc., so decided to try again this year. (The pictures are really pretty!) I sent the order, via snail mail, on January 2nd. The check reached my bank on January 10th. Today, January 28th, my order still had not arrived. I called and was told that the order had not shipped because one of the items (seed starting soil, which I NEED) was on back order. Most companies would have shipped the items that were in stock and informed me of the back order. Today I asked Park to ship the package (which will now go out January 30th) and cancel the soil and refund the difference. I am not happy, and will not order from them again.

Positives:
Some seeds have a good price
Overall, what I have planted seems to have acceptable germination (mostly herbs)

Negatives
Shipping charges seem rather high and in reverse
Lots of seeds are pricey (and I didn't order those)
Took a while for my order to arrive

Posted on September 10, 2009, updated December 29, 2011
Very misleading description of Heteropappus meyendorfii (Blue Knoll). The photo is totally doctored. I've grown this variety for years and it looks nothing like the photo. The information provided is very misleading and contradictory. The subheading says "Neat little cushion of lavendar blue" and the description refers to it as "powder blue". I would consider it a soft blue violet that is definately not a "neat little cushion".

The description says "in late summer, when all the summer annuals are fading and the fall color hasn't yet got started, it is nothing short of amazing" and then states at the bottom "sow seeds in January or February for October and November bloom". It always is the last thing to bloom for me, even after the garden Mums. I have never had it bloom even close to summer.

Posted on October 10, 2011, updated October 15, 2011
Posted on October 9, 2011, updated October 10, 2011
First time ever ordering from Park Seeds. They had a
certain pepper I wanted. I bought 2 packs of the pepper,
25 seeds suppose to be in each packer. One had 24,
okay that just one seed short. The other pack had 21,
four seeds short. When you pay $7.02 shipping for
2 packs of peppers and 2 packs of tomatoes, you do not
want to be shorted any seeds, especially hybrids.
Most companies will give you a little extra because not
all seed germinate. Parks is so stingy!

Posted on March 1, 2011, updated September 8, 2011
Posted on February 14, 2010, updated March 1, 2011
Gave Park one last try this year (how dumb am I?). Order arrived after 5+ weeks and 2 phone calls, still not a complete order. Two packets of seeds had little stickers placed over the area that has the date on the front, you know, packed for 2010, which is what the stickers said. Well, like I'm not going to peel them off, and underneath them it said packed for 2009. So, not only are they liars (each phone call they claimed they would send my order right out, put a rush on it - via pony express, I guess), they are also cheats, trying to pawn off old seed on us. Not very smart about it, either. So I say, DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS COMPANY! It will be a big waste of your money. Want my order no., Park? 5875366 Lets see you lie your way out of this one.

Posted on January 30, 2010, updated September 5, 2011
I Have ordered seeds from Park's for the past 5 or 6 years with no problem's at all! The seed all germinates well. There catalogue is wonderful and is a very good place to get hard to find seeds. Seed is well packaged in foil envelopes to keep them fresh for a long time. Customer service has been excellent to me. And they make ordering seed from Canada a breeze. I Would gladly recommend this company to anyone and will contine to order from them!

This year I placed my first order with Park's and I have to say that I was and am impressed, so much so I placed another order. The order contained a couple bio-domes and 10 seed packets. The bio-domes are a God send! Previously I had only grown in recycled tubs, peat pots, ect... This year I experienced no damping off, bugs or any other ailments and in addition the roots were plentiful and obscenely long. The seeds I ordered had a close to 90% germ rate, as opposed to the seeds I had ordered from Thompson & Morgan (maybe 20%) and they all came true to type. Had the same positive experience with my second order. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews...However I do know that I will be ordering again.

They were very unpleasant on the phone, Itoh Peony is still vegetating, really barely clinging to life and so far since spring not a single oregano seed germinated. They charged two separate shipments for the one peony and three seed packets.. The person on the phone was so unpleasant, I just dropped it and will simply shop elsewhere. It is too distasteful to deal further with them and not worth the stress.

Wow! I guess I've just been lucky ordering from them. I've ordered seeds from them the last several years and had no problems at all. The all came just like they should. This year I ordered several plants from them and once again, no problems. They were well packed and healthy ( Scaevola aemula - fanflower). They are thriving! The strawberry plants are also doing great. I shared them with the neighbor kids and they are doing great as well.
I'll keep ordering from them until something goes wrong...

I ordered plants which came baretoot. Four alive and one VERY dead and moldy. I sent it back for a refund with order form etc but since i did not send it registered return receipt they claim they never got it and refused a refund . Burgess plants sent same way to Burgess and they SENT refund.
Buyers beware - send everything back return receipt registered etc etc - this company will do everything to avoid responsibility. The postage would cost more than the plant was worth - probably part of their game.

In my early days of gardening, about 20 years ago, I cheerfully and naively ordered from the big, mainstream catalogs like Park's. I didn't know any better, so the seeds that germinated and were true to name delighted me. These days I'm wiser and more experienced. I know I can do better, far better, with smaller mom-pop suppliers who know and grow and really care about their products. Every time I have fallen for a "big sale" on Park's plants recently, I've filled my cart and then left it after seeing the exorbitant shipping charges and remembering the puny size and weakness of the plants that I had gotten in the past. No one from Customer Service ever responds to my suggestion that they bring their shipping charges in line with reputable nurseries--nurseries that, unlike Park's, do NOT tack on a fuel surcharge. I don't intend to order from Park's ever again.

Ordered wave petunia seeds, grew them in greenhouse. As they came up they looked "odd". Well 5 out of 30 seeds were petunias, rest loose leaf lettuce!!! Company wanted to replace seeds-they take 8-10 weeks to germinate-that means by August they might grow. No. Wanted to give me my money back-I had 8 hanging pots of lettuce-no, if I replaced them it would be $30 a pot! So they JUST sent me replacement live plants. They are the most pitiful things I have ever seen, so root bound they are having a hard time just surviving in soil. I would be ashamed to send out such terrible plants and there is no excuse for 30 seeds, 3 different colors, all being lettuce! Never will I buy from Park.

I had ordered rainbow pepperseeds and twice all I received was empy packs, NO seeds, I called them the first time, they sent me the other pack, same- no seeds, I finally told them to give me a refund, they said they would, but I haven't seen it posted to my bank account. I am really angrey with them, will never order from them again. They told me it wasn't their fault, but whose could it be? When I order something I expect to get it, it's my money.

Late 2010, early 2011 I ordered a number of seeds from Park. Some were on their seed sale. Every variety I planted germinated very well. I have not ordered any live plants from them, so I cannot comment on them, but I am very happy with the seed orders. Will continue to buy seeds from Parks.

Bad and worse. This is our summer house and I asked that the plants be shipped after Memorial Day, when we arrive. The first batch was sent 5/13 and left outside our door. So they were dead by the time we got to them. Second batch was supposed to be here June 5, arrived four days early, two of the three plants withered and dead, one of the plants rotting and dying. No info on the website, either -- it stills says the second batch hasn't shipped yet.

I have ordered from Park Seed for the last 3 years. I have always been happy with them. The plants I recieve are packaged well, they are healthy and I always recieve them when I should! I have had plants shipped from other companies when there is still frost in the ground! This year I ordered 30 plants and they all arrived in great condition at an appropriate time and they are ALL thriving. Thanks! Park Seed :o)

I ordered yellow marigold seed of 3 varieties, and all were mixed seed. I'm looking for another source.

So disheartened to see all negative feedback, sounds like a management issue.

I came to be here because I wanted to send Parks a picture of my lovely "Smeraldo " bean crop. I spoke to one of the gardeners at Parks before placing my order. I wanted to order Kwintus pole beans, they were out of stock so I asked him which was the next best and how much should I order for my limited space how big are the towers and how many beans do I need to plant. He recommended the Smeraldo, Italian flat stringless. He took a great deal of time with me on the phone. I ordered 3 bean towers and a 1/2 pound of Smeraldos and Kwintus to arrive when in stock. The Kwintus arrived to late for spring planting but that is ok because I had plenty of Smeraldo's & I will plant Kwintus for fall crop.I have 3 bean towers full of lovely beans.My husband says they are the best he has eaten. I had 98% germination, my garden book says to only expect 70%. I am overjoyed with my order and my crop is over the top. The service was personal and except for the darn birds nest in the top of one of my towers I can't fuss. I will be back! Wish I could upload the picture. Just a thought "Why would anyone order live plants through a catalog? I have never had any luck with any company doing that. If I want exotic I will travel to my local specialty gardener.

Posted on May 23, 2011, updated May 24, 2011
Posted on May 23, 2011, updated May 23, 2011
Posted on May 23, 2011, updated May 23, 2011
Placed order on 5/12. I kept checking the status and it continued to say "not shipped". After 1 week, I contacted them by email and was told that the order was placed on hold because there was a problem with my credit card. The email told me to contact them to update the information. I called the number and a recording said " due to inclimate weather, no one was available to take the call". What a bunch of BS. I responded to the email and left my contact information for them to contact me. I never got a response so I contacted them by phone on 5/19, updated my credit card info. Apparently they do not ship on Fridays. So, Monday, May 23rd, I check to see if the items have shipped. Of course NOT. Then I found this site and read some of the comments. When I go back to the website, some of the items say they are out of stock on one page but not out of stock on another. This is the first time I have ordered from this company and it will be my LAST.

Thank you all for your very helpful feedback. I was just shopping away on their website. I just cancelled my entire order. Thank - You!!!

Posted on June 2, 2007, updated May 18, 2011
I ordered quite a few times from Parks both seeds and plants... in the past I have seen a 50 / 50 chance that the plants will arrive in good shape... the last order seemed to improve in the quality of plants and shipping methods

here is what I ordered

1. COLEUS ALABAMA SUNSET - ANNUAL (44899/EA 1) Qty : 6

2. BEGONIA REX RED HEART (41504) Qty : 1

3. BEGONIA REX CURLY EMMA (41502) Qty : 1

All arrived in good shape and not the largest of plants but not the smallest either

I am happy to see improvement over the last 3 years that I have placed orders with them... and I love the dollar seeds

"

I am glad to hear that your plants arrived in good condition. "

Posted on March 9, 2011, updated May 17, 2011
Posted on March 1, 2011, updated March 9, 2011
LIARS AND BAD BUISNESS PRACTICES!

I ordered online, at time of order, there was nothing saying anything was out of stock. After a week of seeing still not shipped on my order status, I emailed them using the websites contact form, and I got a reply that some of my order was out of stock and is expected to come back in stock 2 weeks after the date I placed the order. Mind you, this is not when my order will ship, only when my things will be in stock. Its currently planting time in zone 9 here for what I ordered. I called them and the lady on the phone swore to god that they were going to "rush" my items that were in stock and mail the rest when they arrived. That was friday, it is now Tuesday, and they still havn't mailed anything. I ask to cancel the order, and they refuse because "they are in the shipping department" (funny b/c I was told they were going out friday). The lady says if I want I can cancel the items that arent in shipping (aka, they dont even have them in stock!!), and HANGS UP ON ME. I have no idea when my order will ship, IF it will ever ship, but people like this should not be allowed to take peoples credit card information online, charge them, then never send anything, and never commit to when they are actually going to do so.

AVOID THIS PACK OR CHEATS THIEVES AND LIARS AT ALL COSTS!

I placed a small order with Park's in March (3 packets seeds and a 6-pack of a hard-to-find plant, Zion Copper Amethyst osteospermum (gorgeous). The seeds arrived promptly and the plants at proper planting time for my area. I have ordered seeds from Park's before & appreciate the way they are packaged in waterproof foil. All 3 kinds of seeds germinated well & the plants are blooming nicely. BTW, they are one of the few nurseries that carry Snow Crystals alyssum, my preference for white alyssum. My only quibble is that I can't check status of order on screen with accuracy. Very pleased overall!

My experience with this company has been very negative. I placed an order and did not receive if within 10 days although I had received email confirmation that the order had been shipped. I called the company, the representative stated that she would send out another order. I stated, since these were tomato seeds that I had wanted to get started indoors, that if they could not get them to me within 3-5 days that I did not want them and to credit my account. She assured me that I would have them within that time period. Now, 9 days later, I still have no seeds. I called again, asked them to credit my account since the seeds have not arrived. They told me they would not credit my account unless I sent back the package that I have not received! In addition, the representative was very rude, interrupting me constantly. I asked to talk to a supervisor and she said none were available, all were on the phones. I have called my credit card company to help me settle this dispute with this company. I will NEVER order anything again from this company or their affiliates. If I had taken the time to check Dave's Garden I would never have ordered from them in the first place. I have learned my lesson. Check with Dave first!

Posted on March 7, 2011, updated May 5, 2011
Like many others, I placed a fairly good sized order of seeds, only to get an email some time later telling me my order was out of stock and would be shipped in 3 weeks. The confirmation email you receive immediately after sending an order clearly states "Credit cards will be billed at the time of order". At no point in the order process does it state if items are out of stock, giving you the option to wait or order elsewhere. I doubt all 15 types of seeds I purchased were out of stock creating a back-order of three weeks shipping delay. My order was placed 2/7/11. I received the seeds 3/5/11.

My order also included seeds with a sticker stating "Packed for 2011", but the original date underneath says 2010....How stupid do they think we are???