Comments regarding Honeycreek Nurseries

Posted on April 17, 2014, updated April 18, 2014
It is now 2014, and according to the comments, my experience is nothing new with this company . I ordered some much anticipated plants ( I had made a move, and had to leave my beloved plants behind. Found them in their catalog , and proceeded to go on line and order them. I placed the order 3-21-2014. My payment was posted 3-28-2014. Then I noticed it was posted. I immediately started calling their number ... busy signal all day . Sent e-mail, next day tried called , and someone picked up. I told them that I had been billed twice. She said it looked like I had placed the order twice. I checked nall, no history of two orders. I askesd to cancel one. She said the order was being processed, and she could try to cancel, but couldn't be sure it could be.It would be two weeks before I saw it. I can't afford to be double billed! There is no record of the second order. only the one e-mail where I had placed the one.No other e-mails pertaining to this. Two weeks ago I sent another e-mail inquiring about the order . Reply, it was in the shipping dept being prepared for shipping. Still no shipment. I ordered in season things, and so that season will be gone ! Truly the worst customer service iI have seen in my 70 odd years .Took them a week t o post the payment(s) . Why so long to cancel ? Why so long to ship ? NO EXCUSE . And no slick talk will change my mind about their service .In my day, heads would roll over this type of customer service.. Beware, do not do business with this or any affiated companies.

I would have to rate this company both negative and positive. If you are expecting to get large perfect plants, Don’t shop here. I made a few purchases of a variety of plants and will rate them below:
Hedges
100 Privet Hedges….they arrived small to medium size and the shipment was short by 5 pieces. I notified them of the shortage and they sent me 10 new ones. We planted them and all but about 5 are fine.
15 Jumbo Hemlock hedges $23.00….Mostly junk…received plants from 6 inches to 18 inches (and these are JUMBOS LOL. After 2 weeks most of them are dead
100 Hybrid Willows…they arrived small to medium in size. After about a week they started showing life and are growing very fast
Various ground cover…..Periwinkles, Walk on Me, Phlox, and Wintercreeper They are very cheap, but so small you can hardly see them in the bags…definitely not worth the bother.
Various vines….Arrived very small and didn’t think they would grow but planted them anyway. Silver Lace, Trumpet Hummingbird are growing very fast Hall's Honeysuckle, Passion Flower and sweet pea barely alive. Kiwi ….ordered 8 (6 f and 2 M) one female was received dead. The others are growing, but much slower than expected
Trees….
2 Magnolia…receiver 2 mini pots with 3 inch trees….After about 2 weeks they started growing but very slow @ $3.00 each, they could hva e been better but are ok.
10 Weeping Willow Trees… We received 10 sticks. We planted them and they are growing fine. Considering they were $1.00 each we are satisfied.
2 Fig Trees…@ $7.50 each JUNK..received 2 tree’s approximately 3 inches each. After 1 ½ months, still alive, but still 3 inches .
2 Red maple…only $1.43 ea. Received 2 sticks, but they are growing fine

Shrubs
2 Rose of Sharon @ $1.25 ea….received 2 …about 2 foot high well branched.. After 2 weeks growing very nice
10 Red Twig Dogwood total $7.50….received 10 small sticks. After 1 month they are growing ok
4 Hansen Cherry bushes. total $5.80….. Received 4 sticks about 2 foot. They bloomed after a few days and even got a handful of cherries on them.
2 Firethorn…total $4.75 ..received 2 approx 2 inches. After 1 month, growing very slowly, but alive.
2 Mock Orange…only $1.50 for both. Received 2 about 3 ½ ft high well branched. After 1 month, I stone dead, one is just barely showing some sign of life.
9 Hibiscus total $5.75 received 9 about 1 inch. After a month 2 are about an 1 ½ but alive, the remainder show no life at all
3 Arkansas Ansonia total $10.95 Received 3 about 1 inch. After a month, there is nothing left but dirt.
2 Huron Sunrise Grass…..total $9.50 received 2 about 1inch…. After 1 month, growing about 3 inches now so very slow.
Various Roses…. Good price…received nice bushes but was short one. Notified them and they replaced the one missing. After a month growing very nice.
The purchases were made from Burgess Seed, Honeycreek Nurseries, and Direct Gardening. I contacted them by email and got quick response to the e mail; however; it took over a month for me to receive the missing items. It only takes 1 to 2 days to charge your credit card, but well over a month to process your order. I have not contacted them yet about the dead items that I received, so I can’t comment on how they will respond.
To sum it up, There are a lot of better nurseries out there, but not at these bargain prices. If you have the time to wait for these plants to grow, then you are getting a bargain. If they honor there guarantee to replace the dead plants, I will definitely shop there again.

On February 4, 2005 I ordered 27 of the Handful of MIXED Hosta from Honeycreek Nurseries. 11 of them never came up. I sent a detailed letter to Honeycreek on July 16, 2005 asking that my 11 Hosta be replaced. I also included the original shipping label as required by Honeycreek. I also advised that of the 16 that did come up, all 16 were green - NOT MIXED. As of September 14, 2005 I have heard nothing from Honeycreek. I also asked to have the 11 that did not come up replaced with MIXED HOSTA as advertized in your ad placed in the Sunday Parade. After reading Garden Watchdog and other sights that place complaints against your company, it looks as though you have over 50% negative feedback. All I am asking is that you replace my 11 Hosta that did not come up or sent me a letter advising that these 11 would be sent next Spring. It is getting late in the year and these need to be placed in the ground ASAP in order for the roots to establish before winter. At least acknowledge that you are going to do something! Thank you. Sherrie Hanes, 1905 West Adams Street, Herrin, IL 62948

"

We have contacted the customer to let her know that her replacement request was received and the replacments have been shipped.

Quite simply, we do stand behind our plants and our guarantee. The replacement was shipped on 8/15 in response to her initial letter. We are pleased to hear that she is happy with the replacement hosta received. "

I have ordered the 27 hosta plants offered ...arrived, .7 short in the order and so far 13 dead. I have called the representative, I got her name and extension number....I was told to only tell them what was dead and short in the order...with original packing label...which I will be doing.
I will keep you posted as to the results.
I hope they honor their word....other nurseries have been just dreadful...so I hope they do correct the problem.

I recently placed a phone order with this company. Although the person I spoke to was courteous - she seemed very confused - prices from internet site did not match her prices. Will let you know regarding quality of plants.