Comments regarding Sand Hill Preservation Center

They have a very good selection of seeds at very fair prices. Service was like I expected after reading their site and catalog. Very generous amounts of seed. Included 3 free packs of tomato seeds. I also ordered Celery, Brussel sprouts and Broccoli. I will be starting some of these seeds in the next few days. Will update thins review after seeding and growing out. Definately in my top five.

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We state in our catalog that we grow approximately 90% of the seed varieties that we offer. This makes our operation a bit different in that when we run out of seed, we are out until the next growing season. We cannot call a supplier and get more seed for most of that 90% of the varieties that we offer. The Sixth Edition of the Garden Seed Inventory indicated that we had 345 varieties that are unique to our company. We are never sure how popular those unique varieties will be and are occasionally overwhelmed with requests for them. We have a place on our order form for the customer to indicate whether they will or will not accept a substitution. We will only substitute a very similar variety and then only if the customer has indicated that it is all right to substitute. Our typical policy when we run out of a variety is to substitute (if given permission) and, in some cases, we also issue a credit with the substitute. In most cases two varieties are substituted for the one which was ordered. We issue a credit slip (which may be returned for cash or used on a future order) to those who request No Substitution. We do not send small amounts of cash through the mail and stopped sending refund checks for small amounts unless the customer sends back the credit and requests a check. We do not have a postage charge unless the total seed order is under $10.00. We are not always able to keep up with updating the internet website for availability of seed varieties. We attempt to update it about once a month. The nature of our operation means we must spend time producing the seed, filling seed orders, etc. That does not always leave time to update the internet daily. We try to do the best that we can to keep up with notifying the public through our website about availabilities on seed varieties. We do want to make sure to remind everyone to not only check the individual varieties, but to be sure to check in on the "News and Updates" page for any message concerning availabilities or delays in shipping."

May 23, 2003
First I called to leave my name and address and request a catalog. I didn't get a response from them but I did receive a catalog promptly!
I received exactly the service I expected once I had read their catalog CAREFULLY. They are busy people and are quick to explain that they have zero time for frivolous conversation. So I didn't call or email, I placed my order and I waited. I received confirmation that my order was coming more than a month in advance of the actual date of arrival (plenty of notice). I was also given a backup date, in case the chickens refuse to lay on a date that THEY didn't choose. I am currently, happily, awaiting the arrival of my chicks.
I have no quarrel with the way they do business and would urge anyone who does to do what their catalog says and order from some other company!

Before you disregard me as an unpatient malcontent please read my letter.
Apparently the Sandhill Preservation Center I am dealing with is a different one than everyone else is dealing with because my experience with them has been ponderous to say the least.
First I requested a catalog from them in November and didn't recieved it until early February. When it arrived I promptly (within one week) sent in my order with payment in full. I heard absolutely nothing from them for the next month and then only after two phone messages and numerous e-mails from me.
Let me again say I am usually a patient person, however common courtesy at least dictates a response sooner than a month.
When they did respond it was to tell me half of the birds I ordered were out of stock or unavailable ( a fact they were aware of before sending out catalogs) and they could put me on a waiting list for next year. They also said the soonest they would fill my order for the birds they did have was not until May 13.

Well it is now May 16th and I have not recieved so much as an e-mail regarding wether or not I will get my birds now or for some reason I will have to wait another 6 months.
I understand that they are a small operation and this is something they do in addition to a full time job, (it is continually blasted all over the catalog and web site) HOWEVER, hobby business or not, it is a business none the less, there is a limit to ones patience and courtesy.
I also understand things come up and delays happen but this lack of communication with customers is unexcuseable.

Here is updated contact info for them as of 03/27/03:

Categories:
Garden Centers | Plants, Trees, Flowers & Seeds | Seeds & Bulbs

Sand Hill Preservation Center
1878 230th St
Calamus, IA 52729-9659

//www.sandhillpreservation.com/

Phone: 563-246-2299
E-mail: sandhill@fbcom.net