Comments regarding Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden Center

This is my second year purchasing vegetable plants at Atlantic Orchid and Garden Center. I had no problems last year, but this year I had a problem with two Big Bertha Red Pepper Plants. I purchased them on 4/27 and transplanted them on 4/29. Within two days, all the leaves on one plant had fallen off with no apparent sign of damage, and most of the leaves on the other one fell off as well. I called the garden center, and no one could explain what they thought could have happened. One person suggested it could have been voles, but I told her that wasn't possible since it was a container garden. I thought they might tell me to bring the plants back so they could look at them and possibly replace them, but they didn't. All I was told was that Bob, who has a big farming background, was on vacation, and there was no one else to help. Looks like I'll have to find a nursery with better customer service.

Expect Less/ Pay More

The retail super giant Target's slogan: Expect More, Pay Less is appropriately titled. However, Atlantic Avenue Orchid & Garden slogan should be titled: Expect Less, Pay More!

I am a garden fan and have been checking around at the local NC garden centers. I was very disappointed with Atlantic Ave. While they have variety in plants, they lack variety in outdoor furniture, lawn control, mulch products,
and garden structures. Also, in comparing their prices to some of the other garden centers, they are not competitively priced. In most cases, they are priced higher and they are lacking in product quality.

They have some staff members who are full of enthusiasm and knowledge and then others who seem bored, apathetic, and in some cases rude. You just have to hope you get one of the better ones. I unfortunately got stuck with one of the rude ones. They seemed as though I was bothering them when I asked questions and they were in a hurry to move on. That's just lousy customer service. I do not think I will be back again.

I

I

I had gone to the garden center after seeing an ad in the New publication Triangle Gardener. It is not an obvious location and difficult to see from the road. Once in the garden center it looks pretty, but the store and the snotty staff were very unfriendly.

It is very expensive and the quality of the plants are not up to the standard of other centers. It was a very hot day and just no shade to relax in like the garden hut nearby.

Would I go back? No, as it was a very unpleasant experience and not worth shouting about.