Comments regarding Mr. Fothergills' Seeds

Hi there,
I am in NZ and I export a wide variety of product to the Pacific Islands.
A customer (A big Retailer)wanted some seeds and I only had short time to get them.
A local Garden Centre directed me to Mr Fothergill's who run NZ from Australia.
1. They refused to sell me seeds, until I had opened an account. This takes a minimum of 2 weeks, and has to go back to Australia. In Australia, we are the poor relations and Account Applications are usually pages long,and one sided.
2. I offered to pay up front for the seeds.I deal with many companies on a once or twice a year basis and it is easier to just to pay for goods. But Mr Fothergill's refused (Huh?)
3. I purchased my requirements through the local garden centre, (cash)and had them loaded into our container.
4. I rang the NZ agent and suggest he put a couple of display stands in the container to merchandise the huge amount of seeds purchased.
5. The answer: We only supply stands to Account customers.
Is this a 19th Century attitude or not?
I give up

I ordered some Dahlia Karma Chocolate Young plants from Mr Fothergill's Direct in the UK scheduled for an early May delivery. The plants arrived three weeks early, were underdeveloped and had suffered in transit to the point they were not viable. I immediately sent an email with photograph to Mr F asking why the plants had been despatched early and asking for a replacement. I sent emails on the 16th, 17th and 29th April and I have received no response. These 5 dead plants cost £9.95 ($15). I have been a Mr F customer for many years. Not any more.