Comments regarding Secret Garden Growers

I ordered 3 plants from this company about 3 weeks go. The plants cost $16 each and the shipping was $19.50. The plants arrived packed in a standard Priority Mail medium size box. $19.50 for Priority Mail?? The plants are very small, a bit sickly looking, and only about 3.5 to 4 inches tall. One plant had 2 small leaves and the other 2 plants had one leave each. The dirt had fallen away from the roots on one of the plants, I doubt any of them will survive. I DON'T recommend ordering from this company.

"On Sep 28, 2017 5:15 PM, Secret Garden Growers responded with:

Virginia, I wish you had reached out to me before posting a review here, but since you didn't, I would like to say that I personally chose and readied your plants for shipping. The Farfugiums you ordered had very large leaves that needed to be removed before shipping as they would have been damaged in transit. They will quickly grow new ones...such is the nature of this particular plant. These were sturdy, healthy and happy specimens in full 4" pots...with perennials, it is all about root systems! Shipping and handling costs are clearly addressed in the online ordering process so I am not sure why you seem unhappy with this. We would be happy to get these plants back if you are not satisfied and would reimburse you for shipping."

Posted on July 26, 2016, updated July 26, 2016
Posted on July 2, 2016, updated July 26, 2016
I purchased a few plants from this company. Overall, the plants received were very small for the price paid. Some plants died during the winter, though they were rated to my zone. (I even lost their tulips in the winter!) I am also not happy with their communication. I found them to be a rude nursery to deal with. I would rather take my business elsewhere. I do not recommend this company.

"On Jul 5, 2016 10:23 AM, Secret Garden Growers responded with:

It is hard to explain to a customer that took a plant (described as needing part shade) out of the shipping box and planted it in full sun the same day it arrived that its death was not a result of a defective or damaged shipment. We do enclose our 'VERY IMPORTANT' Plant Care Instructions with every order to prevent these kinds of casualties. Obviously, our attempt at identifying the problem hurt this customer's feelings. The claim that plants died over the winter is odd, since the plants mentioned were shipped in late April of this year (about 2 months ago)...and the email 24 hours before this review from this customer stated that all the other plants received were "doing very well". We had a replacement plant ready to ship as a courtesy even though the plant was lost due to customer error.
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Posted on June 11, 2013, updated June 11, 2013
Posted on May 20, 2012, updated June 11, 2013
I was a challenging customer, complaining about shipping costs (roughly 50% of the plant costs), receiving another customer's packing slip with my order, and the small size of two of plants that I received (platycodon grandiflora), one that was dormant and did not survive, the other is still on the intensive care list. Nonetheless, Pat was patient and persistent. She explained her shipping policy (it was my choice, after all), replaced the plant that didn't survive with one big enough to divide if the other one dies, and apologized for the packing slip mix up. The diversity of plant choices at SGG is most impressive. Problems with orders are unavoidable. Efforts to make an order right makes for customer satisfaction.

"On Jun 12, 2013 8:01 PM, Secret Garden Growers responded with:

This plant order was shipped over a year ago in April of 2012. Some customers feel they can bully the vendors here on Dave’s by promising to “give us a good review” if we do what they want and “give us a negative review” if we don’t. I don’t feel that is what the review system here is all about. It would be unfair to all of our customers if we start making exceptions to our policies to get good reviews! A LOT can happen to a plant in 14 months..."

This company is not honest about it's plant sizes, and customer services is very poor if you try to report a problem.

I purchased 'Ipheion Uniflorum Ralph Fielder' from them. It was supposed to be a 3" pot sized plant. What I got was a plug sized plant that was hastily re-potted into a 3 inch pot (without growing out!). With practices like that they might as well have stuck it in a gallon size pot and charge gallon sized prices.

When I contacted customer service to report the problem I was told that the reason the top growth was so small was that it was going dormant, but they insisted that it had an extensive root system (with multiple bulbs underneath). They were very adamant about it and made it clear that the matter was not open to discussion.

I knew that they were clueless because the top wasn't dormant at all (it was green and actively growing), but I let it slide and hoped there really would be something underneath. Nope. When I pulled it out of the pot to plant it I found hardly any roots at all (they matched the measly top growth) and there was ONE small tuber (about the size of a marble).

The plant was a total rip off. I'm sorry I ever ordered from them.

"On Jun 30, 2011 8:36 AM, Secret Garden Growers responded with:

I have no idea why this customer chose to make a negative post here on Dave's Garden rather than respond to my email about the plant that was purchased. I explained that there were multiple bulbs in each pot and that the tops were starting to go dormant and asked her to "please check the below ground portions of the plant and let me know if she still felt the same way". I also stated that "we wanted her to be HAPPY with her new plants" and that "we stand behind every plant we grow". I am the grower, I am the shipper. I am the customer service. I am not clueless. I am not dishonest. The plants were not from plugs. I would have been happy to replace or refund had this customer simply responded to my email that I sent her the same day I received her original complaint. I guess some people just need an audience...
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