Comments regarding Wayside Gardens

I have purchased plants several times from this company and, up until recently, have been happy. Plants have arrived healthy and have done well in my garden.

A recent experience now results in this post. Earlier this year I ordered two toad lilies (pretty expensive compared to other companies). Wayside ran out so informed me they would ship later in the year. My purchase finally arrived a few weeks back. Two pathetic little plants, one already close to death - a stem devoid of leaves. SInce planting, one lily has dies and the other is not doing well. I emailed Wayside to ask for resolution. So far they have ignored my email. I just contacted them again and await a reply. If this fails, then my only recourse is to let the credit card agency handle it. A real shame. Others beware!!!!

I placed an order in August and after a month of waiting asked about the status of my order. I was told it would ship in mid-October, which doesn't work when you live in Minnesota. So I cancelled my order and requested a refund. They replied that I would receive merchandise credit. So I had to call them and so no, I want my money back. They charge you when you order- not when the order ships like they should (and most other mail order companies do). Also, this is just Park Seed in disguise.
Don't waste your money.

I have been ordering plants by mail, and later online, for over twenty years and have never received an order of such poor quality. I placed an order with Wayside Gardens for three specialty coreopsis. Based on the pieces of plant mixed in with packing peanuts, the plants were of poor quality before they were shipped. They were not secured in the shipping box, but rather just thrown in with the peanuts. The plants arrived as broken sticks. The company refused to refund the cost of the plants.

I ordered a couple of evergreen trees from Wayside Gardens on the same day I ordered from two other tree vendors. I received the orders from the two other vendors and started to wonder about the status of my order with Wayside Gardens. I looked at their online order status and it indicated that my trees were reserved but not shipped. I called their customer service number and spoke with someone about the status of my order. I was told that my trees would most likely ship within two weeks. The other two vendors that I dealt with had shipped out their items in just a matter of days. I also found out that my credit card had already been charged even though the items had not been shipped. Given this information, I decided to cancel my order. Unfortunately, I could not cancel my order online but instead had to call and speak again to a customer service representative. I'll be interested to see how long it takes to receive my credit.

"

I am concerned that I have not yet resolved the issue at hand and would like an opportunity to do so; however, I have not yet received a reply from you concerning this matter. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. Customer satisfaction is very important to us.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I placed an order on May 22 for a Knock Out rose after receiving an email from Wayside Gardens that said this item had become available for spring shipping. My credit card was charged June 4, but Wayside Gardens never sent the rose. From May 22 to June 19, Wayside Gardens listed this item as available for spring shipping. On June 19 Wayside Gardens even listed it as “Ships Now” on the web site. When it came down to it, Wayside Gardens had no rose to send to me despite all indications that this item was available in the spring.

I believe the Knock Out rose was sold out during this period even though Wayside Gardens listed it for spring shipping. This leads me to believe Wayside Gardens sold this item to me under false pretenses.

Wayside Gardens’ initial response was to ‘apologize for the inconvenience,’ of the backorder, which I thought was a pretty poor display of customer service. When I replied that I thought that wasn’t good enough, and that I wanted the problem corrected and explained, Wayside Gardens ignored my email.

When I sent another email in August, their new explanation was that the rose wasn't up to the nursery manager's standards and had to be backordered until fall.

In the eight separate orders I placed with Wayside Gardens and parent company Park Seed this year, three of these orders had items that were never sent even though each company had received payment.

If you order something from Wayside Gardens you have to expect a few things: Your plants will arrive much later than you would like. You might not receive any plants at all. They will not inform you if you will not receive your plants. You will be charged immediately for plants that may or may not be reserved for you. If you’re looking for quality customer service then don’t order from this company.

Expect a wide selection of plants from Wayside Gardens. Just don’t expect that you’ll ever receive them.


Marsha R.

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I've ordered from Park and Wayside several times over the years and have always been pleased with their products until this year. In April I ordered seeds and plants from Park (order # 5279899) and plants from Wayside (order # 5280715). Park split the order and shipped the seeds very promptly and I have no complaints about that. However, both companies were a problem in regard to the plants. I checked the order status online occasionally but it really isn't that meaningful other than saying some plants would not be shipped until fall, but I couldn't tell when they were going to ship the others. After nearly a month with no plants received and as the Texas weather was getting hot, I sent an email to each company saying where's my stuff? Then they finally shipped some of the plants at the end of May when it was around 100 degrees. The plants were much smaller and of poor quality, not at all what I was used to getting from either company, and some did not survive. Company communications are poor. I'm still waiting to see what they do with the fall shipments of the remaining plants; their online order status feature didn't tell me anything meaningful tonight. I had recommended these companies to a couple of colleagues at work and after I saw what poor quality plants they were shipping this year, I contacted my colleagues again and told them not to buy from these companies and why. I'm not sure what happened at these companies in the last year, but I'm no longer recommending them to anyone and I have shifted my gardening purchases elsewhere where the plants are better and the staff are more easy to deal with. I have a busy work schedule and don't want to spend my limited gardening time dealing with mail order problems like this.

I too ordered from wayside and parks, boy I did not know they were the same. After my order from wayside was received I too had called at the end of the season and was told to wait. When the next season came I called and was only issued half credit, Even after I explained to customer service that I had called and was told to wait I order too many plants from them.I ordered from Parks too shipment came in fall did not bloom this spring knowing that there is an a affilliation. I don't know if i want to bother. But I will try anyway.

"

I am concerned that I have not yet resolved the issue at hand and would like an opportunity to do so; however, I have not yet received a reply from you concerning this matter. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. Customer satisfaction is very important to us.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

Worst online company I have ever delt with. I have filed a complaint w/the BBB against them. I ordered online with them for a plant. They charged my debt card instantely. I was also charged for Fed. Ex 2 day shipping . Then I called them no plant. (Their web site said available to ship).I emailed them they said they did not have it not until Sept. I asked for my money back. Next thing I new they went ahead and shipped it . I received it dead.I called them and told them. I said I just wanted a refund. plus the Fed Ex express shipping they charged me for which, I never ordered. Then I get an email they are sending me another. I called and said "no" I just want my money. That was 2 months ago. I still have no refund. I call and call ask for a manager/supervior. Cannot ever get one. This is the only company I have seen where you call any time of the day/night and there is no sup/or manager around. per their customer service people.I find that hard to believe that that company runs with no manager/sup/owners ever there. They keep saying my refund is coming it will take a couple of days This has been going on for 2 months.No sup//mang will returns calls. I leave messages on the company voice mail for one to call. Nothing.!!! Everything time I call its the same old story. You"ll be getting it soon. I filed a complaint with the BBB. More people should against them.
I know I will never see my refund. They also stopped returning my emails I sent.

This is the letter I'm sending off to Wayside today, regarding their terrible customer service and their disengenuous return policy:

To whom it may concern:

I would like to relate to you the poor customer service I received from Wayside Gardens on Aug. 19, 2008.

I ordered from Wayside two irises in fall 2007: Louisiana Iris "Black Gamecock" and Iris siberica "Jamaican Velvet."

Bloom time includes early summer for both. Neither bloomed. Only a pitiful amount of green emerged for one, Black Gamecock. Black Gamecock was planted in light shade; the catalog description specifies sun/light shade. Jamaican Velvet was planted in sun, also per the catalog description. Both were planted in soil that had been enriched with cover crops and which boasted otherwise healthy, blooming plants.

When I called to ask for replacements or a refund, I was told the refund period expired in May, since I had ordered them in fall 2007.

It obviously makes no sense to expect a customer to request a refund months before a plant's stated bloom time, now does it?

I would also like to quote your guarantee back to you. Please notice that it does not specify a time limit of half a year for its refund policy: "All products to be high quality, true to type, shipped properly, and to perform as advertised. If this is not the case, notify us as soon as possible, and we will gladly resolve the issue, offer gardening advice, or provide a merchandise credit. Please understand that we cannot accept responsibility for the results of extreme weather, neglect, unforeseeable acts of nature, or ignoring our hardiness zone recommendations."

I told the customer service representative that I was disappointed in Wayside's policy, particularly given the competition's more generous refund policy. Mind you, I'm not an expert on refund policies. I've only requested a refund once, from White Flower Farms. But when I did, they were apologetic and prompt in issuing me credit. I remain a loyal customer and a big fan of White Flower Farms because of their fine customer service and many other reasons.

I asked the customer service agent for Wayside Gardens if she was aware of White Flower Farm's policies. She said she was not. I told her I considered this another mark against Wayside Gardens. I asked her if she was aware that the policy would cost Wayside a customer. She said she was but that she could do nothing for me. I asked her where I could register my feedback on this issue. She said she would see that my dissatisfaction was known.

Then she hung up on me.

Appalling. Simply appalling.

You have lost my respect, and you have lost a customer. One who is a Master Gardener and will be teaching in a Master Gardener course this coming fall and spring. One who will not fail to point out this incident to new gardeners.

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I was very excited to place my very first orders with Wayside, but now I am wishing I stuck with Home Depot. They are now claiming there is a time limit on their "Guarantee" which is not posted on the website, nor in the materials packed with the plants, nor in the catalog. I was told, when I emailed right after shipment about the bedraggled dead plants to wait (no mention of a time limit). I waited, and now I am being told I waited too long and am out of luck. I am stuck with expensive dead plants, and no refund/replacement/credit, like I was promised by their glittering "Guarantee". I want my $82.48 back, as I was duped by pretty pictures and an empty promise.

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I ordered plants from both Parks, (2 bulbs, 2 tubers, 2 plants and seeds) and Wayside Gardens (15 plants) this year. Seeds from Parks were fine.

The Parks order arrived in March when we still had snow on the ground--OK for seeds, but not plants. The 2 plants were sickly. I called to complain that that was too early for plants--on 8/11 they have no record of my call. The Hemerocallis roots never sprouted after planting, the Gaillardia and Papaver plants were sickly and never recovered on planting--they were dead. They will not replace or credit me for these plants because they have an unposted warranty that expired on June 1.

The Wayside order was shipped 4/30 and on arrival I called to complain about a number of the dead looking plants. They were all planted on arrival. The hemerocallis, which had black, rotted leaves atop the roots, never sprouted. The trillium was rotted on arrival and never grew on planting; The Athyrium Felix Femina 'Frizzelliae' was rotted on arrival and never recovered. The Aracbiudes 'Simplicior variegata' also was rotted on arrival and never recovered. Since then many of the others which were black on arrival did recover, but are still small. The Leucanthemums arrived in the best condition and have bloomed. They will credit me for the first four items mentioned only because of my call.

However, nowhere is their policy on the one month replacement/credit visible on the website or on the packing slip. Not only is the material very poor quality (unfortunate, since the variety is excellent), but their application of policy is unethical.

I recommend 1) better growing technique and 2) better packing and shipping practices.

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I ordered a yellow Butterfly Magnolia in 1999 for my wife as a Mother's Day gift. Total cost was about $70. The gift never bloomed. We were both disappointed.

I called back in 2002 and talked to a horticulturist and later to a Mgr named May Jo who sent me another tree. It didn't bloom either.

I called back in 2004 or 5 and a horticulturist told me to spinkle a particular type of bloom enhancing fertilizer around and under the tree and wait two seasons for it to take affect. I applied the fertilizer, scratched it in, watered the tree and waited. Still nothing.

I called back 18-Jul-2008 to ask for further help. The lady said we won't send another replacement. I said I don't want another one. I want the one I have to bloom. Its just a big green bush taking up space that could be devoted to something that blooms. She asked if I wanted to speak to a horticulturist. I sighed and said yes. No one called.

I called back 04-Aug-2008 and the operator found me a horticulturist. I think his name was Bob. I relayed the story to Bob and all he could say was, in summary, I don't believe you. He claims he has never heard of one that doesn't bloom. He was trying to tell me I was out of luck and it was too late for a refund. I asked when in the history of this transaction I should have asked for a refund. Bob didn't know.
I told him that I have 6 other magnolias of 3 different types in very close proximity and they all bloom. I am extremely patient, but Bob's attitude just blew me away. I asked to speak to a mgr and Bob took my name and number and said one would call me back.
I am patiently waiting......................................

In September of 2007 I ordered 2 plants from Wayside: 1 Butterfly Blue Scabiosa and 1 Asclepias Tuberosa (Butterfly Flower). First off, I did not receive an e-mail confirmation of my online order, which was rather irksome, and when I e-mailed to ask about it, there was no reply . Then, when the order arrived, the Asclepias Tuberosa was backordered. The invoice did not indicate if it would arrive later that fall or in the spring. When it did not arrive in the fall, I figured it would arrive in the spring. Wrong: spring came and there was no plant and no communication explaining why it hadn't come.

So I e-mailed customer service and asked for a refund. Since the shipping for both plants was $9.95 and I never would have purchased a $6.95 plant and paid $9.95 for shipping, I asked for a refund of the plant cost plus half of the shipping ($12.92). On June 20, I was told I would get a refund of $10.95.

I have not yet received that refund.

Plus the Butterfly Blue Scabiosa never came up in my garden. :-( Which could be my fault, or the weather's fault, but it adds to my disappointment.

I found my experience shopping at Wayside unsatisfactory.

Edith Carlson

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I am an experienced gardener, have ordered successullly from other mail order nurseries. This was the first order with Wayside - I ordered and paid dearly for six plants and shipping. When the plants arrived - they looked dead, I followed instructions from Wayside and they never revived. I reported it to them in a timely manner - we have been sending emails back and forth for over a month and all I am asking for is a shipment of six healthy plants OR a refund of my money. They are really giving me the run around. They are offering a $10 account credit and to ship 2 of the plants "in the fall" - I wish I would have checked this website BEFORE I ordered - currently there are more negatives than positives. That is a really bad sign. I hope I will get some assistance from this posting. Thanks!



Following is some of the correspondence regarding this order:

Order # 5354067
Dear Jeanne,

Thank you for your follow-up message. It is always a pleasure to hear from our fellow gardeners.

Our records show that a credit has been issued for the Lily Black Bird that failed to grow and a replacement is on order for the two Buddleia's that failed to grow. This replacement is due to ship this fall, unless you would like these cancelled for a credit. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience caused.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us (number and address listed below). Thank you for gardening with Wayside!

Barbara
Wayside Gardens Customer Contact Team
1 Garden Lane
Hodges, South Carolina 29695
Telephone: 800-845-1124
Fax: 800-817-1124
//www.waysidecs.com
email: info@waysidecs.com



-----Original Message-----
From: RFR327@aol.com
Received: 7/14/2008 11:08 PM
To: info@waysidecs.com
Subject: Re: # 5354067 Feedback Form from Wayside Gardens site [2640698:3343730]


Dear Barbara,

As I have said before, this was an offer of buy one lily get one free, so I was paying for 2 lilies and shipping for 2 lilies...........I paid for 2 lilies (in addition to 2 buddleias and 2 Heuchera ). I don't care if you don't send the exact items. Please just send me some flowering plants that might thrive here in Houston. That is all I am asking. A partial credit to my account is just not going to make me feel like you all are trying to satisfy your obligation.

As I have also said before.......I was billed for and had to pay $40 for the privilege of receiving a small box of 6 dying plants.......I am assuming you are a professional nursery and should know what plants will ship properly to where and what time of year is conducive to good results. I would really appreciate it if I might have something to show for this money...............I don't need to have the exact same things.......just something to put in my garden for the money I've had to pay.

If you will refund the complete and total amount to my account, then I won't feel so bad. I really don't think it's fair to take someone's money and not hold up your end of the bargain. I have ordered numerous times from mail order nurseries - always with great success. I just had never dealt with your company before. I have a friend who suggested I file a claim with the FBI Internet Fraud department - she said she had great success recovering her money in a similar circumstance.

I would rather not have to put you or I through all that bother. Please refund the total amount or send me 6 HEALTHY plants.........I don't see why that seems so unreasonable to you.

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,
Jeanne Rhoten

In a message dated 7/14/2008 3:23:29 P.M. Central Daylight Time, info@waysidecs.com writes:
Dear Jeanne,

Thank you for your follow-up message. It is always a pleasure to hear from our fellow gardeners.

We do not have any replacements for the lilies. Please accept our apology. As a result, and in accordance with our Guarantee Policy, we have issued a credit to your account for $9.95, the price of the lilies. To redeem your credit, please call our Customer Contact department and place your order by phone. Ordering on-line will not redeem in-house credits. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience caused.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us (number and address listed below). Thank you for gardening with Wayside!

Barbara
Wayside Gardens Customer Contact Team
1 Garden Lane
Hodges, South Carolina 29695
Telephone: 800-845-1124
Fax: 800-817-1124
//www.waysidecs.com
email: info@waysidecs.com



-----Original Message-----
From: RFR327@aol.com
Received: 7/14/2008 10:59 AM
To: info@waysidecs.com
Subject: Re: # 5354067 Feedback Form from Wayside Gardens site [2640698:3343195]


Dear Barbara,

I am really disappointed. I was not planning on ordering these lilies in the first place, I was talked into them by the sales person. I was going to order 2 buddleias and that's it - she told me if I ordered these lilies I would receive some free plants. She told me it wouldn't increase my shipping - that was incorrect. I was charged extra shipping because of the lilies and additional free plants - none of which survived.

I paid for 6 healthy plants and paid for shipping for 6 healthy plants........that is what I want. I don't want a $9.95 credit..........that's not going to get me much. I would appreciate it very much if you would just send me replacements for the lilies - I think that is the only fair thing to do. They are shipping the buddleias in the fall - if you want to wait to ship the lilies then, too - that will be fine. I really just want the plants I ordered.

Thanks for your help.

Jeanne Rhoten

In a message dated 7/14/2008 8:27:39 A.M. Central Daylight Time, info@waysidecs.com writes:
Dear Jeanne,

Wayside Order 5354067

Thank you so much for contacting us here at Wayside! We value our customers’ comments and questions very highly, and we appreciate hearing from you.

We are sorry to learn that item 7214 failed to respond as well as expected in your garden. Please accept our apology. As a result, and in accordance with our Guarantee Policy, we have issued a credit to your account for $9.95. To redeem your credit, please call our Customer Contact department and place your order by phone. Ordering on-line will not redeem in-house credits. I'm sorry we do not have any for replacing. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience caused.

Again, thank you for writing to us. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us (number and address listed below). And thanks for gardening with Wayside!

Barbara
Wayside Gardens Customer Contact Team
1 Garden Lane
Hodges, South Carolina 29695
Telephone: 800-845-1124
Fax: 800-817-1124
//www.waysidecs.com
email: info@waysidecs.com

P. S. Don't forget the AlgoFlash! This all-natural fertilizer brings out the best in all your plants, and contains no harmful chemicals. Make the most of your garden with AlgoFlash! Click below to buy:

//www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=LGprodview&ItemId=9221&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=algoflash&OfferCode=TH3

Please sign up today for your free newsletter and get 10% off your next order of $100.00 or more. Please click the link below to receive this offer.

//www.waysidecs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10067&storeId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=NewsletterRequest

Want to try some internet specials? Click below please!

//www.waysidecs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10067&storeId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=webspecials&CachePage=webspecials


-----Original Message-----
From: RFR327@aol.com
Received: 7/12/2008 10:13 AM
To: info@waysidecs.com
Subject: Re: # 5354067 Feedback Form from Wayside Gardens site [2640698:3318314]


Dear Kelly,

I am so sorry to report the lilies have failed to perform. I planted them according to the directions included with each bulb. They have been in the ground for 3 weeks and have not shown any signs of growth. I am so disappointed. I have ordered plants from Jackson Perkins and other nurseries with great success through the years so I know it is possible to have successes from mail order nurseries. The only thing I can think of is these plants and bulbs must have been exposed to extreme heat at some point during their shipment. They arrived at my door in the late afternoon, but I was here and met the delivery man at the door.

I don't think it is fair I have had to pay close to $40 and don't have a single surviving plant to show for it. I know I am going to receive the buddleias in the fall, but I was so hoping to have something to enjoy this summer. Hopefully, you can replace the lilies with something that will thrive.

Thanks so much for your help........again, I am sorry for the failure.

Sincerely,
Jeanne Rhoten

In a message dated 6/13/2008 10:08:37 A.M. Central Daylight Time, info@waysidecs.com writes:

Dear Jeanne,

Wayside Order # 5354067

Thank you so much for contacting us here at Wayside! We value our customers’ comments and questions very highly, and we appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I apologize for the condition in which you received your shipment and have noted your records. Due to storage and transit, we do find it is not uncommon for plants to appear stressed on receipt, as you indicated you are aware of this as well. Once planted, your plants should establish and grow for you. If the Buddleias or Lilies do not, please let us know right away so that we may make an appropriate adjustment to your order.

Free items are not replaceable and do incur shipping charges based on their original retail price, as do discounted items. We apologize if this was not clear when your order was placed.

Again, thank you for writing to us. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us (number and address listed below). And thanks for gardening with Wayside!

Kelly,
Wayside Gardens Customer Contact Team
1 Garden Lane
Hodges, South Carolina 29695
Telephone: 800-845-1124
Fax: 800-817-1124
//www.waysidecs.com
email: info@waysidecs.com

P. S. Don't forget the AlgoFlash! This all-natural fertilizer brings out the best in all your plants, and contains no harmful chemicals. Make the most of your garden with AlgoFlash! Click below to buy:

//www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=LGprodview&ItemId=9221&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=algoflash&OfferCode=TH3

Please sign up today for your free newsletter and get 10% off your next order of $100.00 or more. Please click the link below to receive this offer.

//www.waysidecs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10067&storeId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=NewsletterRequest

Want to try some internet specials? Click below please!

//www.waysidecs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10067&storeId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=webspecials&CachePage=webspecials

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rfr327@aol.com
> Received: 6/9/2008 12:18 PM
> To: info@waysidecs.com; pkgarden@gmail.com
> Subject: RE: Feedback Form from Wayside Gardens site
>
>
> First Name : jeanne
> Last Name : rhoten
> Email : rfr327@aol.com
> Subject : Disaapointed
> Category : Other
> Message : Hi! I received my order (#5354067) Friday afternoon late - I was here when the Fedex truck arrived. This was the first time I had ordered from you and I was very excited to receive my order.
>
> I was expecting a larger container for the buddleia - the description said it would arrive in a quart size container....doesn't look like it would hold a quart. The plants leaves were yellow and it was very dry, I removed packing materials and watered thoroughly and placed it in the shade. This morning it still doesn't look good.
>
> The "free" Heuchera plants I received look like they are dead. The leaves are yellow and wilted. I think their normal color is yellow, but they should look alive.
>
> I haven't planted the bulbs yet, but they look like they are OK. There is moisture in the package so apparently they travelled OK.
>
> I was charged close to $40 for this order and all I really wanted was the buddleia.......the order taker talked me into ordering the lily bulbs so I would get the "free" plants. She said I would only pay shipping on the first item......any free ones would NOT add to the shipping. I was charged $14.45 on a $24.90 order - this doesn't make sense to me.
>
> I'm so sorry to have to report this to you - but I am not very happy with the order I received and the amount I paid for it. I'm an experienced gardener and would never have purchased plants at a nursery that looked like these looked when they arrived. I understand that shipping stresses the plants and I followed your instructions, but they haven't revived much in 2 1/2 days of being in the shade and receiving water.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read this email - hopefully it might prevent this from happening to someone else.
>
> Have a good day!
>
> Jeanne Rhoten

"

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. I have sent an email to the email address provided in your responses with my resolution. Please contact us at your earliest convenience if our resolution does not suit you. Customer satisfaction is very important to us.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I ordered over $100 worth of plants in the middle of May using a promotion that promised free espress shipping. When no plants had come over a week later, I called and cancelled the order because I was going out of town for a while. They cancelled the order, but they had already charged my credit card. When I called after I got back because the refund hadn't been posted yet, they said it was a "process" and would take 30 days. It is now the first of July and they still haven't posted my refund. I am pleased the purchase was on a credit card that willl support me in disputing this charge.

In the mean time, I ordered plants from Bluestone which arrived three days after I placed the order and looked gorgeous. No more Wayside.

Alice Cassman

"

Dear Alice,

We apologize for the delay in processing your refund, and assure you that this is not our typical level of service. If you would please provide us with your order number or complete billing address, we can look into this matter for you and determine the status of your refund to you credit card. If you cancelled the order in May, then I am assuming there is a problem, as it normally does not take two months for a credit to appear on your statement. Please provide us with the needed information and we will take care of this for you as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I had good experiences with Wayside in the past.
This experience is new to me but I have not been ordering from Wayside for a few years. I ordered several plants last fall. They do ship small plants and are expensive, but they carry plants I wanted and my prior expericence lead me to give them a chance. I was surprised that my credit card was charged immediately even though the plants arrived very late in the season. On arrival some of them were in bad shape, so I e-mailed the Wayside and promptly received a feed back. I chose to give the plants a chance. I also spoke with the horticulturist on the phone about the sickly looking plants and was helped. The ones that looked bad actually recoved and are doing well. I called the Wayside Garden today about the three plants from the order that did not make it. The customer service representative told me that there is nothing they can do about the plants because they are quaranteed only thru the end of May. I do not recall seeing anything regarding the dates but I could be wrong and just missed it. I asked the representative where I could find the statement regarding the gaurantee. I ordered the plants on line. She was unable to answer. I was told " it is the policy". I asked to speak with her manager and was told that she "just spoke with her and the manager is not going to be able to help me either". I was offered a phone call later today when "she is not busy"; however, I was assured that it is unlikely that anything will be done. I am also busy and since I was given very little hope for the resolution I informed the rep that I will address the issue with the BBB, but also thought of Dave's Garden . I waited only because I did not want to complain too early. I guess I will look elsewhere for my plants from now on.

"

Dear Jenia,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service. Our guarantee policy is listed in our catalogs on the order form, as well as under the 'Our Guarantee' link on the left side of the home page on our website. We do carry a seasonal guarantee, but the expiration is determine by when you had actually received your items. I would like to assure you that what happened in your case is not our typical level of customer service. We continue to be committed to providing you and all of our customers with the highest standards of service in the industry. I hope that you will give us another opportunity to provide you with the quality products you deserve and that all your future encounters with our plants bring you nothing but pleasure. If you would like to provide an order number or billing address, we can review your order again to determine whether your guarantee has in fact expired or not.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

This spring I used a $50 gift certificate plus a little extra to buy their sun tolerant huerchera collection and an April remembered camelia. They arrived here at the end of March. The huercheras were very small and one was almost completely leafless. I kept them inside for several weeks. By the time I planted them the small one had hardly any roots. Now they are all dead and the camelia has brown spots on the leaves.

Today I received their fall catalog but I won't be needing it since I don't plan to order again from them. Other things that I have purchased have not done well either.

"

Dear Camellia,

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]
"

I wish I had seen this web site before placing my order with Wayside. Besides getting dead plants, Wayside does it's best to cheat customers out of money paid for shipping. I order six plants, total order was over $$50. This included $19.50 shipping for the "extra plants." I received only three plants, the other three were out of stock. The three that I received were dead, they smelled and the stems were covered with mold. I called Wayside, I was to get free replacement. Today I received one plant, cost $6.35 but I ended up paying over $19.00 for shipping which is non refundable. They ship me dead plants and I pay, never again.. Skip Wayside, they are crooks..

"

Dear Frankrazz,

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]
"

On May 11, I received an email telling me that the plant I wanted was "ready to reserve." The subject line of the email read "The plants you requested are now available!" At the bottom of the email was an ad for some liquid fertilizer.

I promptly ordered the plant and a bottle of the liquid fertilizer and paid $9.95 shipping + $2.50 fuel surcharge + $5.00 FedEx to get the plant sooner. The fertilizer arrived quickly, but the plant kept showing "waiting to ship" on the order status. I called the company and was told the plant would ship the following week. It did not. I sent several emails and received very non-committal replies. I was finally told the plant quality wasn't good and the nursery manager would make a decision on 6/16 about shipping the plant. I finally called earlier this week and asked for a refund. They are going to refund the price of the plant, the difference between the shipping cost of the fertilizer and the fertilizer + plant ($3), and the FedEx fee.

I didn't think it was fair that they charged my credit card for the entire order upfront when they never shipped the plant. Also, if I would have known the plant wasn't ready to ship when I got the original email notification, I would have never ordered the fertilizer and been out the $9.45 it cost to have it shipped to me.

"

Dear jkw10k,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service. Our catalog and website both state that you credit card will be billed at the time of order. However, we are truly sorry that you were misinformed of the status of the plant that you had purchased. We understand gardeners spend a great deal of time selecting plants for their gardens. When dealing with live plants, there are occasionally delays or failures that are beyond our control. We also find that occasionally plants are not up to our standards and cannot be shipped. We may find it necessary to remove that stock from the inventory for the season. Unfortunately, these problems may not be detected until we are in the middle of our shipping season. We do apologize for not notifying you as soon as the decision was made to back-order this product. We are currently working on a program that will automatically send notifications to customers when an item back-orders or becomes sold out. We hope to have this program in place soon. We apologize for any inconvenience and I hope that you will give us another opportunity to provide you with the quality products you deserve and that all your future encounters with our plants bring you nothing but pleasure.


Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I placed an order online yesterday. I was shocked at the lack of choice in shipping, over 20 dollars for a small order. I would not have accepted if I had known most of what I wanted was sold out. Was sent a order acknowledge and decided since no shipping info was on that email, to call. I phoned and lo and behold, the bulbs were sold out, so in essence, I am paying shipping charges equal to the same amount as the only other plant available in that order..which is buy one get 2 free and they're 3" pots. I asked to cancel my order and was told it was already in packing so when it came via Fed Ex to refuse shipment..I then am told when I asked about credit back to my credit card that it can take 30 days. All I can say, my card company will be notified on this and I'll never order from this company again. Ridiculous behaviour to say the least.

"

Dear patnjbob,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatsfied with our service and hope you realize this is now our typical level of service. I am sorry that you were unhappy with our shipping and handling charges. Because we do find it necessary to provide our shipping and handling costs up front, we are unable to calculate these costs after order packaging. Therefore, rather than basing these charges on the weight, size, and content of the package, which is the practice of mail providers, we base our shipping and handling fees on the order total before any discount are applied. Due to the fact that you had purchased a buy one, get two free deal, your merchandise total was lower, however the shipping was calculated by the original price of the items you received for free. We do try our best to create price ranges which will include items of similar weight. We work to keep our shipping as reasonable as possible. With the fluctuating cost of fuel, this has become more and more challenging.
After reviewing your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com] "

I placed an order at the end of March for my spring plants. I knew that nothing would be shipped until the end April as that is when my last frost date is, but, while every other company shipped my goodies, Wayside seemed to forget about me entirely. In mid-May, I inquired as to the status of my order and was told that "some" of my plants had quality issues and that they did not want to ship them until they were resolved. Ok, but what about the rest of my order?!? And how about a little email letting me know this instead of leaving me hanging for nearly a month after my order was supposed to ship?

Well, nearly two weeks later, I received all but three plants. Some were small enough that they look like they had only been growing for a couple of weeks, and much younger than the two months my order had been pending with my plants "in stock and reserved." Some of the plants, the daisies in particular, looked like they were circling the drain when I pulled them from the peanut filled box and unwound the fake straw from them. While most will probably manage to hang on, I think one is about to die. As for the rest of my plants, I have no idea when they will be shipped. And apparently Park likes to take all of its sites down at night so you cannot yell at them [I wanted to have some words regarding timeliness with Jackson & Perkins too].

I suppose I should have expected this kind of lousy service after my first experience with them last year. Last spring I ordered plants for spring and fall. The spring item was shipped immediately, but they never shipped the fall plant. Nor did they ever think to inform me that it would not be shipped at all. I had to contact them when the plant was well overdue and our planting season was rapidly drawing to a close asking where my Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle was, only to be told they had "crop problems." By then it was mid October and I had to scramble to find a rare plant. Fortunately, Rarefinds had it and in a matter of days I got what I am sure is a much larger plant that is now thriving.

Having been stung twice, I won't be ordering from them again!

"

Dear BethG208,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service and hope you can understand that this is not our typical level of service. We understand gardeners spend a great deal of time selecting plants for their gardens. When dealing with live plants, there are occasionally delays or failures that are beyond our control. We also find that occasionally plants are not up to our standards and cannot be shipped. We may find it necessary to remove that stock from the inventory for the season. Unfortunately, these problems may not be detected until we are in the middle of our shipping season. We do apologize for not notifying you as soon as the decision was made to back-order some of your products. We are currently working on a program that will automatically send notifications to customers when an item back-orders or becomes sold out. We hope to have this program in place soon. I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I have to add to the negative remarks about this company - this is the 3rd year in a row I've ordered from this company. Only because I continue to get credits from them regarding bad/dead plants, cancelled orders w/o telling me - and not refunding me - so I ordered 1 last time...
2 Caryopteris 'Summer Sorbet' PP#15,935 - dead upon arrival
2 Lupinus 'Popsicle Blue' - said they would be shipped in a 3" pot - they came wrapped in paper surrounded by an inch of dirt - I'm pretty sure these aren't going to make it either
1 Daphne 'Carol Mackie' - this was actually shipped in a larger pot, but the plant itself was less than 2 inches tall...this might just make it, I have my fingers crossed.

I'm completely disgusted w/this company - plus it took forever to get my wilted lifeless plants; I will not ask for a refund again - lesson finally learned...Bluestone I promise you will be the only mail order company I ever order from again!

To all - BEWARE!

"

Dear clwvikes,


I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. If you would not like a merchandise credit, we would be able to issue a credit back to your charge card, assuming your order was not already adjusted. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I placed an order from Wayside after seeing a pic of a beautiful passiflora "Sherry". They said they were the only ones that had this at that time. I also ordered 9 other plants, total order app $140.00+ shipping. I paid extra to get them faster ! Ha! That was a joke. When my order arrived I almost cried. "Sherry" was a puny little trig and weak at that, app. less than 2" tall. Needless to say I called and got the reply that I would have to wait 6wks before I could ask for a refund or anything! Three more of the plants died right away. I was mad. I waited 6 wks and called again. Rep. said they would send me new plants- I said NO, I want my money back. She said she would give me a credit to order more- I said NO, I want my money back..... Finally, she said she would credit my card but that hasn't happened yet. I will never make the mistake of ordering from them again no matter how pretty they look in their catalog.

"

Dear janabarnett,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service and products. As far as the customer service that you received, I apologize that you were not provided with the service of which you deserve. I assure you that customer service is extremely important to our company, and that this was not our intentions. I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I ordered three moonlight climbing roses in the spring.
They arrived , I planted them, they started to bloom and that's when I found out that the roses shipped were not moonlight's because they bloomed pink. So I called, talked to Tiffany, talked to Bob in horticulture it was confirmed , they shipped the wrong roses. To make a long story short : It would be easier to refund my money and to reorder my moonlight roses. The prices had went down nearly 50 % ~so I was game. Although I was upset that the shipping charges would not be refunded!!!
They send the wrong roses, they were tagged wrong .
I received the new shipment of climbing roses ( hopefully the right ones this time) but still : NO Refund money !!!!
I am very dissapointed ~although I must say the roses were in good shape when shipped. Fast shipment as well.

"

Dear hpv72xp,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service. I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

Horrible do not waste your time or money on this horribly managed company. First I placed my order for three Arisaema Sikokianum and make it snappy, feel me? I was assured my plants were in stock, reserved for me and would arrive the following wed. or thurs. I was excited, I have a friend who has two of these plants and they are magnificent. Now I checked my order status online and the status said "In Stock and Reserved". This stayed the same for almost a week until I sent two scathing e-mails to them. I then received a response from some guy with a form e-mail and some reassuring comments. Now I check my order status and it says "To Be Shipped". This develops on a tue. It is now Saturday, almost two weeks after placing my order, same status. So I call the customer service line, I speak to Tiffany who informs me that my precious Aroids are really on back order and there isn't even a date to tell when they will be back. My order status had said "In Stock and Reserved" So apparently this was a ball-faced lie. Don't by plants from people who lie to you. This company has so many bad reviews. Now I know why, I should have cancelled my order sooner. That's not all, they take thirty days to refund your account unless you tell them to rush it. Thirty days, they took about $100 of my buying power for nearly a month and a half and i don't even get a lousy tee-shirt; just a bunch of lame e-mails for lame plants I wouldn't pull out of the neighbor's compost pile for free. Please do not give these donkey-men your money. I could have had them on my doorstep by now from somewhere else, now I'll probably have to wait till next year, or buy some wilted up plants, at least that way i might get some seeds, but I have to wait until they give me my money back. There are many better sources for rare plants like Hana Farms or Raising Rarities.

"

Dear Slipperman,

We are sorry to learn that your are dissatisfied with our service.I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

I should have known better but I fell for their emails with promises of free this and double that.
I received one clematis in such a sickly and minature state that no nursery would allow a customer to see such a plant - not even up to Wal-mart clearence standards.
I ordered three bulbs; buy one, receive two free. They charged me for three - $14.94 and omitted the rest of the order without an explanation. The shipping for the three light weight bulbs was $14.45. T W Flynn, Oswego NY

"

Dear Rhododen,

I have reviewed your above posting and I am seeking the opportunity to address this matter. Unfortunately, the information contained within was not sufficient to locate your order in our database. In order to rectify the problem I must request that you e-mail us with your billing information, including zip code and order number if available.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

Excessive shipping cost of $9.45 FedEx for one small coreopsis ordered May 25. I assumed at that expense it would arrive in 3 days--NO, it shipped on June 2, and I won't receive it until June 7--two days after I leave on vacation! VEXING to have plants shipped by ground at this time of year!

"

Dear kerrydrury,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied, and hope you realize this is not our typical level of service. When choosing Fed-Ex 2 Day shipping, this ensures less time in transit, not in house processing time. We apologize if this shipping method was not more clear before you chose it. Assuming that your order has not already been adjusted, would you please provide us with your order number, or complete name and billing address. Once your order is located, we would be glad to make the appropriate adjustments regarding your shipping costs. We apologize for any inconvenience and I hope that you will give us another opportunity to provide you with the quality products you deserve and that all your future encounters with our plants bring you nothing but pleasure.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Representative
[e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com]"

Lovely catalog with beautiful pictures but product quality is very poor. I ordered two Clematis Franzishka Marie. What I received were two plants that were so tiny it was doubtful that they would grow. They survived but barely grew at all last summer. They came back this year but still very little growth. Other plants in the same bed are doing very well so it is not the soil conditions for the poor growth. Ordered two clematis from Paradise Garden this year and received large, lovely healthy plants. Wish I had known about them last year.

My order was placed but I found out that some of my property was being dug up. I emailed them 3 times to cancel the order, receive no response. The order was shipped. Then I called and hit the key for internet orders only to be cut off after a wait. I believe this was deliberate.
I've ordered from them before only to have the plants die. There is no way to communicate with this company.
They have an incredible catalog to entice buyers but no customer service.
Margie Wexler
PA

Over the last year I have spent HUNDREDS of dollars on plants from Wayside. They have a great selection of plants and they tempt you almost daily with email specials.

Last year I puchased 3 clematis plants from them, only one has survived and as of today (May 28) it is a scrawny 8 inches tall and looks like it is hanging on for dear life. I called last fall and cajoled the customer service rep into giving me a refund. I purchased tulip bulbs with that refund and they never showed up. I just found my e reciept and will be calling them about that.

The Pink Muhley grass I purchased did not come back this year. I purchased AGAPANTHUS STORM CLOUD, planted it in the fall ... May 28 and nothing. I'm sure if I call them they'll tell me I should have called in the fall. I'm not sure how they can sell plants for fall planting and expect anyone to be able to tell if they are failing ... everything dies back in the fall.

In a nutshell I'd say about half of the plants I've purchased from them have failed. My Rose Moonstone, dead. ALSTROEMERIA FREEDOM, dead. HYDRANGEA ROMANCE, dead.

My Blueberry Sunshine is alive but looking pretty pathetic.

Maybe it's a mail order thing except that the annuals I buy from Burpee are always wonderful. At any rate, I won't be ordering from them anymore. It isn't worth the aggravation.

My experience with Wayside gave me the impression that Park/Wayside is unaware of FTC Prompt Delivery Rules.
I place an order (id# 521-5***) totaling $68.80 on April 1, 2008 but I receive no e-mail notification of the processing of my order. I wait a day or two. Still no notice that they received my online order. I place my first call. "Wayside Gardens, my name is (Yada Yaah), how may I help you?" or words to that effect. Yes, they got the order and are in the process of shipping it out. Thank you.
My order was no April Fool but their business practices are. In less than 72 hours my charge card was billed for the full amount. A week after I placed the order I received 1 item of the 4 ordered. I wait.
Three weeks after the order was placed I received items 2 and 3. I grow restless for I am rapidly running out of nice transplanting season and I am charging head-long into Southeast Texas 'super summer', a season that in days past earned soldiers combat pay. I call, "Precious" ( that is what the lady said her name is) informs me that my item is on backorder and is due at the end of the week, I'll have my remaining item in 7 days or even less. I wait.
And I wait, and wait but then I get my charge card bill for the previous month. I am agast! I have been billed for items not yet shipped. I call, again. This time "Beverly" informs me that item 4 is still on backorder but could arrive any minute. I wait, again I wait but not for long.
On May 12 I decide I will wait no more. I draft an e-mail that looks almost like this but a bit more concise (no 'super summer' sob story) and request a refund on items billed and not shipped. I include a link to the Federal Trade Commission page on Prompt Delivery Rules. The page includes several suggestions on dealing with unusual demand and delay in shipping. I wait.
A few days later an e-mail from Eva with the Wayside Gardens Customer Contact Team writes to inform me that "When dealing with live plant products however, there are occasional delays that are beyond our control." And when dealing with live paying customers there are occasional people who expect you to say what you mean and mean what you say in 30 days and don't bill me until you ship.
So now I wait for my "prompt" refund. I won't address the quality of the plant material I purchased, the quality of the "customer care" material answered all my questions about Wayside Gardens.
My order from Wayside was placed largely due to sentiment. My Grandmother was a steady Wayside customer during the 1960's and '70's, planting their products in family gardens from coast to coast and always had the current catalog on the coffee table. This isn't my grandmother's Wayside anymore.

At the beginning of March, 2008, I ordered three 'tinkerbell' plants from Wayside Gardens.com. They were never shipped although WaysideGardens accepted my money immediately.

After four unanswered email messages to them, I noticed on my order description on their web page, they had substituted another plant with shipment scheduled for fall of 2008! They did not ask for my approval for the substitution. This was the first week in May. I emailed and asked for a refund.

They did say they would cancel the order and provide a refund. I have received nothing as of May 24, 2008.

Don't do business with WaysideGardens.com!

Marcia

California

Prior to this order I had postive experience with this company. I placed an order and the money was debited from my account. When I did not receive my order a month later I called customer service. It was a bizarre experience to say the least. No resolution after 4 phone calls. They would giggle and hang up on me. No supervisor available. They thought that funny. I was so incensed I wrote a letter to the owner of the company. I received a phone message (not the owner) that my account would be credited (which it was) and as a gesture of good will they were sending me 3 plants. One gardenia and 2 Carol Mackie Daphnes which is the plant I really need. I received the gardenia but never received the Daphnes or an explanation. So the good will gesture didn't even work. Something changed with this company and not for the best.
Before I knew Park seed was part of this company I placed the order for the Daphes with them. Needless to say I never received that either. Now I will have to make another phone call to see if I can get my money refunded from Park seed.
A very unhappy experience.

Before finding this feedback section, I wrote a note via Wayside Garden's "contact us" website; therefore, I will make this short with main points.

1. Placed a $182 order on 4-20.
2. Credit Card was charged on 4-23.
3. Called to check on order status 2 weeks later and was told 2 of the 5 plants ordered were on "back order" until the fall, the others would go out this next week.
4. Two weeks later, called back and got the same response.
5. I cancelled the entire order
6. Week later -- no credit to my charge card yet, so I called and learned it can take up to 30 days for the credit.

If I had known the plants would not ship immediately (which should be information provided upon order), this could have been avoided--even a note in my email order confirmation would have been a nice touch. And to charge the credit card within 3 days with no plans to immediately ship the plants is simply poor customer service.

I would be cautious and at the very least, make a phone call to place your order and receive clear expectations of delivery at the time you place your order.

I first learned about Wayside Gardens last spring. My mom showed me their catalog and asked me to pick out some plants, which she would order and help me put in (my flower beds were all dirt at this time). I really liked and wanted to try out the Gaillardia "Fanfare," so she ordered them amongst others.

She also ordered some lavender (a lot of lavender, in fact) for her garden. We ordered late in the season, so everything was to be fall shipped. I remember my mom calling me last September and asking if I had received anything, which I hadn't. She was concerned about her own order, since she was getting ready to migrate back down to Florida for the colder months.

A couple of weeks after she moved back to Florida, I received my Fanfare -- and her Lavender, which was supposed to be sent to her (a different zipcode 120 miles north of me). By this time it was October, and I barely got the Fanfare planted before the first frost came. None survived the winter... not even my mom's Lavender which I tried to keep alive.

6 months pass and I forgot what the name of this place was, so I googled to find some more Fanfare after realizing mine weren't coming back. Found WaysideGardens.com, which also had some other plants I thought I might like (some Echinaceas, Pyrethrums, other Galliardias on sale, etc). I tried to place an order 4 times but kept getting errors and no order confirmation email. Finally the order went through on 4/29. Aside from the problems having to submit an order multiple times, the web site was very slow.

It is now almost a month later, and my stuff has not been shipped. Some of the items which were supposed to be available for Spring were put on back order until the fall (Fanfare included). I'm not going to murder any more Fanfares my ordering from this company. I called yesterday and was told that because the order was "on the shipping room floor", it could not be cancelled. I would have to refuse the order in order to receive a refund. I plan to do that next week, IF the order ships next week and isn't further delayed.

Like the other negative votes, my main gripe with the company is the lack of integration between the customer side and the shipping side of the business. I don't know how they are affiliated with Park Seed, but I ordered a Coreopsis and 2 Gaillardias from "Park's Landscapes" at http://www.parkslandscapes.com on 5/6, received that order around the 14th, and the Coreopsis and 2 Gaillardias are already planted. When I called about my Wayside order, they told me " Your Coreopsis and Gaillardia Arizona Sun were delievered." Correct, but the order I placed with Wayside a week prior to placing that order, still has not arrived.

After some more research on google, I was able to find the Fanfare at another online store. This new store promised shipment of my complete order by 6/2, which is fine, because they're sending me the same plants that Wayside had on backorder until Fall. My advice is, don't accept any fall shipments. Just because they're busy in the spring doesn't mean your fall order will ship in a timely fashion since you "got it in early." My mom ordered her stuff last June, and it was already getting close to frost by the time we received the plants.

I feel the same as most negatives. The prices are way too high for the size of the plants delivered. I have ordered for the last two years but unfortunately over half of my items died over the winter, they just do not come back. Substitutions are made without your knowledge UNLESS you email them the same day you place your order and say "NO subs!" Any credits took months to happen after at least two or three email and calls, however, shipping charges were not reimbursed. Charges were placed when ordered, not when items shipped which is WRONG. Items shipped at very unusual times, including one almost 6 months later than I thought. I planted it inside so it wouldn't die. We'll see. Daylillies I received two years ago, finally look like the plant and have a few blooms instead of looking like grass. None of the 4 echinecheia I ordered survived the winter. I will look at the pretty pix and then find somewhere else to order. Buyer BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is going to be a lot of reading so get ready. This has to be the WORST run business going and they are definitely out to cheat you any and every chance they get. If you order from this company you are really living dangerously and would be better off buying from ANYBODY else.

OK so here we go, in early March I placed a sizeable order of about $150 and of course was charged immediately which I can live with. On the website the items appear as Reserved and a couple of weeks later it changed status on their website to "to be shipped" and they remained this way for weeks until in early May a call was placed to see when these were "to be shipped". I reached them no problem and was "helped" by a lovely young lady who assured me they'd shipped right away and stupidity got me to buy a couple more things and then I'd qualify for a free knock out Rose which stupidly I went for, so another charge on my credit card appears at once. Interestingly enough I ordered one Clematis at a discount price but when I was upsold for a second to qualify for my free prize I was charged more for the second but what is a few more dollars when you are wasting so much money already. I was notified when the packages were shipped with tracking #'s (oddly they shipped on Friday’s so the packages sat around in transit 2 extra days and this happened for 3 of my 4 shipments) and when I checked the order on-line, I found one item Echinaceas Crazy Pink were cancelled and they had decided that Prairie something or other Echinaceas would be substituted for them, I of course knew nothing about this and didn't even want these, so another call to Wayside. Again another friendly helpful voice answers (I will say they train the people answering the phones very well but that doesn't go into the shipping department but we will get there soon enough) and she explains they just make substitutions at their whim (she of course told me they make substitutions of “comparable items”) when something is out of stock so after some prodding, she agrees to refund my money for those $60 this was 5-06-08 and it is 5-21-08 and no refund. Now 2 packages finally arrive from Wayside and one looks like it was packed by a 5 year old (it was clearly marked proudly packaged by #25 never saw this again in any other box from Wayside) plants just thrown into a box with some Styrofoam peanuts and lots of hay, needless to say numerous plants had broken at the roots and ALL of the bareroots they sent were moldy and rotten however the Knock Out Rose I was upsold and given free was very nice and packaged well go and figure. The plants received were skimpy at best stuff, so small it could be hardly be considered saleable by anyone reputable and the few things that were "nice" had of course been broken from poor packing. So time to call in again, once again another very sympathetic voice, who of course apologized and agreed to send replacements for the ones in stock some were not so I had to take something else which is fine and of course more upselling but by now I on to Wayside so I pass on anymore generous offers. Oddly the same day I get a $30 charge on my credit card from them (for what I wonder, shipping ?? too many calls to the 800 # ???) since I was owed a $60 credit odd I would get charged again but we must move on. The replacements arrive reasonably promptly and upon opening the box I again find a group of plants strewn into a box, some of the replacements are worse than the first group and what would have been nice plants are damaged from poor packing. I have since planted what I could the rest are in the ER on my 3 season porch and some of it is doing OK most others not so much. So at this point I didn't call back into Bandit Gardens and have had to go to the credit card company to challenge these charges luckily I just squeaked in under the 60 days to challenge a charge (now I understand why they charge you upfront). However I am willing to pay what I am sadly responsible for but the $60 and the mystery charge I will NOT pay. In order to avoid a carbon copy response from Mr. Jay Johnstone the order # is 5168862, and if you actually plan to issue a credit your people promised and AFTER you have done so, feel free to contact me in regards to your operation as I would be glad to hear from you. In closing I would recommend you ignore Wayside's beautiful catalog and website and look elsewhere to fill your floral needs or you do will end up scammed like so many others have.

"

Dear Eric,

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with our service and hope you can understand that this is not our typical level of service. Our records do not indicate that your credits had been processed, so I am unsure as to how you would see the amount credited on your credit card. We have generated a refund for the Delphinium Chocolate for $7.95, and have also refunded you for the remaining two Prairie Spelendor subs that you had not wanted. The total to be refunded to your charge card is $74.06. Please look for this credit to appear on your statement within the next 3-5 business days. We apologize for any inconvenience and I hope that you will give us another opportunity to provide you with the quality products you deserve and that all your future encounters with our plants bring you nothing but pleasure.

Jay Johnson
Customer Contact Department
e-mail:JJohnson@parkseed.com
"

This company is one of the worst I ever dealt with when trying to purchase anything, never mind plants.

On March 7th, I ordered 7 shrubs and 1 perennial. Unlike most nurseries I have purchased from, they took all my money immediately which I was shocked at.

Then I waited. I received no order confirmation, no email, just nothing. The only reason I knew the order went through is that they took my money.

In late April I began to get billed for an receive shipments from other companies. I called Wayside finally on the 29th of April.

Here is what they told me. The one shrub sold out, The 6 other not avail. until Fall, the perennial not avail until the middle of summer.

The actually asked me if I wanted to cancel the whole order. I of course did. No apologies, no explanations as to why they would mislead consumers like myself. NOTHING.

Then I was told I wouldn't get my money back for another month. Wayside took and held my almost 150.00$ for plants they could not and never intended to deliver and then, just to make some more money on my money...Keep it for another Month. I will never shop with Wayside again. I only wish I read these reviews before I ordered from them at all. I have nothing to show for it but having my money make them money for 3 months.

Ordered Royal Acres bulbs last fall from a catalog showing beautiful blue tulips.. Got them, bulbs OK, all 15 ordered came up and floweered. So-whats the problem, the bulbs are a red that sure doesn't make my wife appreciate I used her garden space. Laugh on me, should have found this web site a years sooner... We'll see what Wayside has to say and report back....