Anyone ordered from...

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone here had ever ordered plants from j parkers. I was looking through their new catalogue and there are quite a few things I'd like. However, I also looked at reviews of the company on the internet and they're nearly all awful, so now I haven't a clue what to do. Are they terrible?

 

I have. Once. Overpriced waste of money. Might be ok if you just get bulbs though. The stuff I bought was nearly dead or seriously pot bound. I still get their catalogs and sometimes see something I like and think about ordering but then reason kicks in and stops me from making another mistake.

 

Hallo and to gardeners Corner.
We're not a grumpy old bunch really - honest!! But we will tell it like it is regarding poor quality or service.
Me? I like Hayloft Plants as they have given me good plants this year. Haven't ordered bulbs from J Parkers for years. Usually look for good ones locally in Supermarkets or Garden Centres where I can see and feel what I'm buying.

 

I find the "customer service" systems used by J Parkers, T&M and van Meuwen to be equally bad.

I get numerous separate part-shipments in the post, there is nothing online to tell me what they think they have shipped and what is left [for me to reconcile against], and no indication of when the back-ordered items will arrive, no email to alert me to imminent arrival of packages (so they can sit just inside my letterbox saying "Important: Live plants - Open immediately" for a fortnight until I come back from holiday). Their Contact Us systems usually take days, sometimes weeks, to respond

eCommerce can be done much better than this (I know that for a fact because I build systems for companies equally as large as these guys ....)

 

I just thought they were pricey!
After the problems with JPD I now stick to the local Nurseryman and don't bother with the exotic plants.
I get more satisfaction from plant swapping and plant sales.
If I want to get unusual plants we usually have a day at the Harrogate Show.

 

Thank you for the replies everyone. I think I'll steer clear of jparkers now, although it is disappointing as they were the cheapest company I'd come across. It makes me wonder how these places manage to stay in business. As for supermarkets, our local sainsburys isn't that great for (live) plants unfortunately, and I don't drive so garden centres are out.

Fortunately (or not) I've caught the propagating bug, so I'll stick to seeds as I seem to do ok with them.

Oh, and Jenny Namaste, I know you're a friendly bunch on here, I've been a visitor for a few months now and finally got round to signing up. Thank you for the kind welcome.

 

What plants/bulbs were you looking for? Folk here may be able to suggest reliable alternative suppliers

 

You are very welcome here Triffid! We can be a bit nutty but we are friendly.

 

Kristen- I was interested in that supplier more for the prices than anything else, they had a lot of packs of three for 6 quid type deals.

catztail- thanks, and I had noticed the nuttiness it's one of the reasons I like this forum

 

I bought some waterlillies years ago from Parkers, they never arrived, they were replaced very late in the season and died.

I also bought my Campsis from them and its now up to the house eves and would be bigger if I didn't prune every year.
I think they sell a lot of Dutch grown plants/shrubs.
The Dutch growers are very good at making them look good, as is the Parkers catalogue, loads of flowers, none of which would flower at the same time all on photos with the colours tweaked.
Unless its something you cant buy elswhere I'd give them a miss.