Garden Bargains, it's like pulling teeth, but you get there in the end.

We ordered a Bougainvillea from them a few weeks back which arrived on 1st October. It looked a bit scruffy so I photographed it and e-mailed them my complaint with a copy of the photo.

I got an auto-acknowledgement.


I ordered a black bamboo, over a week ago and at the same time sent them an e-mail asking if it was the "clumping type" or did I need to put down a barrier. I also enclosed a copy of the first e-mail asking what they are doing about the bougainvillea.

Another auto-acknowledgement arrived.

Since then zilch!

So I phoned this morning and after a wait I got through to their call centre, which is either in India....or just as likely...Peterborough.

Anyway...

I'm getting a replacement bougainvillea (the other may pick up and be OK but I wasn't taking a chance) and after a delay whilst the guy obviously had to check with someone, I was relieved to be assured that the bamboo will not need a barrier.

So finally, a result!

 

You are the sort of customer they want .. ignored but still come back.

Having heard nothing back from my first complaint I would definately not have ordered anything else from them .. I tend to crumpily walk away now and find someone else who does answer questions and responds to me.

 

I can do that, but my bloodymindedness won't allow myself to be beaten.

I get more satisfaction from "battering them into submission" than walking away. With their volume of sales, they wouldn't care if I didn't come back, as a percentage of their sales volume those who have complaints are probably very few.
Another advert will bring in more far more new customers than those who "walk away."

They are owned by the "Ideal World" shopping channel and they often have some plants at very good prices on there.