I wouldn't hit the submit button after reading several of the reviews on that site you referenced. There are too many good quality online nurseries that stand behind their products. I work hard for my $$$ and am very careful how I spend it. I admit I shop for bargains but not from an outfit with such mixed reviews. There aren't many plants I think I "must" have and I'll wait to find them at reputable nurseries before taking chances with those that have lousy customer feedback.

if you hesitate to think about it.. dont you already have your answer????

ken

thanks, gardenweed and ken ~ you are both thinking more clearly than i, and rightly so. darn it. i really hate when i find stuff i'd like to have all nicely collected in one location (and one shipping cost!). hunting for all the plants at other locations becomes such a problem. ratz. phooey. humbug.
but -- thanks for saving me from myself! =)

Based on my experience some years ago with that place, paying premium prices and winding up with tiny or dead specimens (and getting another dead specimen when I requested replacement), I think you've made the right decision.

In my view, online nurseries with a sufficient number of ratings should have at least 80% or so positive ones (types of complaints do matter somewhat - poor communication is not as bad as dead plants). Once you get down towards 50-50 positive-negative ratings, there's something definitely wrong with the place and rather than risking that crapshoot it's much better to buy locally or grow your own from seed.

I will often try to stick with only those companies that have very few negative ratings. And I will read the negative comments to make sure there is actually a problem that was not specific to that customer or to the mail or if it is something to really be concerned about. Of course, sometimes, you can't find a company you need with very few negative comments, then it is a case of reading as many comments as possible and something someone has to say, will usually make up my mind for me.

I have ordered from them in the past, but never again.
Nuff said.

I'm also willing to take a risk when poor communication comes up alot... but when dead and dried out plants are mentioned, that's a real bad sign... and that's coming from someone who will try to nurse something along for years because he got a good price on it.

They do have a tempting catalog and a real nice selction though, and the prices are reasonable..... but I have never actually broken down and ordered.

What I REALLY hate is nursing something along for a couple seasons and then finding out it's not even true to name.... or buying mixed colors and only getting one. I'm thinking of a certain chapter 11 company right now.

Roxanna:

Just for the fun of it, post a list of the plants you're "lusting" after, and maybe
one of us can steer you to another source, or better yet, a fellow Yankee
just might know a NE nursery where you can get them. Worh a try !

Carl

Wait... is there a reason why roxanna's naming of companies are edited out? I thought we were allowed to discuss various companies.

I am in need of a good perennial supplier, but I'm seeing bad reviews of one that used to be a highly popular one.

I came to this forum to find another one but now I see strange and mystery edits. That really bothers me. We should have the right to voice our opinion, even if it is or is not favorable to any particular company.

I don't mind saying that the bad reviews I'm finding is with Bluestone. Let's be frank here, please.

gardenweed_z6a, care to share those reputable folks?

Magnoliasouth -

I am not Gardenweed, but here are companies I have been quite pleased with and would order from again. (As someone else mentioned, if I can get it locally, I try to, both to support local businesses and to save mailing costs, which allow me to get more or larger plants for the same $. I live in a rural area, though, so there often isn't the variety I would like.)

Lazy S's Farm Nursery www.lazyssfarm.com all types of ornamentals
Brushwood Nursery http://www.gardenvines.com/ many types of vines
Silver Star Vinery http://www.silverstarvinery.com/ clematis
Hummingbird Farm http://hummingbirdfarm.net/ clematis and herbs
Forest Farm http://www.forestfarm.com/ I've only bought woodies there, so don't know what else they carry
High Country Gardens http://www.highcountrygardens.com/ plants tolerant of dry situations, though they include many I can grow here
Avant Gardens http://www.avantgardensne.com/

I have also ordered from Bluestone http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/index.html for this spring. While they had a lot of issues last fall with their new system of growing and shipping, they are a company that has been in business a long time and has great customer service and a guarantee. They have made modifications based on last fall's customer feedback, and unlike many companies with bad reviews on GWatchd*g I trust them to treat me well. With coupons, I found their prices quite reasonable compared to many mailorder & online nurseries.