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It's hard to tell who's angrier about their dealings with Gardeners' Choice -- those who didn't get the plants they ordered or those who did.
There are a couple of lessons here, the primary one being: don't use a check to pay for merchandise ordered through the mail or online. You have no recourse if the merchandise fails to arrive or is unsatisfactory. Instead, pay with a credit card. You have 60 days to dispute a charge for missing and unsatisfactory goods or services.
Don't have a credit card? Shop locally and pay cash.
What can those who lost money to Gardeners' Choice do? Not much, although we have a few suggestions.
This, by the way, is an annual event. Come springtime, the complaints blossom, like this batch of seedlings:
Sherilyn of Reedsport, OR August 20, 2008
We ordered tomato plants. What we received were supposedly pre-planted seeds. We followed the instructions included with them. The seeds never even sprouted.
Bill of South Point, OH July 27, 2008
order 3 GT and 3BE s-pot Giant Tomato Tree. The order was suppose to be around 50.00. There was 1100.00 deducted from my credit card. I never received the merchandise. I received a card saying it was going to be late, now I realize it was a stall tactic to steal from as many as possible before they disappeared.
Bad credit rating on my credit card.
Reith of Kansas City, MO July 24, 2008
I noticed a charge on my Discover Card 7/01/08 amount 33.85 from Gardners Choice Hartford, Mi. I'm NOT a gardner -called Discover and contested charge 7/6/08 they implemented a temporary credit pending investigation. On 7/18/08 I received a package from Gardners Choice and promply called Discover Card to question their credit and investigation. I was instructed by their investigation section to return the package unopened with delivery confirmation. This I did on 7/24/08 AM. The reason for the delay was my family was on a week trip and didn't receive mail until 7/23/08. Cost to return box was 7.40 Zone 4 priority mail with delivery confirmation
My personal investigation on the internet leads me to believe this company regularly uses fradulent methods to extract money from unsuspecting citizens and their practice should be brought to an end. My choice was to pay for something I didn't order or pay to return it...without any other choice. Discover indicated the return must be made or they could not honor any credit to my account. So I loose in either case. Unfair!
Denise of Burlington, NJ July 14, 2008
I saw an ad on TV in Early June 2008 for super grass seed used to patch bald spots on your lawn. I called to or the 19.95 order and kept being put through a menuing system (after I placed my order) asking if I wanted to buy this and that and I kept pressing no, no, no. I was on my cell phone and it got the the point that I was using up my minutes so I just ended the call thinking that I will just forget this order.
A month later, I see that my debit card was charged 67.70 for what! I still do not have my grass seed and can reach no one because all I get is a busy signal regardless if I push the customer service button or the order line button. I am angry and am not sure what to do. I will call my bank to contest this purchase since it went through the Visa portion of my bank card. Do or buy from Gardener's Choice from the TV or anywhere else for that matter.
I am stick with trying to get my card credited but I cannot reach anyone by phone and did not get a mailing address from the TV add.
Barry of Walnut Creek, CA July 10, 2008
They rarely answer their phone (Customer Service never answers),and if they don't hang up, you're still paying a bundle because it's a 269# and not an 800#. They also do not respond to letters (in 2 month's time) and do not honor their warranties. I ordered tree tomatoes, a Royal Paulownia tree,lavender, and a variety of exotic tomatoes. They all arrived in terrible shape, month's late from when I requested them ( have a home - greenhouse), and several died.
Also, I ordered plants and they sent seeds on one occasion. Gardener's Choice wouln't respond or even discuss replacing the plants, refunding my money, or making good on their promises / warranties. Their real specialty is ignoring customers after taking their money. Where is the govt./law/legal protection for the consumer ? They should not be allowed to continue to operate in this fashion without severe penalties!
Not counting my wasted time (hrs, wks, mos) or phone charges (approx. 6)/postage ...I did about 69 in orders this Feb. 08 with them (of which 29 should be refunded).
Howard of Erick, OK July 2, 2008
Ordered tree tomatoes. They grew to 1 then stopped. Fertelized them but died anyway. Ordered a Fruitsalad tree. It arrived dead and broken off at tap root. Planted it anyway. It is still dead 3 months later. Ordered grass seed. It looked like floor sweepings. Planted it anyway. A total of 5 sq feet all together grew to 1 and stopped, now dieing. Order 100 Blue star vinca. They arrive bundled, no dirt, and dead. I planted all 100 and they are still dead.
DiscoverCard got involved with me but Gardners Choice refused to give them any answers of any use. It took about 40 - 50 attempts to call them and they said I had been credited and they could not discuss it with me any longer. They lied. I contacted the BBB and they have been working on it but so far Gardners Choice responds to their inquiries but with nothing of any use. They owe me over 100.00 and just play the game they know best, and it isn't plants. Their specialty is getting your money and keeping it. Any type of warranty is a joke to them.
Digging, watering, preparing soil for seed, trees, and 100 vines to no avail.
Carolyn of Zebulon, NC July 1, 2008
We saw an add on TV for grass seed, called and got an automated ordering system. We ordered 1 bag of seed at 19.99. Three weeks later, my credit card was charged 127.00 and no seed have arrived. That is over a 100.00 extra that was charged and nothing has been delivered. You can not get in touch with anyone.
We have called out credit card (which is our bank card) and we must fill out an affidavit and mail it back in order for them to even look at the complaint. Furthermore, once we do this they will cancel our cards. We have just transferred a large amount of money into this account for vacation and now have no card to access it by
Dallas of Severna Park, MD June 27, 2008
I placed an order through an 800 number on Thursday 5/29/08 for Quick Grass Patch. I had to give an email address for confirmation of the order. Their web site indicates a limited time offer from Gardeners' Choice. As of today I haven't received any confirmation of any order or the orde and there is no way to get in touch with them. All phone numbers either ring busy all day or you finally get a recording. I have sent 3 emails to them but haven't received a response.
Vien of San Jose, CA June 26, 2008
I saw a nice add on TV, one pound of grass seed for 19.99 and I ordered some. They charged me 574.40 to my credit card. I tried to call them to clarify and just like you said, the phone was alway bussy. there is no customer service, no thing. Hey you! That a rip off... I hope people out there don't make the same mistake like I did.
It is really stressful and irritating. I ended up in spending hours to call them, to call the FBI, writing letters, calling my credit company, look up the internet etc.
Vien of San Jose, CA June 26, 2008
I saw a nice add on TV, one pound of grass seed for 19.99 and I ordered some. They charged me 574.40 to my credit card. I tried to call them to clarify and just like said, the phone was alway bussy. there is no customer service, no thing. That a rip off... I hope people out there don't make the same mistake like I did.
It is really stressful and irritating. I ended up spending hours to call them, to call the FBI, writing letters, calling my credit company, look up the internet etc. Every body stay away from Gardeners choice.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
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