Flora Select www.floraselect.co.uk

I had 3 planters delivered on Next day delivery on 22nd October. The first one I opened was damaged the other two ok. I needed three in total and therefore wanted to return them. Even though I am still within my returns policy time (14 days) the man was so rude and intimidating saying that I should have called sooner but as I have 14 days then I don't see why. I have never received such appalling service (I'm sure this isn't the same man who took my order as he was really nice!!) Do not use this company in case you do have to make returns. Why I didn't review them first I'll never know as I would have seen the other review. You can be assured that this is a genuine review and I beg anyone to challenge that. Please note that this horrible man used the 'F' word at me and should not be allowed to deal with customers. There is a way of dealing with customers and this is not right! I said that I would be giving a review and he said "you can do what the 'F' you like"………nice! At that point I put down the phone.

I bought a Phyllostachys nigra bamboo plant from Flora Select today and it arrived looking very much the worse for wear, with more than half the leaves dead. Admittedly there are new buds growing but the overall plant does not look to a standard that I would expect to receive having just purchased it.

When I called the company to feedback on this calmly and politely, I spoke to a man, who was far from calm and not in the least bit supportive from a customer service perspective.

He admitted that the plant was 'weather worn' when it was packed and shipped yesterday and told me I should have expected this as it was grown in the UK not in Italy.

I was not aware this is what I should expect and have suggested they include this in the copy on the website so other customers are not disappointed.

I also recommend they have someone else to answer customer service calls.

In addition to checking reviews on companies I haven't previously used, I occasionally look online at reviews for companies I use. I bought from Gardening Express last year and, as I was browsing on their site again, I 'googled' reviews. I am not at all convinced that the reviews here, listed within a few days of each other and giving very similar accounts, are genuine! I bought from this company last year when I finally moved into my house with a garden. I had seen, and eventually identified, Buddleja Globosa in a park and had the perfect place for it in my garden. Gardening Express was the only place I could find that supplied it (odd, but true). I placed an order for two. They emailed me to say that they had no stock and it would take a couple of months to supply it. I agreed to that and I couple of months later I received another email to arrange delivery. What arrived were two well grown, extremely healthy plants. Despite the very tough winter, this Spring they look fabulous. They have put on several inches in growth and have lots of buds ready to go in the summer. I am really delighted. Its hard to imagine that they could supply me with two such excellent plants, yet send rubbish to several other people. I'm not convinced that the other reviews were not written by one person for whatever reason. Anyway, I really like the look of their Hellebores and I think I'll buy some!