Ebay for seeds and plants

[Jasmine]

I've got it sussed now. With Stephen you pick all your things on 'Buy it now' but you only go as far as 'Confirm bid' - you don't go to Paypal. I ordered 4 things last night and this morning he'd done me an invoice for £18 and I've just paid for my 4 plants and £3 something for P+P. His site could become addictive - the plants he offers change regularly and I managed to get hydrangea quercifolia (sp ) this time and some lovely hellebores...oh, and Geranium Derrick Cook!

[Jilly]

It could couldn't it Jasmine, I've only just planted out the last lot I got from him though, so I must restrain myself. Thanks for the tip in how to sort out the postage, probably makes life easier for him too.

[Jasmine]

He was very patient explaining how the system worked Jilly and I wondered if it saved him time if he could get folk sorted out so they knew what they were doing.

[Geranium]

I've lost the post where you said how to find him on e-bay, Jasmine I must trawl back and take another look!

[Jasmine]

If you go to eBay Geranium and search for geranium Derrick Cook he is the only seller offering at the moment - you will then be able to search his whole store. Have fun!!!

[Geranium]

Thanks, Jasmine.  I'll do that.

[Jasmine]

Got my Stephen Roff plants this morning: Pulmonaria Mrs Kittle, Geranium Derrick Cook, a hellebore - picotee party dress I think it was called and hydrangea quercifolia. They are good sized plants and they were packed up really well.

[Jilly]

Considering how much cheaper the Hardy Geraniums from Stephen were, they're settling a lot better than the ones from Hayloft, the Hayloft ones are mostly up but they certainly need a lot more cosseting than Stephen's. 

[Ladygardener]

This is a good thread, he does seem to deliver good plants.

[Jasmine]

I can't speak for Haylofts GH system but Stephen's plants are in second hand polytunnels and I don't think cosseting and plants go in the same sentence with him! That suits me fine - getting a Haylofts plug plant going is sometimes just too much of a challenge!
I got some free weeds with my plants too!

[Ladygardener]

Did'nt Chris Beardshaw say it's fine to have a bit of moss growing on top of the plant pot when you buy it as it shows the plant has'nt just been popped into a bigger pot for selling or something like that. So long as you don't have any vine weevils or anything nasty I would'nt worry about the few weeds.

[Jasmine]

Good point Ladygardener.
I don't mind the moss...or the few little grass stalks I found this morning! I just pulled them out and potted on my new plants! I would prefer that and have plants that have had to do a bit of surviving!

[Ladygardener]

Yes I need plants that will stand up for themselves too Jasmine they really do get put to the test here in my garden with the wind that always seems to be here, not to mention the rain.

[maggy]

Ive just received my euphorbia purperea I ordered it on the 4th I wasn't expecting it until Friday so Im well pleased it only cost me £6.81 incl postage from popular plants on ebay.

[Jilly]

May 8, 2013 12:02:29 GMT Jasmine said:

I got some free weeds with my plants too!

I must admit I've got something growing in the middle of one of the Geraniums atm that I'm leaving because I think it might not be a weed & I'm intrigued 

[Jasmine]

That's good to know Maggy - another seller for our 'list'.

You might have got a freebie Jilly. I didn't find any freebies that I wanted to keep!

[Auricula]

You often get "hangers on" with Stephen's plants, I find...unfortunately mine have always been weeds

[Jasmine]

Another Ebay seller to avoid with a barge pole...

'First-plants' based in Southern Ireland.

Rubbish communication (no communication at all!) and a long estimated dispatch so you can't go to Ebay's Resolution Centre until you get to that date. My plants were actually dispatched on June 5th but there's little chance they'll be alive now ...and I can't do anything about it until the 22nd.

[Auricula]

Oh no, that's terrible Jasmine

[Jasmine]

I'm getting grumpier by the minute!

[Auricula]

Chliiax!!!!!

[Ladygardener]

That's rubbish Jasmine I know things take a day or two longer from ROI but those were sent a week ago.

[Jasmine]

They don't have much negative feedback Ladygardener but what they do have is stuff never received and messages not answered.
I'll put in to get my money back on the 22nd - that'll make me feel better.

[Ladygardener]

Yes it sounds like that's just the thing to do Jasmine not worth persuing.

[Jasmine]

Actually had a message this morning saying if they don't come today they'll give me a refund...they said they can't be held responsible for the post which is fair enough but they could answer messages so folk don't get more heated under the collar!

[Ladygardener]

Yes you'd think they would answer their messages. T&M who are no doubt a lot bigger than the site you're dealing with, don't answer either 'tho. It must be a gardening thing.

[Auricula]

Viv Marsh and Haylofts both answer any messages within an hour or so and, actually, I've always had prompt answers from T&M........Stephen Roff can be a bit hit and miss although I've never complained to any of them...just asked for clarification or advice - perhaps they all ignore complaints

[Jilly]

I never expect very early replies from people like Stephen Roff on the grounds that during the day he's probably out growing his plants  . People like T&M who have big operations & customer service departments there's no excuse for.

[Jasmine]

I sent a message to say the post had come today and my plants hadn't and I got a refund straight away so that's the end of that - no more purchases from them!

You're right Jilly - there's no excuse for a big company not to answer emails - just makes cross folk crosser.

[Jasmine]

Well, that was a really unpleasant encounter with First-plants. I'm glad that's over.

Lovely Ebay seed seller...bobtodd1.