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Dead? Take it back!
FloBear
Posts: 2,281
Just found the latest survey on the Which website.
A Which? survey has revealed that it’s definitely worth taking a plant back to the garden centre if you’re not happy with with how it has grown - provided you've looked after it correctly.
Only a fifth of those who had experienced problems had tried to return a plant, but those that did were pleased with the outcome. Six in ten received a replacement and about a fifth received a refund. Only one in ten were refused any kind of compensation.
Has anyone had success returning ailing / dead plants? After how long?
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Verdun, you have the right attitude there and Brumbull, I agree more should complain - including me! I will always do so for household items etc but for some reason would not think of doing so for a plant - unless it karked within a week or so. I hadn't realised that many places have 3 or 5 year comeback periods.
A thought, though - how can you prove that you looked after it properly?
I tried it with a local nursery. I bought over £100-worth of rhododendrons and azaleas 10 years ago. Most flourished - one did not. I went back (about 12 months after the purchase - but with photos of the established rhodo/azalea bed that I had created) and the manager blamed me. Said I didn't know how to look after the plants.
I walked out in high dudgeon, and haven't been back since. My tale has been oft repeated locally, so they did themselves no favours.
Just to prove the point, I dug up the failed plant, and in the same planting hole I put a rescue plant (another rohododendron) from a local garden centre. It has thrived, and has caught up with all the others that had been planted. I'm looking forward to its blooming again this spring (if we ever have one, that is!). The buds on it are looking promising at least.
Interesting tale, Shrinking Violet. As you say, they are doing themselves no favours because you now tell as many people as possible what a bad deal they gave you. I look forward to seeing pics of your rhodo/azalea bed when Spring is finally sprung!
Brumbull, good point! Verdun, wise words . I always keep receipts anyway - I suppose I put it down to my own incompetence if things go wrong. Man up Flo!!!