Saturday 8 June 2024

Has-Been Aubergine...

Months ago I ordered some plants from Suttons - including a special offer of three veg plants in pots for £9.99. I chose a 'heritage' tomato, a mini cucumber, and an aubergine. The tomato came a while back, it is thriving in the greenhouse and already has tiny fruit like petit pois. But I had a message when it arrived saying the other two would come later. On Thursday 23rd, I had an email saying they'd been "prepared for despatch". I tracked my order, and knew that on Saturday it was at the depot in Norwich. So I spoke to my kind neighbour Jo, and said "If it doesn't come before we leave Tuesday morning, will you look out for it please?" I left notices at front and side door saying "please take parcel to neighbour at #..." Which they clearly hadn't.
Thursday afternoon [30th] I had a WhatsApp from another neighbour saying that she had walked her dogs and seen a parcel on my path [she does this really early before work] I WhatsApped Jo. She said she'd been checking regularly, and spotted the parcel, on the path at 7am. Delivered by Yodel. The tracking site said "left in a secure place as requested"
But it was really battered, the plastic was cracked in places, both plants had broken stems.and shrivelled leaves. She took photos as evidence. 
Although she took them home and tried to revive them both died.

I went round and collected them the day after we got home. Very dead! I emailed Sutton's on the Friday - and they responded immediately. There are no more of these plants available, so they refunded my £9.99 in full. [thank you] Which I consider to be very efficient customer service. But I would still like to find some mini cucumber plants somewhere...


18 comments:

  1. What a shame about your plants. Do you have a local swap/ free FB page where you could ask if anyone has spares? It’s a lovely day here and I am meeting some friends for lunch. Catriona

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    1. I hope your lunch meet-up went well. I found another aubergine, AND mini cucumber at the village yard sale! £1.50 for the pair

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  2. How sad. Courier delivery seems to be so unreliable.

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  3. PS Amazon is advertising mini plants.

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    1. Thank you! the village Yard sale came up trumps this morning

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  4. Lots of plant sales happening at this time of year. Could try those for established mini cucumbers?Good for Suttons refunding whole amount.

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  5. Oh what a shame for you and the poor plants x
    Alison in Wales x

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  6. How disappointing for you to receive broken and dead plants. I've noticed recently that plants I've ordered haven't always arrived in a great condition. Not done much planting this year as hoping to move in August, and a whole new garden to play with. Hugs Xx

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    1. That will be a challenge! Having got into gardening in a Big Way now, I don't think I'd want to move

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  7. Sorry to hear about your mangled plants and broken plastic. It was good of your neighbour to take photos at the time they were delivered, to prove their condition when you wanted to claim a refund. I hope you manage to find some other plants to replace them.

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  8. Sorry to hear that the plants arrived damaged and weren't even left where you had requested them to be left (with your neighbor). But, at least the company you ordered them from refunded you the whole amount and you were able to find replacement plants at a fraction of the cost!

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