Burgess

I rarely ever write any reviews, but have to put my two cents down here.
I placed an order for a couple of honey berries. They arrived yesterday July 5,2018, practically dead, right in the middle of days of heat wave here. Problems: 1) On opening up the package, I find the root balls in the plastic containers already dried out, and twigs atop shriveled, too. Meaning? Practically dead. Overnight, I soaked them in water, out of humanity. 2) This morning, I called the company about refund. Below is our conversation:
"To get refund, you must return the product within 2 weeks", Sheryl, a phone rep, said. And it'll be at my expense. Alternatively, "Plant them and see if in 6 weeks they'll come back". If not, then I could contact the company for credit and replacement. To get credit and replacement, however, I must send a letter with the shipping label included, and it must arrive at the company's office. Cut-off date? Within 6 WEEKS! I suppose she meant it to be from the time of the products' arrival.
"Gees! Would you do business with a company like this, if it treats you this way?" I couldn't help asking Sheryl. "It's not that I was a first-time buyer!" An experienced phone rep, Sheryl dodged the question, but merely stated that this was "their" policy. She did work for the company at its call center, Sheryl replied to my question, though her "their" led me to question whether she was taking calls for any company.
"Could I send you by email a picture of these plants, so you'll know what I am talking about?" I asked.
"No, they don't accept any emails," Sheryl replied. She went on to say that emails could give the company virus. Sure. But a company that does transactions via website?
"They operate by mail. I can give you the manager's name and address, if you want to write her," she proceeded.
"No! She doesn't deserve my time," I determined. "Don't take it as me blaming you personally, but - forgive me - your company is $#*!ty, and this will be my last purchase from you."
I will in good conscience put these pretty much dead plants into the grounds and see what happens.
I don't look forward to any further contact with this company.

I ordered a set of 2 hardy Pecan trees. What i received was one dead stick. No moisture retention on the roots and it was 90 degrees the day it arrived. Just a note that i ordered from 3 different places and the other 2 had plastic and gel on the roots to retain moisture.

I Contacted them immediately via emails and told them that i was missing a Tree and that the one i received looked dead but I followed the instructions that came with it that said it was just dormant so I should soak it and plant it anyways. After 2 weeks i received a response on how to file for a return that said "mail us the shipping label for any issues.

I did what many internet shoppers would do and took a picture of the label and emailed it to them. After another week i received the exact same message that i did the first time and this time I replied again with another copy of the photo. A week later i received another message from them with information on how to file a claim and this time i noticed that it said to "Mail" a copy of the shipping label and that they would keep it on file. I finally figured out that they meant US mail. How Quaint. And to get a "Refund" you have to return the merchandise within 14 days of receipt. I am not sure how you know to do that if they instruct you to plant it even if it looks dead because it is "dormant" and they only send you one of the two things you ordered.

I asked for a refund but they provided a merchandise credit. At least that has free shipping so i may try to order from them for no more than the merchandise credit. I will have to mail that order to them as well as they only honor the paper copy. We will see next spring if they lose that too.

In my opinion this is a simply HORRIBLE company to work with and i would strongly advise that you look elsewhere for any nursery stock. This spring i ordered over 20 trees online as they cost a fraction of what you can buy them at a retailer for. At this point i have 3 trees that appear to have not made it and one that never even arrived. The 2 that were not from eburgess.com have already been replaced by the seller.

Buyer beware, if you want living stock i would look elsewhere.

So, today I finally got the stuff I ordered from Burgess, including pawpaw trees, after waiting more than two months. I can't tell you how utterly disappointed I am. I knew they were going to be sending me dormant, bareroots. So, they sent two of them, right? One wasn't even a bareroot. One was a dead BRANCH. No, STICK. No roots whatsoever. BONE. DRY. I could play fetch with the neighborhood dog with this one.

What's even more crazy, to send it back, it'll cost me more than the damn plant. My apologies. Never been so frustrated. I continued to send them e-mail asking about the status of my order and they continued to claim they were getting "new" stock every day and my order would be sent at any time now. Seems to me that the "new" stock had been sitting in the warehouse drying up. What's more is they sent me four "replacement" cherries since the original one had "failed", but they sent them in no container. Yep. Bone. Dry. Roots. Not sure what to do other than to keep calling them. But, no answer. Most likely a fraudulent organization. JMO. And then, I'm calling them out. Tonight, I'm reporting them to the Better Business Bureau. Shoulda ordered from Gurneys. They're a little more expensive, but their customer reps actually talk to you on the phone And, I'm never ordering from Burgess again.

To whom it may concern,

I placed an order as you see below.

Today the box came in the mail and was soaked. I opened the box and this is what I found inside ( see pictures)
I had to throw the box out since it was sticky stuff all over everything! There were two packs of herbs (sweet Fennel and kale) and the biodegradable planting cups. After trying to reach to pull the stuff out, I refused to touch anything because it had the sticky stuff that must have exploded from the cold being shipping). I was handed the box from the postal lady, so I did not keep it outside. This was caused by delivery. I did not get the rest of my order, so I am hoping it is safely on its travels. My fingers are irritated now because of the small amount that got on them when I opened the main box.

I called and spoke to the first woman she didn't even bring up my account or give me her name, and was unprofessional and demanding. I asked to speak with a supervisor (was again unprofessional & complaining I asked to speak with the supervisor) and was put on with Anna Clock #718. Anna as well told me of the policy of sending the shipping label back to the company along with a letter explaining the situation.

I have been purchasing from many companies for the past 30 years and have never dealt with a company like yours.
In order to get a refund I have to Pay to ship back defected items, in order to get a replacement I have to touch a box soaked with chemicals so you can see the label that you sent me in the first place, refused to except a picture of the label, an email of my invoice and refused to take the word of a customer, and asking a customer to once again do something they do not feel comfortable doing just to get a replacement.

I really learned a valuable lesson today!
Keep away from eBurgess and stay with the other company that might charge a little more, but at least they have trust in their customers, go out of their way to make their customer happy, and has a fantastic customer service department.

I will pass on my experience with your company!

Thank you,
Lillian

I have order over 200$ in plants and just got 1/2 of my order, Then they told my order would be shipped out and never got anything!

We ordered 7 roses and 2 climatis during March, 2017. Had to wait 2 months until the "time was right". We received the shipment May 23rd, 2017 with each plant packaged in an individual plastic bag, and all 9 plastic bags packaged within 1 larger plastic bag. It was obvious 6 of the 7 roses were dead, and the 7th had a slight hint of green, but the 2 climatis were ridiculous! Reading the propaganda, assuming what was said about them being dormant may be true, I planted them. On 6/1 I called and informed Burgess they were obviously dead. The first customer service rep told me yes, I agree, send us the shipping label. When I called back the same day to confirm the address I was told no, I had to wait 6 weeks. On 6/14 when it was obvious to anyone they were dead I called back and was told very nicely that I had to wait 6 weeks, and even if I sent in the shipping label no action would be taken until 6 weeks. On 7/5 I called again to ensure the mailing address for my claim and was told a whole new line of bs. I could receive a credit, but in order to receive a refund I would have had to send the dead plants back within 3 weeks, and I had no option except for a credit. I asked for a supervisor, and was given the same load of crap, almost as if it were scripted. I will NEVER do business with Burgess again. They company is crooked and unscrupulous. Once they get your money they will lie thru their teeth to keep it. Buyer beware... do NOT buy anything from Burgess! Lowe's, Home Depot... pretty much any nursery where you can see your plants live. I replaced all 7 roses from Lowe's at less cost than I paid for dead twigs at Burgess.

Do not do business with Deanne M Alsman, aka, Deanne M College and any of her dozen internet theft companies and be ready to file a complaint with the Illinois AG and the BBB, maybe federal consumer protection won't hurt either. All of the companies are operated out of an apartment complex or an empty field.

Here is just some research I did in an hour. There must be dozens of pages of her scams on the internet:

Deanne M. Colledge, President
Fax Number *******691

More of her fake companies, that are plants, jewelry, etc.

https://radaris.com/p/Deanne/Colledge/

The location of the nursery where I spent $91 dollars on plants is an empty field or apt. Complex:

https://goo.gl/e4B49e

More people she ripped off:

https://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/3005/0/#b

More of her companies to avoid: https://www.interstatenurseries.com/content/45-legal-notice

Direct Gardening, House of Wesley, Royal Dutch, Burgess Seed & Plant, Exciting Gardens, Four Seasons Nursery, Inter-State Nurseries, Farmer Seed and Nursery, Kelly Nurseries, or Honeycreek Nurseries

I ordered $162 of plants including a 5- in-1 pear tree and a 3-in1Angel Trumpet.
The pear tree had the grafts vertically on the trunk and the trunk was broken in two pieces below the majority of the grafts. I sent them an email requesting a replacement in early May including a picture showing the two pieces. I was tld to send it to them in writing and to include the packing list. I did that and received all the paperwork back 30 days later with a statement that I must plant it and care for it for six weeks to see if it will grow before I can request a replacement. After I received it, I sent it all back in the middle of June. I requested either a replacement tree or my money back. I have not heard back from them.
3-in-1 Angel plant. I had read their entire verbiage on the Angel Plant before I bought it and felt that it would fit in. The plant grew and was about 2' tall. I yanked it out of the ground this last weekend as, from other sources, I found out that all parts of this plant are highly toxic. Even touching the leaves or trunk can cause serious problems and/or death. To not forewarn customers that this plant should not be placed where kids, adults, and pets would be put at risk is gross negligence. I requested the money back for this item and was plainly told that there are NO EXCEPTIOS to the 14 day refund policy.
THIS COMPANY DOES NOT WANT REPEAT CUSTOMERS. THEY ONLY WANT NEW SUCKERS THAT THEY CAN FLEECE.

My order from Early April for Ant Tomato plants has not arrived, Please Cancel Titus Kratz caples rd West Monroe la ******* Do not want now to late...

I deeply regret the day I place the order from your Company.
April 11 received the order: all plants smashed, damaged, broken: big mass greens and soul. The same day call your Customer service.
Follow representative instructions, next day, April 12 sent box label, plants tags from each plant, wrote the letter and send all to the company for replacement. Send in yellow envelope with paid certified mail. And green bag with smashed items went to garbage.
Tracking info showed letter was delivered at April 20.
No respond from your company!
April 24, call again, spoke with Alissia, and discuss the problem, she sound very positive and promised replace the order. We asked here make a note that we will be out of town till May 20.It was nice conversation.
And then, suddenly, at April 28 received envelope from Burgess Co with our original label, my letter and New instructions! They want me planted the mass, wait a month. These so called plants were in garbage long time, after speaking with Customer service. And I dont understand why I have to planted broken plants, when I paid for quality product.
Send letter, email: no respond. Replacement doesnt receive. In letter from August 3, you asked exact issue with the items? I explain all a few times: in letter, by phone, by e-mail. You continue send us letters, bother us with questions, we answer long time ago.
Last phone conversations, I had with your representative Patrick on September 20, Oktober 31I explain him again and he promised to pass all info to person handled the complain.
Surprisenly, they don"t like e-mails!
And I Asked My Credit card investigated this transaction, as results received our money back and never, never advise anybody to buy from this company!
Order a lot on line, and always satisfied with service, never complain.
So, please, do not bother as again!
Roman Kreimer, Vernon Hills, IL *******

I am an avid gardener. I can grow anything from seed and have yet to kill a plant without help from, say, the neighbor's dog lifiting his leg.

I was so excited to build and have all my garden beds this year! So I ordered my plants and found a "pyramid garden" from burgess, as well as many different berries and some asparagus.

First, cedar (wood) sky rocketed (though we DID find some clearanced, so I eventually got my gardens anyway!). Then my "easy to assemble... beautiful addition to your landscaping..." pyramid garden arrived.

FIRST, it was damaged. Second, I dont know who thinks this $110 old, shined up, bendable bumper from a 1984 Ford Bronco is a "beautiful addition to your landscaping," but surely that person is NOT ME.

Ok - ill wait for the plants and see what happens.

Plants arrived. Asperagus roots already have icky stuff on the roots, so my confidence has waned. I called them 3 times a day for over a week. Nothing but a busy signal. Tried emailing... no response. As a last resort, I contacted my credit card company, asking ONLY for the money back for the pyramid and the asparagus. Burgess responded with "arrived fine," and my claim was dismissed.

At this point, the "King Kong," "as big as an apricot" strawberries are not (maybe next year?), and only 5 of 10 of them took. I planted 25 if the 50 "free" strawberries that came with the amazing pyramid dome, but they didn't take well, either. One of 3 of the raspberries i believe is dead. I am using my $110 bird net over my strawberries. So far, it seems to have worked.

I cut the moldy looking disease off the asparagus and threw it in the ground and I guess we'll see what happens. Haven't dug up the stick thats supposed to be a raspberry, either.

All of the pictures I took and retook are above the 5mb, except the KK Strawberry or there would be more.

I am frustrated over their lack of customer service as well as them not standing behind their product. I will NEVER again order from this company.