Re: extras
From: Daryl & Kathy Haggstrom <hagg@alaska.net>
Rick Tasco/Roger Duncan wrote:
> Just a quick thought as we're putting extras into this week's
> orders--that is what a wishlist is for--tell the grower WHAT you want as
> extras--then you won't get something you don't want. Almost all growers
> will try to use your wishlist if at all possible.
> There is nothing harder to do than put extras into an order with NO
> wishlist--how are we supposed to know what a customer has, wants, or
> doesn't want--send a wishlist--the bigger the better.
> I'm sure all growers would agree with me that we NEED wishlists with the
> orders.
I've come in on the tail end of this thread, and also find it very
interesting. It is perhaps helpful to give Nursery owners input from a
customer's perspective:
I never expect extras, and when I do receive them, am always pleased,
though I have more space for planting than some. I'm not offended by NOT
receiving extras, as my ultimate criteria for "judging" a nursery is the
health and size of the plants I did request. I can't remember ever
choosing to order from a nursery because of their bonus policy.
Case in point: I ordered 10 peonies last fall for a hedge from two
different nurseries. The prices were around $5 cheaper at the nursery
from which I ordered 8. They included bonus daylilies also, which may or
may not make it up here, but I didn't mind. I was happy with the peony
tubers(?) until I received the other order of the two pricier peonies.
The size of those two were impressive, with many more eyes. There were
no bonus plants, but it really didn't matter to me. This year, the two
pricier/larger tubers actually put out a bloom or two. The others, of
course, didn't. One though, which was the smallest tuber, is struggling.
My reaction is that I will try to order from the pricier nursery in the
future, because of the sheer quality of what I requested. I wasn't
offended by the cheaper nursery, as their stock seemed adequate. I liked
the bonus plant, but it didn't sway me.
I never really considered the issue before, but I always thought extras
were some plant that the nursery had an abundance of that year, or
wished to decrease the stock of, for whatever reason. I never considered
extras would be inferior stock, as I assumed, I guess, that
nurserys/breeders wouldn't be holding onto or dispersing such stock.
If bonuses are a hardship for a nursery, I for one wouldn't be offended
if that practice was discontinued. They are like a little ray of
sunshine, not a chance to build up my holdings :-) And they definitely
don't replace good quality in my requested plants.
Kathy Haggstrom
Anchorage, Alaska/Zone 3
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