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Vendor Review: River's Source Botanicals |
Has that river become polluted?
(unsolicited comments)
From: "PETER JONES" <SANCLANDSCAPE@msn.com> /
Subject: RE: Rivers Source
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 / Quickly, Loved your review
on Rivers source... I had the same EXACT gripe
months ago with this guy. ...I could show you the
exact problems...Pathetic. And that weight thing....
I Got the same response/ run around. Whatever...my
wife had finally done away with all the miserable
plants. I had them sort of tucked out of eyesight so
I didn't have to look at them. She was the one
trying pointlessly to bring them around. I gave up
trying to get money back. And that weight thing....
don't even get me started! The plants where exactly
like the ones in your photos....twisted, Pathetic. |
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(Above) February 2006 order-- only about 1/3 of the seedlings thrived.
1/3 died or were worthless (see Grade F above) |
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Bad experience #1 with River's Source |
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(right) Was this damage from a hard freeze as River's
Source later explained? Or was it from a batch of
bad seed? Or was this disease damage?
The 1/3 labeled "Grade F" have never recovered despite
providing them the best of care. |
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Bad experience #2 with River's Source |
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Funny math; 213 = 500? |
September, 2006
River's Source had an end of season sale. 500 seedlings for
$500 with a 5% discount. Figuring that so many of the
previous order were unhealthy this seemed like a way to make
up for that loss. But was I wrong again!
"Don't throw good money after bad" is often a true adage. This
second bad experience with River's Source took months for
American Express to resolve. Not only did I send the
order back—the same day they arrived by Priority Mail—but
then River's Source refused to issue a credit! "Sorry, no
returns!"
Instead of 500 seedlings I was sent 213.
500 plants grow up to be 500 big plants. But 213 only grow
up to be 213 big plants.
This was the first week of October. Plants go dormant for the
winter months. These tiny plants would not begin to grow
again until the following spring. Thus, their current "size"
was irrelevant.
The deal was for 500, not 213. To charge a customer the 500
plant price but ship less than 45% of that number and say "sorry,
no returns" is what I call very unethical.
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| (above) "Take it or leave it letter. An invoice
for 500 seedlings with a letter explaining how 213 =
500. |
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| Bad customer service |
Good customer service |
| I only have 213 of the 500 you
ordered but will not offer to refund your money. |
I can't fill your order so I am refunding your
payment. |
| I think the 213 are "bigger than
normal" so I say they equal 300 seedlings. I can
substitute 200 Bridgesii seedlings or cuttings to
make up the 500. How's that? |
Since I only have less than half the order why
don't I just charge you 1/2? Would you want 213 for
$1 each? |
| I can't sell you 1/2 at 1/2 the cost
because then I'd have to charge you the lower number
rate before the sale --which is $660. Do you want
the 213 for $660? |
Since I only have less than half the order why
don't I just charge you 1/2? Would you want 213 for
$1 each? |
| I want to keep your money but not
send you 500 seedlings. Since you say you do not
want the "Weight equivalent" in other varieties you
will only get the 213 I have. In fact, I
now declare that the 213 equal the entire 500 you
paid for. |
I'm sorry I can't fill the order. Let me know if
you want the 213 for $1 each, or a full refund. |
| I shipped the "weight
equivalent". This means I had a few big plants that
weigh more than seedlings. You didn't really buy 500
plants—you bought 500 grams worth of plants. So I'm
sending you 1,312 grams. Sorry, no returns. |
I'm sorry I can't fill the order. Let me know if
you want the 213 for $1 each, or a full refund. |
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According to this River's Source "weight equivalent" theory
just 5 or 6 cuttings
weighing 200 grams would be equal to 500 seedlings? |
River's Source emailed to admit they only had 213 of the 500
seedlings I had purchased. Yet they only shipped the 213
when I refused to accept the 200 Bridgesii seedlings offered
as substitutes.
The closing line of River's Source Botanical's letter sent
with the shipped order says
"Last time I checked there's nobody who would say this is
ripping someone off."
Well, Philip, I'm saying its a rip-off to sell 500 but
only ship 213. I believe its a rip-off to sell Peruvianus
seedlings for your "weight equivalent" nonsense because that
means you are charging $167/pound!
Peruvianus, Bridgesii, and San Pedro cuttings or even plants sell
on ebay for only $5 to $10/pound; not $167/pound! Seedlings, Philip, are
sold be the "each" --not by weight. |
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Seedlings are always sold by the number,
not by any so called
"weight equivalent" system. |
Thank God for American Express. After 5 months, River's
Source Botanicals had not issued a credit for the order I
returned.
American Express had a hard time, but finally forced the "merchant" to
refund my money.
This is totally fair since I returned his unacceptable order
by Priority Mail the same day it arrived.
Therefore, River's Source Botanical had
actually sold to me absolutely nothing. And nothing does not
entitle them to $482 of my money.
END
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Note: All comments above are the document supported opinions
of Verne Robinson. Every email and document was retained to
verify the truthfulness of every thing said in the above
review. |
