Sutton Bedding Plants offer is damp squib

12 Posts


In April I thought I would take advantage of the discount code on MSE for 72 bedding plants for £15.99 plus £4.99 postage. I correctly assumed that these would be in high demand as I headed over to their website. Placing the order was troublesome to say the least having to submit and reload pages time after time, but eventually after some time, the payment was made and the plants were due to be dispatched within 24 hours. The plants didn't arrive and on the 30th I got an email apologizing explaining that there would be a delay and I could expect my plants to be dispatched between 27/04/2021 To 07/05/2021. Still no plants, today (11th May 2021) I get another email apologizing and stating that the plants will be dispatched between 07/05/2021 To 11/06/2021. So I'm currently £20 light and have 72 bare spaces in my garden where these plants should be. When putting out these kind off offers you might assume that clever analytical people, or indeed software would predict demand and work out the logistics of fulfilling orders in a timely manner. So please be aware that if you take up any of their offers there is likely to be a loooooooooooong delay before the good arrive, I wouldn't be surprised if, when they do eventually get here the order would have changed to winter plants!
Update
Unbelievably I have just received an email from Sutton promoting the same product for just £4.99, they can't meet the current demand so how do they intend to meet the demand that this new heavily discounted offer will generate.
Update
Unbelievably I have just received an email from Sutton promoting the same product for just £4.99, they can't meet the current demand so how do they intend to meet the demand that this new heavily discounted offer will generate.
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£100+ worth of plants for a few quid? Too good to be true?
I must be on a garden centre mugs list now
This is not investment advice.
Your money may go "down and up and down and up and down and up and down ... down and up and down and up and down and up and down ... I got all tricked up and came up to this thing, lookin' so fire hot, a twenty out of ten..."
Sarah Raven also sent good quality plants and had excellent information on dispatch - I'm still waiting for the last part of my order, but I wasn't expecting shipment until May anyway.
In contrast I ordered an indoor pot plant from Primrose which was late - but no email from them to advise of this automatically, I had to email and then repeatedly telephone (I *love* spending time (45mins) on hold) only to be told they have Covid related staff shortages + high demand (can they not have recruited at any point in the last year?) The plant eventually arrived...
Unfortunately it was very poorly packed and seemed to have been seriously thrown around, 75% of its leaves had broken off and were scattered around inside the box - getting a refund or discount seemed almost impossible (I took photos as soon as I opened the box).
So, on the basis of that experience I'd use Sutton's and Sarah Raven again, but wouldn't touch Primrose with a bargepole.
Two failed deliveries from them so far, despite me being in all day both days. Re-delivery tomorrow, but I don't hold out much hope for the poor little plug plants being stuck in a van for so many days
As for DX delivery
"Our driver left a card." - No they didn't, twice
"According to our GPS, they are outside your property" - no they aren't! I am looking up and down my road
"Our driver will call you" - OK, fine, phone at the ready
"That's for tomorrow's re-delivery"
This is not investment advice.
Your money may go "down and up and down and up and down and up and down ... down and up and down and up and down and up and down ... I got all tricked up and came up to this thing, lookin' so fire hot, a twenty out of ten..."
Fosterdog, make sure you specify that you want a refund, otherwise they will re-send you the goods next time they are available...which could well be November!