Something up with Suttons?

Sapindus

I ordered a Ribes odoratum from Suttons. They sent me a Buxus sempervirens, labelled Ribes odoratum. I rang up to complain and they apologised and said they would send a replacement. They sent another Buxus sempervirens, also labelled Ribes odoratum. I've complained by email and got an autoreply saying they're having a higher than usual volume of emails (I'm not surprised). So I phoned. The Ribes is now out of stock but they've offered to send a potted one around the middle of May. I wonder if I should have just asked for a refund…

Dustyevsky

Although still based in Paignton, Suttons were bought by Thompson & Morgan (part of the BVG Group) in 2020. Their stock is likely to come from a (possibly large) number of nurseries supplying T&M. I doubt if those are in quite the same league as, say, Hilliers. One I visited about 10 years ago, was just half a dozen polytunnels, a shed and a mobile home.

T&M are famous for cheap, bargain bucket offers, but as you've found, they do respond to complaints and good, or bad, reviews.

broncis

That’s pretty frustrating, especially getting the same wrong plant twice. Personally I’d probably stick with the potted replacement if you’re not in a rush, as it should be more established and less likely to be mixed up again. But if it’s already shaken your confidence in them, asking for a refund would be completely reasonable too - two mistakes like that isn’t a great sign.

Sapindus

What really rang alarm bells was when I rang and got put through to a voicemail that said it was full. But on the second try I did get through. It just beggars belief that in the week or two between the first wrong plant and the second no-one had gone and checked the stock or noticed that the plants were wrongly labelled, and they were such completely different plants too.

The reason I ordered the plant was that I found one growing in the village and had never seen it before and it really is a lovely thing. I can sneak a couple of cuttings but it's in the front of a derelict building that's up for sale so its days may be numbered!

Silvertabby

I've bought quite a few plants from Sutton's, and they've been great - perhaps you've been unlucky with a wrongly labelled batch of seedlings? The potted plants should be ok - but if you are going for your own cuttings, I would do it now as they should be taken when the plant is still winter dormant.

Or you could hedge (sorry!) your bets and take a couple of cuttings while waiting for the potted plant.