The internet has revived the old mail order market and solved most of the problems.
Ordering plants online or by mail order gives more choice, including new varieties and plants that might not be available locally.
It’s also a great option if you’re buying plug plants, don’t have a car or live miles from a garden centre.
We used to sell online so we have some experience of the potential problems.
Modern technology has made online sales safer and quicker.
Product pictures, descriptions and inventory are more accurate and up to date.
Specialist packing and quick delivery services have reduced a lot of the problems.
plastic blister packs to protect plants
9cm plant protected from damage
With a little bit of research you should have no problems buying online, when we were selling we noticed a lot of orders for large towns and remote areas, so for some customers online might be the only option.
Why Online sellers struggled with Covid
During the covid crisis, lots of new gardeners turned to the online sellers, however judging by the number of complaints it was not always successful….
Here is our checklist before you start buying.
Check out the seller.
For online sellers check google for complaints, also take a look at The Which? Gardening Better Plants by Post campaign
On eBay I would use the feedback and seller rating to check for complaints
On Amazon use the review system and seller ratings.
if you have any doubts email them.
Delivery costs
Always check out the delivery costs, they are often hidden until you reach the checkout. Often multiple purchases have a maximum cost and it may work out cheaper to buy in bulk. If you live in northern Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Isle of wight lookout for postcode surcharges. Some couriers have different surcharge areas so it pays to shop around.
When will they be delivered
You might have to look carefully in the description for this, so make sure you know what you are buying.
You might have ordered for delivery in the future eg buying bedding plug plants in January for delivery in April.
Bear in mind that plants are not necessarily sent out the day you order them but when the stock is ready and at the right stage to travel. For this reason, your order may be split into several deliveries.
Strawberries and fruit bushes, canes and fruit trees may be delivered in the dormant season (late autumn to winter).
Some plants are sent as bare-root plants (bargain plants) when they are dormant (October to February).
Buying bare-root plants is a cheaper way of buying plants, but it means you could wait several months for your delivery. Exactly what you are buying should be made clear in the description.
Sometimes sellers can get swamped and it is not unusual for orders to take 3-4 weeks to be packed, check at the time of ordering by email and save it for future reference.
Buying plants in bulk
If you want to buy lots of bedding or veg plants, buying plugs can be economical. Not all plugs are the same size compare like for like before buying.
Bear in mind that you will need to protect them from frost until it is safe to plant them out.
Delivery options
Plants are relatively low value and most sellers will try to balance cost versus speed, they are perishable so choose a seller that offers quick delivery. Try to find out which service they use, some are better than others. Check online for complaints.
Ask what days they dispatch, some sellers will only send out early in the week to avoid parcels being held up in distribution over a weekend.
It is normal for sellers to stop dispatching plants in very hot or cold weather.
Substitutions
check if there is a policy on substitutions, you should be told in advance.
Returns
check what would happen if you need to return your purchase if you change your mind it is normal to pay the return delivery costs.
If the plants are faulty you won’t have to pay return costs. Most problems can be sorted out by email and pictures.
What size will it be?
Read the description it should tell you the actual delivered size this is normally buried somewhere in the description, make sure you know what you are buying, don’t assume it will match the picture.
