Dobbies

[The amateur]

Not sure if this sort of post is allowed but I wondered what others experience of using Dobbies was.

I ordered some veg seeds before christmas and gradually got my whole order one item at a time although I did have to email them several times to get a reply.

Finally they send me duplicates and when I emailed them (and they were quick to respond this time) and offered me the choice of either paying for the seeds or to return them and they would refund my postage costs.

I asked them for a prepayment envelope but they refused. I am a bit annoyed with them and it's not helping that I am unwell and unable to get to the post office just now.

Has anyone good experiences of buying from them as I am seriously thinking about telling them to take me off their mailing list.

[Glutton4...]

Personally no, but my Dad uses them - and I can assure you if he's had a problem I'd have heard lol! It may just be due to the Christmas post and the usual holiday period staff issues where everyone leaves everything to someone else. Good luck.

[Snadger]

Methinks we are talking about Dobies here not Dobbies, correct me if I'm wrong..........................

[smallblueplanet]

Contact CAB, here's some info about what Dobies appear to be doing (and its wrong)

Buying goods - your rights

Charging for goods you didn't order
Sometimes a trader tries to charge people for goods that they haven't actually ordered. This is against the law. It could happen when a trader sends you an advert for goods and includes a document that looks like an invoice, to give you the impression that you've already ordered the goods and now must pay up. It can also happen when you’re sent goods you didn't order and the trader demands immediate payment or the return of the goods. If this happens to you, you should report the trader to Consumer Direct – see under the heading Further help for contact details. You shouldn't pay the trader anything.

Or this Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2005...rrights.legal3

The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971 makes it an offence for a company to send you goods you have not ordered. The legislation is intended to discourage companies from sending customers unordered goods in the hope that they will be induced by lethargy or ignorance to pay for them. Companies who send out unordered goods in this way do so at great risk since once you receive the goods you do not have to pay for them and they are yours to keep.

They can't demand you send it back but they can arrange for it to be collected or sent back - they can't demand you send it back.

I would suggest they are 'unsolicited goods' you should tell them that you will be treating them as such as you did not order them (the second lot of goods!).

http://www.consumerline.org/search/?...s+and+Services

What The Law Says

The law that gives you rights about unsolicited goods and unsolicited services is...the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000. Under this legislation it is not an offence for anyone to send unsolicited goods or a service but it is an offence if they demand payment or threaten legal action to get payment.


Useful Information

You can treat unsolicited goods as if they were a gift. You do not have to keep them for a period of time and you do not have to return them. You can use them or just dispose of them. The sender does not have any rights over these goods. If the sender demands payment for goods and services he knows are unsolicited and that were sent for other than business use he is commiting an offence. If he threatens legal action or threatens collection procedures this is also an offence.

[Growem]

I haven't had extra seeds ordered, but I have had the wrong or extra things sent to me by companies via post before. The companies either told me to keep it at no cost or came and picked it up at their expense. The things I was told to keep were a lot more expensive than a few seed packets! That's pretty poor customer service from Dobies in my eyes.

[bluemoon]

I've placed an (admittedly small) order with Dobies for several years now. This year they didn't send me a catalogue. An email and two phone calls didn't produce one either. They were always good before, but customer care seems to no longer be a priority.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

The Amateur - are you talking about Dobbies - Head Office is in Perthshire, stores throughout Scotland and the North of England or Dobies - based in Devon, advertise a lot in GYO mag? I have bought from Dobbies and not had any probs but not bought from Dobies.

I had additional packets of seeds from Suttons, when I contacted them and offered to pay they said keep them with our compliments - lovely Suttons. Seems a bit mean to demand extra seeds back when they made the mistake in the first place and you were honest enough to tell them of their mistake.

[Lorraine70]

I have bought most of my seeds from Dobies for the past couple of years now with no problem. Deliveries have always been prompt and correct. However, I'm not a huge fan of their 'pot-ready plants'. I bought sweetcorn, tomato, chilli and leek pot-ready plants last year, as at the time I didn't have a poly-tunnel to grow things from seed and was still building raised beds. The sweetcorn and leeks arrived in such a sorry state and they didn't ever recover even after being planted out. Three out of five of the chilli pepper plants struggled to fruit and the tomatoes didn't fare much better, even though I grew them on in my then erected polytunnel. I'm growing everything from seed this year, and it works out much cheaper!

[tattieman]

The Dobbies group has been bought by Tesco and I know there has been alot of staff changes. They now operate like Tesco and squeeze the producers.
Dobies of Devon is part of Suttons group.

[allotmentlady]

Never had any problems with them, received my seeds on time and always a pleasure to deal with, sometimes all companies can make a mistake, ask to speak to a manager and explain. It is Dobies

[bramble]

Had plants delivered from Dobies a few years. They were fuschia, geraniums and surfenia. They were in root trainers and were well packaged and in good condition.
When my order turned up twice I rang and told them.They said to keep them.
That year I had a fantastic display of flowers.

[Dobby]

personaly I have never used them even thow I can now get staff discount. A plot holder next to us got some potato seeds from them and got next to nothing from them. they sent them phots and got a refund but..... not good enough me thinks I will stick with
T & M I know and trust them now

[The amateur]

Thanks everyone, I think I will phone tomorrow and ask to speak to a manager. It is Dobbies from Lasswade. I just can't get to a post office just now as I am unwell.

[The amateur]

Result!
I phoned them today and told them that as I am effectively housebound just now I couldn't get them posted back and quoted some of the consumer advise you kindly gave me.

They said they would send a courier to collect them tomorrow but just a few hours ago got another email saying I should keep the seeds.

I guess they realised it would cost more to collect them than they are worth. I am now going to give the seeds to a school I know who is trying to set up a garden for the kids. :-)

[tattieman]

That is a good result for everyone.