Postie broke my prize!

[BarleySugar]

I won a miniture fruit tree, but when it arrived this morning the trunk was snapped in two, just below the branches . It was obviously fresh damage because the leaves and buds were not wilted. I saved the packaging, which shows a dent. Son No2 took it from postie, so did not query it, but no signature was required to say it was in good condition.

I've emailed the company with pictures and tried to phone the sorting office, but they aren't answering. I was so excited when I realised, and it WAS a lovely tree. It's worse that not winning.
I'm leaving to go camping soon, so I'll have to leave it to OH to sort out

[Squizz]

That's NOT good! I doubt your son would handle it that heavily to snap it. I've had a few plants through the post this year and I know how excited I was. I had one blueberry plant die not long after and I was upset! I feel so sorry for you

[TEB]

Royal Mail Local Customer Service Centre on 08457 740 740 and ask for form "Lost, damaged or delayed inland mail", or obtain from Post Office branches, reason I have this is today my plant order from T&M was delivered inside a "Our Sincere Apologies" plastic bag from the postie, the original packaging was ripped open.

Good luck

[Irie Jan]

Oh Ann that's such a shame!! I do hope that perhaps you can get a replacement!

Post can be a bugger when it comes to plants! I had some trouble a few weeks ago! A lovely grape sent me some snowdrops and grape hyacinths through the post. As usual they arrived when I was at work and to make matters worse it was a Friday so sorting office not open next day! I had to wait till Monday!

Monday came and I took the card to the sorting office several miles from my home. I waited and I waited then waited some more the postie came back to the desk saying that the parcel was not there the girl said she would have to speak to the postie who’s round it was ! Shock horror now what do I do, my poor little plants were being starved of light, oxygen food and water and lost somewhere in the postal system!

After several phone calls from me and 2 different departments of the post office being involved after I made an official complaint, a few days after the original delivery I was told they had found my parcel. the poor plants had been bounced around the postal system for about a week! I asked the post office to deliver the parcel to my local P O less than 5 mins walk from me as I refused to waste a second lot of petrol to do a 14 mile round trip in my car. They then had the cheek to charge me 50p for the pleasure of leaving the parcel there. I think that was a cheek seeing as it was their mix up in the first place!

[allotmentlady]

Sorry to hear about your tree, can you not contact the company who sent it and explain it to them, after all they sent it through the post, so they can make the claim?

Good luck, it is a shame when this happens but it could have happened anywhere along the parcel sorting line!

[SueA]

I agree, I would think the company that sent it to you will send you a replacement as you have the photos etc. & they can claim the cost back from the Post Office. It must have been a shame being so excited & then seeing it snapped, hope thay do a better delivery job next time.

[Two_Sheds]

You can claim the full cost back from Royal Mail. They have an online complaints form.

[BarleySugar]

I had an email back from the supplier today, they are sending out another one, and will do the claim from their end. Now I need to work out where I can put an apple tree, albeit a minature one.

[RedThorn]

Glad to hear you have a result

[NOG]

Why not put the two parts of the break togater and bind them...like a graft.

[BarleySugar]

It was very splintered, not a clean break, and right through. There are two small branches of Elstar left, so if I get another 'family' tree so I have a pollinator, I might see if I can salvage the bit that is left.

[BarleySugar]

Just an update to this thread, a long time ago I know! I thought maybe they'd forgotten about the replacement, but my neighbour brought round a long parcel yesterday, containing my replacement tree I've got the compost and a matching pot ready for planting tomorrow.
The other one survived, and there's been quite a lot of growth on it, despite them saying they do not need pruning. One apple set, but a caterpillar ate through the stalk in July .
I'll be more vigilant next year now I've two apple trees (as well as a cherry, 2 plums, a grape vine and a blackberry that's trying to take over the garden )

[BumbleB]

So glad this story had a happy ending :-)

[frias]

I read the first post and my immediate thought was not for the tree but CAMPING, in this weather. Then realised your post had been in April.

[organic]

It's really good camping weather at the moment. My last trip out was about a month ago so still warmer but summer had definitely ended already with a very autumnal feel in the air.

The first night we didn't even bother with the tent, the second night was a lot windier so we did.

I'd be in less of a hurry to camp out in this weather without a fire but even then it's not too bad.

That said - there's not much comes close to the bitterly cold blast of a winter morning combined with a perfect sunrise view when stepping out of a tent after a night on a hill somewhere.