Anyone bought from tomato-plants-direct?

[Babru]

In November I ordered some tomato and chilli plants from tomato-plants-direct, near Bristol. I have a new greenhouse so wanted to grow some self sown plants, some grafted ones (Suttons) and a few more unusual varieties, so I could see what grows well and tastes good.

My order was scheduled for mid April - perhaps rather early and I would have had to keep them in the house for a few weeks, so a bit of a delay wasn't a bad thing.

I received a long-winded round robin email on 4 May with a load of reasons why my plants hadn't arrived.

It's now nearly June and time's getting on. My other plants are growing away in the greenhouse, but I have empty spaces. Should I just go and buy some tomato and chilli plants before it's too late!

Anyone else in this position?

[Stan79]

They've put this on the front page of their website:
"PLEASE NOTE WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO CLEAR A LARGE BACKLOG OF ORDERS
ORDERS TAKEN NOW WILL NOT BE DELIVERED IMEDIATELY PLEASE ALLOW US TIME TO GET THEM OUT WE MUST DEAL WITH THE ORDERS FOR PEOPLE THAT ORDERED EARLY TO BE FAIR TO THEM"

Have you contacted them directly?

My order from Suttons (much bigger and more established than this guy) was late with poor communication, when it finally did arrive, it was incomplete and it has taken a few emails to get some sort of resolution! The lesson for me this year is so my own from seed and to buy locally!

[Babru]

Just emailed them. I live in Scotland and the growing season is short, so I need to get things in soon!

[Babru]

Automated reply (part of it):

"I understand your bitter disappointment and I am as disappointed as you because I don't plan my business to let people down but so that people can enjoy growing tomatoes as much as I do and it wasn't a lack of focus laziness or ignorance but a case of becoming so popular combined with a few small issues that can easily be tweaked going forwards.

Please rest assured all e-mails are read even if I don't reply and if you have enquired about your order then you will have been put on my ones to get done list"

I hope this means my stuff comes soon!

Next year I will sow my own - I've had good success with the two varieties I did sow.

[Paulie]

Automated reply (part of it):

"I understand your bitter disappointment and I am as disappointed as you because I don't plan my business to let people down but so that people can enjoy growing tomatoes as much as I do and it wasn't a lack of focus laziness or ignorance but a case of becoming so popular combined with a few small issues that can easily be tweaked going forwards.

Please rest assured all e-mails are read even if I don't reply and if you have enquired about your order then you will have been put on my ones to get done list"

I hope this means my stuff comes soon!

Next year I will sow my own - I've had good success with the two varieties I did sow.

I have to say that this is very poor service, and I personally wouldn't stand for it - I would ask for a refund and look to buy plants elsewhere.

[Babru]

I would agree - but I just got an email saying he would get my plants out to me this week - fingers crossed.

[toomanytommytoes]

Sorry to hear you have been having problems. Not ordered anything from him before but visited his site several times when I was researching tomato varieties. Looking at the poor reviews and his blog posts addressing them, it seems he has similar issues (and excuses!) every year. It's a shame since he does offer a very wide selection of tomatoes. Hope they arrive soon!