Stingy Suttons, bit of a rant.

[Bonjour]

The last several years, my neighbour and I have ordered considerable quantities of seeds, potatoes, trees, etc, etc, from Suttons. I've noticed a marked reduction in the number of seeds in each pack but no decrease, only increase in pack prices. some things, such as peppers, tomatoes, etc are now only sold in packs of (average content) 10.

This is irritating enough when you are paying £2.49 for 10 Jalapeno seeds, but when you find there are, in fact, only 8 seeds in the pack, as I did today, it's quite frankly a rip-off. that's over 30p for each seed!

I will be contacting Suttons to let them know that their stinginess is doing them no favours and might well lead to me using another supplier in future.

[veggiechicken]

If there are supposed to be 10 seeds but there were only 8 then go back to them as ask for another packet.
Give them a chance to rectify it.

[greenishfing]

I must have got some of yours last year. I got crimson crush tomatoes (average 10 seeds). 20 seeds in the packet.

[Bonjour]

If there are supposed to be 10 seeds but there were only 8 then go back to them as ask for another packet.
Give them a chance to rectify it.

They cover themselves by printing "average contents 10 seeds". Presumably, this means some lucky so-and-so has got a pack with 12 in

I will indeed give them the chance to rectify, but wouldn't it just be better if they went back to putting sensible amounts in their packs?

[Bonjour]

I must have got some of yours last year. I got crimson crush tomatoes (average 10 seeds). 20 seeds in the packet.

So, you're the jammy so-and-so!

[greenishfing]

So, you're the jammy so-and-so!

Sorry! I've never had less than the average amount and usually quite a few more. That is why I buy from them rather than some other companies who I will never again buy from because of the rubbish they send out.

[veggiechicken]

They cover themselves by printing "average contents 10 seeds". Presumably, this means some lucky so-and-so has got a pack with 12 in

I will indeed give them the chance to rectify, but wouldn't it just be better if they went back to putting sensible amounts in their packs?

Depends on what you mean by sensible! If you choose to buy a packet advertised as having 10 seeds that's your choice. If you want more seeds, you shop around or buy another variety.

[Bonjour]

Depends on what you mean by sensible! If you choose to buy a packet advertised as having 10 seeds that's your choice. If you want more seeds, you shop around or buy another variety.

If only shopping around was that easy for those of us on small, remote islands.

To be honest, I hadn't noticed that the seed catalogue said 10 seeds. However, if it says 10 seeds it is reasonable to expect 10 seeds, at least. Not 8 seeds, a 20% shortage on the quantity stated in the catalogue.

As to "sensible" quantities, that varies with what you're buying and what the expected germination rate would be. For tomatoes, peppers, chillies, I'd say 16-20 was a sensible amount. Too many for some but enough for most fairly serious allotmenteers.

[Small pumpkin]

If only shopping around was that easy for those of us on small, remote islands.

Trust me when I say, I know what you mean. Shopping around isn’t the issue as you have access to the internet. Being completely s****** on postage is the biggest problem.

Anyway getting back to the point.

I’ll give you the same advice as I give everyone (irrelevant of location). Try your very best not to give any of the big seed companies any of your money

[Bonjour]

I’ll give you the same advice as I give everyone (irrelevant of location). Try your very best not to give any of the big seed companies any of your money

I'm coming round to that way of thinking. I've got seed saved from PSB, peas and beans from last year and I've just planted some left-over, wrinkly sprouted Accord spuds in the greenhouse. I've got a jar-full of coriander seed saved too.

[burnie]

I like Suttons, but they are not my only source of seeds, over the years you seem to gravitate to certain suppliers, trouble is nowadays many smaller companies are bought up by the larger ones. A google around should find you some alternative suppliers and some specialists have varieties the larger companies don't always have.

[Mr Bones]

@ Bonjour, slightly off-topic but if all else fails sow a couple of early tomatoes and take side shoot cuttings to increase the seed value.

[bikermike]

I can see why you are miffed that you got 8 in a packet advertised at average 10, but to expect 16 for the same price isn't fair is it?

They have to make a living too.

I'd write to them ask for the remaining 2, but price is determined by the market, not what you believe should be fair. For that price they have to grow, heat (if they are chillis), feed, care for and collect seed from the plants, keep them all separate to ensure non-contamination, pack them, store them and do all the paperwork that comes with it, pay wages, pensions, taxes, other business overheads etc etc

[Dynamo]

I buy my seeds off eBay these days. Most packs are 99p with free postage. They can usually be relied on to give decent crops.

[bario1]

I can see why you are miffed that you got 8 in a packet advertised at average 10, but to expect 16 for the same price isn't fair is it?

They have to make a living too.

I'd write to them ask for the remaining 2

Probably worth a shot, I'm sure they'd send you another pack as a gesture of goodwill... but to be fair, if the pack is advertised as containing 10 seeds on average, I'd say that 8 is reasonable - 5 or 6 and I'd be feeling like they were mis-sold.