Pathetic plug plants delivered!

[pipscariad]

I have done a search on Thompson & Morgan plug plants, but nothing immediately sprang to view, so I thought I'd start a new post.

My calabrese and sprout plants came to an untimely end whilst being hardened off this year, so in desperation I decided to order plug plants from T & M as I had a 20% off code (never resorted to postal plants before). Well, I wish I hadn't, as they arrived on Thursday, and what a sad and sorry sight met my eyes when I unwrapped them! The few leaves that hadn't snapped off the poor wee things were really yellow, and over half of the plants had actually had their stems severed in transit. Really not worth the effort of planting out, as I doubted they would grow. They had only taken two days to reach me, so I can't blame a long delay in the post.

Has anyone else had experience of their plug plants?? I'm sure quite a few of you must have done - I was totally amazed at the pathetic specimens, and they were tiny too, I expected something a bit bigger and robust.

I did take a picture of them on arrival, but can't post on here at the mo as senior son has seconded my memory card! I shall complain to T & M but I suspect I may be on a hiding to nothing as their customer care leaves a little to be desired most of the time...

Sorry, just a bit of a rant really, but I'd be keen to hear of others experiences.

[Newton]

Mine from marshalls were all ok.......brassicas! They are growing on really well. Happy customer here! Sounds like you have been unlucky. I am sure they will put it right. Quickly.......

[Thelma Sanders]

they replaced mine last year when a similar thing happened

[greenishfing]

I fell out with T & M customer support 2 years ago. They still send countless catalogues and e-mails which I ignore. i will never use them again.

[Gearoid]

I had good plugs from them last year. This year I got some plugs from Mr Fothergills and they were good too. Small, but I grow them on in larger modules for a few weeks before planting out.

[VirginVegGrower]

I had a £20 Wisteria from T and M using my GYO mag vouchers. Now how big do y'all think it was?




...about five inches high

[Potstubsdustbins]

SWMBO had some plants from T&M this year and they were excellent quality.

Everyone can make a mistake its how that mistake is dealt with that really counts, contact them and give them a chance to correct their mistake.

Colin

[Jimmy]

An old timer on the allotments told me never to buy in brassica plants or accept them from others..
This was to avoid club root.
Always grow your own from seed.
Perhaps a bit paranoid but it's worked so far.
Jimmy

[Florence Fennel]

I had some Bizzie Lizzie's from T & M - they were tiny plugs not an inch high and were root bound, I did try them, but they didn't move, so I complained to T & M and they replaced them. The replacements didn't grow either!

[zazen999]

My honeyberries from T&M were less than an inch high - but I had paid for 'Jumbo Plugs'. A photo was taken, and email written about their pathetic-ness and a refund obtained the same day.

Only now, a year later, have I got any growth - and they are still less than 6 inches tall.

[Alison]

There's been a few threads on this and I think I've posted everytime about what a terrible service I've had from T&M plant people. Really rubbish plants, very late delivery and a lot of damage. They've not even always been the variety I've wanted. Complaining has been drawn out and not that satisfactory although I have had alternative plants sent. Have given them the benefit of the doubt a couple of times and will now never use them again. In contrast had some really good plants off ebay for a fraction of the price.

[Thelma Sanders]

An old timer on the allotments told me never to buy in brassica plants or accept them from others..
This was to avoid club root.
Always grow your own from seed.
Perhaps a bit paranoid but it's worked so far.
Jimmy

Buying in plants grown in modules of compost from the garden centre is quite safe.
It is plants grown in soil, such as you can buy from the market, or swapsies from other allotments, that are the big no nos.

[pipscariad]

Thanks for the replies. Although a couple of you have had good results, in the main the replies confirm my suspicions, that T & M are probably best avoided for plants! I have contacted them today via email and had an automated response to the effect that they are 'more busy than usual' and should get back to me in a couple of days. I'll let you know what the outcome is. In the meantime the only surviving plants (it was three) are now down to one poor looking specimen, so pretty much a write off there

(I posted a reply on here this morning, complete with the photo of the plants when they arrived, then the computer threw a wobbly and I lost it. It's taken me this long to have another go!)

[Jelliebabe]

LOL - I had a complaint with T&M a couple of years ago - not plants though - but they took so long to reply to my email that I called them...

the numpties then dealt with it twice and I now have TWO replacement mini blowaways!

[pipscariad]

There's been a few threads on this and I think I've posted everytime about what a terrible service I've had from T&M plant people. Really rubbish plants, very late delivery and a lot of damage. They've not even always been the variety I've wanted. Complaining has been drawn out and not that satisfactory although I have had alternative plants sent. Have given them the benefit of the doubt a couple of times and will now never use them again. In contrast had some really good plants off ebay for a fraction of the price.

You know, I'd never thought of looking on eBay Alison! And I use it loads for other things. Thanks to your post I now have some brussel sprout plants on their way to me - if they are good, it's the way to go, they were as cheap as chips (no idea how the seller makes any kind of profit) and the bod had very good feedback, which implies her/his plants won't arrive in the state that my others did. If the ones from T & M turn up (only the brocolli came the other day, I still have the excitement of a shipment of dead and dying sprouts to come), well, the family love sprouts!