...... besides the sawdust fiasco -- just wanted some feedback on the packaging, paperwork, and tagging of my stock that some of you bought. I use this info as food for thought to improve my product and customer service. I may not be able to implement all suggestions, but every suggestion is weighed and given due consideration.
I appreciate your time -- and hope your irising season was "all the rainbow"
Timothy - Beaumont Ridge Iris

side note: - orders are still going out, but I'm taking a 24 hr break on Saturday to attend a funeral. Back at it on Sunday

Have you every tried shredded paper? Winterberry doesn't shred theirs., but wraps the rhizomes loosely. Superstition & Mid America use the excelsior which is a pain to unpack but does protect the plants. It is also expensive.

My opinion is....I'll be ordering from you next year.

...... yes, i've tried it shredded paper -- and am not satisfied with the results. It looks cheap and unprofessional. And it doesn't sufficiently cushion the rhizomes against careless or rough handling in my experience. Yes, excelsior is very expensive, but the sawdust, whilst inexpensive & messy, does pack around the rhizomes and into the spaces to provide extra protection against rough handling, especially over long distances, which my plants usually travel. It also absorbs extra moisture and can dry the rhizomes out a bit while their in transit, especially valuable since i ship my plants "nearly" fresh dug.

I open everything on a table in the barn, so it doesn't worry me what they are packed in. For those who open their boxes inside of their house, maybe a little warning on the invoice (or on the box) might be helpful. "Your irises will shipped in sawdust, so please open with care".

My opinion? Well,.....I was in the group that missed the boat. Then, after hearing reports from other members went back to look again and think harder about making an order; but it was too late.😫

So here is my opinions:

Your boxes are too heavy.
Your rhizomes are stupid big.
You "pad" your boxes with whatever(did you actually cut down a tree and covert it into ""sawdust"" for this effort?) is lying about.
You pester folks (in the name of "customer service"
In general, you are a pain in the ass.

Too bad I missed all of this attention. I should know better. Maybe next year.

I was trying to be good this year, but I should have ignored that sentiment and made an order. BUMMER

I will happily critique my order.......when it gets here!

Snork said:I will happily critique my order.......when it gets here!

Me too.

I went to well over 10 vends this season. I got bored at work one day and did a personal grading scale list based on several factors(around 10). Rating several things on a 1 to 10 scale. Then there was a shipping factor at the that subtracted from the totals or added to them. This list shall remain personal and hidden.

Timothy, I had not one negative issue with what was received. Your were not part of my grading scale, but easily if so you'd be in the top 4. I always say "if ya can't fix it, it ain't broke." Everything was great and exceeded my standard expectation. I'm sure your rhizomes aren't always that perfect and maybe they are, but mine were great. No issues or complaints

Gabriel - OK, so who ranked first. I did seven vendors and, hands down, Suttons was my top.

Blessings

I'll never say

Okay, I confess that I was Gabe's top vendor, but only because the rhizome was huge with 7 or more increases and was delivered in person already potted in a three gallon pot (yes the rhizome was that big).

Now all kidding aside, Tim your box was perfect. The rhizomes were large and healthy. The fans had not browned. I liked the tags with the photos of the iris on them.

As for the sawdust - as I said to you before, it really protected the iris and kept the box from getting crushed. I have had many boxes sent with shredded paper or little to no packing that have arrived semi flattened. I thought too that it was a really good medium for keeping the rhizomes dry.

I would suggest you note on your site that you ship them in sawdust so people know to expect it. Sawdust easily spreads everywhere. Maybe highlight the note so people read it (and make a joke about those eager to jump in to their boxes should keep a vacuum handy 😉).

Your rhizomes are in wonderful shape when they arrive. I think a little warning about the sawdust would be in order as I am one of those nuts that opens them when they come in the door. The picture with the name on the rhizomes are beautiful but if they are labor intensive, it would not be a problem to leave them off. Unless they were laminated, I am not sure they would weather well but it is too early to tell.
My rhizomes from you have done spectacular as far as developing new roots and new leaves. I am a very happy camper and will try to order again next year.
As I always tell you, your website was awesome and I would love to be able to peruse it through the winter if you get it up and running but I know you are super busy right now.

Speaking of the website, when I tried to go to it, I got one from 2015, and it didn't have much on it. What's with that? Do you have a new link? I used the one in the vendor's list above. I was looking to replace 2, Mastery, and Finishing School.

The one time I received an iris order that came wrapped in newspaper had moldy and rotted rhizomes. While old newspapers are economical and more green friendly, they seem more prone to accumulating too much moisture at spots in direct contact with the rhizomes. That hasn't happened too often with excelsior. Sawdust sounds intriguing as you say absorbs extra moisture, but does it get heavy when filling up a box? Is it a by-product of lumbering and thus "green" also?

We have used large shredded newspaper, not the small short chopped stuff.

I would think that if a rhizome rotted in transit, that it was too wet when packed. Ghio uses shredded newspapers and I have never had a problem with rot from him.