Thank you Marcia. I'm not giving up on them.

I received a shipment from this seller. I put them in a pot for a week because of rain, then planted them out a couple days ago. They're doing great! One of them, Kaleidoscope Dreamsicle, even has a scape. Their roots were average, not too long, or short.

They had a few yellowed leaves when they arrived, but that didn't bother me. I just thought being in that dark box in the mail for a couple days did that. I'm wondering what happened to your plants after they left the sellers hands.

I've had plants arrive that were seriously bad looking. Tiny, shriveled, hardly any roots. Yes, they lived and grew, but, come on! That was from a big company named Brecks. Never buy from them!

touchofsky said:No, the roots were much, much better, excellent husky root system. Only the top growth was affected by being delayed in shipping. I am sure if the delay had not happened, the fans would have looked wonderful. I ordered from the same seller in subsequent years, and without the postal delay, the plants were beautiful.

I'm glad to hear that, Valerie.

I did contact them, and even though they blamed it on a ONE DAY delay in delivery from California (like that would make a difference 🙄) they want me to keep them posted. So that's good.

What's funny is that they went on to say that they know people who ship DL's to South Africa, and it takes 14 days, but they bloom the next year. Like 14 days is the same as 4 days. My humble guess is that those DL's leave the seller's facility in much better shape than this seller's do.

So, to answer your question, Marcia, the left one most likely was not the healthiest when it was packed.

I won't rate this seller, now (maybe not ever......who knows?) The left one is a bonus, so I'm not going to get all crazy over that one. As long as my won DL survives, I'll be happy.

This will be a contest between them. The left one has a more decent root system, and the right has better looking foliage, so I figure they're starting out with somewhat equal disadvantages.

So, the rating of 100% positive on the LA can't always mean what we think, I suppose.

When looking at your photo, I'd post a neutral. At least I got the plant, hopefully the name will be right. The one on the left doesn't even look like a dbl fan to me. I have been ordering dl from a couple of places I am REALLY unhappy with the scrawny dried up things they send me (NOT wilds) but I still keep ordering because I can't find the ones I want elsewhere They have been on life support now for 2 seasons, 1 died, and hoping they will finally bloom now.

bloominholes2fill said:I received these DL's from an LA Seller, and they have 100% positive feedback. I'm more inclined to send at least a neutral rating. They did send the package promptly.

The one on the right is the one I won. The left one is a bonus. I hate to be his first neutral rating.

I know when buying expensive plants, we expect better. I have had plants that were only the roots/ rhizomes, that survived & thrived. The rhizomes on these plants look really good. Daylilies can take a lot of abuse and still thrive. JMHO.

I agree Mary, one does expect better looking DL's for the price, which is why I won't be angry if the bonus doesn't survive. I know they're tough cookies, so I have faith.

"life support" Frilly, you crack me up!

As someone who sells, my first question always is, "Did you contact the seller first? " I NEVER am quick to judge something that might be out of the shipper's control, such as, how long did it take the package to get to you? My plants look good going out, but once they're in the hands of USPS, all bets are off. USPS honestly did pretty well this spring. Out of some 48 orders shipped, most everything got there within the 2 and 3 day shipping specified. ONE order got sent to either IL or KY ( from here in VA, usually 2 or 3 day shipping) and somehow sat in a shipping area and took 6 days before it was in the customer's hand. Luckily, that person had experience shipping and was very understanding about the bloop in the USPS.

If you suspect the seller sent you dried out pieces and they were in bad condition when shipped, then I would still contact them and give them a chance to explain or make it right. I got an order once from Luddy and Rachel L. that spent over a week in transit. It arrived looking really poor, but I trimmed the brown foliage a bit, soaked it in Miracle Gro and water and then planted them a day later and all was well. Rachel and I had communicated when the transit was nearing a week and they offered to replace, but there was no need. But to be fair to both parties, please always contact the other person if you have a problem before going public. Then if they're a jerk, feel free. But if you're an honest vendor and someone complains about something that is totally out of your control, it just isn't fair.

Heck, some seedlings I threw away last fall by the back fence came up this spring looking extremely vigorous! Daylilies are amazingly resilient, even when we try to get rid of them sometimes.

I just posted that I contacted them and they were nice, which is a plus, despite the whole shipping to South Africa thing, which has actually backfired on them, in my mind. I'll give it time for the DL's to bounce back and let them know what happens, especially with the DL I won, and go from there to determine my feedback, if any.

I started this thread to get an idea of what might be considered neutral quality plants, and I don't want to be too hasty in my feedback. I've received some less than ideal specimens, here and there, but not like this, and those sellers still got positive reviews.

It sounds like they typically send plants in this shape, from a couple other people's experiences mentioned in this thread. That's a shame.

Afternoon folks,

Lots of good advice here. Communication is key!

I sell (not many plants) and buy. Something can always go wrong, and when I am contacted I have the opportunity to make it right, but I appreciate it when I get the opportunity.

If you don't think that 100% approval is justified, then you can do something about that. I understand not leaving a negative feedback (I never have) but we all have a part in the rating system. I would suggest that instead of using the percentage as a guide, I would use the feedback. If the comments being left are simply "thanks" or "the plants arrived", then I think that is more telling. Negative often is associated with intent, and if you don't think you were intentionally deceived (purposely sending the wrong plant or seed, lying, etc) then it's hard to go negative in their rating.

Just my thoughts,

Steve

Great advice Steve

re shipping plants to South Africa, from FedEx:

South Africa Import Prohibitions
Ammunition
Coffee and Coffee Samples
Cotton seeds
Dangerous Goods as defined by IATA (Intl. Air Transport Association)
Drugs and narcotics
Drugs, Prescription and Non-Prescription
Dry Ice
Furniture
Furs
Grain samples
Honey, beeswax, bees and their larvae or eggs, used beehive appliances
Personal Effects
Plant products
Plants
Plants, seeds, bulbs, raw cotton
Pornographic or objectionable materials
Seeds
Ship spares
Shoes
Tea
Textile articles
Tobacco and Tobacco Leaves
Uncooked meat/poultry
Uncut diamonds
Unwrought gold

Oh, that's funny!

It backfired on him even more than simply trying to pull the wool over a customer's eyes!

The way the auction works, I think Steve's observation is on point--most people do their evaluation in the comments rather than the rating scale. A bland comment is telling.

Perhaps unfortunately, most dissatisfied customers don't leave a rating, and seldom, if ever, do I see a "neutral." I have gotten plants from sellers with stellar comments that are barely adequate (extremely desiccated, very small, or badly divided). Granted, those customers giving high ratings may have gotten different plants than I got (perhaps favorites of the seller).

Also, if there was a delay by USPS, the seller should file a claim with USPS. I have found USPS very receptive to claims. I have filed claims only on shipments that were badly mishandled, but even if the plants "will grow," one has a basis for a claim. As a customer, you can also file a claim (for up to $50) if the shipment had the automatic insurance that comes with USPS.com. I have never had a claim denied, but have used only the USPS.com insurance.

Remember that on the lily auction, one can make an auction claim sometime after the purchase if the plant fails to grow well. There is an implied guarantee that is part of lily auction rules. I wouldn't abuse this. I mean, if you let your plants soak for a week or more and later develop crown rot, you have yourself to blame.

bloominholes2fill said:I received these DL's from an LA Seller, and they have 100% positive feedback. I'm more inclined to send at least a neutral rating. They did send the package promptly.

The one on the right is the one I won. The left one is a bonus. I hate to be his first neutral rating.

I know how tough our beloved daylilies are. 💪 I'm sure at least the right one will bounce back, and perhaps the left one will, too.

How would you rate this LA seller?

Yes, they look stressed but I'm willing to bet that they'll thrive given the state of the healthy root system.

bloominholes2fill said:I just posted that I contacted them and they were nice, which is a plus, despite the whole shipping to South Africa thing, which has actually backfired on them, in my mind. I'll give it time for the DL's to bounce back and let them know what happens, especially with the DL I won, and go from there to determine my feedback, if any.

I started this thread to get an idea of what might be considered neutral quality plants, and I don't want to be too hasty in my feedback. I've received some less than ideal specimens, here and there, but not like this, and those sellers still got positive reviews.

It sounds like they typically send plants in this shape, from a couple other people's experiences mentioned in this thread. That's a shame.

Just curious...how are those plants doing and did you leave feedback?

For what it's worth, you can't leave neutral or negative feedback without going through intervention first.
You give your side of the story, seller will give theirs and the option to make it right.
Only after all attempts at mediation fail, and it is deemed that you have a legitimate gripe will you allowed to leave any neutral or negative feedback.
The plants in the picture were out of the ground way to long and looked cooked.
I'm pretty sure they will recover but I don't think they will bloom this season.
I wouldn't be happy if that was my order.

I read back to see who the seller was. hmmmmmm
I bought plants from him last year, small sized single fans one bloom on a short scape that I cut off, all 3 plants settled in and came back after winter, I'm not sure if any are big enough to bloom this summer, I won't leave feedback until after I see bloom.

If anyone cares about my opinion, I do not plan on buying from this guy again

Pat236 said:

Just curious...how are those plants doing and did you leave feedback?

Pat, I don't remember which daylilies they are. I referred back to my won list to see what I won from that seller and the listing is no longer there. I've searched for the seller on the LA to no avail. I mentioned above that I contacted them, but there's no evidence of that in my old open and closed LA messages. I did not block them either, as a matter of fact, I've blocked no one, including the nasty lady.

I do keep a spreadsheet of my daylilies and who I got them from, with LA aliases as necessary, and they're not in my list either. I did have a rough beginning to the 2019 season, so forgetting to list the daylily on the spreadsheet is not out of the question, looking closer at my spreadsheet, the only cultivar I added last year was a bonus from Blue Ridge, so that explains my spreadsheet.

I remember the situation and that the seller gave the lame excuse with the South Africa example and he told me to keep an eye on them. All I can say is it's a mystery, with the exception that I have not lost any daylilies in the last year.

These are the results of my searches:



There's no option to search for the seller in the closed auctions list. (I can't get a screenshot of that search options list )

EdBurton said:For what it's worth, you can't leave neutral or negative feedback without going through intervention first.
You give your side of the story, seller will give theirs and the option to make it right.
Only after all attempts at mediation fail, and it is deemed that you have a legitimate gripe will you allowed to leave any neutral or negative feedback.
The plants in the picture were out of the ground way to long and looked cooked.
I'm pretty sure they will recover but I don't think they will bloom this season.
I wouldn't be happy if that was my order.

I read back to see who the seller was. hmmmmmm
I bought plants from him last year, small sized single fans one bloom on a short scape that I cut off, all 3 plants settled in and came back after winter, I'm not sure if any are big enough to bloom this summer, I won't leave feedback until after I see bloom.

If anyone cares about my opinion, I do not plan on buying from this guy again

I'll be staying away from them too. That is, if they list any more auctions. (based on the mystery of disappearing in to thin air......I think )

Dana, bloominholes2fill, he changed his seller name to Yenok_daylilies
There is some speculation on Facebook that he's trying to rebrand from his past seller name