That's true, and I am trying to remember where I bought ours, but it was at least twenty years ago, and I think they were sold in the local plant nurseries in those plastic bags. Obviously, they were fine, for when we moved here 16+ years ago, those bulbs came with us--they are the ones in the ground here. I have never ordered from Amazon or Ebay, so know nothing about what quality plants you might get there, but perhaps someone else does.