I don't know if I'm spoiled by the Amazon free shipping (I know I know not really free). But I'm trying to buy a plant in a 4.5" pot and this is shipping.

I called CS and was told the rate covers "fair labor wages for all involved in the process". When I asked how much labor/expense is involved in. 4.5" potted plant, The rep got snippy with me. Am I out of touch of these people are nuts or not really wanting to be in biz?



I copied the excerpt from their site:


Subtotal
$29.00
Shipping
$51.84
Total
USD
$80.84
Finalize order

Absurd.
Cancel.
Then put a review in warning others of the outrageous shipping costs.
I know diesel has become very expensive, but that is unwarranted.
I have packed and shipped many small plants in 2.25 and 4 inch pots, and the whole process doesn't take 15 minutes.

I've run into places that just don't want to deal with small orders... free shipping on orders over, say, $150, but absurd charges involved in ordering just 1 or 2 plants. I get annoyed with websites that don't reveal shipping charges until after I've input my address and CC information... maybe they figure at that point you'll be committed to the purchase regardless?

I share your annoyance!

Thus nursery used to encourage multiple plant purchase b/c shipping was same for up to 6 plants, I found myself buying stuff I didn't want/need, just for the lower ship. This last time I ordered my six plants and shipping was $15o!!!4 of the 6 plants were lycoris bulbs. How much effort in Handling/packing bulbs?

its a no for me, I'm tired of it.

Would you mind letting us know the nursery? Thanks

Proven Winner online nursery to send one plant included a shipping charge of $19.oo.
Crazy…

Oh my goodness, that is totally absurd! I haven't ordered plants online in quite some time but if I saw that shipping amount (especially for a 4.5 inch pot), I'd immediately cancel the order! That is just ridiculous!

Plant Delights. I've supported the nursery though I'm surrounded by nurseries in my area; supported their Juniper Level Foundstion. No more.

I wrote foundation top guy, who used to own nursery and no answer, of course.

I've lost track of the number of orders that I have cancelled because of outrageous shipping charges.

USPS has already announced seasonal shipping rates from Oct 26 through Jan 27. That was before skyrocketing fuel costs.

Definitely time to shop around.

@Vossner
What plant? Maybe someone here can recommend a supplier. Better still, someone may have extras to share.

I guess I have been out of touch when it comes to online plant buying. I went looking for an alternate to plant I was looking for and here's a pic of what it would cost me.

Buy local. For those shipping rates you can get something heavy delivered by freight.

These are tough times for nurseries and other small businesses. With tariffs & higher fuel costs, it's more expensive to do business & with many Americans having to tighten belts, plant purchases may be seen as unaffordable luxury items.

I was very sad to see that one of my fave online nurseries, Almost Eden, is selling up. I hope they can find a buyer to continue the business in some form or other.

@Rubi I wasn't shopping for vinca or petunia. But of course I'd try local first and I doubt any serious gardener wouldn't make local their first option. The plants in question are not avail locally.

@scvirginia. You are right. Gardening & landscaping in general fall into the very very discretionary items in these tempestuous economic times. Call them economic Covid times…..

This is precisely why I will not order from Plant Delights. Their shipping is OUTRAGEOUS.
I can have four 4" pots shipped next day air from HAWAII for $19 flat rate. Plant Delights wanted $90 to ship three 4" pots from NC

I notice a change since Tony no longer there. When his description said "x plant will grow in x place", I could take that to the bank. But no more. I gotan Edgeworthia that is doing poorly but not even close to dead. I contact the horticulturist and the reply was "contact your extension office" and that was after several follow up calls. That's not the kind of attention I used to get while Tony was at the helm.

Oh well…

Maybe the higher price is because they prefer not to ship at all, but offer it for people that really really want their product and are willing to pay. Sometimes it's not about the money, it's about what it is worth to you.

After all, nobody blinked an eye to pay $15-25 for a music CD that costs 25 cents to produce.

You (the buyer) are in control here. Just don't buy. You're only a victim if you buy against your own logic, whatever that may be.

That's totally not it with PDN. They have been a mail order nursery for some decades

I've known them for decades, also, and while I hope there is no change, I don't know. I guess you have a special "in" with the present PDN. (That's Awesome!) Nevertheless, my remark was meant with a generality for any nursery. It's difficult for any responsible nursery to compete when their customers think they know costs better than the owners who actually incur them.

Again, this is a generality, not at any particular nursery or person. It's just my opinion that any company needs to be guided by their clientele, but ultimately, the owner(s) ought to choose their best way forward. If that means downsizing or even going out of business, that's their choice, regardless (or despite) of what other people believe.