The sale date moved ahead from the 11th, to the 13th, to the 14th. What conclusion do we draw about their promises?

The longer they take, the more time I have to reconsider first impulses and mark off yet another hundred bulbs from my list.

Was the discount last year also only 20%?

Nell

Nell
I share your frustration. I guess it's hard to get all those bags counted. Sometimes that's really good news when they find what I was looking for.

I think last year it started at 20 or 25% but then went to 50% in a week or 2. By then, it was only lilies... If I remember right, they need to empty out their big warehouses before Dec. so it goes down.

My DH is worried we might not have enough daffs so I'm ordering another 250 and a shovel with his name on it. Even 20% will save me the shipping.

I just called and the apologetic man who answered the phone said this: "I just came in and was told the sale isn't going to happen today." I said "again when will it be?" He said he didn't know and I could tell in his voice he was preparing for another day of apologies for something he had no control over.

errrrrr, maybe I'll take another look at Sam's
cynthia

They get later and later every year. Remember when there used to be a good sale and it started the first week in November? I noticed bulbs appearing and disappearing from their lists yesterday. Great way to continue to sell at the regular price.

Their sale is not my primary source of bulbs, it's just icing on the cake. I can make do with what I have. I just looked forward to buying some bulbs I wouldn't have bought otherwise, if not for the discounted price.

Nell

They are having their sale finally. 20% off.

The Sale went live last night. 20% off; Amaryllis and Paperwhites remain at full price. Good thing I have a budget set up and had time to fine-tune what I thought I needed/wanted while they dawdled.

The really neat thing about a spreadsheet budget is that you not only see total spent this fall -- it gives the number of bulbs that have to be planted.

Nell

Nell,
That spread sheet sounds like a great idea! my DH is such an enabler, he said go for it I'll help you plant (another 350 daffs. Of course, I had to sample some other things like the camassia.

I remember when they started the sale the first week in Nov. and by now they were onto 40% off. I guess they discovered they could make more $$$ this way.

Y'all know B&B puts amaryllis and bulbs 50% off right after Thanksgiving....well, if they do it like last year!

cynthia

I think the discount is NOT enough, and it is really LATE for me to plant for a mere 20% off! It is 39 degrees today with a 50 mile hour wind. NOT planting in this weather for 20%. They have to make it WORTH my while, or they can keep them! Like Nell, I already have what I want and these are just icing on the cake anyway....

When I first started shopping this sale it was 50% off! Then 35, then 30, now 20.. bleck.. 20% just isn't worth my time!

I was excited before the sale came online, but then it was a little bit of a letdown. The 20% just doesn't do it for me.
Obviously the later sale date works for them since they sell out on most everything anyway, but still I miss the 50% off sales of years gone by.

Don't get me wrong, I still love Van Engelen, it's just that I'm willing to pay full price next year(which is still a good deal)

Kato, I think that may be the idea -- get people irritated enough that they order earlier next year, at the regular price. That way VE gets to rake in even more dough.

For my part, I agree that 20% is NOTHING to get excited about -- especially at this time of the year, and I'm not pulling out the card for it, even if I have to go without extra goodies. Someone at some point will have them on sale -- I can wait until next year or the year after if I have to. My garden's not going anywhere.

This thing with VE has really irked me. I don't like feeling like I'm being jerked around for someone else's greed. I feel like my business is almost being taken for granted: The sale is this day, no... she changed her mind. It's this day. Sorry... we don't know when it's going to be, we haven't been told yet.

I don't know who "she" is, but "she" won't be getting my business next year. Gardenwatchdog is full of bulb companies I can pay regular price to, and I intend to find a few. Though perhaps I should write her a thank-you note: Thanks to her postponing the sale over and again, I ended up spending my extra bulb budget on a cashmere sweater on sale at Macy's. Then, on the way home, I spent the rest of it on half-price bulbs at Lowe's. More for the money than I would've gotten at a measley 20%!

rosysunnygirl, I hope you are wearing the cashmere sweater while you web-surf bulb sales! Bravo! Let them see (ummm, sense?) that you have alternatives for your money.

I would feel warm and cozy and very satisfied in a cashmere sweater. Then I, too could say "no" to more overpriced bulbs (never mind that there are 400 more in the garage waiting to be planted...)