I really don't understand this, maybe someone can enlighten me? I always thought the cost of shipping was passed on to the consumer. Every thing costs a lot nowdays. I would rather pay more in shipping than drive a long ways to purchase products.

Perhaps the costs rose to the point that it was not possible to pass it
along to the consumer.
It's not just the cost of the packing materials. UPS and FedEx have
raised their rates (and FedEx seems to have become less dependable).
Then, when you add the cost of paying people to DO the packing --
seems it could get pretty steep.

Jeri

they probably mean that business is down, and attributing that to the cost of shipping, which probably is if you only order a couple of roses and your shipping is a huge percentage of your purchase. The high fuel prices affect everything.

Some shippers now charge by volumn, not just weight, and a big old #1 rose takes up a lot of l x w x h.

Last year Tate's charged $9 shipping on anynumber of roses ordered. That was way too cheap considering the cost of shipping. I get the job shipping ebay stuff for my son when he is at school.....the cost of shipping has gotten crazy. What ever the reason, it is sad to hear about Tate's.

Tate was one of the few quality growers left in Texas that grow their own roses on multiflora. A few years back I had a conversation with Mr. Tate and things weren't looking too prosperous for the rose growers around Tyler Texas even then. Cost of production was high and demand was softening. You can see that reflected in the ARS membership drop as well as other nurseries (roses and other plants) going out of business. The garden craze so prevelant in the 80's to mid 90's has passed. The baby boomers (such as myself) were a large part of the garden surge back then and as time has marched so too has our age. For many of us our "can do simply can't keep up with our want to" as it did when we were in our 30's. I see this at the rose shows all the time; the need for younger people to join and carry on the traditions. I see it reflected in the closing of private nurseries in my area and other places. It's no ones fault really, just the way things are. The population has shifted and with it the interests and hobbies.

I see this at the rose shows all the time; the need for younger people to join and carry on the traditions. I see it reflected in the closing of private nurseries in my area and other places. It's no ones fault really, just the way things are. The population has shifted and with it the interests and hobbies.

*** Mary, I wish I could argue with you, but I cannot. I see it out here
in CA, also. And let's face it, the economy doesn't help.
I'm more inclined to fight to preserve a really good nursery than
I am to fight to preserve ARS, or any other organization.
But times HAVE changed.
Right now, it looks to me as though the change is not for the better,
but what do I know? Maybe some good will come from it, in the end?

Jeri

A few weeks ago there was a news article about how people are suffering from the lack of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin). In Oklahoma (as in California) it is amazing that there are people (other then the elderly) who could possibly suffer from this. You and I Jeri may disagree about politics (politely I hope), but perhaps people need to re-invest in our God given mother earth. Riding to Ralph's market in order to pick up some veggies, herbs and a sterilized bouquet of Equidorian roses leaves me cold.

It is never a good thing to make assumptions about other people's
beliefs and lifestyles.
It is so perilously easy to be mistaken.

Jeri

At age 47 I am one of the youngest active members in the local rose society. 47 is not old by any means but when it makes you young by comparison things do not look good.

With the coming recession which it is said will be deeper than any since Carter I fear that there will be many more nurseries leaving us. Not to mention the companies that the roses are shipped with which will cause shipping rates to go even higher.

Well, there have been bad financial times in the past. Roses and gardens weathered them somehow.
I hate to lose the nurseries, because I remember not having them, but one way or another, we can continue to share gardening and roses.

Jeri