Sounds like they're trying to clean out all the excess little stuff that isn't selling! ;-)

50 plants for $125 works out to $2.50 per plant, so I wouldn't exactly say you got robbed, but it's no bargain either, and that selection is pretty disappointing. What did the offer say as far as variety?

I'd stick with ordering what you want, even if it costs a lot more. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you only had a couple of plants before this order, it might be satisfactory, lots of plants for not much money. But if your collection is already somewhat advanced, this is probably a bit disappointing as far as the variety. On the bright side, now you have lots of extras for gifts or to trade away for other plants.

I agree with the above posts...blah......go look at FCBS site and learn about the plants..look at the pictures ..ask questions and dont rely on every photo...the picture of Betty Head by Tropiflora is a crock..then start collecting

LOL....sorry i couldnt resist.....but really? anyone wanna trade? please?

"They are a good and varied selection of hardy , decorative bromeliads, all named varieties, suitable for 4 and 6 inch pot culture. If you have a specific requirement for your offsets (terrarium plants etc) please let us know and we will be glad to work with you. Otherwise our assortments will include Neoregelias, Aechmeas, Nidulariums, Vrieseas and others, several of each, but growers choice."
----- Original Message -----

Having ordered from Trop. for over 15 years,usually 3 to 4 times a year,and having been satisfied with what I received so far,I'd have to say I'd be very disappointed if I'd received what you did,regardless of the low per plant cost. The only bright side that I can see,is they did'nt send you 50 of the same plant. I agree with Lisa,they 'cleaned house'.
As they guarantee satisfaction,I'd complain [to Dennis Cathcart only] and ask to return most of the 5's and ask for replacements with some variety in it. There is something not quite right there this year,only one Cargo Report,instead of the usual 3 or 4. Too much travel by the boss,I'd say,and no one minding the store like they have in the past. Thats the usual result of expansion tho. Also a way to lose your customer base. I'm sorry to hear you had this experiance,but I hope you can resolve it to your liking. If you do,let us know.
Bob

Well, it doesn't say anything about there not being multiples of the same plant, but if I read something that stated "our assortments will include Neoregelias, Aechmeas, Nidulariums, Vrieseas and others, several of each", I would expect to see at least 2 or 3 Nidulariums and Vrieseas in there too. All they sent you is Neos and Aechmeas. I'd complain.

But next time, Hayes, come to us first! You must be drowning in Fireball by now, LOL ;-)

lol...if id never seen yalls "ginger" nursery, i wouldnt be in this situation.

(explanation to others: i am a ginger collector that just happened to see lisa's bromeliad collection while looking for gingers. i am now a ginger and bromeliad collector LOL)

and yes lisa, next time im in oahu, ill def stop by again.

Bob, I'd agree with you about "something's not right" at TF. It took me repeated e-mails and phone calls with an employee just to get the questions concerning my cork answered. Frustrating!
Plantaholic, I too would ask for an exchange of more suitable species.

SOmehow I have a "sneeky feeling" (sp) that Tropiflora is either on the cusp of a great change: The reversion to the website where everything is listed and you can order from their entire stock at any time instead of the limited Cargo Report, or they are getting ready for eminent closing.

They can't be making a whole lot of $$$ recently because they have not changed their offerings in months.

It will be a shame if they fold, but they may have gotten tired of retail and be ready to travel more.

I heard the same thing about the travel and the overseas market is much better for them than the USA

well, i called tropiflora late this morning and spoke with linda. i told her about my dissatisfaction with "the collection" i received. im a firm believer in that it always pays to be nice (and i was).

linda said that the person who pulled my order stated that i was interested in cold hardy bromeliads. i did state that i do have an interest in the hardier species when i placed the order. i also stated that i wanted as much of a variety as possible regarding varieties and species. (im thinking since when is neoregelia the cold hardy genus?)

anyway, she proceeded to tell me that they have over 5000 bromeliads and that it was tough to find what they needed to pull. (hmmm, 5000? and i got 10?) i was told they had no vriesias this time of year, but i would receive a better assortment next week. keep your fingers crossed!

i offered to return some of the plants i received. she kindly declined that offer. i told them i dont expect rare or expensive plants, but according to the email i received explaining the selections, the assortment was nowhere near what was stated. if i receive a satisfactory replacement next week, i will write a letter thanking them for correcting the order. otherwise, ill do business elsewhere.

i will keep yall posted.

plantaholic if helps any I bent an ear over your shipment too...My statement was If thats the kind of things you ship I wont refer any more customers your direction I was assured that it was an oversight in supervision

That doesn't sound like a particularly cold hardy selection to me either, so that was kind of an odd response. If they'd sent a lot of Ae. recurvata varieties or Bill. nutans that might ring a bit more true, and both of those are fairly cheap little plants so I'm wondering why they didn't send you any of those if that was the criteria.

Oh well, we'll just have to see what happens. I haven't dealt with them in years, and we did have some miscommunication problems back in the day but I don't want to trash their reputation. Give 'em the benefit of the doubt and hope they make good on it.

Well,I'm happy to hear that you called and got to talk with Linda,and that some new plants are on their way to you soon. Must be you two gal's Southern accent and politeness hit it off just right. Good for you for doing the right thing. I was'nt thrilled with their explanations,but as Lisa said,let's give 'em the benefit.
Let us know what happens. And you can make a nice flower garden plot with the first shipment. All's well that ends well. ;-)
Bob

Bob, I've met both Linda and plantaholic, and ONE of 'em's a gal! ;-)

Well, shut mah mouth !!
Bob [of the red face]

Coincidentally, I just read that the plant table at this month's Bromeliad Society meeting here in San Diego will be supplied by Dennis Cathcart of Tropiflora. That sounded kind of exciting until I remembered this thread. Still, plants from Florida, here in California, it could be cool...

plantaholic how did this turn out? Happy with new shipment?

I have to say I was not at all impressed with either the new VIPP offering or the new Cargo Report offerings. This may be th every first time that I have not bought a single thing from the Cargo Report

They were supposed to release a bunch of Ray Coleman hybrids per the last Cargo Report, but I only see a few this time.

RE: the Jan. Cargo Rpt.,I suppose its a matter of what you are interested in. The Terrrstrial Page was right up my alley,liking the 'sticky broms'as I do.So I have an order in for some of the Deuterocohnia and Dyckia hybrids,and an Encholirium.
Thats the good news,the bad being I had to hold off the shipping until this nasty cold wave slowly works its way thru. The same one that earlier hit the Western states and the citris crops.Tomorrow the "high" will be 12F,and the low 3F. Not fun.The last CR,June 2006,talked about big changes in how they will do business in the near future,with some kind of on line catalog,and modified CR.And tho not in that article, and if I interpreted it right where I read it,(?),there will be no minimum order,and the previous combined handling and shipping charge of $15 will be dropped.That was always a problem to me,if all you wanted was one plant.So we will wait and see what develops this year.
Hey Stephania ! did you see the 'sticky' ones available on the Terrestrial page? ;))
Bob

I didnt get my cargo report at all this time :(

Bob I didnt se that part about the shipping..where was it? Online still says 15 plus $4 packing

HDD. The January CR is only on line,no hard copy in the mail as yet. Click on the 'Order Form',and go to the Terms and Conditions of Sale,and you will find the wording to be different from the previous form in June. The $4 box fee is still there,but the "minimum combined shipping and handling charge is $15 on plant orders" line has been omitted. So,if I'm interpreting it correctly,that $15 charge is gone,and only $4 is now charged for boxing.
To me,this was a good decision,as there were times I wanted to order 1 plant,but personally,felt having to fork over $15 on top of the plant cost,was excessive,when the actual shipping cost was well below the extra $11.
($15-$4 box).So I would'nt order at all,or just add on that one plant to some future order when more plants were on the order.
I think they hiked the plant prices enough now,to make up for that,and thats ok with me,because its my decision now,if I want the plant,and think its worth it. At least I'm paying for the plant now,instead of 'handling'.
Maybe much to do about nothing,but thats just me.;-)
Bob

Bob you read in correctly no minimum on shipping

Hi everyone- I'm new here, but an old customer of Tropiflora and I must say I no longer buy from them. Back when Alex was in charge of growers choice, you could get some real beauties- not the green stuff Brian's sending out. Now the prices are steep and they claim to be out of everything.

This time of year everyone is running out of plants and saving some for the shows coming up

Brian just sent me some real beauties for our recent garden show displays, and I wouldn't say any of them were 'green'. They jumped through hoops to get it to me on time. No complaints.

I recently talked to one large grower in the Los Angeles area, and she said she her plants are in huge demand--ever more every year. Another San Diego grower told me they are constantly trying to keep up with demand. It becomes an issue of having enough space to propagate new plants from mother plants fast enough.