Minor's Garden Center, Inc.

Review: In November, 2011, I purchased 2 serviceberries fromMinor's Garden center which I have the receipt for. It wasn't until 1 year later that I finally picked up only one of the trees that I purchased. At the time of the supposed purchase of these two trees, I paid a deposit of $50. The purchase price for one of the trees was $59.99, and the price for the other one was $79.99. So when I picked up one of the trees in October of 2012, I planted it within one month. By the next spring 2013, the tree did not bloom. I called Minor's back to tell them this and spoke with [redacted]. It wasn't until July of 2013 that there were two men that showed up to look at the plant and determined that it truly did not bloom. Another couple months went by, and I received a phone call from [redacted] asking for a copy of the receipt. I faxed over a copy of the receipt which I had for these two trees, and she said it was unreadable. So just before Christmas 2013, I went out of my way to stop in the store and provide a copy of the original receipt. Than a few more months went by and [redacted] asked me for a copy of the receipt showing that the balance for the two trees was paid. I explained to her via email that when I picked up the trees, the salesperson, [redacted] provided me with a tree that was a higher price than the one I orignally purchased (not my choice), and that when I asked him how much I owed for a balance, he told me not to worry about it. Therefore, the deposit of $50 which I paid went toward the purchase of the tree for $59.99, and I was told to not worry about the balance. [redacted]'s final email response to me was that she would not honor the warranty because I did not show proof of payment for the balance. There was no balance due because the second tree was never picked up, and the $50 down payment I paid went toward the purchase price of the lower priced one and I was not not to worry about the balance due ($10.00) Therefore, I can't produce a receipt that doesn't exist. [redacted]'s response to me was that she would not honor the warranty because I didn't have a receipt showing the balance paid.Desired Settlement: I would like a replacement serviceberry tree for the money I paid for the one tree I picked up. If it's $49.99, that's fine, but that is what I paid for the tree, and it did not bloom. Therefore, I feel I am entitled to a replacement.

Business

Response:

Hello

I have received the complaint notice from you and will email you with full details if needed by the end of the week - this is an extremely busy time for our business but settling customer issues is a priority of mine.

Here is the issue in a nutshell - I am very frustrated with this complaint because I have been trying to get this problem resolved with this customer for a very long time. Mrs. [redacted] has asked to get a replacement of a dead plant that she purchased November, 15, 2011 - the plants were not paid in full - she paid a deposit with an amount due of $150.46. She did not pick up the plants until a year later which is against our policy by a long shot, however, I didn't even address that issue with her.

When a customer has a warranty on a plant, they need to bring in the dead plant with the original paid in full warranty to get their replacement. I had our copy of the warranty and noticed the amount due was never marked paid, only the deposit of $50.16. So I asked Mrs. [redacted] to get me her warranty showing the purchase was actually paid - I assumed the payment was notated on her copy and just didn't get marked on our copy. She gave me a copy of her warranty and according to the original warranty, the balance was not paid in full. I asked her several times how the balance was paid and if she could get me a check number, credit card receipt or even just the date paid and I would try and track payment on my end, but she never produced the form of payment.

I have been going back and forth with her for quite some time and have always responded in a timely fashion to try and get the problem resolved. I respectfully disagree with any claim of not responding to Mrs. [redacted] in a timely manner - in fact, she is the one who apologized for not responding to me.

On May 13, 2014 I received an email from Mrs. [redacted] claiming she never picked up one of the plants in 2012 which is why the balance wasn't paid. She has not once indicated this in the last two years and my records indicate she received the plants but never paid the balance due.

After receiving this disturbing email, I did email Mrs. [redacted] to say according to our paperwork and all the conversations leading up to the May 13, 2014 email, the balance of $150.46 was never paid for a warranty to be valid. I would add that she did pay for delivery but decided to pick up the plants instead of delivery, so there would have been a credit of $52.80 leaving the balance due of $97.66.

I don't take customer complaints lightly - customer service and satisfaction is extremely important to me but do feel I have done more than my part to resolve this issue and am sorry that it has come to this point.

Please let me know if you need further information

Thank you

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I'm not accepting the resolution. I am accepting the response from the business and look forward to her next response after the busy time period subsides.

Regards,

My name is [redacted], I live in [redacted]. I have been visiting Minor's Garden Center for several years, receiving good service each time, until recently.

Their price listing and their receipts say their hours are Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm; Sunday 9am - 5 pm; Saturday 8am - 5pm.

I purchased items earlier this week(July 21,2014), none of the staff said anything about a change of hours. Last night I picked my girlfriend and proceeded to Minor's arriving at 7:30 pm, only to find the lot closed. No mention on the gate about a change of hours just closed. Are they STILL IN BUSINESS ? Shoddy practice.

I called them this morning, "oh we changed hours" was their response..."I mentioned that their receipts said 8 pm closing, again their response..well, the boss isn't here right now..he's out of state.." Out of state or gone..business closing ? Minor's is a big operation, I find it hard to believe..that I was the only customer " angry " about travelling down to buy only to find a closed gate.

With Much Respect [redacted]

I have always supported Minor's Garden Center, and have always gotten really good service. However, today was a first. I don't know who's hiring the employees lately, but they need to do a better job! I was the only customer, and had purchased a mum plant for $7.99. No big deal, right? [redacted] (rude, nasty, and unhappy employee),got an attitude with me because I asked her for plastic to accompany my potted plant. First, she answered my question, (while on a personal phone call) by pointing and saying (and not even clear enough to understand) where it was. When I asked again for clarity, she said ina rude voice and I quote: "I said it over there! Around the doors, over there!"

I felt disrespected and as though my business was not welcomed. When I told her I didn't like the way she spoke to me; that I only asked her to do her job, and if she didn't like her job to find a new job. She responded back by saying "Don't talk to me! And then she said: "If you don't like it then to talk to the manager". Unbelieveable!

So, that's what I did. the manager apologized and said that he would have to talk with her again about her attitude. (Apparently, I am not the first customer to who she's been rude).

When the manager and I walked back over to the outside counter, I told her: "It's the customer that keeps this place in business and if she didn't like doing her job to find a new one." She again, rudely responded, "That there are other customers, and I wasn't the only customer."

Well after that I asked the manager for a refund. I didn't not want to spend my money in a place where it wasn't appreciated. When the manager walked over to authorize the refund, [redacted] was very quiet and non-remorseful. I was clearly upset, and again felt completely disrespected.

The manager again apologized for [redacted] behavior, but he didn't need to apologize, the apology should have come from [redacted], and he did not ask her to do so...which I thought was lacking on his part.\

He offered to give me the plant for free, but I was so upset I wanted nothing. I told him it was the principle of the experience. I wanted nothing but to get out of there.

I went in feeling happy and left feeling horrible! What an awful way to start my day!!