Gardening ExpressReviews 594

AVOID THIS SCAM, FRAUDULENT OUTFIT LIKE THE PLAGUE!
My wife paid the princely sum of £28.96p for a GIANT Hydrangea. A TINY plant upside down in a GIANT and damaged box arrived via Hermes. We rejected the delivery and then discovered that this so-called reputable company doesn't provide any phone numbers at all for customer support and your only hope of obtaining any kind of post-sale communication or a refund is by jumping through a covoluted myriad number of hoops.
We then read countless negative and jaw-dropping reviews on Google.
We also discovered that Gardening Express has also been the subject of the BBC's Watchdog programme.
CAVEAT EMPTOR!

If you can raise the dead then go ahead and order from this company. You wil be sent dead plants, if indeed any at all. You cant get in touch with them. They ignore emails and any complaints. No better than scammers. Avoid Avoid Avoid.

They advertised 4 acers as a Special Offer 50% off were £80, now £40 for a ltd time - what arrived were 4 twigs with no leaves, nothing like the description and will take years to mature if they do at all, one is completely dead, but they refuse to refund or even offer a token discount - they cannot be contacted other than by chat and you have to wait for hours, they then send you std text explaining that the plants are OK and will grow into healthy specimens and that making up various excuses for why they are in such a bad state but accepting no responsibility, in one word DIABOLICAL!... post review note, after lots of complaining via the Chat they have finally agreed to give me my money back for the dead one - watch this space!

After waiting a long time for my three lavender plants, they arrived almost dead. I tried to fill in a ticket - it failed. I tried to email GardeningExpress - it failed. After more than an hour, my chat was answered. The person told me the plants were fine. I am a gardener of njearly fifty years experience., I do not agree. See for yourselves the plants you are likely to get.

All plants were a fraction of the height they were meant to be but correct size pot. The plants I ordered were a fifth of the size and all this year's growth cut and removed so they could cram all the plants in the small box sent. Damaged growth and dry due to being sent a couple of days before a bank holiday. Wants me to pay postage to return. Check out on companies house Mr Christopher Bonnett. What a scam

Absolute disgrace, avoid at all costs. Not as advertised - no full refund offered

Pictures advertised do not represent the products that were delivered

Plants arrived well packaged and on time but in a condition that should never have left the nursery. I have had no response to emails or to a letter sent to Chris Bonnet the owner and managing director. The semi evergreen climbing hydrangea at £39.99 is diseased and has little chance of surviving; the accompanying Acer appears to have been infected with the same rust and mildew.

I purchased a standard hisbiscus tree for a gift. It arrived with no information as to what it was or where it had come from (the receiver thought it has come from YODEL) there was no gift card luckily the recipient guessed it maybe a gift from me, also no information as to what is should be, as what arrived was a stick with very little root growth. Would not use again and would not recommend the company to anyone else. I only wish I had looked at the reviews before I purchased. The recipient does not have a phone camera so no pics.

Plant advertised as Large 6-7ft Specimen Climber Star Jasmine. On delivery, actual height measured from underside of pot to extreme tip was 4ft 4inches. Very disappointed customer. Plant seems to be in good condition though.

I received my plants and quite frankly I am disgusted! These plants were described as " bushy plants up to 60cms tall, but what I actually received are barely twigs! It is the time of year when these plants should be at their best as I have two others I bought elsewhere which are beautiful plants much larger and cheaper by £2.50 each than theirs.
When I complained ( which can only be done by an online chat) they are totally unhelpful, they told me they had escalated my complaint and I would hear back within 48 hours, it is now 4 days gone and I have still not heard anything.
You should avoid this company like the plague
Below is a photo of what I received which were described as bushy plants!

Actually less than half the size of same plants in local garden centre - same price. See first photo of montana clematis from garden centre next to the same price gardening express montana.

Salix at £13 was literally a forked single stick see 2nd photo.
3rd photo all the cleamtis were the same size - about 12 inches high and a single stem

Placed order for 2 tall flamingo bushes. Ones advertised green & leafy. Wanted mature plants so was willing to pay more. Delivery stated3/5 days when eventually arrived several weeks later turned out to be twigs in pots. Contacted garden express with no joy stated they would eventually bloom & if not can send them back but I have to pay postage. Apparently they show pictures of what plants should look like not what they supply‍ Total waste of time & money wouldn't recommend or use again

I had 4 orders from this company spending a considerable amount of money some plants arrived dead the others died within weeks/ a month or so. No phone number to contact them sent several emails no response. Raised a number of forms on website, got the excuse of them being busy, my case has been referred to the horticultural manager to look at my case never heard back. On checking the status on my case i found the jobs had been closed without it being resolved.
Disgraceful joke of con artists.
Avoid this company if you don't want to wait weeks for your delivery and get dead plants, they guarantee the plants yet don't refund you with pictures of the dead plants.
If you want to order plants online use dobbies, excellent quality and service

Ordered a large emerald lace acer from this company cost£75 i received a 500mm twig instead of 1.2m plant in a 5ltr pot. Company asked for photo which we supplied. They now ignoring all contact. Would give minus 5 stars if poss. Please stay away from this company. Order number #*******

Don't waste your money! I ordered plants and received twigs in a pot of dust. Even the twigs broke away when they were unpacked, leaving just the stem. Spoke on the ‘chat' facility and after sending the requested pics was told they would ‘flourish' - they might do in about 5 years time, if they even survive. Was then given the option to return at a postage cost to me, after already paying for delivery... which I would be prepared to incur if I had changed my mind, but not for inferior, sub standard products! Was given an email address to complain to and no response to either. Worst company and service ever and I would never use or recommend them

I very rarely write negative reviews but have to warn you about this company. I ordered two9 Bonsai trees. They arrived promptly but on opening the box the trees were dropping leaves and had several bare branches. I have emailed several times but have only had one reply saying they assume my original query has been answered to my satisfaction! I have asked for a credit note/new plants or my money back but have received nothing. I did think about sending the plants back but I will have to pay for postage, which I believe is illegal. I should have read their reviews before buying anything off them.

I recently ordered some tea berry plants. They originally said that my order would take 3-5 days to ship. I thought this to be reasonable. Then they said it could take 10 days, then 20 days. I tried to cancel my order, but they did not allow this, as you have to cancel within 24 hrs. Once more, you can no longer 'chat' with them; you have to fill out a 'ticket' e-mail.
So, I went to Cowell's Garden Center, in New Castle Upon Tyne, for the same order. They shipped my order and DELIVERED the NEXT DAY. They kept me abreast with my order every step of their shipping process -- including exact times of shipping/delivery, a pic of the delivery person, AND a pic of my package at its destination. Now that's service, which is everything!