Before I state what happened to us, I would like to point out that anyone receiving an unacceptable or not as described plant should complaint and ask for a refund, and not be fobbed off. Please read "The Consumer Rights Act 2015" article on the MSE site, where this is all explained simply and clearly. If what you have contracted to receive, and what you receive is not broadly similar, then you are entitled to a refund, as the item is "not as described". Don't just shrug it off and let them get away with it!
We would have been pleased to discuss and negotiate, maybe a partial refund, but no, Gardening Express had to dig their heels in and be stubborn.
This was our experience (Order # 601269159) ............
Awful shopping experience.
Ordered Photinia which looked wonderful online.
What we received was a pathetic specimen with only 3 small and sparse branches.
The top of 1 branch was broken.
No means of discussing this with a person, so had to spend 1.5 hrs "chatting" online.
Got nowhere - apparently the plant was acceptable and therefore return would have to be at my cost.
They would not accept that the item was "not as described" and therefore contravenes the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which states that if an item is not as described, then the seller pays for the return.
It was talking to a brick wall, and by this time I had been transferred to the Customer Services Manager !!
She told me the plant was a "JUVENILE", and that it would be lovely in a few years time !!
I didn't buy a juvenile plant, and if this is normal practice, then the Consumer Rights Act 2015 stipulates that this key information needs to be prominently stated, and not hidden somewhere.
She told me that this (the juvenile plant) is clearly stated on the website.
I checked and asked where?
She refused to answer, clearly a lie.
Absolutely ridiculous !!
I asked how to raise a complaint, and was told to write a letter.
Their motto "refuse to co-operate and make the customer's life as difficult as possible in the hope that they give up" - (most probably do, but I don't and there will be consequences as a result).
Naturally, the reply to the complaint was "we will refund", and not even an apology for the 3 hrs I wasted on this matter, plus the frustration of it all.
And they did not ask for the plant back, because they knew they would have to bear the cost of this.
Never again will I order from Gardening Express, and I will make every effort (online and face to face) to share my experience with other gardeners, family, and friends.
This will be a just reward for Gardening Express who treat customers as if they are totally unimportant.