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General => News => Topic started by: kt. on January 19, 2008, 14:52:20

Title: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kt. on January 19, 2008, 14:52:20
I emailed a company,  (EXHIBITION SEEDS),for information on a variety of their seed a few days ago. I have had no reply. Phoned daily - Only ever get an answerphone message saying please leave a message. The message does not even name the company. Has anybody else used this company?

http://www.exhibition-seeds.co.uk/index.htm

Not to be recommended I guess
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: caroline7758 on January 19, 2008, 14:57:09
The address looks like a house address, so maybe it's a one man band and he's on holiday?
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: rosebud on January 19, 2008, 23:49:45
Give it a wide berth i would. ;D
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: Baccy Man on January 20, 2008, 01:16:23
I have ordered seeds from the company before all have arrived fast, had high germination rates & grown very well.
I would reccommend the company although as I have never had to contact them by phone or email I can't comment on that side of the buisness I can tell you that exhibition seeds is run by Keith Foster the head gardener from Mulgrave Castle in Whitby. Keith Foster is also well known for developing the Ailsae onion which won the world record weighing in at 15lb 15oz. He is also an award winning lanscape photographer & a comedy writer. I expect he has a hard time keeping on top of phonecalls & emails with all the other commitments.
The phone number on the exhibition seeds site is the same one used for his photography company which is why the company name would not be mentioned on the answerphone message.
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: 5rod on January 20, 2008, 14:42:02
Ive bougth lots of seeds from robinson
and spoke to staff when i needed info
this year  only 39 of my exhibtion onions
gerinated,but leeks have been great.
                      5rod
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kt. on January 20, 2008, 16:13:42
Quote from: Toms Lottie on January 20, 2008, 10:35:04
They Say This On There About Page

Why can't I just call you?
E-mails are by their nature recorded for future reference and you can be so much more detailed than when trying to describe things on a phone call.

So please email us and we will reply

And On Contact It Says NO CALLS AFTER 5PM   ;D 
I did read the page prior to posting so know what it said. They say 'Why can't I just call you?' If they accept emails then they should of had the decency to reply. (No reply = loss of custom does it not). When I phoned, I did so well before 5pm. If they don't want calls then they should not offer a telephone number with timings.

Customer relations is obviously poor. Dread to think how long an order would take to arrive, if at all. Still had nothing so they will be getting a wide berth with full thumbs down from me.
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: raisedbedted on January 20, 2008, 18:27:04
I ordered from them and received my order within 8 days.

As a small company there may be all manner of reasons why they may be slow, perhaps they are inundated, maybe the flu thing going around.  Such transgeression from a larger company would be very annoying I agree ( like T & M for instance..)

If they've lost your business then thats sad for you both.

Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: 5rod on January 20, 2008, 19:45:09
hi again
    I know this nursery shows at chelseaevery year,
and obviously this is their busy time for planting.
  So though it's not the service we expect ,small businesses
I have found more helpful  . They also have a cultivation
tips page which answers most questions . We should not
be to hasty in not slaying them off, as I have read plenty
of good threads on this company on this site.
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kt. on January 21, 2008, 21:20:31
Quote from: caroline7758 on January 19, 2008, 14:57:09
The address looks like a house address, so maybe it's a one man band and he's on holiday?
Just read the address, its 5 miles from my house!

Also, in-case anybody is after the Carmen seeds: I got an email back today. £4.50 for 5 seeds. Better than £7.99. Debating now wether to eat humble pie and ask my OH cousin to collect some for me as he lives there.
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kitten on January 21, 2008, 22:47:13
I'd go for it kt and take it on the chin if they prove you wrong  ;)

They have had some good feedback from fellow A4Aers and not replying to a couple of emails is hardly a hanging offence  - as irritating as it is, they may have had a fair reason for the delay.

Let us know how you get on & good luck

BTW - is that the Whitby on the Yorkshire coast?  If so, we're visiting in May so might swing by your lottie for a cuppa!  ;D
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kt. on January 22, 2008, 00:02:10
Quote from: kitten on January 21, 2008, 22:47:13
BTW - is that the Whitby on the Yorkshire coast?  If so, we're visiting in May so might swing by your lottie for a cuppa!  ;D

You're welcome. Never had an A4A visitor before. I live in a historic market town, 20 miles north of Whitby. Might even get you into our lottie shop ;)

I will order the seeds this week.
Title: Re: Poor service 'seed company'? EXHIBITION SEEDS?
Post by: kitten on January 22, 2008, 21:21:57
Quote from: ktlawson on January 22, 2008, 00:02:10
Might even get you into our lottie shop ;)

:o  :D

Let us know how you get on with the seeds you ordered!