I've always trusted and enjoyed shopping with gardens4you. Plant quality is good with a speedy delivery. Recently though I received a delivery where the plants just shouldn't have been sent out, after my initial disappointment, decided to wait to see if they would make a comeback which they didn't, that was when I decided to contact customer service. They responded very quickly, just asked me to send a photo as evidence and they would then replace the order if they still had them in stock or refund me, I was more than happy with that response so all good. Easy to deal with this company even if you experience a problem. 👍
In a nutshell: two out of four plants I received were diseased (the other two are in quarantine waiting to see if they are also diseased) and customer service was rude and argumentive when I tried to ask for my money back (which I did after I had to threaten legal action and lateral flow tests to prove the diseased status of the plants, why is it always a battle?). The customer service in question replied from the UK, the plants came from the Netherlands, I ordered from gardens4you (dot) ie.
To get a response from The UK was bizarre as it's through an IE website and I will certainly be reporting gardens4you for using an IE website to "weare" (dot) ie and the relevant authorities for abusing Irish internet infrastructure and cyberspace.
I am also calling out the nursery (ies?) in the Netherlands for their obvious poor care of plants and the many holes in gardens4you in general's Standard Operating Procedures and Policies I can immediately digress from my experience.
I tried to bring this to their attention and resolve the dispute quietly but after the experience with the UK customer service and no response from Melvin Jansen who I tried to contact I am now bringing this to the public's attention.
Save your money DO NOT buy with Gardens4you, buy local or nationally (most local/national stores are happy to order more exotic plants for you), and support the Irish economy. We as an Irish customer base deserve better than the poor service from the Netherlands and rude customer service from The UK.
Ordered 2 items and when they arrived they were tiny, they would get lost in the garden. The stake was even taller than both. No where close to items advertised online. Delivery charge I thought was excessive. Disappointed in general, I would look elsewhere next time.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Mar 3, 2023
The photos on our site are for illustrative purposes only and always show you the products photographed in summer.
We are in winter it is -4ºC in Northern Europe we have 4 seasons you seem to forget. Our plants are cultivated outside all year round,The photos on our site are for illustrative purposes only and always show you the products photographed in summer.
We are in winter it is -4ºC in Northern Europe we have 4 seasons you seem to forget. Our plants are cultivated outside all year round, you will not find plants cultivated in heated greenhouses or imported like you find in supermarkets. The items are in perfect condition and are identical to the measurements and sizes advertised on our site for these products. The wooden rods are not the stake of the plants, we put them in the boxes to avoid that the plants do not move.
Verified review
Mar 3, 2023
Begonia tubers arrived Begonia Pendula. I have seen bigger marbles and some as soft as butter. I would suggest tighter quality control. and a photo of not only the plaint in bloom but a photo of the tubers.
Not impressed at all.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Mar 7, 2023
Thank you for the feedback. Our roots and bulbs are controlled for more than 30 years by experts and official organizations. Take pictures of what you received our customer service will be happy to offer you assistance and advise for this order.
Verified review
Mar 27, 2023
I have not heard from them I can't get in contact with and nothing arrived not one thing
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Apr 7, 2023
We have contacted you by automatic email because the address provided was incorrect and without Eircode. Without response from you the order was automatically canceled about 5 days and refunded another automatic email confirmed the refund, thank you to check spam and trash more frequently.
Verified review
Mar 5, 2023
10 days later and I’m still waiting
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Mar 7, 2023
Your order was placed before the weekend 24/02/2023 and shipped normally the 28/03/2023 as we mentioned on our website. After shipping delivery is about 4-5 working days weekend and bank holidays not included, the order was delivered on time with dpd with delivery evidence.
06.03.2023 10:09 Dublin Hill, Cor ...
Delivered.
Evidence
06.03.2023 07:49 Dublin Hill, Cor ...
Out for delivery.
01.03.2023 01:54 Veenendaal (NL)
In transit.
27.02.2023 08:16 DPD data centre
Order information has been transmitted to DPD.
Verified review
Feb 27, 2023
Awful condition.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Mar 2, 2023
We are sorry to read your disappointment via your comment we cannot find any mail from you in our system. You had ordered a Euonymus alatus Burning Bush which is a plant still dormant in winter and some Saponaria ocymoides Soapwort roots. We are surprised to read that a problem has occurred on these products, especially the roots which are like our plants well packed. Please take some photos of these products and contact our customer service we will be happy to solve the problem.
Verified review
Mar 13, 2023
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Mar 14, 2023
Such a low score must have some explanation. We can't find any mail from you in our system. If you were disappointed with your order, which we regret, please take some pictures and contact our customer service department. We will be happy to help you, especially since the products purchased are 100% guaranteed Such a low score must have some explanation. We can't find any mail from you in our system. If you were disappointed with your order, which we regret, please take some pictures and contact our customer service department. We will be happy to help you, especially since the products purchased are 100% guaranteed for a period of 2 months.
Verified review
Feb 3, 2023
I didn’t realise that some of the plants would arrive not potted and in root form. Maybe it says it somewhere but I didn’t see it.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Feb 6, 2023
The photos on our site always show a plant. The product description next to the picture shows you if the plant is delivered as a bulb, rhizome, root or pot plant.
Verified review
Feb 7, 2023
My 9 Erica carneas should have been multicolored but I received almost all of them white which is not what I ordered. In addition they are in very bad condition and extremely small. I could have booth a much better quality elsewhere. Extremely disappointed and will probably not use again.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Feb 7, 2023
We are sorry to hear that the Erica carnea received are not what you expected. Please send photos to our customer service of the 9 plants received we will be happy to come back to you with an appropriate answer and solution.
Verified review
Feb 26, 2023
My delivery was dumped over the wall and the pot was smashed.
The delivery person should have rang the doorbell and delivered it to the front door instead of throwing it over the wall.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Feb 27, 2023
This incident from an unscrupulous delivery person is regrettable and we called the dpd depot in Ireland immediately. We would have preferred to stay on the positive side and have you talk about the replacement that we have arranged as our orders are 100% guaranteed. The star you left will not lower dpd's rating on Trusted Shop but ours which we regret. You could have at least waited for our feedback and responsiveness before leaving a comment of this nature.
Verified review
Feb 23, 2023
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Feb 24, 2023
Such a low score must have some explanation. We can't find any mail from you in our system. If you were disappointed with your order, which we regret, please take some pictures and contact our customer service department. We will be happy to help you, especially since the products purchased are 100% guaranteed until May 1, 2023.
Verified review
Jun 28, 2022
Disappointing and a let down. Unfortunately 6 of the 9 plants didn't survive the delivery in good shape. The flowerheads all turned to mould in the plastic bags they were packed in. In turn the mouldy flowerheads fell down into the plant and any leaves or stalks they lay on turned to slimy mush. I am very disappointed. I'll do my best to cut out the mould and mush and try to bring the plants back to life but that's not what I signed up for. They certainly won't be going in the display I intended them for so from that point of view it was a waste of money. Hopefully I can salvage something...
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Jun 30, 2022
We are sincerely sorry to hear that. All order placed on our website are guaranteed. Please take contact to our customer service with photos we will be happy to arrange a replacement or a refund.
Here is how our warranty applies.
Warranty period:
-Perennials and potted shrubs/trees: 1 year
-Indoor plants and bonsai: 1 month
-Spring bulbs: 1 growing season until May 31 at the latest.
-Summer bulbs, rhizomes and bedding plants: 1 growing season until October 1st at the latest.
Verified review
Aug 16, 2022
Ordering was easy, but I was disappointed by the appearance on the plant when it arrived. When I contacted the customer services, I was informed it was out of their hands as the plants are grown in gardens and we have just finished a heat wave. The plant looks half dead. Customer services did provide information on how to care for it to get it up to health.
I just feel the plant should have been delivered healthy to start with. It is trans portable, could they not have brought them indoors during the peak hours?
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Aug 26, 2022
Seeing trees with stained leaves, dry or downright losing their foliage during or after a hot and dry summer, is a regular phenomenon, which has already been observed during the previous heat wave. It generally takes one or two seasons for the plants to recover and replenish their reserves. Go outside look at the nature around you in extreme heat or not there is not a tree grown outside that has immaculate leaves. You can't order plants grown outdoors expecting to receive immaculate green leaves in August during a drought with 34°C during the day.
Verified review
Jun 15, 2022
I bought 5 Hydrangeas. Some of them were weak. One of them had died in 2 weeks. The other one is on the verge of life and death for a month. Three others are better. Also, I have ordered Aubrieta pink but I got Purple colour. Definitely can not recommend the store. The first negative experience of buying plants. All plants bought in Lidl and Woodies were sold in better condition and adapted well.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Jun 30, 2022
The power of the plant is stored in its root system. We understand they may sometime not initially look as attractive as plants in a garden center or supermarket, but they are just as strong or even stronger.
Because people usually buy plants buy their appearance, plants are forced into flower to look attractive in a garden center, but will get quite a shock once brought home and planted in your garden. They can take some time to fully recover if ever. Our plants do not waste any energy, they are hardened off and just waiting to boost into life in your garden.
Verified review
Jun 13, 2022
Very poor delivery service considering the price. Would not buy again. Website gives impression based in Ireland but goods dispatched from UK and that’s fine but we all know if it’s dispatched in Ireland it arrives in window time of stated delivery and pay €5 for goods and €15 delivery but it needs to be done as stated or it’s false and misleading.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Jun 30, 2022
Our company is based in the Netherland we advertise plants in all Europe it has never been a secret our address is visible everywhere on the site. Shipping on our website is 12.95€ and not €15. We pay 3€ to DPD by parcel in addition to the 12.95€ our company does not earn a cent on the shipping costs.
Your plant cost 6.95€ and there was nothing to stop you from grouping an order and thus lowering the delivery costs with friends or neighbours.
Verified review
Aug 5, 2022
I didn’t like finding out that although the website seems like an Irish (.ie) site the company is based in The Netherlands. It’s a week since my order and the parcel is only now in DPD head office. That’s too long for plants to be in a box. I won’t order from Gardens 4U again. I can’t comment on the product as I haven’t received anything yet
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Verified review
Nov 11, 2022
I bought a camellia and 2 hydrangea I have to say it was a very fast delivered and the plant was really well packed and protected which I was really impressed! That said, i was a left a little disappointed wt the fact that it is literally a thin twig which I will have to grow it probably in the shed for at least a year before plant it, specially because I was planning to put it in front of the house! Overall happy with the purchase
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Nov 14, 2022
Our hydrangeas are nursery plants cultivated outdoor all year around we have 5ºC at night and 11ºC during the days. Do not worry once planted in the garden ground and well protected with some mulch of straw they will grow very quickly in march -april when spring will return, order is guaranteed to 30 april 2023.
Verified review
Aug 17, 2022
Most if the plants were in tact despite being delivered upside down...
But unfortunately a lot of them had browned leaves and probably won't survive.
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Aug 26, 2022
This natural defense mechanism is normal and does not mean that the plant will die. In times of great heat, the leaves of plants, shrubs and trees become stained and dry. This is normal and is the only way for plants to survive the intense heat and dryness that Europe has been experiencing for more than 2 months.
Verified review
Jul 1, 2022
Unfortunately one of the plants was damaged, and the little lemon plant lost some leaves. But I hope to revive them!
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Verified review
Nov 3, 2022
No proper confirmation email regarding shipping, so I was unsure when to expect my package. The plants arrived in a battered and torn box, with several of the plant pots broken and badly bent out of shape, and the plants themselves look very unhealthy, all yellow and brown and withering
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Answer by gardens4you.ie
Nov 4, 2022
All customers in Europe and therefore in Ireland receive an automatic email the day the order is shipped, yours was sent on 25/10/2022, the package was then after 72h visible on www.dpd.ie.
The aubrieta that we saw on the photos were completely normal, they are plants grown outside we have in Europe the 4 seasons, the foliage of the aubrieta do not fall in autumn-winter but the plants still in pot are naturally much less attractive when the cold arrives. Do not worry as informed they are guaranteed to the 30th April 2023.
Verified review
Jun 7, 2022
I was surprised at the size but the measurements were supplied so I shouldn`t have been. The shape of the olive tree was odd but luckily it will grow. Generally good service
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