AIBU to be extremely disappointed by this unlucky gift?

[ShellyRay]

This is the very definition of a first world problem I know but my kids (7 and 5) were very interested in the idea of a four-leaf clover this summer and scoured the lawn without luck so after searching on the internet I decided to cheer them up by buying this product:
www.notonthehighstreet.com/plantsfromseed/product/complete-grow-your-own-lucky-clover-plant-kit
I paid extra to have it personalised and they were super excited - fitted with their home schooling plan and everything - ideal, or so I thought! The only problem was that after painstakingly growing the things it turned out to be bog standard three leaf clover after all. I revisited the packaging - covered with illustrations of magnificient four leaf clovers and also the instrucitons and no where did it mention that this could happen. Finally, I contacted not on the high street for clarification and it turns out that this is in fact just normal clover, with a 1 in 10,000 chance of actually yeilding a four leaf clover! (so with the number of seeds they supply only 1 in 50!!!). They just said the item is non-refundable and there's nothing doing. So am I being unreasonable to be very annoyed and say that they should at least change their description then to indicate that this is just some kind of very expensive and unlucky lottery?

I don't think it is particularly clever advertising - it's clearly meant to deceive people who think it might is possible to buy 4 leaf clover seeds. I think ASA will be extremely interested in this. This is an impulse purchase, clearly, and the company are taking advantage of the fact nobody is going to Google whether anyone had managed to reliably breed 4 leaf clover or not.

At £13 including postage its absolutely worth complaining. Cheeky bastards

YANBU. Highly deceptive.

As horrific as £9.50 is for seeds, what were they thinking charging 22.89 euro to ship Irish clover to Ireland????

The drawings on the box are 4 leaves. Con I'd say. I've found 500 seeds for 50p locally. Get a box and do your own.

The box and drawings lead you to think 4 leaves...............

You have this in your life to be extremely disappointed about?

My word. You are incredibly lucky already.

Is it meant to be a practical joke, like the sort of thing you'd present to someone likely to go and look for a long stand when asked?
Because there isn't a separate strain of clover seed which sprouts 4 leaf clover.
Cheeky of the company but you can have a good laugh at the anecdote!

....clicked on the link. That review
Also laughing at the 'grow your own snowman pumpkin' kit advertised beneath it.

LOL - I'm sorry, but this is hilarious.

Did you really think you could get 4 leaf clover seeds?

@Ravenesque I feel the same about shooting stars! Saw 3 in my life and each time someone significant in my life died.

When they announce there'll be some on the news I daren't look at the sky. I promise I'm a sensible educated person most of the time.

OP sorry to say you fell for all the advertising crap. Trading standards might be an option? But I suppose they'd get round but saying they advertised clover seeds, you bought them (albeit overpriced) and you grew clover...

davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3928

Thank you guys - I do feel like they were aiming to mislead the customers! I feeel conned. With the personalisation and postage it came to £14.15! I too have a lawn full of three leaf clover! I'm going to take it up with PayPal who I paid with, see if they can sort it given that Not on the High Street refuses to take any responsability. In order to have an average chance of getting one lucky clover you'd be shelling out in excess of £500!

Honestly from your post alone I though NU but after clicking the link it doesnt say 'four leaf clover' anywhere and the photos of the product are clearly 3 leaf clovers so pretty U to be mad that you thought it was something it never claimed to be.

Your only possible argument is the 4 leaf clover drawing but even then the fact they diddnt SAY 4 and included prominent real photos of the product means its likely just a cartoon and not a representation so nothing you can really claim against.

Since 4 leaves are a rare genetic mutation it would be pretty impossible for them to garantee you one.

Whilst the reviewer is clearly pleased that the product benefitted their 'darling brother' I suspect they were, at the same time, disappointed that the luck didn't extend to miraculously addressing their spelling. Just bad luck I suppose.

1 customer review
Thu 24 Sep 2020
BRILLIANT GROW YOUR OWN LUCKY CLOVER PLANT KIT HELPED MY DARLING BROTHER PATRICK RECUPERATE IN HOSTIPLE AND AIDED THE SLOW RECOVERY PROSES AND GAVE HIM HOPE THAT THERE IS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HIM FOLLOWING A SERIOUS LIFE THREATING INCEDENT

What a bloody piss take, I would want a refund too. And its annoying me they are describing it as Irish Clover then Made in the UK. Unless its from Northern Ireland that can't both be true...

OP you have done a really lovely thing for your DC based on their interests and making learning fun and so on. Unfortunately it has included a lesson in spotting misleading advertising as well. But I guess at least Patrick is recovering from his terrible incident.

You may look like a bit of a dullard if you carry on complaining, it is impossible to grow four leaved clovers as a given, they're a relatively rare mutation. I could see this in the daily fail/going viral!

misleading for the gullible.

A 4 leaf clover is a rare mutation, not a specific breed or variety.

Why on earth would anyone pay £14 for some clover seeds?

Asking to be ripped off tbh.

And no, four leaved clovers aren't actually 'lucky'.

I’m more concerned that anyone would think they could guarantee a four leaf clover - or do we just live in a society where everything can be bought :-(

The silly thing is when I've been in Germany over New Years I've seen little pots of lucky clover sold - sometimes with a leprechaun ornament in them. This is what I thought I was buying - it's probably a different, clover-like four leaf plant all together! Anyone know what I mean? I swear I did not imagine them!

You're being very silly. You weren't conned, you got exactly what the advert said you would. You just assumed it was somehting it wasn't.

Whilst the product very carefully does not specifically state this is a four leaf clover, I think the illustrations and use of the word 'lucky' are clearly designed to imply that this is what you are buying. I am not in any way legally trained, however, I would be surprised if there is no provision about this in the Consumer Rights Act.
I am surprised at NOTHS - I've always found them to be very helpful. I know that some peoplw will sa that for the sake of £14 or so, the hassle is not sort it, but this is how some dodgy businesses get rich - they rely on a lot of people choosing to 'let it go' when a comparitively small sum of money is involved. Lots of small sums soon become a my h larger amount of money. I would definitely speak to trading standards, for advice if nothing else. I'd also leave a very honest review, so that Sven if I didn't get a refund, I might save someone else from wasting their money.

NOTHS is full of wanky stuff like that. Some is nice, but there is plenty for people with more money than sense - eg. the mini marshmallow toasting set which comprises 2 cocktail sticks, 3 birthday candles and a dozen mini marshmallows all packed in a cutely decorated matchbox - for £5 (I kid thee not: www.notonthehighstreet.com/marvlingbros/product/christmas-mini-marshmallow-toasting-kit )
Not saying you've got more money than sense OP - you got taken in. It's still a nice set to have.
I found a page about Irish shamrocks which says: "The three leaves of a shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from. The four-leafed clover, or “lucky clover”, is an uncommon variation of the three-leafed clover, and widely considered to be a symbol of good luck. Because they are a mutation, they are rare, and not found in the same abundance as the shamrock, and thus, considered lucky. The traditional Irish symbol of a shamrock does not include the fourth leaf"

Just dipping in to say I remembered what the German version is called - 'glucksklee'! Should have searched for that if I had remembered! Attaching a picture in case anyone else is inspired to grow some!