Those of you that complained to Sarah Raven last year did you ever hear back and should I try complaining again?

[Springf3v3r]

So last year I was sent completely different plants to what I ordered. No explanation .These geums as opposed to Mai Thai and the same re Agastache. They were labeled as Mai Thai when they’re clearly not.. I did multiple online complaints and then tried direct via email. They ignored every single complaint. Don’t even acknowledge them .

Then read they temporarily shut down and now I see they’re up and running again. I will never ever order from them again however I would like the plants I originally ordered as I’m feeling very ripped off.

Is it worth trying?

It was a few years ago but I heard back and had a refund. Have never ordered from them again, absolute con artists.

The business went bust last summer and management bought it out of administration. Lots of comments from them online about how difficult business has been post-Covid, whereas I suspect the real reason they went bust was that it was pot luck whether you received your order, something completely different or nothing at all.

Sarah is still involved and has a new management team so maybe things will improve

Interesting . I order a load of bulbs from SR after a thread in here that never flowered . I was so disappointed.

I did receive a refund eventually but zero apology for repeatedly wasting my time. I would never order from them again.
I admire the catalogue choices and order elsewhere now.

Caught part of Radio 4 Saturday Live this morning with Adrian Chiles fawning over somebody called Sarah - turned out to be Sarah Raven. No mention of any difficulties! She did say she was in the process of getting someone else to take over her business.
I've never ordered from her, having seen the stories on here.

Don’t! They’re completely dishonest and there’s no customer service- at all!

There's a big article in the Financial Times today about how the business went into administration. I had no idea. It explains a few things.

Sorry I've no share token

It’s odd because there is so much they get right- the website is gorgeous, full of lovely ideas, the non plant stuff I’ve bought from them is great etc etc and yet it’s like actually sending people their plants is an afterthought.

Don’t touch them. Awful business.

The arrogance that they can do what they like and complete lack of customer services is something I haven’t seen with any other company anywhere.
It’s bewildering.

I ordered a few bits for Christmas and they were delayed and delayed , eventually got an
email saying they hadn’t got the stock so I was given a refund . A friend and I also went on one of her in-house day events and it felt an awful lot of money for very little eg being served basic squash with dinner which was a slice of quiche with ‘ herbs and leaves from the garden ‘ . Josie and Sarah did talks but felt like they were rushed through so people had more time to shop in the very well stocked retail unit .

Listened to her on R4 yesterday

Nearly ordered some seeds last week but decided to go to the garden centre instead. I am glad I did now.
Its a shame as I really like the website and selection of plants etc.

Her website and catalogue are gorgeous and so tempting .

Just use it as a reference book. There are no guarantees you’ll get what you ordered and no customer service if you don’t .

Same!!

This is interesting. I order from Sarah Raven several times a year and have done for a number of years now. I've never had any problems except one plant that arrived damaged (main stem completely snapped). I called customer services and they sent a replacement out straight away.

I've always been really impressed with them but wasn't aware they had gone into administration and obviously a lot of you have had issues.

Where do you all order from instead?

A thread re recommendations has been started.

I ordered some plants last summer - completely the wrong colour came. They replaced them, no fuss

Yes I’ll never buy from them again . Im
so surprised a company that bears her name was so trashed by poor customer service , how could she let that happen .

He mentioned it twice! Although in the 'overcoming adversity' way that you do when it's a guest on a chat show, not a Watchdog-style interrogation.

Never ordered but enjoy the website and the podcast for some dreaming and planning. I've learnt a lot from the podcast, not found a gardening one I prefer.

I ordered many years ago. Got sent wrong item, complained. Told to keep original and would send proper item. Sent the same wrong item. Gave up.
I look at the lovely suggestions and order bulbs from Parker’s.

I've talked about my own bad experiences with Sarah raven under a different username, they're marketing and profile are top notch but like everyone else here won't touch them with a bargepole

I'm not sure why the message has been "but Sarah is still involved" since the takeover - that's not something to boast about imo

Same here so expensive as well I asked for them as a birthday present