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

41 replies

Springf3v3r · 07/03/2026 13:14

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?

Those of you that complained to Sarah Raven last year did you ever hear back and should I try complaining again?
OP posts:
Sourisblanche · 08/03/2026 10:26

I found her salad seeds a bit hit and miss with germination last year. I have bought some lovely sale items in the past that have done well.

I’ve left the uk now but I probably wouldn’t order from them again
if I had the chance. There are so many good small seed companies around.

GloiredeDijon · 08/03/2026 10:53

All fur coat and no knickers.
Beautiful photos on the website but the most useless and rudest customer service I have ever come across in a gardening firm.
So bad that I came to think that anyone sacked by British Gas went to work at Sarah Raven.

VenusClapTrap · 08/03/2026 13:25

Excellent marketing, poor quality overpriced plants. I use the catalogues and website for inspo then go buy from Hayloft, Claire Austin and Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants. Burncoose for shrubs and trees.

Ghostmartin · 08/03/2026 13:36

😄at those of you saying you look at the website and then shop elsewhere.

Here's a quote from this weekend's FT article I mentioned upthread:

"I now look at her website for inspiration, note down the plants and buy elsewhere" a commenter on Mumsnet wrote last July.

What would journos do without Mumsnet!

TonTonMacoute · 08/03/2026 13:41

I had ordered from them for several years with no problem, but last year was a train wreck. Orders delayed and delayed, then cancelled at the last minute. The plants that did eventually arrive were underwhelming. I did get a refund but it will be a long time before I go back to them.

Springf3v3r · 08/03/2026 14:38

hattie43 · 08/03/2026 08:10

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 .

I think it’s the arrogance that gets me. You can have shit service, shit plants, the wrong plants and zero customer service - because it’s Sarah Raven!

OP posts:
Agapornis · 08/03/2026 21:31

Ghostmartin · 07/03/2026 19:23

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

Here's the FT article --- edit: MN unhelpfully misformats the link, go to https://removepaywalls.com/ and paste https://ft.trib.al/yvp9ovq

CDT · 25/07/2026 18:45

There has very recently been a Radio 4 You and Yours feature on Sarah Raven - not very good, I'm afraid. I've been waiting for seeds for some time now. Trouble is, you just can't speak to anyone there, it's all chatbot stuff, so pretty useless.

CDT · 25/07/2026 18:46

There has very recently been a Radio 4 You and Yours feature on Sarah Raven - not very good, I'm afraid. I've been waiting for seeds for some time now. Trouble is, you just can't speak to anyone there, it's all chatbot stuff, so pretty useless.

hattie43 · 25/07/2026 20:28

I received 3x Salvia 2 months late and only one survived , I just can’t be bothered to complain and won’t shop there again .

HollandC · 27/07/2026 10:12

Very glad I came across this thread as had planned an expensive shop as the website looked great. Any other suggestions for good bulbs I've given in and doing a lasagne pot of tulips etc

Lordofmyflies · 27/07/2026 10:17

She’s known as Sarah Rip-off Raven in our house. We still get the bloody catalogues through our door despite bad experiences.

HollandC · 27/07/2026 23:11

😱😱 well I certainly won't be buying anything

MyAgileUser · 27/07/2026 23:18

Isabelle70 · 08/03/2026 06:43

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.

Do try Chiltern seeds. Have been very happy with them, quick shipping, great choice, good germination.

Toowhiteforawedding · 28/07/2026 11:50

Ugh, literally just posted about their shite customer service and then saw this. Wish I’d seen it before I ordered!

Hiff · 29/07/2026 14:03

Definitely don't order from Sarah Raven! I wish I'd found this thread earlier. We ordered on 29th May, stated delivery within 10 days. We realised the 10 days was pie in the sky as they failed to dispatch. The plants were a birthday present so we cancelled, via the chatbot. No refund arrived, so we chased via e-mails - as others have said you can't call them. No response. Then yesterday a large box of dead plants was left on the doorstep and when I say dead, I mean beyond recoverable - utterly unrecognisable, foliage had dropped off as they were dry as a bone. Awful to see plants like that and all 2 months on from the original order which we'd cancelled anyway. They still have our money too. Bafflingly bad!😠

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