"Ray @ First Rays Orchids" wrote in message ...

I agree with everything you said. As for notification, it's nice when
a nursery lets you know, but frankly, that's a fairly new phenomenon,
what with widespread email and all, and I don't really expect it. I'd
be pretty annoyed with my postal carrier if they left a package that
said "live plants" out in full sun (or out in the open in the middle
of Winter), but I don't really see that as a vendor issue. Even if
they tell you when it's sent, you won't know exactly when it's going
to arrive unless you're using FedEx or UPS "express" services.

As for the the "bill collector" thing, that's happened with George as
well. I don't really understand why that's a problem. If they don't
think they've been paid, why shouldn't they ask about it? Neither of
these guys is a big company with accounts receivable clerks, and
things are bound to fall through the cracks. Quick emails to George
solved the "problem" and I imagine the same would hold true with
David.

My observation is that this whole bare root import thing has become
somewhat of a "fad" and people are buying plants they could get
already established at prices not much above the bare root prices. I
don't get it -- I only buy recent imports when I can't otherwise get
the plant, it's a huge honker of a plant (at regular prices) that I
can see for myself, or they're so cheap I'm willing to risk a complete
loss. In either case, it makes the risks involved much more
palatable.

Michael