Hi all,

I wonder if one of the professionals or someone experienced with mail
order can help me.

I have an order of 18 plants coming (to Normandy) from a well known
Dutch supplier. I ordered all small plants because I wanted to use
parcel post to keep shipping costs down. Out of the 18, there is one
plant at 80/100 cm, a 60/80, a 50/60, two 5 liter pots, and thirteen 3
liter pots. (Normally anything up to 120 cm can go by post).

I had an email discussion with the supplier where he clearly understood
I wanted to ship by mail.

I was surprised to receive a bill for 236 EU (exc VAT) for shipping by
truck, almost the same price as the plants themselves. Upon inquiry the
supplier claims that the total weight is 110 kg, too heavy for post
(although they also claim on the web site that up to 30 kg us possible,
so even if, it should have been able to go in 4 packages...)

I can't imagine how these 18 small plants could weigh so much. It seems
to me a 3 liter (3/4 gallon) pot + young graft or seedling should weigh
around 2 pounds, i.e. a kilogram or maybe two maximum.

Can anyone tell me what a 3/4 gallon young plant should weigh for
shipping purposes (approximately, obviously!) Any ideas as to how I
might proceed with the supplier, who is in the position of being the
only one marketing certain rare plants?

Thanks in advance,

-E