About 3 weeks ago, my husband and I ordered 5 yards of McFarlane's Dark Hemlock Mulch that was delivered the next day. We carefully spread the mulch in 1 inch layering on top of landscaping fabric.
At about 8:00am on Saturday morning my husband came home and noticed smoke coming up from our side yard. The ground where the mulch was spread and our fence were up in flames! The fire department came and we were told that the mulch was the cause of the fire. This was not because the weather was hot that week as it was of 65º-79º F. Mulch goes through a process of decomposition and is supposed to be regulated and considered safe in regards to combustion by the time it is delivered to the consumer.
We were mortified. What if we had not come home that morning? Our entire home could have burned to the ground.
When we spoke to Kathleen McFarlane, one of the owners of McFarlane's Bark, she was rude and we were immediately dismissed and told that it was not their responsibility. She sounded like she was reading from a script.
McFarlane's website states "As it is our objective to continually raise the standard of our products we have been submitting our compost products for testing since 1993. In meeting the required monthly testing parameters that have been set by the U.S. Composting Council, we maintain the "Seal of Testing Assurance"."
After inquiring about the temperature readings and testings of their mulch piles (required monthly testing parameters and "Seal of Testing Assurance"), including the one that was delivered to our home, Ms. McFarlane stated "umm no, we don't take the temperature of our mulch piles", and proceeded to recite her previous statement in that it was not their responsibility.
Composting Facilities are required, by law, to regulate the temperature of compost piles that must meet a standard in order to then sell it the consumer. Pursuant to WAC 173-350-220(4)(vii)(B), ..."The temperature of the active compost pile must be maintained at fifty-five degrees Celsius (one hundred thirty-one degrees Fahrenheit) or higher for three consecutive days (seventy-two hours.."
We were shocked by this woman's statement, let alone the unprofessional-ism and immediate dis-concern from one of the business owners herself towards a clients concerns.
Why is this company still operating when they are clearly selling the consumer an inferior product and yet they misrepresent on their website that they persevere in their obligation to produce safe, uniform and superior products. When in reality, once they receive your money, any issues that may arise are simply "not their responsibility" and you're treated like they don't care about the customer or that there was a concern with their product.
We are not trying to be petty or rude with this review, just truthful and maybe if we had read a review like this prior to doing business with this company, we would have been spared from this horrible experience. If you have any regard for customer service, professionalism or fire prevention, I would highly recommend that you do not do business with this company. read more