I'm making an account with yelp (which I abstain from as a small business) for the sole purpose of joining these other hard working landscaping companies in blasting Mortellaros and their belligerent leader, James Hardin. I am a retail garden center less than fifteen miles away from this company and it would seem to be a no brainer that I would purchase a lot from them for resale. Over the years, not to mention spending an average of 30-40k a year with them, my hard working salesman got me to look past constant mistreatment of my business in order to get me product that I truly needed. This mistreatment ranged from parking lot issues that closely resemble other reviews on this site, all the way to billing drama and just general disdain that I would bother them with my orders.
It was unlike anything I've ever experienced with other wholesale companies.
The final straw came over something so outrageous that sometimes I replay this in my mind to still try and figure out what I am missing.
I placed an order on a Monday for a delivery on Thursday, the soonest they could get to me.
Tuesday afternoon I called my salesman to say, so sorry for the change, but I need to "drop x amount" of one item but would like to add something larger. I was dropping 10, 5gallon plants I decided I didn't need and added a very large tree. I would be paying an extra $32.00. He sheepishly informed me that they would be charging me a restocking fee. RESTOCKING? My order is over 48 hours away, not on a truck, how could it possibly be subject to restocking?? He understood, but it wouldn't be something he had control over. He said they "might have" already pulled it and put it in a holding area. So it would take one employee 10 min to go grab and put back in the inventory? I know they are busy, but in the scheme of things in this industry, this is a very very small task. Not to mention, NOT even the morning of or anything. Over 48hrs away.
The 15% restocking fee on the difference came to $18.00. I obviously informed him that this would not be a fee I would be paying....and they chose to loose a significant company over $18.00. Side point, if I were the salesman on something like this, I would more than likely not say a thing, pay my customers fee of 18bucks and not loose the commissions on 30k a year, but this guy probably couldn't start down that slippery slope with this company. Who knows. But there is no question about how greedy this new "rule" was...and he knew it.
It's just outrageous.
To top it all off, they sent the bill for the 18bucks even though I cancelled the entire order. HILARIOUS. Keep on sending that stamp! Never will it be paid. These owners are jokes. I have a very keen understanding of how hard it is to run small biz, and keep everyone happy. But over and over and over again, these guys seem to enjoy abusing their peers. They treat them like scum. The entire environment when you drive in and try to smile at the front desk is just TOXIC.
Obviously this review is not for the general public as they cannot shop here. But to the wholesale landscape industry, be honest. Their treatment of people is abusive. If you haven't experienced it yet, hold on. But in the meantime, how about not support them based on principle. Do your shopping elsewhere. They think they are invincible. The few reviews on this website are just a drop in the bucket to the word on the street. This industry is difficult enough without bullies like this. They will never wake up if we continue to support. Of course I miss some things they sell. OH WELL.
Put our foot down. Unacceptable. read more
