Below is the email conversation, Raphael and Nancy J, had with Trent, the owner of Poppy's, regarding sub-par trees, after having $1436 worth of trees and plants delivered. In the end, he suggests that giving him the opportunity to replace the defective product without posting a complaint is "blackmail", and my expectations were too high, because I was expecting the trees to live!
Trent: I too wish you had bought your trees at home depot. You are actually blaming me for be unwilling to fulfill a guarantee that I never gave you.
You have completely unrealistic expectations of bareroot trees and the amount of time it can take for them to go through shock.
You want the low price but you are not willing to take any responsibility yourself.
And your threats of trying to blackmail me into giving you your way speaks volumes to your character.
Trent
Subject: Re: Withered trees
I planted the trees in a nice spot - some in large pots and some in the ground immediately after the soaking period you recommended. We have a yard full of pretty trees bought from nurseries, and none of them received the level of care that I gave these new ones from you.
When I showed my neighbors the trees to begin with - I prefaced it all with "the maple and fruit trees look dried out to start with... but I imagine they'll come back." They did not all look withered per se to begin with, but all the fruit trees and Japanese maples looked quite dried out. It made me very nervous. Since you delivered them and I assumed you knew what you were doing I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. In retrospect, I wish I had done as you suggested in your last email and simply had you to take them back. I would've saved a lot of money.
I imagine the people who have problems simply don't tell you because you are just going to blame them. I do wish I had bought the trees from Home Depot or one of the other places that stands by their products and does not blame the consumer when there is a problem.
I will put our entire interaction on Yelp, Facebook and related sites tomorrow evening with additional photos, in case you wish to respond further in the meantime. Should you wish to take some action to remedy the situation, I will just review that the blueberry bushes and blue spruce trees were nice and healthy, which they are.
Raphael
Trent: I am heading out of town until tuesday.
NONE of the trees were withered when they arrived. If they were, you definitely should not have bought them. But they were not.
they are in shock, this is to be expected, diligent watering and planting is absolutely necessary.
Bareroot trees, as advised, needed to be planted immediately. This is part of the trade off of the low cost.
I do not guarantee bareroot trees especially in may/june.
I have since sold 40 more to other people who have not had any problems.
I cannot stay in business when I have to be responsible for other people's actions.
The fact that you are saying ALL of them are dying says something to me about how you took care of them.
TRent
Subject: Withered trees
Dear Trent,
When I purchased trees from you, I was concerned about the shape that many of them were in. The fruit trees and Japanese maples seemed all dried out. I soaked their roots for 24 hours as recommended. And gently planted them in high-quality potting soil with a little compost on top. Watered them each day. They are in a place with some sun but also not too hot.
So far I would say all the trees look bad, except for the blue spruces. Two walnuts are already dead and everything else looks like they will die within a week.
I have bought a lot of trees from nurseries in Santa Rosa Home Depot etc. I have never had a tree die right off the bat, or look so withered upon delivery. If they had looked like that in the photos I would've not bought them. Once they were delivered that way, I felt I just needed to be optimistic.
I would like to give you the opportunity to respond, and hopefully replace the trees that are not going to survive.
I am happy with the blueberries and blue spruces. It is the Japanese maples apple trees and walnuts that look like they are in peril.
You're welcome to come over and see for yourself. I tried to take photos but it's really hard to get a good shot.
Raphael read more
