CRAP online experience - always leaves me disappointed !

Here's the scenario - we're getting ourselves organised to do a tradeshow and we need some plants - to best show off our beautiful pots.

Every year - we have bought heaps of plants , Lilies, Clivias, Buxus balls and Ficus trees to best show off our merchandise and unfortunately, in our stampede to dismantle the stand get out of there when the shows done, we have often damaged plants beyond salvage or it is just not economically viable to transport them back to our warehouse from where ever we are.

This year was going to be different - I had a light bulb moment...
    " Why not use Artificial Plants ?"

Brillant idea I hear you murmur - so one may think BUT like all good Lessons on Life, my downfall was in the execution of my brillant idea.

O.k - i am getting carried away with my own use the written word so i better cut to the chase ...
     ORDERED some fake buxus balls off an OVERSEAS WEBSITE  ($800.oo worth) because yes i'll admit it they were the CHEAPEST OPTION. 

Needless to say - I'm sure you can guess the end result...they were CRAP and the Buxus Balls came FLATPACKED.

I was really disappointed ... again !!!

IMPOSSIBLE to pack a round object FLATLY i hear you scream - please refer photo.

Not only Flat Packed but self assembly as well.

Sometimes it is difficult to listen to your own advise, we always try to offer the BEST VALUE on Garden Pots &  Water-features but we get customers that cannot immediately recognise the differing quality of goods between stores so they buy the cheapest - only to find that the item barely retains its material & aesthetic properties after 12 months.

I tell them..." when we sell something, I want it to look good in your garden for years to come. That's why we sell quality products so you'll be happy and keep coming back to us."

So my tips for successful online shopping are:
 - buy off a business with a proper warehouse or shop address IN AUSTRALIA that you can return goods to if you are disappointed.
- an eBay store is not a physical store.
- buy off people that have a history and reputation in that field, that they do not want tarnished.
- cheapest in most instances is often the crappiest.
- use PayPal to try to protect yourself from fraud.
- don't buy the hype (reviews & ratings can be doctored)

As a side note - we do a huge amount of our business online and if anyone of our customers are not happy with there purchase, don't hesitate, call me so we can fix it - mob: 0457 988 808.

In 8 years and over 40,000 orders, we've only had to refund 6 people so yes I'm pretty proud of our product range and the exceptional value we offer.

Save Money - Buy Quality !

This post is not a paid advertisement by Gerry Harvey.