Seattle Orchid virus issues?

[MJG]

I appreciate all the input and I agree with the sentiments expressed! I bought my orchids with a credit card. I thought credit cards were better than paypal when it comes to fraud. Now I know.

I wrote back to Seattle Orchid and told them that the only resolution that's acceptable to me is a full refund. I also offered, in lieu of actually sending the diseased plants back, to rerun the tests and mail them the test strips. I am not hopeful, and plan to start the process with my credit card company tomorrow.

JScott, you are right. Research your orchid grower (or in this case, reseller)! I let myself get suckered into buying from SO because I was searching for a phal bellina (desperately) and the only vendor that bubbled up as having one in stock was SO. I jumped at it, not knowing about their reputation, but also not researching it. Ironic that the bellina they sent me has BOTH the ORSV and CyMV viruses.

Then I let myself be drawn in by their "help our poor grower in Hawaii who is barely afloat in the midst of covid-19" sale. 3 of the 7 orchids I bought from the poor Hawaiian grower tested positive for viruses.

Anyway, moral of the story is do your research before you buy.

Something else that absolutely galls me is that yesterday I received a "blast" email from them that they're doing a second "help our poor Hawaiian grower sale". Seattle Orchid is doing this despite all the recent feedback they've received about the Hawaiian orchids being diseased.

On the happy and healthy side of things, I did find a beautiful phal bellina that arrived at my home today from Orchidweb ie Orchids Limited. I am delighted. And thanks to this board, I found this grower and read about their reputation before I ordered. 🙂

[JScott]

Originally Posted by MJG

I appreciate all the input and I agree with the sentiments expressed! I bought my orchids with a credit card. I thought credit cards were better than paypal when it comes to fraud. Now I know.

I wrote back to Seattle Orchid and told them that the only resolution that's acceptable to me is a full refund. I also offered, in lieu of actually sending the diseased plants back, to rerun the tests and mail them the test strips. I am not hopeful, and plan to start the process with my credit card company tomorrow.

JScott, you are right. Research your orchid grower (or in this case, reseller)! I let myself get suckered into buying from SO because I was searching for a phal bellina (desperately) and the only vendor that bubbled up as having one in stock was SO. I jumped at it, not knowing about their reputation, but also not researching it. Ironic that the bellina they sent me has BOTH the ORSV and CyMV viruses.

Then I let myself be drawn in by their "help our poor grower in Hawaii who is barely afloat in the midst of covid-19" sale. 3 of the 7 orchids I bought from the poor Hawaiian grower tested positive for viruses.

Anyway, moral of the story is do your research before you buy.

Something else that absolutely galls me is that yesterday I received a "blast" email from them that they're doing a second "help our poor Hawaiian grower sale". Seattle Orchid is doing this despite all the recent feedback they've received about the Hawaiian orchids being diseased.

On the happy and healthy side of things, I did find a beautiful phal bellina that arrived at my home today from Orchidweb ie Orchids Limited. I am delighted. And thanks to this board, I found this grower and read about their reputation before I ordered. 🙂

Don't feel bad, I've done the same thing myself. I'm looking for a particular orchid, and I get excited when I find it and order it immediately without researching the nursery. I bet we've all done that at one time or another. But now you know, and you can get the word out about Seattle Orchids, and maybe you can make a difference in somebody else's life.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by MJG

I appreciate all the input and I agree with the sentiments expressed! I bought my orchids with a credit card. I thought credit cards were better than paypal when it comes to fraud. Now I know.

And as far as PayPal goes, I always use them when the option is available, because their grievance process is much easier than with a credit card, they will try to help you work it out to your satisfaction, and if that is not possible, and they feel that you were not treated fairly (and the burden of proof of fair treatment is on the seller, not the buyer), they tend to side with the buyer more often that with the seller. They'll just reverse the transaction. I love PayPal.