Questions About Ecuagenera - Orchid Board

ghuylar · #1 12-02-2020, 01:35 AM

Hi Everyone,

I placed an order with Ecuagenera this week, however after reading some things it occurred to me that there may be some steps regarding customs that they didn't inform me about. Could anyone with experience ordering from them recently online give me some insight? They didn't tell me I needed to do anything else, but it is better to be safe than sorry since I am still able to get a refund if needed.

DirtyCoconuts · #2 12-02-2020, 07:47 AM

Hi. They take care of the customs as they import to themselves. They then really ship from their USA location in Apopka Florida

I know they mention that a VAT could be added but I have never had that happen

I pay them through PayPal as well so they do not have my CC information. I do that always online and only keep one CC linked to PayPal since they also have had breaches.

Keysguy · #3 12-02-2020, 08:01 AM

I'm in the boat with you ghuylar.
Working on trying to understand how to get them to ship to me. (see Ecuagenera vendor thread)

I will say, I have dealt with Ecuagenera for several years as the vendor liaison for the NH show. The communication is never "crisp" but I've always written that off to language differences. There has never, ever been any hint of unscrupulous action on their part.

Clawhammer · #4 12-02-2020, 08:25 AM

I placed my first order with Ecuagenera 13 days ago (right before black Friday discounts

) and my order is due at my door tomorrow. I will report back. No extra steps required from my side.

My experience so far has been really good. They communicated with me efficiently when I wanted to add an additional plant (by the way, does anyone else always go back and add plants to an existing order or is that just me?).

I will let y'all know how the plants look when they show up.

ghuylar · #5 12-02-2020, 02:10 PM

Okay, your responses have made me feel much better. They have responded to my emails quickly, but communication is hard due to the language barrier. They said my order won't be shipped till February due to poor weather in my area, so keep me posted on how your orders go.

I read some threads on here from 10 years ago or so saying that buyers had to pay hundreds of dollars in import fees, and that reeeeally worried me. Glad to know that it is as easy to purchase their plants as I originally thought. Thank you!

Subrosa · #6 12-02-2020, 04:03 PM

I bought from them several times when they would vend at a local show, and just a few months ago did a mail order after I learned that they'd opened a facility in FL. I've been very satisfied each and every time.

Keysguy · #7 12-03-2020, 10:38 AM

Got a response from Elizabeth this morning.
Apparently they do not ship north during the month of December so will ship to me in Jan. I don't know if this means they dont have what I want in stock in Apopka or what?

Have all you guys ordered off the USA website or the original Ecuadorian site?

Maybe I should have ordered direct from Apopka???? I just used the link on the promotional email....

FWIW.... I ordered;
6 Phrag's- Peruflora cirilia, Eumelia Arias, Hanne Popow, QF Maria, Incan Treasure and St. Ouen. plus Catt. trianae.

Roberta · #8 12-03-2020, 12:01 PM

I don't think that they keep a lot of stock in Apopka. It is handy to have a US base of operations so that they can better deal with the paperwork on the orders. (The same concept as when they ship from shows) Their stuff is worth waiting for. With the holidays they likely have staffing issues (and possibly shipping problems as well) But the the US operation is definitely a small "satellite" ... there is no way that they could maintain the acres of plants that they have in Ecuador in the US location. (Their operation in Ecuador has to be seen to be believed... and they have 3 or 4 facilities, at different elevations, all huge)

Keysguy · #9 12-03-2020, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Their operation in Ecuador has to be seen to be believed

That's what I hear. Ivan keeps telling me to stop nickel and diming myself and just come down for a visit.

It's on my bucket list.

Roberta · #10 12-03-2020, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keysguy

That's what I hear. Ivan keeps telling me to stop nickel and diming myself and just come down for a visit.

It's on my bucket list.

Totally... when this plague is over and travel becomes possible again, Ecuador is a fantastic place to see orchids in the wild - and Ecuagenera runs outstanding tours. For me, it was life-changing for my orchid growing, to see and feel all the environments.