Norman's Orchids/orchids.com

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by cb977

In the meantime, get these babies out of what they were shipped in. Clean up the root area, give them a good spritz of Listerine (I always do this for anything coming from Norman's) and let them sit out of the pot for a day, then repot them.

It's a good thing you do!

There were certain times where I would notice that the potting media had literally turned into dirt, and I wasn't allowed to have the people doing the repotting to repot the plants. And my job was to manage the species greenhouse.

Norman's excuse was, "THEY WERE JUST OVER WATERED, IT'S NOT BROKEN DOWN!" Then he'd throw in a threat or two.

...Yeah...he's a screamer.

[golforchid]

I don't think that you can fault Norman's for the condition of your plants upon arrival. Anyone who orders orchids this time of year (unless perhaps your in Florida, Texas, California, etc) assumes a risk that the plants might suffer damage from the cold, heat pack or not. You also don't know how the shipment was handled (or mishandled) by Fed-Ex which despite being two days, can take longer if the airports are closed. Certainly I've ordered plants when the weather up here was starting to become marginal and was lucky a) that there was no major storm that delayed the shipment and b) the shipment wasn't damaged by sitting in the back of a barely heated delivery truck.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by golforchid

I don't think that you can fault Norman's for the condition of your plants upon arrival. Anyone who orders orchids this time of year (unless perhaps your in Florida, Texas, California, etc) assumes a risk that the plants might suffer damage from the cold, heat pack or not. You also don't know how the shipment was handled (or mishandled) by Fed-Ex which despite being two days, can take longer if the airports are closed. Certainly I've ordered plants when the weather up here was starting to become marginal and was lucky a) that there was no major storm that delayed the shipment and b) the shipment wasn't damaged by sitting in the back of a barely heated delivery truck.

In general, I'd have to agree...but...there are numerous negative feedback threads concerning Norman's.

In this case, it is what it is

[cb977]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

It's a good thing you do!

There were certain times where I would notice that the potting media had literally turned into dirt, and I wasn't allowed to have the people doing the repotting to repot the plants. And my job was to manage the species greenhouse.

Norman's excuse was, "THEY WERE JUST OVER WATERED, IT'S NOT BROKEN DOWN!" Then he'd throw in a threat or two.

...Yeah...he's a screamer.

I want to clarify something...I repot every orchid that I get but there are certain vendors' inventory that calls for the Listerine more than others.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by golforchid

I don't think that you can fault Norman's for the condition of your plants upon arrival. Anyone who orders orchids this time of year (unless perhaps your in Florida, Texas, California, etc) assumes a risk that the plants might suffer damage from the cold, heat pack or not. You also don't know how the shipment was handled (or mishandled) by Fed-Ex which despite being two days, can take longer if the airports are closed. Certainly I've ordered plants when the weather up here was starting to become marginal and was lucky a) that there was no major storm that delayed the shipment and b) the shipment wasn't damaged by sitting in the back of a barely heated delivery truck.

I partially agree.

I did mention that if an orchid grower lives in the parts of the US that receive snow, they shouldn't order during the winter heat pack or not.

However...

Norman's is special.

If you actually saw what condition the moss some of these plants were potted in, I'd think you'd agree that some people here have a legitimate gripe.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by cb977

I want to clarify something...I repot every orchid that I get but there are certain vendors' inventory that calls for the Listerine more than others.

[golforchid]

Not suggesting that folks don't have legitimate concerns about a particular vendor. However, shipping plants at this particular time of year makes it difficult to determine whether the plants were in poor condition prior to shipment (which would then be the responsibility of the vendor) or were damaged in transit which would then be the responsibility of the carrier (and good luck getting Fed-Ex or UPS or USPS to assume responsibility for damage) combined with Mother Nature.

I also repot almost everything in part because many commercial vendors use different potting mixes than I and because so many of them tend to overpot their plants. One exception has been Santa Barbara Orchid Estate everything from them I've had to put in larger containers.

[goodgollymissmolly]

It seems these forums gang up on a vendor from time to time. We have plants here described as wet when received via FedEX 2nd Day Air. They certainly look bad, but I can't tell whether they are frozen or soaked beyond belief.

This shipment would have come through Memphis at around midnight (as all Fed EX air shipments) on Tuesday or Wednesday night (I can't tell for sure from the post when the customer got these). It was raining in Memphis with 0.5 in on Wed and over an inch on Thursday. The temp was between 20 and 30 degrees. The high temp in Pierre SD was in the mid 20's on Thursday with a blizzard expected.

So it's hard for me to figure why someone in SD would order plants in late December especially with a long range forecast as bad as it has been over the Xmas week. It's not possible to tell how or when these plants got cold or wet or both because there were many opportunities. I seriously doubt any vendor would ship wet plants in cold weather.

Then we have a self proclaimed ex employee slamming the vendor. I wonder how the vendor might describe the ex? Is there an ax grinding there? I do not know, but believing any of this is far fetched for sure. Employers usually refrain from negative public comments about ex employees. Looks like a good employee would do the same. Let's just say that describing oneself as King of Orchid Growing is a bit egotistical for my taste.

Before jumping on the pile it might be wise to realize that you do not know the customer or his expectations, motives, or general orchid knowledge. One person on this forum pulled a similar stunt against another vendor to get a second set of plants which she offered for sale. I'm not saying this person did that, but you don't know one way or the other. It's peculiar that two other vendors also sent shipments that this customer found fault with. Maybe he is just unlucky, but much of unlucky is really poor planning.

I buy a hell of a lot of plants (including some from Norman's) and I have never had all these problems that various people describe. Maybe I'm just lucky, but it's also possible that some people are not exercising good judgment when ordering and in communicating with the vendor about appropriate shipping dates based on weather expectations. Part of the responsibility is personal responsibility. I would never expect a vendor to know as much about my weather as I do.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

It seems these forums gang up on a vendor from time to time. We have plants here described as wet when received via FedEX 2nd Day Air. They certainly look bad, but I can't tell whether they are frozen or soaked beyond belief.

This shipment would have come through Memphis at around midnight (as all Fed EX air shipments) on Tuesday or Wednesday night (I can't tell for sure from the post when the customer got these). It was raining in Memphis with 0.5 in on Wed and over an inch on Thursday. The temp was between 20 and 30 degrees. The high temp in Pierre SD was in the mid 20's on Thursday with a blizzard expected.

So it's hard for me to figure why someone in SD would order plants in late December especially with a long range forecast as bad as it has been over the Xmas week. It's not possible to tell how or when these plants got cold or wet or both because there were many opportunities. I seriously doubt any vendor would ship wet plants in cold weather.

Then we have a self proclaimed ex employee slamming the vendor. I wonder how the vendor might describe the ex? Is there an ax grinding there? I do not know, but believing any of this is far fetched for sure. Employers usually refrain from negative public comments about ex employees. Looks like a good employee would do the same. Let's just say that describing oneself as King of Orchid Growing is a bit egotistical for my taste.

Before jumping on the pile it might be wise to realize that you do not know the customer or his expectations, motives, or general orchid knowledge. One person on this forum pulled a similar stunt against another vendor to get a second set of plants which she offered for sale. I'm not saying this person did that, but you don't know one way or the other. It's peculiar that two other vendors also sent shipments that this customer found fault with. Maybe he is just unlucky, but much of unlucky is really poor planning.

I buy a hell of a lot of plants (including some from Norman's) and I have never had all these problems that various people describe. Maybe I'm just lucky, but it's also possible that some people are not exercising good judgment when ordering and in communicating with the vendor about appropriate shipping dates based on weather expectations. Part of the responsibility is personal responsibility. I would never expect a vendor to know as much about my weather as I do.

My screen name is not to be taken seriously!!! There is a smiley at the end of it. IT'S A JOKE, I'M NOT THE KING OF ORCHID GROWING!!! It just feels like it cause my house was crawling with them! Over 500 of them!

I worked for Norman's orchids they're jerks! Enough said!

They don't always have the best looking plants. I've managed their greenhouses.

Read my post carefully. I did say not to buy during the winter if you're from an area that receives snow!

I've personally heard them b***h about a customer in my face! This dealt with a complaint! I have merit in what I say.

This is not ego talking. I'm telling the truth, that you wouldn't normally see!

I did my best working for them. If you don't believe me I don't give a rat's what you believe. Try working in conditions where you're told to do one thing and you do exactly that, only to have that overturned the next minute! Then get a good chew out session! Everyday was like this!!!

Whenever Norman was there, I was always paranoid that he'd yell in my ear. I've never heard this guy speak calmly to me! From the time I clock in till the time I clock out, as long as Norman's within distance my ears will be full of his wrath.

Every day was a nightmare! I always got an earful! Nothing I did was right! Norman especially always lamented how he lost the previous greenhouse manager! What the hell are YOU talking about!

I still remember the last day working there! I had to hold back tears from the crap he said about me!

He's not the one who hired me. His brother Eric was! Eric is a much more even tempered person! When I was a customer there, Eric was the one who dealt with me not Norman!!

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! DON'T EVEN CRITICIZE MY WORK ETHICS!

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY FOR 10 YRS!!! I'M AN ACTOR!!! I WORKED FOR NORMAN'S BECAUSE I NEEDED A STEADIER INCOME!

WORKING IN FILM IS A HIGH STAKE JOB, YOU CAN FEEL THE PRESSURE!!! IT'S THICK! THERE'S NO MESSING AROUND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FILM PROJECTS LIKE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3: AT WORLD'S END IN WHICH I HAD A PART IN!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST TRY MESSING UP ON A FILM PROJECT OF THIS CALIBER AND SEE WHAT THAT GETS YOU! YOU'LL EITHER GET YOUR SCREEN TIME REDUCED TO NILL, BE REPLACED BY SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU (AND THERE ARE TONS, BELIEVE ME, I KNOW, CAUSE I'VE SEEN THE MANY PEOPLE WHO COULD EASILY TAKE MY PLACE), OR YOU'LL NEVER WORK IN HOLLYWOOD AGAIN!!!

AND I WAS ALL OVER THAT MOVIE, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW I'M THERE! I'M AN UNKNOWN, SO DON'T EVEN PULL THE CARD ABOUT HOW COME YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF ME! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHO I AM!!!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Look...

If the original poster still wants to get orchids during the winter, I suggest going to a major retailer closer to where she lives.

Now I don't know how long of a drive it is from Germany, South Dakota to Minnesota, but I do know that Orchids Limited is in MN and it's closer to South Dakota than California is.

To the original poster:

Like I said before...

Pay a visit to Orchids Limited! They're closer, and you may even be able to handpick the orchids you want.

I've driven to Santa Barbara before to go to Santa Barbara Orchid Estate and the Earl Warren Fairgrounds for the orchid shows, and that's a 2 to 3 hour drive for me. Just plan for it.