Portland OR - Orchid Exchange WARNING - Orchid Board

ARiehle · #1 05-22-2007, 11:04 AM

We recently relocated to from Honolulu HI to Portland OR and needed a temporary solution for taking care of our collection of orchids. We found the "orchid exchange" (The Orchid Exchange) through a friend, spoke with them about caring for our orchids and found that they had recently launched a program where they rented greenhouse space and provided care to orchids for a monthly fee. We gladly signed up and gave them our orchids. We did not think at the time to get an itemized list. The first hint of trouble came when we requested our plants be returned and were asked how many we had dropped off, and specifically what variety they were. After a couple days we received a call telling us our orchids were ready to be picked up, upon arriving at the orchid exchange we found that the plants deemed ours were not even close to the ones we dropped off. Many of these plants were given to our family for special occasions, our daughters first birthdays (the plants continually flowered around these occasions each year) our anniversary, etc… The management has told us that he is unable to do anything while insisting that he is sure that his company has made no mistake. Even though he now tells us that the greenhouse is not now, nor has ever been in his control, that in fact it is owned by a third party, and therefore refused to allow us to travel at our own expense to see if we can find any of the lost orchids. They have lost, re-sold or killed 11 of the 14 orchids! We are saddened at the loss of our plants and would strongly recommend finding another avenue to purchase or care for your orchids.
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cb977 · #2 05-22-2007, 12:03 PM

Hello and sorry to hear of your woes

We have an Introductions forum where you can post a hello to the members of our community and allow them to welcome you to Orchidboard.

I can't imagine how saddened you are by the loss...but...
why would you not have a list or a receipt of the plants that you gave to them? An ounce of prevention and all that...

ARiehle · #3 05-22-2007, 12:59 PM

Thank you for your kind words. I am on my way to post a hello in the welcome section, just had to get the warning out first!
On the receipt thing, yes I am sure we have them in a box somewhere for at least the ones we purchased ourselves, but the gifts are next to impossible to track down and yes and ounce of prevention - if we only knew then what we know now!

cb977 · #4 05-22-2007, 01:14 PM

Sorry...I meant did you not get a receipt from them when you handed over the plants? There should've been some sort of record made for the interests of both parties.

What a terrible way to learn a lesson

We'll make you feel better here at Orchidboard...you'll be rebuilding your collection in no time

Nice to have you with us

ARiehle · #5 05-22-2007, 02:02 PM

Whoops - I misunderstood that!
And yes a receipt for the orchids we dropped off would have been a very good idea, one that we only thought of after they asked "what kind and how many did you drop off?". One of the nurseries I used to stop in to see every time I was on Kauai had the same reaction and was surprised that there wasn't a receipt given when we dropped them off.
Thanks for the warm welcome!

Tindomul · #6 05-22-2007, 02:18 PM

Thats not right! They should not be asking what you dropped off, they should have a list in their records and be ready with it the moment you call to reclaim them. Even if you had a list of names they could switch your orchids with someone else's. Not good. They need to get some way of keeping your orchids separate from everyone else's orchids. Tell you exactly where in the GH they are being placed, and keep them all together as a group (like little school kids). Imagine if schools asked parents at the end of the day "what kind and how many did you drop off?" OMG!!!

littlefrog · #7 05-22-2007, 03:59 PM

Yes, an inventory is a really good idea. Speaking from experience here. I've housed plants for two friends while they were moving (still have one person's), for free... But with an informal arrangment comes informal record keeping, and I strongly suspect there has been some mixing going on. If I was paying for space, I'd insist on proper record keeping, of course.

IdahoOrchid · #8 05-27-2007, 06:44 PM

Not only a paper record, but since there is the chance of tag switching (intentional or not) some sort of photographic evidence as well would be highly suggested. A digital image or even an inexpensive disposable camera could be a real saver.

Maybe you have pictures of your plants and just did not think of that avenue of IDing them?

Djarum Black · #9 05-27-2007, 08:02 PM

Ohh that is just soo wrong! Not to mention terrible for you! I'm sorry to hear that you lost plants that were precious to you.

There is a nursery in my area that provides a service much like the one you mentioned. However I've been there a few times and would be a little worried about leaving anything I loved behind in their care. There program is called "Orchid Boarding" I think. They take your plants for a fee while you are on vacation or moving or just need a break from care. However each time I went in to the location I saw plants grouped together only by a single slip of paper taped onto a tray or box. Some groupings were very close together to the point I don't see how they could distinguish the difference.
If it were me much like a drycleaning order I'd make them tag *everything* that is mine right in front of me and get a itemized list for my own records when I left.

Just a suggestion, in case you had not thought of this already. Contact the BBB and submit a complaint. See if they change their tune about letting you look for your missing plants!

ARiehle · #10 05-28-2007, 02:33 PM

Thanks for all the response!
We have submitted a report to the BBB and to Angie's List, nothing from the "Orchid Exchange" as of today. We have gone through all our digital (and boxes of pre-digital, which equaled about 4 hours each between my wife and myself) pictures and submitted them - and again so far nothing. I am afraid we are going to have to take them to small claims court for any thing to happen - and even then we have almost (tiny glimmer of hope still remains) given up on getting our Orchids back. Of course we can replace them with new ones, but everyone here knows how that would feel...
If you know any Portland people, please spread the word, maybe public pressure will work!
Thanks for everyones help and kind words of support.

A Riehle