Blooming Direct Reviews

(based on 4 reviews)

164 of 354 people found this review helpful

If I could give no stars, I would.

I'm very, very disappointed and upset by my experience with Blooming Direct.

I ordered 24xheliotrope large plugs; a packet of seeds; tuberose bulbs.

The "heliotrope" package arrived about a week after ordering. They didn't look like heliotrope, but they were so small it was hard to be sure. The rest of my order was missing and there was no explanation on the delivery note. Oh yes, and despite my being in the house at the time, the courier left the package on the doorstep in full view of the street and any passing burglars.

I e-mailed customer services, but received no response. So I then telephoned customer services (no geographical telephone number - so an expensive call from my mobile). A very nice lady told me that they had sent my heliotrope early, because there was a delay with the rest of my order. I wouldn't be charged extra postage.

Eventually, about 5 weeks after ordering, the tuberose bulbs and my packet of seeds arrived. The seeds will be too late to plant this year, but have a long date so hopefully I can use them next year. The tuberose bulbs were rotten - one literally exploded when I opened the packet and I had a Tom Cruise "War of the Worlds" moment in front of the bathroom mirror.

Two weeks ago the alleged heliotrope (which hadn't grown in stature) started putting out flowers. Very pale lilac colour and odd shaped flowers (for a heliotrope). I telephoned again and got a "they're called Marine mix" explanation. Hmm.

Now they are nearly all in flower and there's not a heliotrope amongst them. So I telephoned yet again (yesterday) spoke to customer service rep Liam and asked to be sent larger plants that really were heliotrope (because it's far too late in the season to start with plugs). Only a manager could authorise that, so I asked for a call back.

This afternoon, having had no call back, I telephoned YET AGAIN. Liam had not left a message for a manager to ring me. The customer services rep Grant offered a refund. (They are not able to send me replacement plants larger than the tiny plugs). But only a refund for the heliotrope! I asked to speak to a manager. No manager came to a phone, but Grant did come back eventually with an offer of a full refund. Including postage. I await developments with interest.

In the meantime, my courtyard garden is bereft of plants. 24 heliotrope would have had a quite an impact. They were intended to set the theme for all my hanging baskets and wall troughs. The other plants surrounding the stunted mystery plants were all chosen to complement the deep purple, size and habit of heliotrope.

If I can manage to find any at this late stage in the season, it's going to cost me a small fortune to get any the right size.

I am not happy.

In summary, I would not recommend Blooming Direct to a friend.