Nursery not having plants?

SSM&JLM

We got a drawing done up by a local place.  The deal is they do the drawing and you're supposed to buy some of the suggested plants from them.

I told the landscaper that we would be in on Saturday and was looking for a price quote.  She never called me back.

When we showed up Saturday to pick plants and buy them, they had 1 of the 4 plants suggested.  Plus the place didn't seem to care that they A, didn't have any plants and B, the ones they did have were in horrible shape.

Are we crazy or is this normal?

j+k

Normal for the nursery. You have to shop around for a good nursery that has a large variety of plants. We have lots of small nurseries but we have to drive a good half hour to go to one that we know is reputable and has a ton of variety in plants.  

It's not normal for you landscaper.  I'm surprised your landscaper can't or won't buy them wholesale. You might want to consider changing landscapers. Personally, if I hire a landscaper, I want them to handle it completely.

kastle

I'm going to say not normal.

not business should be uncaring that they don't have what they told customers the HAD in stock and for what they do have in stock to be damaged.

SSM&JLM

The landscaper works for the nursery, so the wholesale thing is out.

DH called them this morning, they have no idea when they may get more plants in.  This is very frustrating.

In the mean time, we've bought some of the plants at lowes cheaper and are going after work to a local competitor that has one other type of plant we need cheaper and bigger.

I guess we'll give them one more shot this weekend, for the last plant and one tree.  What if I was a customer getting a full service job and the nursery is supposed to be planting the plants?

flame

It's somewhat normal for nurseries to be out of stock. Plants aren't necessaryily available at all times and sometimes they get sold out.  You should talk to the landscaper again and see if you can schedule a specific time on the day the nursery gets their weekly deliveries. Then you can pick specific flowers. Also, it coul be a case that all the plantings aren't spring plantings.  So you might not be able to get specific plants until summer or fall.

kastle

flame:

It's somewhat normal for nurseries to be out of stock. Plants aren't necessaryily available at all times and sometimes they get sold out.  You should talk to the landscaper again and see if you can schedule a specific time on the day the nursery gets their weekly deliveries. Then you can pick specific flowers. Also, it coul be a case that all the plantings aren't spring plantings.  So you might not be able to get specific plants until summer or fall.

true, but they should have told her that & not have her come in ASAP to pick things out.

I still think the nursery is acting weird & unprofessional.

SSM&JLM

flame:

It's somewhat normal for nurseries to be out of stock. Plants aren't necessaryily available at all times and sometimes they get sold out.  You should talk to the landscaper again and see if you can schedule a specific time on the day the nursery gets their weekly deliveries. Then you can pick specific flowers. Also, it coul be a case that all the plantings aren't spring plantings.  So you might not be able to get specific plants until summer or fall.

I could see that argument, if not the week before we had walked the nursery, with the lady and she pointed out to us all of the plants in the drawing.  So they had them all at one point, it's just 2 weekends later when we had said we wanted to pick up, they didn't have them.

I know they can sell out, I know that things happen, I'm more miffed that they aren't communicating and being unprofessional as the pp said.