Sad news on the gardening front, folks: last Friday, April 2, the Geo. W. Park Seed Company, Inc., and the Jackson & Perkins Company voluntarily filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of South Carolina.
The 142-year old Park Seed Company offers ornamental and edible seeds and plants, while the 138-year-old Jackson & Perkins is a global name in roses. Park Seed Wholesale, also listed in the filing, has been providing retailers and growers with products since 1870.
According to their press release, “The horticulture industry is challenging and highly seasonal in the best of times. As the general economic situation declined starting in 2008, demand for luxury, non-essential purchases dropped sharply. All of our brands experienced significant decreases in sales for core products, including roses, perennials, and garden-inspired gifts.
“This created cash-flow issues that worsened with each passing season. Despite deep cost-cutting and numerous attempts to execute supplier payment programs on our own, we simply could not meet our short- and long-term operating cash requirements. Seeking court protection and restructuring is clearly our best option for returning to a position where we can focus on delighting our customers and resuming sound relationships with our supply chain partners.”
The companies contend that through the process they will be able to keep gardens blooming. Customers should not be affected by the filing, so if you’ve been mulling purchases you should still plan on ordering. Their garden centers, call centers, and websites are open.
Very irresponsible to recommend that people should still plan on ordering from this company. I would suggest reading some of the online reviews of this company in regards to this year and see for yourself how poorly managed it is and how unlikely you are to get anything you order, let alone get a refund back for items they don’t have in stock anymore. Very sad to see this company deteriorate each and every year until they could no longer survive or provide the quality they used to be known for. I of course hope they come back and wish the family well, but it will take a long time to regain my trust.
Thanks for the suggestion to check out the reviews of the companies, Douglas, from reading them I can certainly see your concern. The on-line “rate this company” places are running neck-and-neck with comments that either love or hate them. Whether it was deteriorating customer service leading up to the bankruptcy filing or other factors I don’t know, but of note is that all customers should be wary during the bankruptcy process. A LOT of the complaints I read centered on non-delivery of order followed by a no-refund policy (merchandise credit only) that the places imposed – and several people who have access to lawyers say they’re told the companies can do this during their bankruptcy protection.
A mistake was made when sending my order last fall. Not the bulbs I ordered.
It took less than 5 minutes, e-mail, to get a response and a credit for almost $100. I will reorder my bulbs this fall.
Long time J&P customer. Whenever an issue, very few, I’ve been 200% satisfied with the outcome.
I will continue to support Jackson Perkins. My grandmother trusted them and nothing has changed.
Difficult times surround us. JP brings a bit of positive into our lives.
Chi
I only wish that I had as good as an experience as the above had. My great grandmother would plant nothing but Jackson Perkins and had the most beautiful garden! Remembering this, I ordered 5 rose bushes from them this spring. They arrived and I planted them immediately. Three bloomed out a bit, one put out a feeler, and one just sat there. I emailed them and was told to do the scratch test. I did this and all seemed to be at least somewhat alive. After watching them carefully, I contacted J&P on June 30 to report that 2 were dead. I was given a choice between a refund or a credit and,since they couldn’t guarantee that the roses that I wanted would be available in the spring, I requested a refund. I was told it would take 7 days to process it. After 7 days I received nothing and emailed again and was told they would rush it and it would be 7 days. Again after a week I emailed again and was told by return email that since I received the product, it would take 30 business days.
In the meantime the other plants have succumbed, but nothing can be done since they only guarantee their product for 60days-hardly enough to see if a plant is to , survive, and I still haven’t received my refund.
This is a lousy company resting on past reputation and delivering inferior product and even more inferior customer service.