Purchase a 3 gallons, Autumn Embers Encore Azalea for $54.95 and paid $16.95 for shipping. Received a plant with many holes and dark brown spots on leaves (both sides) and branches. Called the company and spoke to Brian (brian AT brighterblooms.com). Sent him 3 photos of the plant via internet email. Described in my email that the plant is contaminated with fungus ( brown spots ) and ask for either exchange or refund.

I asked Brian that "Brighter Blooms" pay for the return shipping cost for exchange or 100% refund.

After reviewing the photos with one of his nursery associates, Brian insisted that the plant is not sick and "Brighter Blooms" would not pay for return shipping costs for exchange and it will be 10% restocking fee for refund.

I paid the asking price and shipping but "Brighter Blooms does not delivery the quality healthy plant", instead shipped the one with fungus infested and damages inflicted by insects.

I had bought many Encore Azaleas online and never received one like this one. I also did purchase some plants from "Brighter Blooms" in the past and never had a problem.

Please be advised that before you plan to buy or deal with "Brighter Blooms", have a second thought and ask yourself whether you can take this kind of abuse and absorbing loses from "Brighter Blooms" or ...?

I have reported to Office of the Attorney General for the State of North Carolina and BBB (Better Business Bureau) of North Carolina.

Please spare some of your precious moment to expose this type of bad practice by online merchants in order to protect other honest consumers.

I placed an order with 'Fast Growing Trees Nursery', I believe possibly a sister company of Brighter Blooms, and received a coupon for free shipping with Brighter Blooms. Went to Brighter Blooms website, placed a second order using the free shipping code given to me at the end of the order form and placed the order. I received a confirmation still showing shipping costs moments later so I contacted their live chat service and asked for the gentleman's help to remove the shipping costs but was told there was nothing that can be done on an order that was already placed (5 minutes ago) and I would have to pay the shipping charges. I then asked that the order be canceled and I was subsequently told there would be a 10% cancelation fee on my now 8 minute old order. When I asked if there was someone else I could speak with about the situation I was told I was speaking to the Manager of Customer Services. With every exchange from this Manager I was never offered any alternative to help resolve the unsatisfied Free Shipping offer.

After this unusually rigid and terse exchange with the person who's job it is to take care of Customer Service I became quite nervous about what I could expect of my sizable orders and I contacted my Capital One Visa representative to ask if I had any recourse. He very kindly called the company and successfully accomplished a cancelation of both orders.

After reading all of the negative feedback both companies have received I was very greatful for Capital One's help with ending both transactions. I absolutely would not recommend you do business with either of these questionable companies.

Sincerely,
Carla in Pittsburgh