Thuja Gardens

I ordered 140 Thuja Green Giant trees from this vender (Thuja Gardens) with a sale price of $10.00 per 2-3 ft tree (not counting bucket). When I received my trees they came in nine large boxes, which concerned me because I couldn't see how they would all fit without being damaged at that size. There were 16 tress in each box , 4x2 stacked on each end, head overlapping strapped in pretty well. Only one box had broke loose in shipment, broke a couple and bent some others, I think most will survive. The problem: they all fit tightly in the boxes because they were the wrong size trees. I was sent the 18-24 inch trees instead of the 2-3 ft trees that I paid for. I opened all of the boxes to check the trees, and opted to get them out since they had been boxed up on the 18th and it was now the 23rd. They had been without water and sun for 5 days and were all limp. After unpacking I called the company and first let the owner (Roy Lawing) know that one box had broke loose and the trees that were damaged, but I could live with that. I then mentioned the size and he immediately jumped to say that some other lady had gone to a wrong website that she had saved somewhere because that was old information. I told him i literally just looked for the first time last week, and he got real defensive. He continued that I must be mistaken because his website which he then gave to me. (He also claimed to not know much about computers...Later he recanted this saying he built the website and knew exactly what was supposed to be on it) I hung up and did a new search, and again found the same page I had before. I called to let him know the one I had found was the same webpage I placed the order from. He started yelling at me (calling me some other lady's name) and telling me I should NOT have clicked the link on his page for more info, which is where he had his sale prices listed (which is what I ordered). He said that was an old page and I had no business clicking on it, and I should have stayed on the main page. I told him that was ridiculous because I always check the associated links for info. Then he said I should have called him to verify the price. It was a sale! I said he should at least offer a discount from what I paid, toward the price of the next smaller size, and he started yelling again that he was not going to "give" me free trees. I hung up, and decided to at least warn others through Angie's list. My only choice is to send them back, buy from somewhere else, and plan another time to plant them. I took a day off work and can't keep taking the time off. In addition, I had already lined up my arrangements for assistance in planting this weekend ( this is going to be a lot of work). My recommendation: If you decide to order from this guy, confirm verbally with him exactly what you are getting and get him to write it in an email first. He was very defensive from the beginning like he knew what was coming.

Upon receiving cancellation of my order Mr Lawing took it upon himself to ship the order. That is, NO shipment while my order stood but PROMPT shipment upon cancellation. IE: If you really want to buy from Thuja Gardens I recommend ordering and then canceling. This, it appears from my own and other's reported experience the only way to actually get the paid-for merchandise shipped. Upon receiving the UPS shipment notice I emailed Mr Lawing again, reminding him I had canceled, and requesting he cancel pick-up with UPS. I heard nothing back and indeed UPS tracking confirmed my trees were on their way. At this point I - 1. Lodged a charge dispute with Amex. 2. Informed UPS (including my regular driver) that I was refusing shipment. Having informed Mr Lawing of these actions via email I received an obnoxious phone call via voicemail, vaguely reminiscent of the language a drunken thug uses just before you are the innocent victim in a bar-room brawl. I still have this message recorded. I also received two emails from Mr Lawing promising a refund. Needless to say no refund was ever received. However, Amex decided the dispute in my favor and I am not in the least out of pocket. Mr Lawing did not even bother to state his case to Amex. This man is neither simply a fool nor a crook. He is in fact a foolish crook who thinks threatening behavior, dis-respect and sleight of hand, combined with avoidance and aggression are the way to build a business. I am not in the least surprised that he had to change his previous trading name (FYI "Plants R Us"), no doubt when it achieved a level of internet condemnation that we can only hope will apply to Thuja Gardens very soon. BTW: I placed my tree order with my local nursery and received larger trees for less money - very happy ending!