Modular Organics

I saw an erected greenhouse at the Seattle Garden Show, and purchased two 9'x14' kits. The first problem was it took some time to get the kits, they didn't actually have them on hand. That was annoying but o.k. Then I was notified that the kits, rather like big erector sets, with hundreds of little pieces, were mismarked. All the pieces for the "front" were marked "back" and all the pieces marked "back" were really "front". There followed a long email interchange, as well as several telephone calls. I had three contractors bid on the project and when they looked at the directions document, and learned about the mis-marking, none would give me a bid, but would only take the job on on a per hour basis. I contacted Modular Organics and they offered to do about 2/3s of the job -- for a price just a few hundred dollars less than the purchase price. Suddenly, what looked like a good buy was beginning to look like a nightmare. At this point I was about two months into this project. That seemed very unreasonable. Finally, I hired two experienced workmen who had built similar structures on a per hour basis. I was told my MO that it should take a day to assemble each greenhouse. The two men began, and immediately told me that the written directions were virtually incomprehensible, made even more complicated by the front to back problem. I gave them the number of the company and they talked to people there, then came to tell me that the verbal directions, "you'll know it when you see it," were worse than useless. As I write this they have been at it for four days, and finally have one greenhouse frame up. They estimate another three to four days, meaning that the cost of erecting these greenhouses is going to end up being equal to the purchase price. This entire process has been one of those horror stories people tell about something they have purchased that required assembly. I am writing this to warn any future buyer of a Modular Organic product what they are getting into. If I had known that day at the Seattle Garden Show what I know now I would never have purchased their kits. As a final irritation it is now so late in the year that the reason I purchased the kits for my wife's garden -- so she could grow tomatoes, Basil, and eggplants which won't grow well outside here on Whidbey Island -- has been rendered useless until next spring. -- Stephan A Schwartz