Brookside Orchids- Terrible Experience

I have been to Brookside many times. There are a few other nurseries closer to me me but they lean more towards being florists and don't sell things like physan, mounts, fertilizer, species plants etc. So out of necessity and geographic convenience, Brookside became my de facto local homebase for orchid supplies. Not after today unfortunately.

The Brookside website states that you can purchase orchids at the physical location and to ask the cashier if what you want isn't on the sales floor. I have done so on 3 separate occasions without incident.

Today is my birthday and as a surprise my partner took me out to lunch. I had no idea we were going to Brookside afterward and was super excited when I found out. My partner is not an orchid collector, so he said instead of guessing what to get me, why not go to the source and pick out exactly what you want?

I wrote down the names of the orchids I wanted on the scratch paper that they have at the register and was going to check out. My partner chose a lovely phalaenopsis arrangement ($130) and I picked up some supplies that I needed. All together we had easily $300+ in inventory. The cashier was very conversational and talkative with the couple ahead of us in line. When it was our turn, however, his tone and demeanor changed completely.

When I asked the cashier about purchasing plants from the greenhouse, he immediately said no, and that they don't sell online plants on Saturdays. Only after I read what was on the website and said that I would call Brookside directly did the cashier begrudgingly go into the greenhouse. He returned, huffy and pissed at being asked to do so. He stated that they could process the order, but it would take several hours and that they can't guarantee that they even have the items that I want. He went on to state that they have a hard time keeping track of their inventory and do not know if the plants on the website are even actually available.

He sarcastically suggested buying the plants online while at the same time calling up the next person in line. After his explanation of their haphazard inventory management and experiencing his curt, impolite attitude I declined his offer. I put everything back, purchased a $7 bag of bark and walked out.

If you aren't able to process in person orders on Saturday, please update your website to say so. Also, maybe hire someone who has the capacity to at least pretend to be professional? I understand that in a greenhouse with thousands of plants that it takes time to locate an individual plant.

I used to manage a small locally owned business when I was in college. The owner would work non-stop day and night. So I understand how important time management is. It just isn't possible to stop at the drop of a dime when you work at that pace.

Had the cashier explained any of that, or spoke to us with common courtesy, I would not be writing this at all.

 

Thanks Marni!

 

Me too