Tree Problem. What to do please!

[chickadeedeedee]

I got a call yesterday from the nursery where we purchased our variegated tree. Steve, a guy I consider our friend, would be delivering our tree PLUS plant it where we wanted at no charge! He just wanted to do this for us! How nice is that?!?!? On his day off too!!!!

We were gone this morning and Steve came ... not only planted a tree but also made a bed around it!

OK. So what's the problem?

The tree he planted was NOT the one we purchased. The Variegated Japanese Red Pine ... Pinus densiflora 'Golden Ghost' ... that was planted was NOT the one we had chosen. The one we bought was round. The shape was that of a chubby tree ... almost as wide as he was tall and *~*~*VERY*~*~* full! The one that was planted is narrow ... one side hardly has any branches and the tree generally is more narrow.

I sincerely doubt the tree lost that much shape while at the nursery since mid August. It just isn't the same tree. The tree is nice but ... NOT the one we wanted. For sure, the one we did purchase has likely been sold already so we can't have it even if we storm the nursery.

So ... Do we thank Steve for planting the tree and mention that it isn't lookin' like it was when we bought it? He works for the place and probably would deny there was a switch. We'd risk making him angry. It would seem we were not grateful that he would do this for us, free of charge, on his day off ... plus he made a bed for the tree!

Maybe the added effort of the soil and bed was to compensate us for a switched tree?

We couldn't return the tree and get a *better* one could we? That seems totally snotty to me. It would be an insult to Steve. He just works for the place. He tried his best with what he was provided. Maybe / probably the switch isn't his fault. We sure would not want him to have his job endangered because we complain.

Do we just shut up about the switch and thank him ... pretending we are 113% ignorant?

The tree cost $280.00.

Comments? Suggestions? Any one awake?

Thanks.

[4pygmies]

Oh dear, that's a knotty one isn't it? The poor bloke was being really nice and probably didn't know it was the wrong tree......I think I would thank him sincerely and gratefully for the superb job he did and then just, in a very friendly way, just ask him (or his boss maybe, if possible) if they had a problem with the tree you actually ordered.........making sure he realises that you are in no way blaming him.... I don't think you should just let it go though....you did actually pay a substantial amount for a totally different tree didn't you?

[madonplants]

Nov 12, 2008 9:05:51 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

Oh dear, that's a knotty one isn't it? The poor bloke was being really nice and probably didn't know it was the wrong tree......I think I would thank him sincerely and gratefully for the superb job he did and then just, in a very friendly way, just ask him (or his boss maybe, if possible) if they had a problem with the tree you actually ordered.........making sure he realises that you are in no way blaming him.... I don't think you should just let it go though....you did actually pay a substantial amount for a totally different tree didn't you?

Agree with 4P here, you can't go on without knowing why you got the wrong tree, I know I couldn't. When you picked it, did you see them put a sold sticker with your name on it? Can you go down to the nursery and before you speak with someone, see if 'your' tree is still there. If it is, it could help witht he explanation. Just remember, at the end of the day, the customer is always right and they want your continued custom, so should help in some way, to solve the problem. Not right I know, but would the tree do, at a reduced price? Be friendly, assertive and not aggressive and you will get a result. Let us know what happens, but do it quickly.

[debbiem]

It is the same kind of tree though, isn't it? The same species? Just not the one you picked - is the one he planted for you a younger one and therefore should have been less expensive? Or is it around the same size/age but not such a good specimen as the one you chose? This is a tricky one, but if the tree was the same age as the one I chose and therefore could have the same potential as the original one, and would eventually be as chubby as the one I chose I'd leave it and not say anything I think. I'd be disappointed, probably devastated, that THE one we wanted wasn't the one that was sitting in my garden but I'd really have a good think first before saying anything, whether the one he planted would come good anyway.

Lots of different opinions here on this one!

[chickadeedeedee]

Thanks everyone for your help.

We've known Steve and his Mrs. since 1992 when they worked at another nursery. Years later they bought their own nursery which closed 2 years ago due to competition from a HUGE nursery that started up business not far from their location. So they found themselves working at this latest nursery.

We went to purchase a Mountain Ash but I saw the variegated Red Pine and fell in love. There were 8 trees and the one we purchased had an almost perfect huge egg-like shape. Steve himself showed us the trees and he put the SOLD tag on our tree. The other trees were the same height and trunk diameters were the same but their branches were not as full and perfect.

We got the same variety and species delivered but the tree is NOT nor has it ever been egg shaped and perfect. I think Steve knows something happened to our tree (READ: SOLD to someone else) and he was trying to be nice by offering to plant it and make a bed around it.

We can't get to the nursery until tomorrow at the earliest and Steve will be working that day. I think it best we talk to Steve first, as 4P suggested ... and you all agree.

I was looking forward to this handsome tree for a long time and now we have one of his kind but I'm disappointed it isn't OUR tree.
I sincerely doubt our tree will still be there. Why else to switch SOLD tags unless the other one got snatched up? This time of year too, most nursery stock is sold at 40% to 50% off regular price so they don't need to overwinter at the nursery.

Hope our tree has a good home. CRAP! That's what I said earlier too when someone stole my orchids too!

[4pygmies]

It's a bit naughty of him, if that is what's happened.. I think it's best to make sure he knows you have actually noticed, but don't mind toooo much.....what's the point in picking out your tree if you don't get what you want? It sounds as if it will be a lovely tree eventually....how about a picture, please C3D?

[chickadeedeedee]

Hi 4P.

Had a really crazy day yesterday : so we didn't do anything about the little tree. *Hopefully* this afternoon we'll have a talk with Steve about our concerns. I'll try to get a photo up for you too later in the day.

Tiz still be dark outside here now. ;D

[madonplants]

Nov 12, 2008 15:03:58 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

It's a bit naughty of him, if that is what's happened.. I think it's best to make sure he knows you have actually noticed, but don't mind toooo much.....what's the point in picking out your tree if you don't get what you want? It sounds as if it will be a lovely tree eventually....how about a picture, please C3D?

If he's sold it to a mate or to someone willing to dish more for it, then that was naughty and shouldn't be in business, IMO. You do that before you put it up for sale, not after it has been reserved. If it was a 'genuine mistake', then that is OK. When you have a word, make sure you look into their eyes, then you will know if the truth is being told or not. The truth is always better in the long run.

[debbiem]

I still think I would let this one go and say nothing, but if anything else untoward happens in future purchases, then to say something and bring this one up too. You've known him for years, haven't you? Like you say, he might know what happened to the one you picked and has tried to make amends. I'd only say something if I was going to achieve something - but I'd make sure that if I bought anything else then the SOLD sign was well and truly attached, and point out that it is THIS very tree that you've bought and you've picked it because you like it best!
But ouch the tree was a lot of money, wasn't it!

[chickadeedeedee]

That's exactly why I'm waiting for a face to face talk rather than a phone call. The eyes will tell all, won't they?

Steve volunteered to deliver the tree for us, which the nursery normally will not do as we live farther away than they are willing to travel. However Steve and his Mrs. were going on holiday for 2 weeks and said they'd deliver the tree when they got back ... if we could wait. We said that was fine.

Maybe the switch was made while he was gone? I really think Steve is innocent of the switch but then ... I am stupidly naive and trusting. :

Moral of the story would be If you purchase it ... TAKE IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE! Or ... take a photograph of YOUR purchase so if there's any question about it ... there's proof.

~~>Ahhh .... There's that 20/20 hindsight again.

[debbiem]

Or look for something on the tree, like a nick or a chink, some little something that you can identify it with, and point out lightheartedly that that's the one you want, you'd know it anywhere and make sure that enough of the staff have heard you.

Like you say, hindsight..........

[chickadeedeedee]

You'd still let this go, Mrs. B.?

We purchase from this particular nursery only maybe once every 5 years or so because their trees are usually too large for us to take home ourselves. We only went there in August because we knew that was where Steve was now working. Since he was so gracious to volunteer to deliver the tree himself, we certainly would not want to take advantage and make it a routine thing.

No. I don't think we would achieve anything in particular other than letting the nursery people know that WE KNOW we did not get what we purchased and this is not a good business practice for the future. SOLD tree tags can soooo easily be removed and replaced. Almost need to carve initials into the trunk, it would seem!

Hmmmm. Now I don't know what to do.

[madonplants]

Nov 13, 2008 13:44:56 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

I still think I would let this one go and say nothing, but if anything else untoward happens in future purchases, then to say something and bring this one up too. You've known him for years, haven't you? Like you say, he might know what happened to the one you picked and has tried to make amends. I'd only say something if I was going to achieve something - but I'd make sure that if I bought anything else then the SOLD sign was well and truly attached, and point out that it is THIS very tree that you've bought and you've picked it because you like it best!
But ouch the tree was a lot of money, wasn't it!

Then he should have said something, it's better to be up front with it, surely? Having 'reserved' a tree, is like the old fashioned handshake, isn't it? No I couldn't rest, just like my fish that got sold by accident (full story already given in fish thread), until I knew what had happened. I got an explanation, offered £50, accepted it and moved on. It needs to be sorted soon. Do you have statutory rights over there, C3D?

[debbiem]

It's so difficult! It's an expensive tree and out of all of then you picked THE one you wanted for your garden, and that wasn't the one you got - if Steve wasn't in the equation there wouldn't be any problem in complaining to the nursery would there?

Have you thought of going to the nursery just to see if your one might still be there? Just to make sure it isn't, if you see what I mean? That might draw a line under it, seeing that out of the trees that are still in the nursery he's picked out the best one for you, even though it's not YOUR one.

[debbiem]

What would worry me would be that saying something, and whatever that may bring for the friendship you have with Steve, would spoil the whole pleasure of having the tree, it would always remind you......

[madonplants]

Nov 13, 2008 14:20:28 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

What would worry me would be that saying something, and whatever that may bring for the friendship you have with Steve, would spoil the whole pleasure of having the tree, it would always remind you......

If he was any sort of friend, shouldn't he have not done what 'may' have been done?

This is a hard one, I know. I am just asking Jennifer to see what she thinks!

[madonplants]

Nov 13, 2008 14:25:36 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Nov 13, 2008 14:20:28 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

What would worry me would be that saying something, and whatever that may bring for the friendship you have with Steve, would spoil the whole pleasure of having the tree, it would always remind you......

If he was any sort of friend, shouldn't he have not done what 'may' have been done?

This is a hard one, I know. I am just asking Jennifer to see what she thinks!

Just asked Jennifer and this is the reply I got. Sad isn't it, she's only upstairs in the study!!

I would say something to the nursery especially as the tree cost $280. What I’d say not sure I can understand them not wanting to upset Steve but sometimes you have too. If he is a good enough friend he will understand.

[debbiem]

But who would insist on buying a tree with a sold sign on it? It's pretty final isn't it, a sold sign tells everyone that that item isn't for sale as somebody else has bought it. You would need a very odd kind of customer to insist on having C3D's tree albeit sold, and a very corrupt sales assistant to agree to whip the sign off and sell it to them.
I still wouldn't say anything - I would think it's more likely the wind's blown the sign off or it's been innocently removed somehow - maybe all Steve had then was a record that you'd bought one of that kind of tree, remembered that you'd picked one out, didn't know which one so offered to deliver and plant it for you.

[chickadeedeedee]

Thanks Keith, Jennifer and Mrs. B., and your chickies.

All very valid points. You're right ... that would be very corrupt to take my SOLD tag off and switch it to another tree. I can't see how it could be blown off as the tag is plastic and is tied with a double red plastic ribbon-like material. But .. at the end of the day when the nursery is closed ... one could switch the tag to a less perfect tree ... pull that to the side and have the showcase model up for sale again to attract the customers.

Oh my mind does work along the sinister doesn't it?

I thought to go and see Steve. Thank him for delivering the tree and for going above and beyond the call of duty to plant it for us and make the bed around the tree. "This is all so very nice of you to do. You saw the damage in our garden from the storm a few months ago. Could I ask you ... what happened to OUR tree? Did it get damaged when the Hurricane came through? ..."

Do you think that would be OK to bring up the subject in that way? NOT knowing will gnaw away at me. That's just how I am. (Annoying isn't it?) He'll either tell me what happened or lie. I'l be able to tell. I won't argue or make a fuss if he lies but I'll know what kind of friend he is.

Whatcha think?

Thanks.

[madonplants]

In my book, someone has lied to you and that may not have been Steve.

How you are over this, is like me, but you won't be happy until you know, either way, will you? G*d that is bad english!!

Go to the nursery and have a friendly chat about the tree. You never know, 'your' tree may still be there. Does the tree you have, look 'pruned' in any way? I believed my friends when they said a Saturday boy had done the deed, as him and his son regulary went out saturdays to do work in people's ponds and left young lads in charge. His fault and said something like this would never happen again and the hospital people did come 2/3 days earlier than expected!

Don't forget, it COULD be a GENUINE mistake and the only ay to find out is ask!!

[debbiem]

I reckon it's been abducted by aliens, sold sign and all.

But do you think the nursery staff are capable of such misdemeanour, switching the sold tag? I just can't see what they would get out of it and they would be risking a lot by way of reputation. A sold sign says exactly that - they wouldn't start messing about with that, would they?

It would be gnawing away at me too, but I just don't think I'd have the confidence to approach Steve and pull it out of the bag so that's why I'd rather say nothing than risk disaster, being none the wiser and having my friend think I suspect him in the process. I think I'd only go as far as to go and see if my tree was still there.

That conversation sounds great C3D, about did your tree get damaged in the storm and therefore that's why you got this one. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to ask, if you think you can do it successfully!

I'd probably end up with the kind of atmosphere David Brent in The Office creates for himself, and digging myself just as big a hole in the process!

[Sleepy]

Nov 14, 2008 15:08:36 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

I reckon it's been abducted by aliens, sold sign and all.

[/IMG] [/quote]

Do you think Keith would have any influence in getting it back?

[debbiem]

Nov 14, 2008 15:50:15 GMT 1 Sleepy said:

Nov 14, 2008 15:08:36 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

I reckon it's been abducted by aliens, sold sign and all.

[/IMG] [/quote]

Do you think Keith would have any influence in getting it back?[/quote]

That's why he's pointing the finger at the GC - such an obvious cover-up! ;D

Now get your friends to return it to C3D Keith - you know it makes sense. ;D

[chickadeedeedee]

Well now we know ... kinda sorta.

We went to the nursery this morning. Mrs. Steve was in the office. I thanked her for Steve coming and planting the tree AND making a bed around it. I said I wanted to pay for the soil that he brought and then said:

The tree Steve planted is niiiice but do you know what happened to the one we bought? Maybe it was damaged with the hurricane?

Her reply? "You know? I thought the tree Steve had wasn't as full as the one you got. Do you think the tags got switched?"

Yes! It's a nice tree but ours was round. I guess anything could have happened when you went on vacation not long after we picked out the tree. But ... it's OK. The tree will grow and fill out. I'm sure Steve did a proper job of planting it.

She goes on to say the tree will fill in but she doesn't know about our tree. Once they are sold they are moved to another area and maybe something "funny" happened with the tags.

Steve walk in, I thank him for being so kind and planting the tree and wanted to pay him for the soil, at least. He said that's part of the delivery and he was happy to help. Then his Mrs. asked him if he knew what happened to our tree. He looked momentarily like a deer caught in the headlights and he looked me straight in the eyes and lied!

He said that WAS our tree and one side didn't have many branches on it but it will fill out later. His Mrs. told him that OUR tree, as she remembers, was already VERY full like a beachball, and someone must have switched the tags. He told her that was our tree he delivered but it might look different because it lost some of the needles like they always do in the fall.

I smiled and said that must be it. They gave me a hug and I wished them Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas and see you in the spring.

~~~~> He looked right at me and lied! The pines do shed some needles but this tree, if it truly is the one we purchased, shed some branches too!

Now we know. His Mrs. had it right.

[madonplants]

Will you be going back there again, C3D? I'm not sure I would, after this episode, as I would rather go somewhere, where they are genuine, even when mistakes were made.