• Whatcom Seed Company

Whatcom Seed Company

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Overview

Whatcom Seed Company has a rating of 1.97 stars from 18 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Whatcom Seed Company ranks 88th among Plants sites.

  • Service
    6
  • Value
    7
  • Shipping
    7
  • Returns
    4
  • Quality
    6
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 50%
Positive
1
Neutral
0
Negative
1
1
See all photos
How would you rate Whatcom Seed Company?
Top Positive Review

“Used this company 2007 to 2022”

E.T. J.
1/6/24

What a shame to come across a negative barrage of reviews that ended this company. I have never had an issue with these guys and my rare seeds germinated including ginko biloba, ponderosa pine (even after stratification) and blue shrimp plants. They had a massive inventory of rare seeds that cant be found anywhere else. A lot of the seeds have low germination rates because of the species and high difficulty in growing. This is understood by myself as an experienced gardener. It is a shame that this company didnt survive the evolution of the internet, with amazon and fake non authentic seed listings for cheap ruining the market. They had the best bonsai accessories. This website was booming in the earlier 2000's. I figure that the people got elderly and couldnt survive the changes in the market, so towards the end they may have had difficulty fulfilling orders. But these guys were great and I will always cherish what they did spreading quality plant life across the nation. I do think they got bought out or doing business under a new company hopefully. My last order was in 2022 and I only wish I supported them more until the end. I still have some of my seeds as shown in the picture

Top Critical Review

“No Service or Help regarding Non Delivery”

Peter C.
3/1/22

I don't like to write a negative review, because I had been a long time customer (15 years) and always enjoyed their products. My last order has not been received for six weeks. I sent Whatcom multiple emails requesting help, even if it was just a ship date and any tracking number? No response! I have tried calling them more than 8 times with no answer and their Mailbox Full. They are not as company I can recommend to anyone at this point.

Reviews (18)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Thumbnail of user peterc1579
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 1st, 2022

I don't like to write a negative review, because I had been a long time customer (15 years) and always enjoyed their products. My last order has not been received for six weeks. I sent Whatcom multiple emails requesting help, even if it was just a ship date and any tracking number? No response! I have tried calling them more than 8 times with no answer and their Mailbox Full. They are not as company I can recommend to anyone at this point.

Tip for consumers:
I can't recommend these guys they are non responsive and unreliable.

Products used:
Giant Redwood seeds

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user samib38
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 25th, 2021
Verified purchase

Either their seeds are super old or were just not viable in the first place.
Absolutely none of the seeds I ordered germinated and I follow instructions specific to every type of seed to germinate them (coffee, papyrus, maples, etc.). A success rate of 0% makes it clear that the seeds from that company are absolute garbage. I don't like the customer service of rarepalmseeds dot com but the quality/freshness of their seeds speaks for itself. I won't buy seeds from seedrack ever again, it's an absolute waste of money!

Tip for consumers:
Do not. I don't like rarepalmseeds customer service at all but their seeds are fresh and if you do a proper job germinating them, they will!

Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user markb3006
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
May 8th, 2021
Verified purchase

If you notice almost all of the reviews that I saw were a strong negative and I can understand why. This person and others say no phone number or way to reach them with an issue. I was billed in full yet they short shipped one item. I'm told if seeds don't float in a cup of water after 15 minutes to discard them. I messaged this establishment and am waiting for a response for a full refund. Will do a follow up.

Tip for consumers:
Read the reviews

Products used:
Seeds that were shipped not viable

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user justini54
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 25th, 2022

Placed order in January. Card was charged in January. Have not received seeds. Can't get hold of anyone by phone and they don't return emails. Bad company

Thumbnail of user elainem308
4 reviews
15 helpful votes
August 27th, 2020

I learned that the company Whatcom Seed has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau. They mailed an empty seed packet to me, charged me for it, and I cannot contact them. They do not respond to email. After reading the other negative reviews online, I think this company should be investigated and shut down. My honest opinion.

Thumbnail of user alaing54
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 27th, 2022
Verified purchase

I have some Back orders on an April 2021 order and on an October 2021 order.
Have sent 3 emails asking when they will deliver, not even an answer yet.
They have charge me for the seeds that they didn't have instead of cancelling that part of the order.
They should at least do some service for customers.

Thumbnail of user vascog1
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 9th, 2022

I have ordered 26$ dollars worth of seeds. After inserting the credit card details a message appeared saying that the money would only be charged after they have shipped the package.
Some days after the money was charged from my account but I have not received any mail or the package.
I tried to contact them by mail twice and got no reply.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user paull1857
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 9th, 2022
Verified purchase

Ordered Carolina reapers. Didn't order anything else, didn't plant anything else. No chance of a mixup. Pictures attached.

Thumbnail of user speed.adrenaline
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 6th, 2024

What a shame to come across a negative barrage of reviews that ended this company. I have never had an issue with these guys and my rare seeds germinated including ginko biloba, ponderosa pine (even after stratification) and blue shrimp plants. They had a massive inventory of rare seeds that cant be found anywhere else. A lot of the seeds have low germination rates because of the species and high difficulty in growing. This is understood by myself as an experienced gardener. It is a shame that this company didnt survive the evolution of the internet, with amazon and fake non authentic seed listings for cheap ruining the market. They had the best bonsai accessories. This website was booming in the earlier 2000's. I figure that the people got elderly and couldnt survive the changes in the market, so towards the end they may have had difficulty fulfilling orders. But these guys were great and I will always cherish what they did spreading quality plant life across the nation. I do think they got bought out or doing business under a new company hopefully. My last order was in 2022 and I only wish I supported them more until the end. I still have some of my seeds as shown in the picture

Tip for consumers:
used to be the #1 seed company in America unsure what happened in their final year.

Products used:
bonsai tree seeds, pots, soil, exotic flower seeds

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user tedd118
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 22nd, 2021

The seeds looked odd but I sowed them. No germination at all. I emailed the company. No response. I ordered the same seeds from a different company. These actually looked like seeds, not little rocks. Hopefully this batch will germinate. Will not order from Whatcom ever again.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user markb5078
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 2nd, 2023

I ordered 3 different seed packets but only received 1. I wasn't charged for the 2 on backorder but never received an answer to my numerous emails on when they would ship

Tip for consumers:
Expected to receive Andansonia digital and Acer ginnala. I emailed a few times and never got a reply.

Products used:
Charlie Chaplain tomato seeds

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user dalef207
1 review
3 helpful votes
July 11th, 2020

My order arrived as promised but only 1 seed germinated. I know that germination % of Coast Redwoods is low but 1 out of 50 seeds is not acceptable. I'll not order from them again. Dale F. @*******@canby.com

Thumbnail of user chrish1179
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 1st, 2019

Ordered seeds paid for them waited 30 days they had not arrived emailed company to let them know had no response emailed a week latter once again no response emailed again asking for a response guess what nothing this company is a total rip off and should be closed down

Thumbnail of user marya1029
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
October 21st, 2019

I ordered banana seeds they're floating I just got them today and they're floating. As the amount you pay for the seeds you should get seeds of good quality. Floating seeds do not sprout 1 seed packet 3 out of 5 are floating. The other five are floating out of 7.

Tip for consumers:
Think before you buy

Products used:
I ordered the dwarf Chinese banana and the Velvet pink banana

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user edwardm97
1 review
3 helpful votes
January 10th, 2017

I bought 18 lots of seeds from these people, well packed fast shipping, good description, but what good is all the packing if the dont germinate... Of the 18 lots 8 lots had no germination at all and the others were around 50 % not much here.
I emailed them twice about this but, no even the decency of a reply.
They just take your money... and bye well its BYE BYE TO them from me will never buy again so stay away. Try another company

Thumbnail of user paulop22
1 review
7 helpful votes
June 29th, 2018

I ordered USD300 in seeds in Dec 2017, which never arrived. I have sent several email and so far no answer. They took my money the same day, but never shipped my seeds. Such as scam company

Thumbnail of user markj171
1 review
2 helpful votes
September 1st, 2016

Ordered 2 packets of seeds in January 2016. Never heard back until I emailed and asked in August. Found out the Credit Card on it had been replaced (my bad!). Tried to find a way to contact them to give them new card. Via e-mail, CSR told me she would send me a link to the website to pay. Never received it. E-mailed her 3 times to inform her of such. In my 3 emails I recommended they could call me or give me a phone number to call them to give my CC information. I received no replies to these emails.

This Customer Service is in the lowest 5% of any company I've dealt with.

Thumbnail of user otakarr
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 9th, 2018

Ordered seeds of Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sequoia sempervirens and Abies procera. No communication about the order as others also indicated. Did not bother me - everything was received one week later with useful sowing instructions.

Sheet for Sequoia sempervirens indicate that the germination is low (~20%).

This is an addition to the original review (above). The seeds i bought were for friends overseas. Our "friendly" government removed them on the airport from my check in suitcase.
I have promptly ordered the same seeds from our present place (in Europe). The shipping did cost a bit more however two weeks from the date of the order package arrived. Everything again was as expected.

Value
Shipping

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