OOOOOH Dear!

Take a deep breath and relax! You need to call Hilltop Gardens and speak to the owners. I'm sure they don't know about how their employee spoke to you. Explain about your hearing problem so they know they might have to repeat or talk louder to you.

It would have been better to speak to them than to vent to all of us. As you know we too have 'bad days' and I would hate to think that a grower's reputation could be hurt by one bad experience. Hopefully it can all be straightened out with another call.

Connie

Oh dear is right! Connie, Amy is the wife of the owner. She has been less than warm with me, but I thought it was JUST ME!

I wonder if perhaps they are having some difficulties that are spilling over into her having to deal with 'us' hostaholics as well.
It shouldn't happen, but you know how we 'humans' are!!

I'm really sorry to hear she got that annoyed with you, Sassy. Again, she's never been very chatty or warm with me either--ever!

I hope whatever is causing her to not care about her customers will quickly change because they do send quality plants in a quality size
and a quality shipping method at very reasonable pricing, in my experience to date!

This is just too bad!!!

I believe that I was told that Amy is the owner.

No, I shouldn't have to explain that I have a hearing problem.

I wasn't rude to her, she shouldn't have been rude to me.

Yeah, we do all have bad days, I have them too, but if I was rude to a doctor on the phone I'd be canned for sure.

Just venting among friends.

I know they are closed for the season, as far as their store-front operations--maybe it's just so very hot
and she's working really hard, (maybe short-handed) and it's just a really bad thing we can't know about she's dealing with.

I know--in a perfect world we'd all be 'perfect' and there really is no excuse for rudeness to a customer
or a potential customer--but, I'd like to try and give her a chance to have a 'better day' whereas business
may not be all that good for them--as is the case with many Mom & Pop businesses these days!

Again--not an excuse for her impatience, just maybe some possible reasons she's given into her frustrations,
whatever they are!!!

And, I'd be hot under the collar if I were in your shoes, too, Sassy! It's much easier to sit here on the other side
of the screen and be magnanimous in my efforts to understand and make allowances for bad behaviour!! :o(

My experience with HG has always been very good, until this year. I always make a point to shop their booth at the National. This year was no exception, but I was completely turned off by what happened. I spotted a nice specimen plant, checked the price and browsed some other vendors. Went back to HG to make the purchase. He had increased the price, by a significant amount! When I inquired about the price increase, was told that the price now marked was what he wanted and take it or leave it. I walked and will keep on walking. Will never shop there again.
I can't imagine what is going on there, but sounds like a recipe for disaster.
My 2¢
Rb

I'm with Sassy on this one. She should not have to explain about her hearing. People in this country have really forgotten what the words "CUSTOMER SERVICE" mean. From a small business owner it is beyond reprehensible. Yes, people have bad days, but when you are in a CUSTOMER SERVICE business, you are not allowed to show it. I worked in the hotel industry for years, and never took my frustrations out on the guests. And believe me, sometimes they REALLY deserved a harsh word or two. You paste the smile on your face and plough through.

Sorry for ranting, but I hate *hearing* people make excuses for why it is OK to be rude.

Jen

I'm with sassy on this one also,"NO" reason for a business owner to be rude,i have had a business,still do, and believe me,if i were rude to my people, i would not be in business long, way to many other places fore them to spend their hard earned money,now with the price of gas being so high,any mail order had better go even beyond what they normaly do,more are shopping on line than every before.

I hope they read this posting,but you can't make some one be pleasant.

There are other good sources out there.

Carol

I just think that there are always 2 sides to a story and it's not really fair to the company to be bashing them on a public forum this way. Just my 2 cents.

njmomma - I see no bashing, just people relating their experiences and stating they will not return due to the treatment they got. I've never shopped Hilltop nor do I have any vested interested in that business but if a person is dissatisfied, there are many other mailorder sources to choose from that do not treat people in a less than acceptable manner.

call chris or josh they both post here and would love to have your business i am sure

No excues for rudeness to a customer...none.
And you have a wonderful recourse. never shop there again and tell anyone you know who might have shopped there why.
Simple!
By her rudeness to you and to Razor, there are a whole passle of people who will buy their hosta somewhere else.
Maybe she was having a bad day, you say? Horse Hockey! having a bad day doesn't give you the license to be rude and spread your bad mood!
Thanks for telling us!
Linda C

When I called Hilltop to place an order two weeks ago, I talked to a woman (don't know her name), and she was in the process of transplanting Hosta from quarts to gallons. Not knowing what that was all about, I asked some questions about the plants, and got some very short answers. I was quite taken back and told her I didn't want to place an order at that time. I thought it was something I said that set her off--apparently not. I worked in the public all my working years, and I never treated a person rudely for any reason. There is no excuse for it ever. After all "the customer is always right--even when they aren't". And I don't think we are lambasting her--we are sharing uncomfortable experiences so others don't go through what we have. Or if they do choose to deal with that company they will at least be prepared for what may happen. Mary

PS--What are Chris and Josh's Hosta sites? Mary

re: "Sorry for ranting, but I hate *hearing* people make excuses for why it is OK to be rude. "

I guess that seems to be me, Jen--and, you're right--there's never an EXCUSE for being rude!
I didn't think I was conveying that feeling--that it is OK, but apparently that is how it came
across to you!!!

Again--there is no acceptable EXCUSE for being rude, especially when someone is trying to
give you their business!!!

I'm with Sassy on this one, too. I see no bashing, just relating experience.

Most of us want references/experiences when deciding where to spend our money. Sucessful business owners
depend on their reputation to draw customers, because many times the products are very similar.

Let me tell you what happened to me today.

I had grandson Noah over for a sleep over, so we went to Kroger to get Ice Cream Sandwiches, they had a special so we picked out one package plain and one with chocolate chips. They were marked 2 boxes for 5.00. When I went to pay the clerk rang up 6.39 when I told her they were marked 2/5.00 she said she could do not anything about it that I would have to go to the service desk. I went to the service and waited an interminable period of time!

When I asked for my 10.00 dollar bill intending to give her the 3.61 change she didn't seem to understand and was rude.

I can tell you I will never go to Kroger again, there is absolutely no excuse for being rude especially when I was there with my grandson.

I certainly wasn't going to take that disrespect in front of my grandson so I reached over the counter and smacked the crap out of her.

E.O.--the most important part though, did you get the ice cream sandwiches--deal or no deaL??
It's really hard to walk away without ice-cream sandwiches at any price!!!

Now, I'd really love to have one of those ICS's--(plain, thank you)--thanks alot, E.O.!!!
Drool--with no hope of having one!!

P.S. Are those things getting smaller every year--or is it me getting bigger--okay--it is me,
but I also think it's them, shrinking!!

Mary: Chris is Chris Wilson of Hallson Gardens. Their forum website is below; link to catalog is at the top of the page. I've both mail-ordered from them and shopped in person at their nursery . . . I've never been disappointed, and MOST CERTAINLY have never been treated with rudeness in any form! Chris has been in the forefront of information about HVX so I'm confident of healthy plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hallson's

P.S. Are those things getting smaller every year--or is it me getting bigger--okay--it is me,
but I also think it's them, shrinking!!"

Size has gone down and price has gone up, if we can drill for oil in Anwar everything will be alright.

EO--I know we can really s-t-r-e-t-c-h these threads way out, but how the hell did being rude ever get us on the subject of drilling for oil in Anwar?? I am solidly against both and don't bother going after me on that point as I can also smack crap! LOL at both posts. Mary

Hostagrams--Thank you for Chris' link. Now who is Josh??

Josh is Josh Spece of In the Country Gardens & Gifts. He wrote the article about Hostas with ruffles in the last issue of the Hosta Journal.

Here is a link that might be useful: In the Country Garden and Gifts

"but how the hell did being rude ever get us on the subject of drilling for oil in Anwar??"
greenthumbz4mn

I don't think either is appropriate for this forum. The net is a dangerous and crazy place, a little like road rage at times. I hate the idea of the court of public opinion, a member comes with a compliant and we poll the jury of members. The whole process is out of order from my view.

A former Ky Supreme Court Justice talked to me about how video in the courtroom would interfere with the orderly process of justice. We canÂt give Sassy justice or right her wrong if she in fact was wronged, we werenÂt there and donÂt know. She is the only witness appearing before the Court of Hosta on Line and we know eyewitnesses give terrible testimony.

I am not taking a side period, BIG BUTT I am saying this ainÂt the place to try this case.

thanks esther opal, that's what I was trying to say as well above.

EO, I disagree, but that's OK.

I don't give my opinion on this forum about religion or politics, but this is a hosta forum where folks buy hostas.

I felt like venting about a business that I've raved about more than once here and got treated with rudeness today when I called to place an order with them.

Amy's husband, Oscar, couldn't of been nicer to me on the
phone back in June.
Oscar was informative and helpful, giving me advice on nematodes when he didn't have to.

I had been so impressed with him that I placed my order.

When the plants arrived I posted pics of them on this forum for all to see. I was that happy with the hostas.

That is what I call the best advertising that a business can get.

I still believe that they send great plants at a great price.

Too bad that Amy has caused me to go elsewhere.

True story; I have a son that owns a business.

He is married to what I have nicknamed "Lady Lucifier"

A while back a neighbor of mine went to their store planning on spending quite a chunk of change.

Soon after that the neighbor called and asked, Who is that snotty ______ working for your son?"

To say the least we informed our son how his wife caused him to loose a large sale.

Has Lady Lucifier changed her wicked ways? NO.

Will Amy treat the next person with patience and respect who calls to place an order?

I hope so.

They really do have nice plants.

E.O.--you are right on several levels, but, the one who wins the most in people keeping 'silent' about
wrong treatment is the perpetrator of the wrong. And while this is not on the scale of more serious matters,
where behavior in integrity and character or 'right' is wronged, I do default to the famous quote:

"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to remain silent."

Maybe overstating in this case,and another quote could also be appropriate since
the overall impression has been favorable of these folks, in the past:

"Blessed is he who covers transgression"!

A hard call on this one, for sure!! And, I have found in my past, that just as soon as I demand
a 'right' from another, whom I feel has wronged me--I discover that I, myself, am just as capable
of a similar wrong and sometimes worse!

We are accountable for our actions, our choices and how we choose to respond
to another, and how we live out those choices, but again, another good quote:

"Circumstances do not make us what we are, they reveal what we are!"

Pitiful creatures we all are, at times, and if given enough rope...!

I didn't know Amy, the person you spoke to, was the owner of the business. That puts a whole new light on the matter. Rudness is not acceptable! IMHO

We have a local seasonal greenhouse that I visit where both owners have zero personalty. If it weren't for their wonderful selection and great prices I would hesitate to go there because they sure don't greet you or make you feel welcome . Not everyone in business is a people person and it's too bad.

Connie

I always think that if someone is rude or snotty they are expressing how unhappy they are in life. After all, if you are happy it's hard to be mean and rude. Not that this is an excuse, but it helps me deal with them better.

Do unto others as you'd have done to you...... if you dish it out, you'd better be prepared to take it.

When people are rude to me or anyone I know, especially in a transaction situation where I'm the customer, I always think I'm glad I'm not like that and then I send up a little prayer for whatever is ailing them....even if it's a life-long personality issue.

However, that doesn't mean that I go back for more, ever. God doesn't intend for me use my heart but then not use my head and continue to reward people for their bad behavior or even in spite of their bad behavior.

Sassy, I hope we can agree on some things even if we don't agree on everything. What you posted about you DIL is now on the web forever or at least for your life time.

Use googles search entering "No More Hilltop Gardens for me Sassy". You will find that the entire world can see what you have said about Hilltop Gardens that affects the husband you like as well as the wife you don't like. Is your intent to hurt him to get at her?

Janice my favorite quote from my wife is;

"we can only promote good, we cannot eradicate evil"

So quote me; "tell me what you believe in I have enough doubts of my own".

I further offer that most crusades are undertaken to rid ourselves of the "infidel" within.

Ok, not being privy to what actually happened I can only give my own experience with Hilltop. I have ordered from them by e-mail and once by phone. All of my dealings with them have been very pleasant, Amy always got back to me promptly and we had a few nice e-mail chats. The hostas I received were tiptop and since Amy knew I really liked coleus she included a few named varieties with one order, no charge. The one time I ordered by phone I talked to Oscar. He explained that the phone line was also shared by the computer, don't know if this is still the case but if so maybe that's why Amy was so short on the phone? Possibly something else or maybe just the stress of running a large nursery? I know their son helps out with the catalog and such when he visits.

Some people are just better on the phone or one on one in person. In shopping at some of my local farm/nurseries I've noticed that some owners don't seem to be very personable. I attribute it to the long hours, hard work and I guess low profit. I like the selection I can get at the farms so I still shop there, I just overlook that aspect.
I can recommend two other online nurseries if you have a lot of hosta questions and need answers--Hallson Perennials which was already mentioned, excellent plants and excellent customer service, Chris goes the extra mile! Also Naylor Creek, Gary and Jack are also customer oriented and send wonderful plants as well.

Hopefully Amy and Oscar will reply to you personally Sassy. Perhaps just a misunderstanding.

I can certainly understand the emotions of the initial post. I often feel the same when treated badly and feel the need to share my experience and be validated.

Additionally, I have lived long enough to have learned that when I do it online, I often regret it because of the public and permanent nature of it. I hope this is not the case for dear Sassy. I hope everything turns out okay.

May all your hostas be beauties.

Lainey

THANKYOU YOU LAINEY MY FEELINGS EXACTLY!!

Paul

Since this is a hosta forum I thought it perfectly reasonable to relate my experience with buying hostas, good or bad.

I'm the type of person that listens very carefully to personal experiences. Sometimes I heed their advise, sometimes I take chances.

Gee, I don't buy a vacume cleaner without first checking the reviews on it at epinions.com.

Boy, From what some of you are saying here I don't think you'd want to hear me give my opinion on some high dollar item that I've had a bad experience buying. LOL

Oh well...For those of you that have bad experiences in the hosta world I don't suggest that you post your views here. LOL I'd be interested in hearing them though. Just email me and vent away. I'll be taking notes.

SASSY

I still love you, Sassy!!! :o) And, I FULLY understand your feelings and frustration and need to vent with us!!! :o/

Sassy,
I do not know Amy, but I must say that I was a vendor at the St.Louis convention in June. It was my first time vending and I was nervous and uncertian of what to expect. Oscar was a wonderful help to me . He went out of his way to help me and was an all around super person! I feel that it is important to stand up for his character as he deserves it! I agree that no one should be treated rudely anytime. I just wanted folks to Know my experience with Oscar and how he really is.

Denny

Good for you, Denny! It really is important to consider the 'whole' of any person! We just can't really know
the whole person in a brief moment, but, unfortunately, a brief moment of a bad impression, can form very
long-lasting opinions about a person, something we've probably all experienced even about ourselves.

I'm glad you have had another side to tell--and I have to add, that I, too, have found Amy
more personable through emailing. Some people just do email better than interpersonal relating, other ways!

I will continue to do business with them--unless I have a very, very rude response, personally, myself!
Usually, when I sense that sort of thing from a person, I will somehow get around to asking them about their day
and say how hard I bet it is to do what they are doing!

If she had said to me, what she did to Sassy, originally "I already told you.."
I would probably have said, "I'm sorry I'm making you repeat things when you are probably really,
really busy, but I am having difficult hearing on the phone and find that I can get confused
when discussing so many different hosta..I hope you will bear with me" or something like it!
I'm definitely not the EXPERT on such things, but that's how I try to make it work with people I find
difficult to communicate with in the business world!

Now, in my personal relationships--I may be more forthright, if I feel the relationship can take it
and if I feel it worth the while to be understood and understand! Often--it takes 'work' to really understand
one another--don't you think, and so worth it in the long run!

Ain't life and interrelating hard sometimes!!!

Denny, I totally agree with you, Oscar seems like a great guy. I ordered from their nursery before because of the pics that Janice posted of her plants from them, plus I was so impressed with the helpful conversation that I had with Oscar.

Janice, too bad we live on the oppisite ends of our state.
You sound like a person that I could learn a lot from.
I've never mastered "turn the other cheek" either, instead last week I renewed my concealed carry permit.

If I've learned anything from this experience it's this:
Say only wonderful things about hosta sellers or don't say anything at all. LOL

Live and learn.

"I renewed my concealed carry permit."

roflmho!! Sassy--I wish you lived closer too, cause we could have a lot of fun, and I'd know just who to call
if I ever want to put a contract out on someone! Ooops--did I just say that??? My Bible study friends would faint!!
No--not really--they're cool, too--and know me WELL!!!

But, make that, "if I ever get into serious trouble with a gang-sta"--I still just might give you a call!!! Still laughing!!!!

It is interesting to note that there is still two sides to every coin. Did Sassy get a glimpse of the reverse side?
As a former retailer, I was always cognizant of the old adage; Satisfied customers tell their friends, dissatisfied customers tell the entire world!

now thats what I'm talking about.

"Say only wonderful things about hosta sellers or don't say anything at all. LOL"
Sassy

In the end I offer that is the only thing that is worthwhile.

Let me repeat my wife's admonition; "We can only promote good, we cannot eradicate evil".

She has also asked me; "Is that the hill you want to die on". Not sure exactly how but this last one seems to apply.

Boy there sure is two sides to this controvery but this forum saved me a while back. I had been waiting for an ebay order from Belk and even though it was taking longer than I expected I thought it was probably due to the hot weather when I happened to check into this form and read how he was taking orders and not sending plants and on top of that he was leaving a bad feedback. Well I quick jumped over to the ebay side and sure enough he had left me bad feedback and of course I never got the plants. I don't do a lot of ebay but the few times I have I have had to explain what has happened. So I guess I appreciate it when I read here from people about their experiences and than I can judge for myself. So thanks Sassy for taking the time to share your experience and also to others for sharing theirs. I just hope that this posting won't cause people not to warn us about their experiences good or bad. I have wished many times and 68.00 shorter that I had cheked into the forum earlier.
Debbie

As I see it there are 2 things going on here.
There is the close knot of the hosta "insiders" people who know Oscar and Amy personally and have had good dealings with them.
Then there is Sassy and the rest of us who don't buy a hundred or even half a hundred hosta per year, and we tend to patronize local growers rather than mail order.
The first group are circling the wagons for one of their own....while the second group are sayign .."Thanks! If I am going to buy I guess it won't be from them!"

As someone said, we are pretty well a single interest group, we buy, plant, grow, nurture, admire and trade hosta....and I would like to say again, we BUY.
There are many competing for our hosta dollar. Before I let go of one of mine, I want to know who has the best looking, at the best price with the best delivery and the best service. If the price is low enough and the quality good enough, and the selection rare enough, I will put up with rudeness and a cantankerous clerk.
But if there are other sellers who offer equally fine plants at equally good prices....but without the rudeness, I appreciate Sassy saving me from 15 minutes of annoyance....I'll buy my stuff somewhere else!
As someone who deals with the public in a retail business, you should know that no customer ever EVER should be pi$$ed off....because they won't ever return and neither will their friends.
Thanks Sassy.
Linda C

Um, I don't think I belong in either group. Can I disavow membership in either? I belong to the group of Lainey, that's it.

I think this dead horse has been beat long enough.

Lainey

From a growers point of view. We get up early, work long hours in the heat, cold, rain, whatever Mother Nature throws at you. We are trying to get caught up on some potting that has been put on the back burner for a month and the phone rings, you wipe your hands, answer the phone and talk for several minutes to a customer that just really needs to chat. Repeat that situation two or three times in a row. We all of a sudden have spent an hour or more being polite on the phone and sold two plants. Then there are those plants still waiting to be potted and two greenhouses that need to be watered and a shipment that needs to be packed and shipped. While there is no excuse for rudeness you must take into consideration what growers do to provide you with healthy, economical, disease free plants.

You will find me vending Japanese Maples, hostas, and companion plants at conventions. It's a tough grind but a labor of love. Try it for a while, after a few months of 80 hour weeks might get a little snippy with a customer once in a while!!

Just venting!!
Lee

A happy customer tell their friends.

A unhappy customer tells the world.

Carol

It's good to get a 'view' from all sides in this sort of thing!!! Whew, Lee--I sort of thought it might be like that for you all!!!

I thank you, for your posting--I need to be more cognizant of what folks have to deal with when I feel very frustrated
with the 'frustrated' person I'm dealing with!!

And, feel free to 'vent' as much as anyone else, here! :o)

I don't see why this has to be a pick your side kind of thing, either you're with us or against us.

The purpose of my earlier post was to simply share another side. I have never met either Oscar or Amy in person.
Most people resent being pigeonholed and don't want anyone defining them. If someone relates a positive experience with Hilltop you're considered a hosta insider who buys 100 hostas a year?? And worse accused of "circling the wagons for one of their own"? I'm not part of either group.

It was refreshing to read Lee's post and see things from a grower's viewpoint. I figured nursery owners and farmers had it tough, a good glimpse into the growers' world.

Yipes!

I think it's okay to post when you've had a really good or really bad experience. Others here can fill out the picture by relating their own experiences. The person who messed up might read about it, and get angry or hurt, but it gives them an opportunity to "see ourse'les as others see us," as Robbie Burns said in the serendipitously titled To A Louse.

Just a thought, and not an excuse at all, but... I no longer work with the public since a disability has made me very short-tempered. Nursery work is hard physical work, and anyone doing it might be having a sore or achy day. Still not an excuse, of course, but a possible explanation I hadn't seen mentioned yet. When my back hurts, I hate the whole world and I'm sure it shows in my conversations! :)

I confronted a fence vendor about how very nasty his receptionist is, always rude to me and got in a screaming match with my neighbor (whom I had sent them as a client). He flinched and said, "My daughter-in-law." And I said, "Oh." Not much else to say after that.

My mom's mom once complained about a ticket taker on the subway at the height of the Depression. She never saw her again, and felt guilty the rest of her life, fearing the woman lost a job at that difficult time because of her complaint. It's made me hesitate about complaining, unless I can say something gently right to the person at the time.

Or I come back and rant and rave at my poor DH! :)