I'd pass on a large b&b grafted evergreen that doesn't have a warranty unless its reasonably priced and a must have plant. The shipping isn't an issue if the weather cooperates. Can you ask to purchase a 1 year warranty?

Not sure why Iseli doesn't scale up with this cultivar. They've been behind the eight ball for several years now.

NO WHOLESALE NURSERY OFFERS A WARRANTY.

sorry, that is not exactly true. "Guaranteed to be free from apparent pest and disease." If you're lucky there's a good condition clause for ten days or two weeks...from when it leaves their facility, not when you get it. Basically, It's your responsibility to keep a living thing in that condition, not the grower who no longer has said plant under their care.

The concept of a bulletproof warranty as understood by consumers comes from retailers, not growers. That's why you pay the markup. Growers want to keep their customers just like retailers, so if it comes of the truck and there's a problem, mark it on paperwork, call the sales rep, they'll reach an accomodation, be it a credit or sending another...if this is the only order your local nursery places, it'll be a credit.

As far as shipping of b &b stock, I'd not be concerned. Iseli ships thousands of such plants a year. The odds change change somewhat in your case...you are asking for a single plant in a shipment. I'll guess this is going to be one of the larger plants in the load? Frankly, I'd expect higher chances of damage to branching due to wrapping or load shifting. If you have any concerns regarding how it'll look when it arrives, be there in person to unload, or fully authorize your local nursery to act as your agent.

That being said, Oregon nurseries know how to prep a load, how to load stock, and they are good at it. Nothing is perfect, but Oregon did not achieve It's status in the nursery industry by never learning.

Frankly, many nurseries do things based on criteria that sounds good but means little. "We only buy b&b stock from local to keep the rootball intact." Is this on 30" balls? In which case, the truth is, long distance shipping kills. Not the rootball, the price.

NO WHOLESALE NURSERY OFFERS A WARRANTY.

I understand that the warranty is by the retailer not the grower. I meant to say that the retailer (local nursery) is not offering the typical 1-year warranty they offer because it's a special order. I am assuming they are including their mark up in the price, perhaps it's a reduced mark-up since it's a special order, hence the no warranty.

It would be the only B&B tree in the order. I believe the remainder of the order is 6-15 gallon potted trees. So yes, it would be the largest plant in the order. The nursery is only receiving 1 order from Iseli this year.

I was only concerned about the shape it arrives in, based on the nursery's warning. But you are right, if it arrives in bad shape they can possibly get a credit and pass it on to me. I will inquire with the nursery if that's the case, and give it a shot...

Why is grafted b&b an issue? as opposed to grafted in a pot, or non-grafted in b&b.

I'm an outlier on the plant warranty issue on these forums, mostly because my experience is as the seller, not the buyer.

It sounds like your local nursery is doing you a favor and letting you order this at close to cost? That's why you get what comes off the truck, regardless of condition, no matter what.

These forums are filled with topics of people who lament the fact that this precious plant has a broken branch due to (whatever comment makes the offending nursery/personnel as incompetent/money grubbing/stupid ignoramus as possible). Often about things that just get pruned off and no big deal...until it happens to yours. Then It's special. Then It's a big deal.

If you're getting a he'll of a deal, That's the trade off. If you're paying full mark up and they're (your local nursery) just not used to doing this, then you need to have a discussion with them.

If the local nursery is doing this as a favor basically...keep using them.

If it shows up damaged for some reason, don't buy it. If the cultivar is any good you will encounter other ways to acquire it at some point.