Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co. Reviews 93

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Sep 30, 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that your blueberries and blackberries arrived in good condition and that you’re pleased with your order. We always do our best to ensure plants are healthy and well-packed, and it’s wonderful to know you’re satisfied.

We look forward to helping you with future orders and can’t wait to see your garden thrive!

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Sep 9, 2025

We sincerely apologize for the delay in your shipment. Our goal is always to give your tree the best chance of thriving, and in this case, we adjusted the timing to support a healthier transplant this fall. We appreciate your understanding, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Jul 29, 2025

Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad to hear you had a great experience with us. We take pride in standing behind our plants and making sure our customers are taken care of every step of the way. Your recommendation means a lot, and we look forward to helping with your gardening needs in the future. Happy planting!

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Jun 30, 2025

We're very sorry to hear about the experience you had and truly regret the frustration it caused. This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide.

Your feedback is understandable, and we apologize for the delays in both shipping and communication. This past season brought an unusually high volume of orders and support requests, and unfortunately, we fell behind in responding to some customers in a timely manner—which we take full responsibility for.

I’m glad to hear your refund was finally processed, but we understand it should never have taken this long or required you to escalate the issue. That’s not the experience we want anyone to have, and your concerns have been shared with our team as we continue to improve our processes.

We truly appreciate your past business and hope we can earn back your trust in the future. If you ever need assistance again, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly—we’re always here to help.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Jun 25, 2025

I'm very sorry to hear about your experience and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Please know that we are always happy to help and want to make things right.

I searched our system using your name but was unable to locate an order. If you could provide additional details—such as your order number, email address, or the name the order was placed under—I would be more than happy to investigate this further for you and get it resolved as quickly as possible.

We understand how frustrating delays and lack of communication can be, and we never want a customer to feel ignored or undervalued. Please reach out to us directly or reply with your information so we can assist you right away.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Jun 17, 2025

Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. I want to assure you that you are not being ignored. We are always happy to honor our guarantee, and customer satisfaction remains very important to us.

This season has been unusually busy, and we’ve experienced an extremely high volume of emails and support requests, including new orders, which unfortunately caused some delays in our response time. We truly apologize for the frustration this has caused.

I have located your support ticket and will be personally following up with you there to provide assistance and ensure your concerns are fully resolved.

We value your continued support over the years and hope we can rebuild your confidence in us. Thank you for your patience and for giving us the opportunity to make this right.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 30, 2025

We sincerely apologize for the frustration and inconvenience caused by the shifting ship dates on your order.

We want to clarify that all ship dates listed at the time of purchase are estimated. This is standard practice with live nursery stock because plant readiness can vary based on seasonal growing conditions and guidance from our growers. In your case, the red currant plants were not yet up to our Stark Bro’s quality standards for shipping — either due to size, maturity, or transplant viability.

Our goal is never to delay or disappoint, but we also don’t want to ship plants that are too immature or at risk of failure. While we understand this may feel frustrating, it is part of our commitment to delivering strong, healthy plants that will succeed in your garden.

We apologize for any lack of timely communication during these changes and understand how that added to your disappointment. Our intention is not to mislead — we’re simply trying to ensure we don’t send out subpar plants that might result in another type of complaint down the road.

Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re always working to improve, and we truly regret that your experience didn’t reflect the standard we aim to provide.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 30, 2025

Thank you for your feedback, and we’re truly sorry for the frustration this experience has caused.

Please know that estimated ship dates are standard practice across the nursery industry when it comes to living plants. These dates are provided as a general timeframe, but actual shipping depends on the plant's health, maturity, and readiness. We simply won’t ship a plant until it meets our quality standards—doing otherwise could compromise its success once planted, and that’s not something we’re willing to risk.

We also understand your concerns around communication and recognize that we could have done a better job keeping you informed as updates occurred.

You have been refunded in full, and this should reflect back to your payment method within 3 business days. If the order still arrives, you are welcome to refuse the package or keep it as a token of our apology — that choice is entirely yours.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and hope we can provide a better experience should you give us another opportunity in the future.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 29, 2025

Thank you for reaching out, and we sincerely apologize for the frustration you've experienced.

We did experience an unexpected delay with the bare root strawberries, but the good news is they are now in our packing house and set to begin shipping out shortly. As a token of our apology for the inconvenience, we have gone ahead and issued a full refund for your strawberry order. That refund should reflect on your account soon, if it hasn't already.

Regarding the raspberries — we're sorry to hear they're not showing signs of growth. When planting bare root raspberries, it’s important to prune them down to about 2 inches above the soil line, as outlined in the planting instructions. This helps them focus on root development.

You may want to perform a quick scratch test: gently scrape a small section of the bark with your fingernail. If you see green underneath, the plant is still alive and should bounce back with a little time. If not, and they appear to be nonviable, we’d be happy to honor our warranty and offer you a replacement or refund, whichever you prefer.

Again, we are truly sorry for all the delays and frustration. Please let us know how you'd like to proceed — we're here to help make things right.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 29, 2025

We're truly sorry to hear about your experience and that we fell short of your expectations. This is never the kind of impression we want to leave.

If there's anything we can do to make things right, we’d really appreciate the opportunity to assist you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team — we’re here to help and want to make it right.

Thank you for your feedback. It helps us improve.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 27, 2025

We’re sorry to hear about your recent experience and truly understand your frustration. We see that you requested to cancel your order, and a full refund has been issued. You should see that reflected on your original payment method within 3 business days.

Spring is our busiest time of year, and unfortunately, the high volume of orders and inquiries has caused some delays in both shipping and response times. We know how important timely service is and are actively working to improve that.

We appreciate your feedback and hope we have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 27, 2025

We're truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration with the shipping delays and lack of communication. While we strive to ship orders on time, living plants don’t always cooperate with schedules, and unexpected issues can cause delays. We also regret that your message regarding your availability was not responded to in time.

If you haven’t already spoken with someone in customer support, we would be happy to issue replacements (if available) or provide a full refund for your order. We want to make this right and ensure that you're not left with a loss due to timing and delivery issues.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us directly

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 23, 2025

Thank you for your feedback, and we're sorry to hear about your experience.

We understand how important timely service and clear communication are, and we truly regret that we didn’t meet your expectations. I do see that you have an order currently preparing to ship. If there’s any issue with that order—or anything else we can assist you with—please don’t hesitate to reach out. We're more than happy to help and want to ensure your experience moving forward is a positive one.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 22, 2025

Thank you for your feedback, and I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience with the delay in your strawberry plant order.

I understand how frustrating it must have been to receive multiple shipping updates without a firm delivery date. Our goal is always to ship plants at the right time for your growing zone and when they are healthy and ready—but we recognize that repeated delays can be discouraging, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

As for the promotional emails, we completely understand that too many can feel overwhelming. You can adjust your email preferences at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our messages, or by reaching out to us directly—we’re happy to help.

We appreciate you giving us a try and hope you’ll consider us again in the future so we can provide the positive experience we’re known for.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 22, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. My name is Tiffany and I’m the Support Manager here at Stark Bro’s. I personally read and respond to each review, and I want to sincerely apologize for the frustration and disappointment you’ve experienced.

We understand how important timely delivery is—especially for bare root plants and especially in a short-season Zone 4 growing area. While we provide estimated shipping windows based on your zone and product availability, this season presented a number of unexpected delays in certain zones and varieties. I know that’s no excuse, but I do want to be transparent that we are actively working to improve these timelines and communications.

Regarding your comment about customer service—I assure you we are a team, not a single individual. However, your comment is noted and appreciated. We know how it feels when you don’t get the response or resolution you expect, and it’s something we take seriously.

we would be happy to review your order and situation to ensure you're taken care of going forward. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly through our Contact Us page or by replying to your order confirmation email.

We truly appreciate your past and present support, and while we may have missed the mark this time, we’d love the opportunity to make it right.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 19, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience — we're truly sorry to hear that so many of your plants struggled. That’s never the outcome we want for our customers, and we understand how disappointing it can be.

We’d also like to clarify that our warranty process is designed to be as simple and fair as possible. While we do ask for photo verification, we do not require pictures of every individual plant — especially in the case of items like strawberry crowns or asparagus. A general photo of the affected planting area or a sample image is usually sufficient.

Once you send in your initial email to our team, you’re connected with an agent through a ticket system that allows multiple photos to be uploaded to the same conversation thread — you don’t have to send separate emails. Most people find it pretty straightforward, but we’re always happy to assist if someone runs into technical issues.

We do need some form of proof the plants did not survive — much like returning a product to a store — because, without it, unfortunately, it leaves the process vulnerable to abuse. We do our best to be generous while also keeping things fair for all customers.

That said, we’re truly sorry you didn’t take advantage of the warranty, and we understand your frustration. If you ever decide to give us another chance, we’d love the opportunity to do better and help make your experience a positive one.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 19, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed and honest review. First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologize for the frustration, confusion, and delay you've experienced — not just with your order but also in trying to reach us for clear and consistent support. This is not the level of service we aim to provide, especially for a longtime customer like yourself.

You're absolutely right that weather has played a significant role in our delays this season, particularly with certain varieties like blackberries and select fruit trees. But regardless of the circumstances, the shifting ship dates and mixed messages you received are unacceptable and understandably left you feeling strung along. You should never have had to make repeated calls or chase down answers. We recognize how valuable your time is and how important proper planting windows are — especially with the level of planning you clearly put into establishing your new orchard.

While some team members were helpful, it’s clear there was a breakdown in communication on our end, and we deeply regret that it left you in such a difficult position. Your feedback on our phone system and our prioritization is valid, and it’s something we are actively working to improve. We are currently addressing staffing and scheduling to better support both our long-standing customers and incoming orders — because, as you rightly pointed out, existing customers should always be a top priority.

We’re truly sorry we let you down this season. While it doesn't undo the delay or the missed opportunity this spring, please know your feedback is being shared directly with leadership so that it drives the kind of improvements our customers deserve.

Thank you again for your past support, Leah. We do hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future so we can prove to you that your trust wasn’t misplaced.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 16, 2025

We're truly sorry for the frustration and inconvenience this experience has caused. We understand how upsetting it is to feel ignored or misled, and we appreciate you giving us the opportunity to respond.

In the plant world, things work a bit differently than with manufactured goods. We sell living products that are grown to order, and shipping windows are based on the optimal time for each item to survive and thrive once planted. This means we often cannot confirm a specific ship date far in advance — it’s dependent on the plant’s readiness and quality at the time. That’s not an excuse, just a reality of working with nature and living inventory.

That said, we acknowledge that our communication this season has not been up to the standards you or we expect. We’ve experienced serious operational delays that put us behind on emails and voicemails, and unfortunately, your refund request was caught in that backlog. We sincerely apologize.

After reviewing your order (#2926854), I’ve processed a full refund to your original payment method. Please allow 3–5 business days for it to reflect. Additionally, although your strawberries were the cause of the delay, your lemon tree is ready to ship — and as a gesture of goodwill, we’re sending it to you free of charge early next week.

We’re actively working on improving every aspect of our customer service and operations, and we’re genuinely sorry that we fell short in your case. We hope this resolution offers some peace of mind and a small step toward rebuilding your trust.

Thank you again for your past business, and for giving us the chance to make things right.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 16, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience — we truly understand your frustration and disappointment, and we want to offer a sincere apology.

This season, we encountered unexpected and very serious shipping issues that significantly disrupted our operations. These challenges have affected not only delivery timelines but also our ability to respond to the unusually high volume of calls and emails. This is not an excuse, but the reality of what we've been facing behind the scenes. We’ve been transparent with our customers because we believe you deserve honesty — and while we couldn’t control the situation, we are doing everything we can now to make it right.

Regarding ongoing sales and promotions: we understand how frustrating it must be to see ads when you're still waiting for your own order. But as a nursery with live inventory that must be planted or shipped within narrow time windows, we can’t simply stop selling. We are, however, actively prioritizing fulfillment of all backorders — shipping over 15,000 orders just last week alone.

Please know your order is important to us and not forgotten. We’re committed to restoring your trust.
If you still need assistance or would like to discuss your order directly, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we're here and ready to help.

Reply from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

May 16, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review — we’re truly sorry to hear you feel this way.

We want to assure you that this is not a true statement. We absolutely honor our 1-Year Guarantee, and we do not intentionally ignore any customer. Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has stood behind our promise to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants.

If your trees or plants don’t survive, just let us know within one year of delivery. We’re happy to offer a one-time free replacement, with only a nominal $9.99 shipping fee. If the item is no longer available, we’ll issue a one-time credit or refund equal to the original product purchase price.

If you’ve had trouble reaching us, please know that we’re currently in our peak season and experiencing higher call volumes than usual — but we absolutely want to help. We encourage you to give us a call, and we’ll be glad to take care of you.