I am cross and confused !!!!!!!!

[Jeannine]

I few days ago opened a parcel from the Seed Savers in the US,this is the US equivalent of our Heritage Seed lot.

They have posted my squash but not my tomatoes or beans. The reason is and I quote " Due to certain import restrictions,beans and tomatoes cannot be shipped to Great Britain, we are sorry for any convenience this may have caused you"

I gave them the order 4 weeks ago along with an International membership of $50. They accepted both the order and the membership,they even gave me a receipt for the order .

The bulk of my order for which I paid the full postage was several varieties of tomatoes and a great many varieties of beans.  The squash just came along for the ride.

I am confused because I have been buying tomatoes and beans in the US from very reputable large companies and having them shipped for 6 years,and  a great number of seeds too,many of the companies are their members. They come clearly marked on the packages what they are and I have never had a problem. I have even had one package opened by customs for a peep that was full of tomatoes and beans. I can find no regulation anywhere that supports their statement so I am confused.

I am cross, because a quick e mail 4 weeks ago would have given me the chance to cancel or at least purchase elsewhere. Now it is too late for this year and I think that is grossly unfair, they are gardeners too and should have known that, especially as paid for airmail shipping and it came surface.The parcel if sent as paid for would have been here three weeks ago. Therefore I am cross.

I am also sorry that among the seeds were the Aunt Ruby's Green that someone was waiting for from me.

Further to add insult to injury, my three e mails sent since the parcel has arrived have gone unanwered.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[Robert_Brenchley]

If they sent it surface mail when you'd paid for air, and don't answer Emails, then that suggests they're at least disorganised, at worst taking the mickey. If it's an amateur organisation (I've had no contact), then it may simply be someone who doesn't know what they're about. But I'm not surprised you're upset; I'd be furious.

[flossie]

 >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

[Trixiebelle]

WRITE TO TONY BLAIR!

[tim]

No - he's probably the cause of it!

[Trixiebelle]

Oh all right then. Write to LIONEL Blair!

[greenscrump]

How awful - poor old thing  >:( Do you think you might at least get the membership back if you made enough fuss ? xx

[Baccy Man]

This document will tells you which plants & seeds have special requirements like having phytosanitary certificates (which can cost a fortune) & which seeds are prohibited for import from certain countries.
This document shows that beans would require a phytosanitary certificate & tomatoes would be prohibited if imported from the US.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/publicat/importer/impguide.pdf

I find most seed companies will post out seeds anyway but they have a disclaimer somewhere in their terms & conditions saying that if they are seized by customs & destroyed or if you have to pay taxes before they release them then it's tough you won't get a refund because you should of checked the law first.

[Jeannine]

Hi Baccy man, I contacted Defra and they told me that the seeds would be OK but plants would not.It gets weirder by the minute.

Thank you so much for the info though I found it very interesting

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

Well just to cap off this topic,I received an e mail today and an apology, apparently I should have been contacted . They have refunded my membership And the cost of the squash seeds thay had already shipped so I am not out a penny,still very dissapointed  in not receiving the others and still mystified  about the conflicting info re seeds from Us,but the company have follwed up and done a good thing finally. XX Jeannine

[cambourne7]

what seeds were you looking for maybe someone has some you can have?

[Jeannine]

There were about 15 types of beans and about the same tomatoes,but all very old ones, I have managed to find a few since then  that are on their way from another source but I couldn't get them all.
I particularly wanted Hidasta Sheild beans,Tigers Eye and Bird Egg. The others I would not have planted this year anyway, the same with some of the toms but I wanted to plant Black Sea Man and Hillbilly this year. XX Jeannine

[Robert_Brenchley]

I can let you have Black Seaman seed if you PM me your address. POD has Hill Billy.

[Jeannine]

Thank you Robert, that is very kind of you ,actually they are  both already on the way from another poster who PMd me  .Thank you for trying to help,it is much appreciated. XX Jeannine