Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromTammy T

  Date: 07/06/2023

  1 star

  Tammy T

  Date: 07/06/2023

  Horrible customer service. Does not stand behind their guarantees. I purchased two pear trees from Shumway’s this spring, a Harrow and a Flemish Beauty. They did poorly from the start despite our digging almost three ft diameter holes ( also three feet deep) for them; enriching the soil and watering them deeply three to four times a week. I believed they had fire blight when they were sent— they say it is not the case and that the trees were suffering from lack of water and inadequate pruning. These trees came to me as dormant pruned trees. Nonetheless, I pruned them further as I had been told and continued to water them. They continue to turn brown and die further down the stalk. Shawn ********* has now replied that somehow these trees not growing is my fault, he insinuates that they were on an inadequate drip line— they were and are not— he also says that I didn’t prune them back (top them) far enough down and that he will not issue me a credit or refund. I planted 8 other fruit and berry trees this year ( three were paw paws also from Shumway’s) and they are all growing. My take on this is that Shumway’s never had any intention on standing behind their trees. I have sent them photos, they sent me contact info for their horticulturist— who never got back to me— I fully believe that these were just substandard unhealthy trees when they first shipped and I would like a return or replacement.

  RH Shumway Seedman

  Date: 07/12/2023

  Customer received her order on April 10, 2023
  She first contacted **************** on June 1, 2023.
  06/01/23 customer  emailed regarding items #***** Harrow Pear & #***** Flemish  Beauty - Customer stated they were diseased w/ Fire Blight & she treated them -  pictures sent to Horticulturist  - he confirmed they were not diseased customer did'nt prune
   when trees were planted - recommended customer conduct scratch test, prune into  green tissue, water much more - no further action taken
  on July 6, 2023
  Customer sent pictures & stated trees were dead - again forwarded pictures to Horticulturist he repeated the same recommendations customer  stated in email that she did not prune trees - she treats for a disease that did not exist -no credit
  voucher will be issued - trees are still alive,, but customer is disregarding the recommendations ! 

  Fire Blight will not show itself in a whip as our trees are sent as a three to five foot whip.  Fire Blight enters a tree most often through its blossoms.  Since these trees have not yet blossomed, it would be very rare for them to have fire blight. 
  We ship trees all across ***************** and we have to be certain to meet all federal and state requirements to ship disease free trees. 

  The R.H. Shumway Guarantee reads,
  Please open and inspect your shipment immediately upon arrival and notify customer service within 72 hour of any perceived issues or problems.
  A credit voucher will be issued one time for any plant materials which fail to grow, provided they have been properly planted and cared for, according to our instructions. (Planting instructions are sent with
  every order)

  It was assessed that this customer did not properly care for the trees and they probably died due to treatment that customer applied.