Effinger Garden Center — Attraction in Belleville

Two weeks ago we purchased half a dozen bushes from this establishment. We looked at several and purchased a particular one that was recommended by the employee assisting us. We were told they were pretty much impossible to ruin and not to worry if anything should happen to them. If anything happened he said to bring them in or take pictures and bring our receipt within one year and they would replace them. Since then, all of them appear completely dead, at least every part above ground likely due to the unprecedented snow that happened last week. Knowing there would be cold temperatures we covered all our bushes and flowers we had planted the same day with sheets to protect them from the weather. Our flowers and other bushes we purchased from Lowe’s all survived with no issues. The bushes purchased here did horribly. As instructed, we took pictures of all the bushes an brought in our receipt to show what had happened.

First, I would like to preface that I’m not writing this review due to what happened, but in response to the treatment we received from Rick at this establishment. Upon arriving we spoke to a lovely girl behind the counter who called Rick to come assist us. When we spoke to him about our issue, he was curt, interruptive, and dismissive of us. Without even letting us complete full sentences he harshly and abrasively insulted us repeatedly, saying he had no such policy, and it was our fault for planting the bushes we purchased, recommended by them as what he called “too early”.

He was not the gentleman we worked with when we purchased our bushes. That person we worked with two weeks prior was extremely nice and helpful and had I written a review after that experience it would have been five stars. However, having experienced an issue and gone back and how we were treated so abominably, and I would even say less than humanly I felt it imperative to write this review for anyone else thinking of shopping here.

This business owner is conducting unethical practices. I highly doubt any employee would make such claims that they had a policy that they would replace anything within the first year with a receipt if there were issues if that were not true. I am not blaming this business for the crazy weather that happened, and had the owner dealt with this issue in a professional and courteous manner I also would not have an issue.

However, I take great offense at being talked down to with an abrasive tone and being completely dismissed and repeatedly insulted both my husband and I over and over several times by this individual. We came in good conscious to speak to someone and could not have had a worse experience. Never, have either of us ever been treated so horribly by any establishment we have ever been...

Honestly, I don’t know how many stars to give this place. Thursday, my fiancée and I visited this nursery. Upon walking up we were instantly greeted and asked for assistance. We were there for about 10 minutes, we were advised to come back tomorrow, the soil we needed would be available.

We didn’t come back the very next day, we came today which is Saturday.

We walked up, a lady who seem to be an “employee” was talking to a couple. The couple left, so it’s myself, my fiancée and another customer who was off picking flowers. As we were looking for the “workers” (later, after our 2nd visit, we assumed them to be the “owners”) who helped us on Thursday. (because they were extremely helpful and courteous)

We see, who we assume is a “employee” She looks in the opposite of our direction, walks to a section where I suppose flowers were in desperate need of watering, started watering the flowers without acknowledging us whatsoever. After walking further into the nursery, still looking for the “workers” from the previous visit, still no acknowledgement from the “worker” who was only 15ft away. My fiancé says, “do you want me to see if she can help us?” I then say to the “worker” “do you work here?” “Are you assisting anyone?”

She replies, “Yes, I work here, do you need help?” I asked, “ do you greet customers?” Her answer lead me right out the door. She replies, “ Yes I was assisting some people earlier. My reply, “thanks but no thanks we’ll go somewhere else.

I would like to tell you, if you read this “Ms. Worker” whatever personal issues you have within yourself, put them aside and make yo money. Money is green if you didn’t know....now ya know!

I hope the “workers” (assuming they are the owners) I was initially looking for, retrain her. Maybe she will buy what we intended, to make up...

Was just gifted with a HUGE plant rack so, I was planning on getting a variety of different plants. Money was NO ISSUE! The lady that was helping me was wonderful took the time (only with her for maybe 15 mins) as she was explaining the one plant I love which was a $40 bonsai plant THE OWNER yells at her and says you’ve spent enough time with her and there was a man that needed help with 1 plant. So, instead of helping the man herself she was ignorant enough to rudely Interrupt us for the service the lady was giving me. The reason I went to this nursery was because I was told by my neighbor that it was a wonderful place. Well was she wrong! I just moved here and I spend a lot of money especially during the summer on plants. I will NEVER go there again, and if any asks I will steer them in a different direction. I owned a business for over 30 years and now retired. I expect workers these days to be the rude, disrespectful ones but, in this case it was the owner! I was in complete disbelief and left empty handed! I’m at Home Depot now, getting at least a start up until I find a nursery that treats customers with respect!

UPDATE: spent almost $500 on these beautiful plants from HOME DEPOT. So now my new plant rack is finished no thanks to the owner at this nursery! I have another beautiful larger plant rack I need to fill so, guessing there are other nurseries I will research. If not Home Depot apparently is the place to go GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED ON MY FIRST VISIT AND LAST VISIT TO...