Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery — Local services in Tucson

this is in defense of the employees at MVG. I worked there for many years and wished at the time that i could share "the other side" with those customers who complain about service, plants, returns and so on. to start with those who complain about employees telling them that the nursery is closed. These people need to understand that there is a reason the nursery is open 7 days a week. it is for those people who can't get there during normal business hours. Plant shopping is suppose to be enjoyable...why not allow yourself enough time to take your time so that you can get what you need within the company's business hours. Employees at this business work long hours in extreme heat as well as cold and rain, they want to go home when their day is done as much as you want to go home when your day is done. The attitude and lack of service that some people speak of can often be explained by the abuse of customers towards the employees. Yes, it happens and it happens on a regular basis. To be helping one customer with their questions and issues and have another customer walk up and rudely interrupt with their "more important" question.....is unacceptable! Yet, when it happens the second customer finds the"employee" rude and at fault for saying, "excuse me, you will have to wait until I have finished helping this customer who waited their turn patiently." Do you know that the nursery allows people to bring their dogs in shopping with them? This is great (remember the booties in the summer for the heat on their paws) ....but do you also know that when "some" of these people bring their dogs with them, they actually "expect" the sales people to walk with them pushing their cart and picking up their plants. This is not because they are in need of plant help, or are elderly, pregnant or in any way disabled, but it is because they are totally unable to shop and hold their dog at the same time. It is a nursery, not a kennel. If you are not able to walk your dog and help yourself pick up your plant, then leave your dog at home. The dog will probably be happier... you can take him to the park later. This way you will be able to take your time and really enjoy yourself. It is terribly selfish when these customers do bring their dog expecting this kind of help, as it ties up the employees, keeping them from being able to help the other people who really do need "plant" help. Often times it is the same people over and over again who expect this special attention every time they come in. This certainly is not the employee's fault. The return policy is in place because the nursery is a "grower".....they "grow" many of the plants you purchase. from seed or cutting, all the way up to a sellable plant. in some cases that can be YEARS. When a plant dies from customer neglect it is MVG that takes the total loss. How is it when you as a customer choose a plant and refuse to take responsibility for it's care when you take it home. 9 out of 10 times, these plants would come back to the nursery totally dried out from lack of water. How is it that these plants have survived beautifully for months or years, and within 2 days in the summer heat it is DEAD! Why is that the fault of the nursery???? It is a living thing, be responsible for your purchases. There are always two sides to a story, I just wanted to let those of you who want to pass blame know the other side. That this nursery is FULL of wonderful, helpful employees who really, really do care and want to help. Sometimes it is the customer (and NO, the customer is NOT always right) who needs to look at the whole picture and realize that the employee is actually busy doing the best job they can at the time and sometimes circumstances make it APPEAR that they don't care. I assure you,...

If I could give negative stars I would. I am a Tucson native. Have shopped for many years at this nursery but feel like I will not be any longer. The have always been a bit more expensive than other nurseries but I am ALWAYS willing to support a local business over the alternative. Don't get me wrong their plants, trees etc are exceptional quality hence the price. However, their customer service has always been less than quality. With the exception of a few ol' timers (since retired but extremely knowledgeable) I have never had an experience with a employee who seemed to enjoy their job at MVG. They always seem upset, put out having to be bothered by my questions. Which, I would say are not stupid questions.

For example, my family and I were there on Sunday 04/11/2021. We asked an employee who was walking by us if a bunching of plants on a cart, looking like a display, were for sale. They replied with a "I have no idea, ask someone inside"... WTH! Seriously!

Or at the help desk, since I was not able to find anyone in the garden area not parking their bottom on a cart driving around the grounds acting like they are busy, where a particular species of plant would be located. I got "you'll find those in the green house with the citrus" ... Oh okay ill just go find those myself in you giant greenhouse citrus when the plant I'm looking for is not a citrus tree. Nice if someone could help me. Thanks!

BTW their "help desk guy" not helpful at all. Grumpy SOB. Never smiles. They yelled at me on the phone to "HOLD ON" when I called asking if a purchased item had been left at the checkout counter and I tried discribing the item. The guy seems miserable. They ended up not being able to find it. The kid who checked us out at the cash register also a miserable person. Second time with that fool. Gave me a not so knowledgeable answer on potting soil, failed to give me a receipt and the item in question. I had two flat carts of items so it got over looked. They told me I must have left it in the cart. Hmmm okay. Thanks!

MVG seems to be investing a lot $ in a fancy makeover. I'd take to old digs over the new yuppie posh place. I would suggest to them invest in training their employees with some basic customer service skills. Greeting, helpful, listening, acknowledgment, smiling are a few basics. Those would go miles. Maybe pay them better since your now able to afford such a building. But that won't happen.

Likely won't be returning. Sad to say that but I'm...

MUST READ!!!!!!!! My wife and I have been shopping here for years. Ever since we retired we visit quite often. We easily spend upwards of a few grand a year on plants and other garden supplies and decor so we are very familiar with this nursery. The product selection is absolutely exhalent but the customer service is average at best and on our last visit we had it in our heads that after ANOTHER rude experience with Rodney it was time to wash our hands of this place. We were quite upset and my wife was at a point of extreme frustration that I thought she was about to cause a seen which is NOT in her character at all. At that point it was obvious an employee (a young man) noticed what had taken place and approached us with such politeness, respect, and understanding it was absolutely unbelievable. I've never seen my wife do a complete 180 from so upset to so happy, so fast! This young man was the definition of good customer service going above and beyond what we could have ever asked for. After he took care of our every need we approached the check out, it was quite busy so he brought us to the small shop and took care of us without any wait. Then helped us to our car when he was ignored by two men (he asked them to help us to our car) on there PHONE. You guys need to really learn some stuff from that kid, and he needs a raise. He single handedly changed our minds with his professional and polite actions and even kindly refused a 20 dollar tip my wife tried to give him, stating that "no tip was necessary, he was happy he could help". I'm honestly quite embarrassed to say that i cant remember his name, my wife believes his name was chuck or chad but to be honest were not completely sure but regardless its very rare to receive the kind of treatment he gave us that day and its hard to put into words what we experience from that young man but because of him we will be back and hopefully we will get his name on our next visit so we can have a conversation with his boss. I now highly recommend this nursery, just remember if your getting bad service just find one of the very few employees like that young man, it will change any negative...