Houston Garden Center

Richard K.

Joined 1 month ago

Many reputable businesses will make adjustments in your purchase price if they lower prices soon after your purchase. On March 24, 2013 I purchased over $400 worth of plants from Houston Garden. The very next morning Houston Garden had a coupon in the Houston Chronicle for $50 off for purchases of over $250. So, hopefully, I immediately returned to the store with coupon and receipt in hand. Unfortunately the very personable and polite cashier said she was never allowed to make any adjustments in previous purchases, no matter how recent. I'll never make another purchase at any Houston Garden Center.

Shawn S.

Joined 2 months ago

BEWARE!!!! Don t ask for help unless you want to be ripped off. I showed a picture of a plant that looked to have something wrong. They sold me a $20 product I didn t need and will not exchange it for something I can use. BEWARE!!!!

Doesn't Recommend

Kathy S.

Joined 1 year ago

Butterfly Breeder Madder Than Hell!. My only consolation upon going to the Internet was to see that there were others who are trying to get the word out about these people. The sales people are RUDE! You cannot find anyone who speaks English!

And worst of all no one there knows what they're talking about. When I told the manager I needed feed for my caterpillars and wanted to know if their Milkweed had been sprayed, I was told "Oh no,,,, no, no. EES OK... We got lotsa butterflys! Yeah right! The plants had to have been sprayed because I spent the following days watching a dozen caterpillars drop dead. How do you think I felt knowing I fed them your poison? Houston has less Monarchs now,,, Thank you Houston Garden Center! If you're going to hire these stupid people why don't you at least have them wear a sign around there necks identifying them as "Not Knowing Anything"!

Thanks alot!

Wish I didn't have to give you a star at all, but I have to rate you.

Doesn't Recommend

Martha W.

Joined 1 year ago

Don't do business with HGC!. My experience at Houston Garden Center was similar to others written. After just walking out of HGC doors & loading plants in my car (with no help or plastic/paper to put the plants on) I realized I did not use my coupon that was in my car. I spent over $200 and should have been credited $10. I immediately went back in with my receipt & coupons and a checker looked at me with the most disgusted look on her face & said "we don't do that" - meaning no credit for my coupon. Then she said it wasn't her that checked me out & got up, walked about 10 steps towards the back & told me I'd have to wait for the other girl who was in the "bathroom".

I waited for about 5 minutes & after no one came to help me, including this other checker, I found the manager myself. She told me it was "company policy" that you had to present coupon at the time of checkout. I explained that I had JUST walked out. She gave me another look of disgust & told me I'd have to buy something that cost $10 & they wouldn't charge me. Even though I didn't need anything else I bought a hanging basket & they did credit me the $10. The checker didn't say a word to me as she was checking me out.

I am in two service oriented businesses and if I treated my customers as I was treated by 3 of HGCs employees, I wouldn't be in business! Everyone I encountered was so rude and not the least bit concerned about keeping me ( the customer) happy. I will NOT go back. They have lost my business & I will tell others not to do business there as well. Even management doesn't seem concerned about their rude treatment of customers.

Doesn't Recommend

Soltura A.

Joined 1 year ago

Location at 21530 Katy Freeway. Wow. After getting of the phone with Jennifer from Houston Garden Centers (713 218-0860) and reading other reviews like mine, I felt I must write one.

Yesterday, I visited the Garden Center at 21530 Katy Freeway right off of I-10, with my wife and 4 year old son. On a recent trip to Lowes, I learned of a product called Weed Free Zone, which is made by Fertilome. I was told that Lowes did not carry it but to try local garden stores, as it is the must have product to kill stubborn weeds.

I made location and asked the first staff member if he knew where I could find the product, of which I named by name. He then looks at another worker and says in spanish "hey, I don't understand him."

Cue the second person. I asked her if she knew where I could find a product called Weed Free Zone made by Fertilome. She looked at me with a blank stare and then walked me over to the Fertilzer section, pointed at the first one, which had nothing to do with Fertilome. I gather that she heard Fertilome and thought I meant Fertilizer.

After noting that she has no clue what I was asking for, I asked her for a manager... Cue the third person.

A ?manager? comes to her aid and asked how he could help. Mind you, this is the Manager, the head person in charge. I ask him the same question, and the begins to show me fertilizers as well. I again tell him, that I am in search of a specific product made by Fertilome called Weed Free Zone.

The manager removed his little orange cap, rubs his head (yes, movie like) and continues to rumage through the weed and feeds. After several minutes, I ask him if he knows what Atrazine is. The manager, the head of 21530 Katy Freeway Houston Garden Center, says NO!

Fast Forward to today. I locate Matt Hooper's number, which I am told is the owner of Houston Garden Centers. I speak to Jennifer who after listening to my dilemma, stated rudely that Houston Garden Center does not employ hordicultureist.

Again I add that I was not looking for a hordicultureist, but instead someone knowledgeable on a basic product such as Atrazine which helps..... (this is where she begins to yell at me and says that I don't have to tell her what Atrazine is.)

To bad Jennifer can't tell her staff what Atrazine is because I really could have used the product.

After I advised Jennifer that I felt she was being rude, she said our conversation was over.

I will say that I am in law enforcement and burglary suspects don't get talked to the way she spoke me.

I will follow up with the BBB and Matt Hooper. Someone has to open this guys eyes up but I am guessing that since Jennifer failed to provide her last name to me, it's probably Hooper.

*** STAY AWAY FROM HOUSTON GARDEN CENTER ***

Doesn't Recommend

consumer77584

Joined 2 years ago

Customer service? What is that?. Where is the zero star button? Never any staff who speaks English or knows anything about the products that they sell. No returns or exchanges even if you discover a defective product inside the packaging after you leave the store.

Try to ask the cashiers questions and they freak out and look at the spy cameras above their work stations.

Call any store and get a recording with no way to leave a message. The corporate office number is not listed - it's 713-218-0860. Call that number and press 201 for "customer service." I got a voice mail message to leave a message - then a message came on that there was no way to leave a message at that mailbox. Huh?

Three times we have purchased plants in 4" flats and there were no roots! There was just the propogation pellet with the cutting stuck in it. Both times we bought their brand of mulch the bags were full of sticks, rocks, plastic, and other garbage. We bought $200 worth of plants and put Houston Garden Center Mulch around them and now all 96 plants are dying. As a retired professional landscaper, these plants were planted and cared for correctly. The plants that did not get the mulch are doing fine. Houston Garden Center's response - couldn't be us, must be you.

Looking for a great plant nursery with good products, knowledgeable staff, and great customer service? I'm not purchasing anything more at Houston Garden Center and taking all my business to Buchanan's Native Plants on 11th in Houston. I easily spend between $2K and $3k a year on landscape, three- seasons of flowerbeds, and veggie garden stuff a year.

Houston Garden Center appears to care less that they have lost my family as customers.

Doesn't Recommend

westernpals

Joined 2 years ago

Houston Garden Centers are a racket!!!. The only way for this company to change is to boycott it and tell all of your friends, neighbors, and co-workers. For all of you that have complained, the owner's name is Matt Hooper and the central number is: 713-218-0860. Jennifer heads off complaints at the pass by stating 'no returns, no exchanges, and no money back' but at least you will have attempted to get to top management. When I called he was conveniently 'out of town'. The next thing you need to do is file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and be specific with your complaint. My husband bought some pots. There were no signs at the cash register stating that there were no returns, exchanges, or refunds. When I went back to exchange the pots for another size, the sales person pointed to an obscure sign that you only see as you are leaving the center. They would not let me xchange for different pots even thought there would be no loss to them. They said it was printed on the receipt. I replied that you don't see that until AFTER the purchase. That is when I called the central number and asked to speak to a manager or supervisor. If enough people will file a complaint then possibly there will be enough heat to make them change their practices.

Doesn't Recommend

whiterose1

Joined 2 years ago

Worst Customer Service Windfern & 1960. The Houston Garden Center at Windfern & 1960 has the worst customer service. I went there and bought four plants and they had price stickers on them. One said $3.99, and the other three said $3.49. When I saw the girl ring me up, she put in $3.99 x4. I then asked her why she put that price. Her response was, "well they are all supposed to be marked as $3.99." Wrong! I explained that I would pay exactly what the sticker said. She proceeded to argure with me so I asked to speak to the manager. The manager never came. Real professional!! The cashier came back and said she could sell the plants as the prices shown. Like you should of done at the very beginning! Those employees hardly know english and if they know english they don't want to be there and they don't want to be bothered. One guy was hiding behind some trees in the very back talking on his cell and laughing laughing laughing trying to avoid helping customers. I really love the selection the business has as far as their plants go, but its not worth spending my money if you seem like a nuissance to the workers! They don't know anything about customer service and I am very curious if Houston Gardens centers are even hiring U.S. citizens? I have never seen any other race working there besides Latino descent. There t.v. commercial makes it seem so inviting to shop there but when you get there, it's very dissapointing! I don't plan on going back unless they train their people on how to treat people. Maybe their sales would sky rocket!

Doesn't Recommend

springsretire

Joined 5 years ago

Misleading Ads and Money Hungry. Went to Houston Garden Center - Westpark today to get a Christmas tree. All TV and Print advertising says Douglas and Frasier firs $29.00

BUT ONLY a select set of the trees are that amount. Also went to a display table to purchase a swag marked $5.99 BUT sign on table said "Today only $4.99" but again was told ONLY a select few are that price. I called their office and a girl named Jennifer argued with me saying it was not deceptive advertising because they didn't say the word ALL. I explained you didn't say the word SELECT either. She was very very rude and argumentative.

Also they now charge $2.00 for fresh cut - how money grubbing is that. It's Christmas - make the experience of getting a tree a joyful happy one - not with your hands in our pocket during the whole shopping trip.

I will never go back.

Recommends

marekale

Joined 3 years ago

Not bad if you know what you want. I go to nurseries a lot for business, and HGC is nowhere near my favorite. But when I can't find a certain plant I've specified at the wholesale nurseries, I drop by this place just to check on their stocks. Today I found the seven Carolina jessamine (a great Texas native, BTW) vines I needed. If you know what plant you want and how to spot it, HGC is okay.