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  • Kelly Nurseries

Kelly Nurseries

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Overview

Kelly Nurseries has a rating of 1.11 stars from 38 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Kelly Nurseries most frequently mention customer service, plastic bag, and busy signal problems. Kelly Nurseries ranks 96th among Plants sites.

  • Service
    13
  • Value
    13
  • Shipping
    13
  • Returns
    9
  • Quality
    13
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
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What reviewers want you to know

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Critical highlights

  • Do not buy from https://www.kellynurseries.com/ as their customer service is terrible.
How would you rate Kelly Nurseries?
Top Positive Review

“Great Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Benighta M.
6/30/21

I purchased 4 dwarf fruit trees during COVID-19. I was received dead. Customer care, Collin and Brandon answered my questions concerning it in a timely manner within 3 days. I received a refund for the dead tree. The other 3 are doing well.

Top Critical Review

“Horrible service.”

Josefina l.
6/4/21

I mailed my order and check in early April (from Arkansas) 2021. I don't have the exact date but my check is dated 3/28. I received my order yesterday June 3rd. A total of 10 items in a too-big bag so the small container/bags were loose inside! Most of them already dried up; no instructions! I had tried calling them the past 2 weeks because I was beginning to think they'd lost my order! I was NEVER able to get answer, phone always sounds busy! I will buy local from now on!

Reviews (38)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (11)
Thumbnail of user josefinal14
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 4th, 2021

I mailed my order and check in early April (from Arkansas) 2021. I don't have the exact date but my check is dated 3/28. I received my order yesterday June 3rd. A total of 10 items in a too-big bag so the small container/bags were loose inside! Most of them already dried up; no instructions!
I had tried calling them the past 2 weeks because I was beginning to think they'd lost my order! I was NEVER able to get answer, phone always sounds busy! I will buy local from now on!

Thumbnail of user dellm27
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 24th, 2021
Verified purchase

They are shady and thieves. Waited over a month for order, never shipped. Called to cancel, they would not accept a phone cancelation, said I had to email them to cancel. I did. A week later they charged me. Nothing from them if they shipped anything. No info from them at all, They wont answer phones or emails. Crooked Sons of a $#*!es they are!

Tip for consumers:
You will lose by doing business with this company. Please simply research them

Products used:
Nothing has shipped yet

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Thumbnail of user adelef17
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 22nd, 2021

Plants shipped without proper protection. No effort to correct or even acknowledge this issue. This has happened 2x to me so consider me the loser here -- I gave them another try knowing that the first shipment was poorly packaged. If you get thriving plants from this company, you'll have lucked out. If you get damanged, dried out or dead ones, according to their guarantee, you can return them --? Seriously. Return the plants for a full refund -- knowing most people won't do that and then continuing in their poor practices and assuming than the majority of consumers won't package up a dead plant. This is a company that does not care what you or anyone else thinks about their service.

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Thumbnail of user lutter.sl77
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 31st, 2023

Ignorant on the phone to customer that says it all. 18 out of 30 plants died already. Bad business is no business!

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Thumbnail of user frankc1138
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 4th, 2021

Back in the 80's this was one of the best nursery around. What happened I will never buy from these people again they won't even answer there phone to replace the order

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Thumbnail of user williamh2893
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
July 30th, 2021

Minus zero stars should be option here. Save your money or at least go to a reputable nursery. Placed order took 6 weeks and many emails before I got past their canned "we don't care and here are your options after we give you months of frustration" responses Then when I finally got my twig, after being " in shipping" department for two weeks it was so dead. I mean Grandma to Moses dead. But they assured me it was only "dormant" and that it would raise from the dead, I mean from being " dormant". We I planted this twig and paid the city for 100s of gallons of water to water it daily. Do you think it did anything? You are right, No. I wrote them again and again I got the same canned—- we are use to this and here is our canned—-reply.
Unless you love being ripped off and frustrated and have nothing better to do with your money then Kelly Nurseries is the place for you

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Thumbnail of user andrel114
1 review
1 helpful vote
July 19th, 2020

Don't trust this website they will take ur money, and send you garbage in the mail which take 6months... you will be better off going to a local plant store 1/2 star stay far!

Thumbnail of user roberth2034
1 review
5 helpful votes
April 22nd, 2020

I placed an order for plants over a month ago and did not receive it. I tried calling them. The line is always busy. They did take my money though!

Thumbnail of user bridgeta29
1 review
2 helpful votes
June 27th, 2020

I ordered a "Fruit Cocktail tree" in early summer 2019; received a broken, dead-looking twig in August. Planting materials say that "if the top is broken, take off and plant. It will not hurt the tree." Well, I planted, watered, and pampered it for almost 8 months - it arrived DEAD and stayed that way!
In April, 2020, I wrote the company for a refund. I was informed by e-mail ( a week later) that refunds were not done. I could request another FC tree (free of charge!) or a credit on my next order. I sent back the shipping information AND the dead tree. Didn't hear a word for 2 1/2 months when a new "healthy" tree was delivered. That tree was broken in 2 places and only had 1 sickly leaf start near the bottom.
(Pictures are of 2019 plant and 2 from 2020 recently received one)
Instead of planting outside, I'm going to treat it as a houseplant until next Spring, and see if the results are better. But I'm not getting my hopes up!
Truly BAD company and horrible customer service And now I receive catalogs from 3 of their other companies under different names BUT WITH THE SAME PICTURES AND PRICES!

Thumbnail of user carolel129
1 review
1 helpful vote
May 19th, 2021

I orderded my plans last year and it was "dead on arrival"; those had no chance; to survive!, were mail on an "embryonnique stage"! Of course no refund,, only a smal fraction of my purchase& the small cheque only to be use on a next order! This year no plans... nothing,, just a busy signal; that Co. Should be reported to the authoritees, clearly a fraud!

Thumbnail of user anns623
3 reviews
3 helpful votes
July 21st, 2020

How I wish I had searched reviews of this company before ordering! Receiving an order takes MONTHS and they ship live little trees in a PLASTIC shipping bag not even marked as containing live plants. Received mine broken in half and you get nothing but runaround trying to get a replacement. Worst customer service ever. Who ships potted little trees in a plastic bag? I have ordered and received many beautiful trees and shrubs online and have never had an experience as bad as this one. Order from fast-growing trees and save yourself tons of hassle and frustration!

Thumbnail of user camh20
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 10th, 2021

I am still waiting on my order, NO information on it. Can't get anyone to answer emails, phone is on a constant busy signal. They had NO problem charging my order immediately, but then it fell into a black hole. I will NEVER order from this company again.

Thumbnail of user johns8773
1 review
1 helpful vote
May 21st, 2021

Ordered 3 plants last year. Arrived late. Sent cheaper versions of the plants I ordered and one was dead and the other 2 nearly dead, They don't answer emails and phone busy from 7 AM till Midnight. Stay away from this business,

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Thumbnail of user enriqueg47
1 review
2 helpful votes
May 1st, 2020

Order Trees and bulbs. Receive crushed trees and dried up bulbs stuffed in a plastic bag. Everything is dead. Requested a replacement and got a back of forth paper trail. Nothing but a waste of time and money. You will have more luck ordering the Coronavirus through them.

Thumbnail of user bethp209
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
May 12th, 2020

I should have done more research! I ordered $200 worth of plants and the first bag arrived after about a month, right in time for planting. There was a substitution of a red plant for a pink I ordered, but whatever... The "bag 2 of 2" never arrived. I contacted customer service by email, and received a response after 3 messages. They asked for info I had already included, delaying their response by a day each time, and never addressed the incorrect plant sent. Then they said bag #2 would be sent out when they have the plants. It took another month to get the 2nd bag and it had a wrong plant in it! They sent me two of the same plant, and not the most expensive one that had been ordered. Customer service was not helpful and said I had to return the incorrect plant, at my expense, to get my money back. Horrible company, horrible customer service. Lesson learned!

Thumbnail of user edf217
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 24th, 2021

Placed an order in jan- received it in june-beat up dried up trash.No one will answer the phone -stay away!

Tip for consumers:
stay away

Products used:
plants

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Value
Shipping
Returns
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Thumbnail of user keithp375
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 14th, 2021

Garbage! I ordered early and waited 2 months for this garbage. Never, never again. Just remember Kelly ='s smelly $#*!!

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Thumbnail of user janicem1088
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 3rd, 2021

I ordered $120.00. What came was half dead, I have been able to salvage10. They were so small, and dead.

Tip for consumers:
Don't use it.

Products used:
10 plants that were all I could salvage.

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Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user victort128
1 review
1 helpful vote
May 1st, 2020

The plants we ordered were poorly packaged, took 10 days to get to us and were dead when they got here
This nursery does not know how to package and ship plants so they will arrive alive

Thumbnail of user heatherh576
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
April 30th, 2021

Placed an order in early April of 2020. Order never shipped until late May. Half of my $270 order arrived deader than hell! A number of items were replaced with plants I didn't order (ordered Tupola Trees and was sent Silver Maples, ordered lavender and was sent baby's breath). Called and was told I needed to ship all the dead plants back... and to include the shipping label. Was told I should call back in the spring of 2021 to use the credit from the order returned. I just called to discuss my credit, and "Sandra" told me there is no record of my shipment arriving at their location. She asked if I had the shipping label, to which I replied "How could I, as you require the shipping label with the returned items"? She then informed me that I need to make a copy of my credit card statement and to send that, along with a letter stating that I no longer have my shipping label (Because I returned it with the dead items... idiots) and that I do not want replaced items but wish credit towards a different item. I then asked how will I know they received the letter. She answered that I'd need to send it certified mail if I want proof. I asked how long would this take, from when they get my letter. She answered... a "while". WTH does THAT mean?!?! I swear... if I'd just read reviews about these criminals, I would have NEVER spent money with them. DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR MONEY!

Tip for consumers:
STAY AWAY!!!! If the return address on the catalog you got read from Bloomington, IL.... RUN THE OTHER WAY!!!!

Products used:
plants

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Value
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Thumbnail of user briang1076
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 31st, 2021

I so wished I had read these reviews before placing my order. I used this company 20+ years ago, at the time, had a very good reputation. I have gotten the catalog every year since. So this year I decided to place an order of 24 white paper birch and 2 red bud trees. That was nearly 2 months ago and I have received NOTHING. Oh, they took my 98.00 and the charge comes from an online gardening company name - something completely different from Kelley. This raised a red flag and I called my credit card company. The tip off should be when you place an order you always get a confirmation email. NOT this company. I have made SEVERAL attempts to call customer support only to get a rapid busy signal.
This so called company needs to be shut down. I am contacting the BBB and my state attorney General's office. It may be helpful to also contact the Indiana State AG.
So far I have not received anything. If I do, I expect they will be poorly packaged and dead upon arrival. But they sure as hell made sure they got my money.
DO NOT ORDER from this so called company. Instead, use the money you would have thrown away and give it to your favorite charity where it will at least go to a worthy cause.

Tip for consumers:
Do NOT USE this company

Products used:
nursery stock

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Value
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Thumbnail of user dominickl29
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
May 14th, 2021

PLACED ON ORDER WITH THEM AND TO THIS DATE I STILL HAVE NO PLANTS AND THEY REFUSE TO ANSWER THE PHONE

Tip for consumers:
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SHOULD SHUT THEM DOWN UNLESS THY ARE IN ON IT?????

Products used:
NONE

Thumbnail of user paigem168
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
September 9th, 2021

DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THIS SITE KELLY NURSERIES as they are the owners of DIRECT GARDENING. Please feel free to READ THE REVIEWS AT https://www.yelp.com/biz/direct-gardening-bloomington-3. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM! I just hung up with "Customer Service Manager" whom informed me that I have to send my bank statement showing proof of purchase. After they've already lost my Original packaging, invoice, bank statement proof and their invoice to them for the purpose of replacement or refund on September 21,2020. Not only were they dead, the one that survived isn't even fantasy Monarda.
I have over 30 emails spanning a years time that shows you'll be told the same thing over and over until you give up! IM NOT GIVING UP! If you've had a bad experience with either company let's talk.
I'll be looking for the writers of a ton of these reviews for litigation purposes.
PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CONSUMER THEFT!

Tip for consumers:
Don’t buy Kelly Nurseries or Direct Gardening!

Thumbnail of user tomk879
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 7th, 2021

Do not buy from https://www.kellynurseries.com/ as their customer service is terrible. I bought plants that arrived dead and it has been 3 months and still no replacement.

Tip for consumers:
Do not order from this site https://www.kellynurseries.com/

Products used:
plants

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user vernonr22
1 review
10 helpful votes
September 17th, 2018

I placed an order for plants. I got plants and immediately potted them and they didn't grow. Contacted them and did their laborious process to get replacements. I received and immediately potted the plants. They rotted and didn't live. Under the circumstances i did not want replacements and asked for a credit. They refused to which to issue credit. Will let them have their BLOOD money but won't everyone to know how lousy they are.

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1.1
38 reviews
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