The Tree Center Plant Supply Company Review:

TheTreeCenter.com rating and grade stayed the same as the last update.  

We finally placed an order on TheTreeCenter.com and it helped answer a few questions. You can view pictures of the unboxing and read our complete The Tree Center review of plants delivered here.

One of our biggest questions was whether The Tree Center shipped plants from their own field(s). They seem to try to keep their location private. The address in their promotional emails & other communications lists a P.O. box as their address. We even tried to contact them once via email with no response.

We ordered 2 bushes and 2 evergreen ground covers (Bowles Periwinkle). All 4 plants came from the same address in Maryland. In fact, they all came in one box. They were impressively packed, which we show & describe in our review. From searching the address on the shipping label, they do have their own field but it does appear to be someone's relatively large back yard.  

We traded a few emails with someone in customer service at The Tree Center after we took delivery, Their replies were prompt and they were very supportive. 

Our opinion of The Tree Center has increased since we received good quality plants delivered in a timely manner from their own field. It's a little concerning that their plants appear to be located tied to a home address. Their field is large enough to hold plants as they get ready to ship. Maybe not a true nursery but getting high quality plants is a plus.

It looks like The Tree Center made a few site upgrades recently.  Their logo has been updated and they have a new slogan; "Lowest Prices Online Guaranteed! Show us a lower price and we'll match it!" As a marketing person, the new slogan is awesome, but you really need to read all the details. They essentially limit price matching to 5 other online nurseries.  You qualify for a $50 gift card if they can't match a price. It's also totally their discretion if there's any question on comparable sizes being price matched. You can read all about it here:  https://www.thetreecenter.com/guaranteed-lowest-prices/ 

Their 'Arrive Alive' guaranty is spelled out in pretty simple language. Their Terms of Service, however, is still a beast.  One of the longest we have seen for an online nursery.

The Tree Center seems to have a lot of inventory at decent prices.  There are still quite a few discrepancies. Nothing horrible but just a few small things that just makes you pause; and that's never a good thing for any online store.

In April there were 18 The Tree Center Google reviews with a 2.4 average rating. We can't find them anymore.  Gone.  Just this past week a new listing showed up with 1 review for, of course, 5 stars. The picture they use is of a post office. Not a fan of either the Google review switch-a-roo or trying to use a post office as their business picture.

What were the red flags?

• As we mentioned, using a PO Box as your primary business address is questionable.
• The increasingly popular 'extended warranty' at an extra cost provides a store credit only.  And the warranty has to be filed within 30 days.  AND, you have to supply pictures.
• Their Terms of Service is a beast!  One of the longest we've found.  
• They offer a phone number to call in BUT the last time we looked it's available for just 4 hours a day Mon-Fri and only for new orders only.  You have to use their contact form for any existing order.  They may be great at promptly responding to customer service inquiries, it's just been our experience that you really need to speak to someone, not just trading emails.

Despite some real concerns, mostly around their obvious desire to remain anonymous, they do carry a good selection at decent prices.  We were impressed with our order and the process.