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Home > Archive > UK gardening > March 2006 > Camellia prices at B and Q?
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Camellia prices at B and Q?
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| Janet Baraclough 2006-03-29, 12:21 pm |
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If anyone is heading to B and Q's garden section , could you please
let me know what they're charging for their smallest-pot-size camellias
this spring? They don't have plant prices on their website.
Janet (Isle of Arran)
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| Rupert 2006-03-29, 4:21 pm |
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"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3130303039303239442ABA8342@zetnet.co.uk...
>
> If anyone is heading to B and Q's garden section , could you please
> let me know what they're charging for their smallest-pot-size camellias
> this spring? They don't have plant prices on their website.
>
> Janet (Isle of Arran)
Don't know about B&Q prices but Focus (formerly Do-it-All) are offering
small Camellia at £9.99 . I think it may have been a cock up because they
had a bogoff deal 2 for £9.99.
A larger specimen was £9.99 each . Couldn't resist as the "General Coletti"
had many variegated leaves.
None of this helps with your original query but it may be worth a journey to
Focus.
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| Janet Baraclough wrote:
> If anyone is heading to B and Q's garden section , could you please
> let me know what they're charging for their smallest-pot-size camellias
> this spring? They don't have plant prices on their website.
>
> Janet (Isle of Arran)
give your local B&Q a call ? Numbers are on the web via the store finder.
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| Janet Baraclough 2006-03-29, 6:21 pm |
| The message <442ae8e9@212.67.96.135>
from "Rupert" <reply@newsgroups.com> contains these words:
> "Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:3130303039303239442ABA8342@zetnet.co.uk...
[color=darkred]
> Don't know about B&Q prices but Focus (formerly Do-it-All) are offering
> small Camellia at £9.99 . I think it may have been a cock up because they
> had a bogoff deal 2 for £9.99.
> A larger specimen was £9.99 each . Couldn't resist as the "General Coletti"
> had many variegated leaves.
> None of this helps with your original query but it may be worth a
> journey to
> Focus.
Thanks Rupert. Will take a look.
Shopping forays from here require advance planning :-)
Janet
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| Janet Baraclough 2006-03-29, 7:21 pm |
| The message <XKWdnVmD7MmTmbbZRVny3w@bt.com>
from NC <NC@home.com> contains these words:
> Janet Baraclough wrote:
[color=darkred]
> give your local B&Q a call ? Numbers are on the web via the store finder.
I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)
Janet
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| JennyC 2006-03-30, 1:21 am |
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"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3130303039303239442B1D9286@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <XKWdnVmD7MmTmbbZRVny3w@bt.com>
> from NC <NC@home.com> contains these words:
>
>
>
> I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
> garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
> trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)
>
> Janet
Yes, but you might get someone in the office who's in front of a computer with
the price list......... :~))
Jenny
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> I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
> garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
> trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)
>
> Janet
>
>
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| michael adams 2006-03-30, 4:21 am |
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"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3130303039303239442B1D9286@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <XKWdnVmD7MmTmbbZRVny3w@bt.com>
> from NC <NC@home.com> contains these words:
>
camellias[color=darkred]
>
finder.[color=darkred]
>
> I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
> garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
> trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)
>
> Janet
It isn't just the price Janet, you should be able to confirm they
actually have any in stock and weren't sent an extra cage of
rhododendrons by mistake - or the cage didn't fall off the back
of the delivery lorry - or they're sold out. Or have only one or
two left with branches missing etc.
However you should be able to find out what you want...eventually.
With many of these places, there may be a long wait before anyone
answers the phone at all. Although this doesn't cost you money -
only patience. It doesn't pay them to have people sitting around,
although that might depend on what time of day you phoned.
After explaining what you want - price and availability information
there may be a wait until they get a response from someone sitting
in front of a terminal. From what you tell them over the phone
they should immediately be able to tell you the price and how
many they have in stock. You may need to spell out the name carefully
or they may have it wrong themselves however. They read the bar-codes
off the cages into hand-helds when the stuff is delivered and bar-codes
off the pots when it goes through the till.
They can tell you this information at the information desk, without
you as a customer knowing the product code, and so they should be able to
tell you over the phone as well. This is from looking over people's
shoulders, not inside industry knowledge.
Once you've got the information you want it doesn't hurt to ask the
name of the person you're talking to. Once you've phoned any of these
places and got an answer, this gives you leverage if you turn up and
the information turns out to be wrong. Much more leverage than if you
walked in off the street. If you have a name even better. "I phoned
today and spoke to Mary and she said you had 200 in stock. I've just
travelled 50 miles and your computer at the inquiry desk says there
are 100, but there are none in the store. I want to speak to the
manager please. What are you going to do for me please. This is totally
unacceptable." These placed often sell Gift vouchers etc. which
might be offered in lieu if you're insistent enough.
michael adams
....
>
>
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| Janet Baraclough 2006-03-30, 7:21 am |
| The message <491gm2Fm1ieqU1@individual.net>
from "michael adams" <mjadams26@onetel.net.uk> contains these words:
> "Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:3130303039303239442B1D9286@zetnet.co.uk...
> camellias
> finder.
[color=darkred]
> It isn't just the price Janet, you should be able to confirm they
> actually have any in stock(snip)
> However you should be able to find out what you want...eventually.
> With many of these places, there may be a long wait before anyone
> answers the phone at all. Although this doesn't cost you money -
> only patience.
Well, in the interest of science, I felt obliged to try it out.
First, it does cost money, as none of the W. Scotland branches has a
freephone number.
machine announcement "Thankyou for calling B and Q Kilmarnock. If
you want X, press button 1(fourchoices) "
Machine "We are now trying to connect you to a memeber of staff. "
Tinkly music
Machine "We are now connecting you to a member of staff"
Tinkly music
Real person "Hello, I'm Keith, how can I help you?Yes, will connect
you to our gardening department"
Tinkly music
Keith "Sorry, nobody seems to be answering. If you leave your name
and number I'll ask them to call you with information about Camellias."
(I give, AND spell, name, slowly and clearly.)
"Sorry, I wasn't listening, could you repeat that"
JB gives name and number.
15 mins later, phone rings
"It's Debbie from B and Q garden dept, how may I help you? "
JB "Please can you tell me the price of your smallest-pot size camellias?"
D "It's either 4.99 or 5.99, but they're tiny. The 24.98 size are
much bigger and better".
JB "Thankyou. Can you tell me what varieties of small ones you have
in stock?".
D. " He just said you were looking for some plants, he didn't tell me
cammellias. I'll go and look and ring you back".
3 mins later, D rings back
"The smallest are 5-98. They come in two sorts pink or red
semidouble. No, they don't have names on the computer list. They are
very tiny, only 15 to 20 cms high; the big ones are much better and only
cost 24.98 and they have a name. It's "Len Measly".
Thanks and pleasant farewells on both sides.
For just another two quid , at £7.99 I can buy a larger size and
better choice of named varieties in flower(or bud), here on the island.
Camellia "Leonard Messel" is available at Glendoick for only £10.40
(3 litre pot).
Janet.
[color=darkred]
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| michael adams 2006-03-30, 7:21 am |
|
"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3130303039303239442BC06847@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <491gm2Fm1ieqU1@individual.net>
> from "michael adams" <mjadams26@onetel.net.uk> contains these words:
>
>
please[color=darkred]
like[color=darkred]
>
>
>
> Well, in the interest of science, I felt obliged to try it out.
>
> First, it does cost money, as none of the W. Scotland branches has a
> freephone number.
>
> machine announcement "Thankyou for calling B and Q Kilmarnock. If
> you want X, press button 1(fourchoices) "
> Machine "We are now trying to connect you to a memeber of staff. "
> Tinkly music
> Machine "We are now connecting you to a member of staff"
> Tinkly music
> Real person "Hello, I'm Keith, how can I help you?Yes, will connect
> you to our gardening department"
> Tinkly music
> Keith "Sorry, nobody seems to be answering. If you leave your name
> and number I'll ask them to call you with information about Camellias."
> (I give, AND spell, name, slowly and clearly.)
> "Sorry, I wasn't listening, could you repeat that"
> JB gives name and number.
>
> 15 mins later, phone rings
....
Not bad. Means you can get on with other things anyway. If they
allow you to stay within earshot of a phone, at least.
It's the ones that phone back 3 hours later that are the pain.
Or never do. Or keep you holding on, listening to muzak.
....
>
> "It's Debbie from B and Q garden dept, how may I help you? "
> JB "Please can you tell me the price of your smallest-pot size
camellias?"
> D "It's either 4.99 or 5.99, but they're tiny. The 24.98 size are
> much bigger and better".
> JB "Thankyou. Can you tell me what varieties of small ones you have
> in stock?".
> D. " He just said you were looking for some plants, he didn't tell me
> cammellias. I'll go and look and ring you back".
>
> 3 mins later, D rings back
....
Fair enough.
I'm surprised they simply couldn't read it all off a terminal,
but there you go. Can't be right all the time, I suppose. 2-2.
....
>
> "The smallest are 5-98. They come in two sorts pink or red
> semidouble. No, they don't have names on the computer list. They are
> very tiny, only 15 to 20 cms high; the big ones are much better and only
> cost 24.98 and they have a name. It's "Len Measly".
> Thanks and pleasant farewells on both sides.
>
> For just another two quid , at £7.99 I can buy a larger size and
> better choice of named varieties in flower(or bud), here on the island.
> Camellia "Leonard Messel"
....
Ouch!
....
> is available at Glendoick for only £10.40
> (3 litre pot).
....
They're not necessarily competitive over all their ranges.
....
>
> Janet.
Saved a journey anyway.
From the sounds of things there can't have been any labels
on the smaller plants, otherwise they wouldn't only have
referred to the computer list. And so you're no worse off
than you would be, if someone had reported personally.
michael adams
....
>
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| P Williamson 2006-03-31, 5:21 pm |
| Bought one today from a street market (Dutch import) for 8 quid, 2 ft +
tall) plenty of larger ones and named varieties for 15-25 quid. seem to be
lots around at the moment in NW UK
"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3130303039303239442B1D9286@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <XKWdnVmD7MmTmbbZRVny3w@bt.com>
> from NC <NC@home.com> contains these words:
>
>
>
> I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
> garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
> trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)
>
> Janet
>
>
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