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Business Profile

Seeding

W. Atlee Burpee & Company

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 14 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 3 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/01/2025

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Ordered plants for my garden on 5/10. Shipping estimate was around 5/15-5/17. Paid $112.03 This has been a headache. I live in ** and our growing season isn't very long. I would never have ordered online if I knew it would take this long to get the plants. AND no updates at all about status unless I reached out to them. They never responded to my online and email requests for updates. When I talked to a cust serv *** on 5/22 was assured the plants would be shipped out by end of week - probably thurs or fri. All week I looked at status and no change. I called on Fri and was told the plants were being shipped out this weekend. I looked yesterday and saw no activity so I tried to call them again only to find they are closed on weekends. Status is still showing "ordered." the plants have not been shipped.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/26/2025

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On Fri, 14 Mar at 11:06 AM , Ejra10 ******************** wrote:Two weeks ago, I emailed Burpee asking for a return label paid by Burpee for return of my order BP010284537. In the order I received 3 full size trays with 2- 36 cell inserts half trays in them each as shown in the picture I sent. Your online catalog and every email I received show a picture of a half tray, half lid for tray and probably a 36 cell insert for half tray. This would mean two 36 cell half trays equal a 72 cell tray or at least that is what the public is led to believe when ordering the 72 cell tray greenhouse. I am not asking for much just a paid return label for this order upon which I can reorder with the help of Burpee to get what I originally wanted. I still want the 6 half trays and might still have time to grow more plants this spring if this get be resolved quickly. Thank you for your time, **** ********

    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/17/2025

    **** Reinhard 
    From:*****************************
    To:Burpee Customer Service

    Thu, Apr 17 at 4:37 PM



    I wanted to give you a couple weeks to see if the refund has been processed as you have emailed me. The refund had not been posted to my credit card on March 27th as you stated. This is not a surprise to me as most companies like yours always promise and then delay and obstruse the refund for as long as they can. I am forwarding this email to the BBB inquiry I opened that caused Burpee to offer the refund. Please advise if and when you will keep your written word about my refund. Also, just so you know I donated the 3 trays to a kindergarten school class so they could grow some flowers for Mother's day. I can provide school, class and teachers name if needed. I keep my word. Please see BP010284537 order number. Thank you. **** Reinhard 

    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/17/2025

    BBB

    What is my next step?

    It is frustrating dealing with false information online and companies not backing up their websites?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    **** ********

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/05/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I ordered $135 worth of seeds and almost none of them germinated. I followed the exact instructions for storing seeds and planting seeds from the company. I literally have no garden this year. The seeds that did germinate performed so poorly I will get no produce. The corn that germinated is only knee high currently. My tomato plants have produced 2 tomato's each, all still green and we are in August. I have no pumpkins or melons. I have been gardening for 10 years and NEVER had this happen!

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:07/16/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I purchased string beans and none have blossomed and they have been planted for 3 months. I want my money back. I will not be buying anything else from your company

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/30/2024

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Burpee is very unprofessional and has very poor communication with consumers. On 4/10/24 I called Burpee to inform them that I never received my order #BP007496275. I was very reluctant to allow Burpee to send me a replacement order because of order#BP008420934 and the state of this order was very damaged. I was more than willing to give Burpee the benefit of the doubt but Burpee was not interested in this order. I tried making every effort possible to make an arrangement with Burpee. I emailed Burpee on 4/29/24. I never received an email from Burpee regarding this issue. The consumer was very patient regarding this matter. Burpee is the one that refused any contact from the consumer. I called Burpee on 5/1/24 regarding this replacement order #BP008805078. The plants were in very poor condition and almost all of them died except for four. I emailed Burpee on 5/5/24 regarding this order #BP008805078.I called Burpee and spoke to ***** at Burpee on 5/30/24. ***** refused to transfer the call over to Supervisor. ***** also insisted on only speaking of my past order #BP008420934. Not the one I was calling about order #BP008805078. Burpee refuses to speak of my order that Im calling about. Burpee has been giving the consumer the runaround and ignoring my emails and not returning calls regarding this order #BP008805078. This is a replacement order. The original order was never delivered. The original Order number is #BP007496275. Order was placed on 11/24/23 The Grand Total:$135.29 (1)***********, Cha-Cha Diva Hot Pink (Only two cells of Cha-Cha Diva Hot Pin ***********************************, _Can-Can Bumblebee Pink (1)Petunia, Midnight Gold (Only two cells of the Petunia, Midnight Gold survived.)(1)***************. Sky. Burgundy (all did not make it)(2) Petunia, Night Sky (all did not make it)(1)Calibrachoa, Bumble Bee Orange (all did not make it)and Burpee did not even fulfill my order! (1=4-cells)Im seek a full refund $135.29

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/12/2023

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I purchased packs of peppers (jalapeno, carnival, and poblano) from Burpee. None of the seeds are what they were advertised as. This was a waste of money, time, electricity, garden space, water, and nutrients. When I confronted Burpee about this widely known issue they responded by removing my reviews that called them out for this problem. I would recommend you use local suppliers or more reputable ones because Burpee will not make good on mistakes that they, or their suppliers whom they should have vetted, make.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/20/2023

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Never used this company or purchased anything from them but somehow they got my card info and charged me for purchases I never made

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/02/2023

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I placed an order with the company on 4/3 for a total of $39.62. When I finally received my order on 4/19 the shipment was late. I ordered live plants and they arrived without soil in the containers anymore and the plants were dead. I tried to revive them but it did not work.I contacted the company on 4/20 @ 1:48pm including pictures to request a resolution and still have not received a response.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/29/2023

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I placed a live-plant order on April 9, 2023. On April 10th my account was charged (not just pre-authorized) for the total amount of $64.57. I received 2/3 of the order within a reasonable amount of time. I'm still waiting for the last 3 plants. I've filled out a support ticket several days ago and heard nothing back so I attempted to use the online chat on their website. I'm not sure if ********* was a chatbot or just rude but the convoluted answers amounted to no definitive dates, I asked if I had missed a notice on their website about potential delays in shipping and received no response. She wouldn't respond to my request to cancel the rest of the order, either. So they have my money and I never received the most important plants of the order. So much for Burpees having a good reputation.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/27/2023

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    In some reason my bankaccount has got a debit of USD 10,90 from your company. Its very mystery as I do not have made any order to you! No deliveries, no invoice no confirmation etc. I have been in contact with my bank and they can only see a "card transaction". Only trace I have is the comp name W.Atlee Burpees Comp , date 2023-04-23 and a ref no **********.rgds *********************** ****** (hope you understand some of this complaints, not that good in writing in English)

W. Atlee Burpee & Company is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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