SimplyGro

The seed packs contain very small numbers of seeds and are very expensive (I tell it like it is).

 

I couldn't see where it said how many seeds were in a pack.

 

The amount of seeds is stated for every single pack, for example http://www.simplygro.co.uk/lettuce-52-c.asp




So taking 200 Little Gems for half cost of £1.66 as an example, that's 84p for 200 Little Gem Seeds

But just compare that to Wilkos seeds for and incredible difference http://www.wilko.com/wilko-seeds-as...etable-garden-little-gem-lettuce/invt/0284051
That's 3,300 lettuce seeds for £1.60 (3 for 2 on seeds), or 200 seeds for 10p, so Simply seeds Little Gems are over 8 times more expensive than buying from Wilkos.

And then there's £1.99 delivery charges from Simply Seeds, when Wilkos seeds are free to collect in store, plus have occasional free delivery promotions, plus attracts 4.2% cashback http://www.topcashback.co.uk/search/merchants/?s=wilko

And that's just the first comparison - didn't anybody else compare their prices?

 

I didn't see any seed counts on the ones I looked at. Perhaps, @SimplyGro, that might be something to check. Is there an inconsistency in the way the info is presented? The potential purchaser shouldn't have to work to find the info (its the 5 second rule I mentioned earlier - a website has about 5 seconds to grab and keep the attention of the reader, otherwise they will just move on).

 

It took me less than 5 seconds to spot the seed counts, I clicked on Veg Seeds under the heading of 'Products', then clicked on 'Lettuces' and the info on seed quantities was there! It's the exactly the same with Beetroot, Broad Beans, Cabbages, Carrots, Courgettes, Cress (grammes), Cucumbers, Dwarf French Beans (only 8 seeds per variety!), Peas, Radish, Rocket, Runner Beans (only between 7 and eight seeds each!), Sweetcorn (only 8 seeds each variety - not much chance of planting a decent 'block' for pollinationation purposes), Tomatoes and Turnips. In fact it's every single variety.

And besides that £1.99 P&P, there appears to be a need to purchase separate cultivation instructions @ 20p each that other suppliers print on their packets http://www.simplygro.co.uk/printed-cultivation-sheets-vegetables-221-p.asp

 

You're right @Scrungee, but, the seed counts are not present when you click on the detail for an item.

http://www.simplygro.co.uk/courgettes-pack-1-148-p.asp

When I'm doing online shoppin, what I typically do is right-click to open a product link in a new tab, based on a very quick check in the listing. I.e. something catches my eye, I don't read the summary but right click to go to that specific product's page. I do that with several more items, so I end up with lots of tabs open with details of products I might buy, then I have a good read of each one, closing down the tabs one at a time until I'm down to just one or two tabs detailing the 'shortlisted' items, and then I base my buying choice on what I read in the product detail page.

By missing the seed counts on the detail pages, it means I have two choices. I can either go to the effort of looking for the seed count on the summary page, or just not bother. Being a lazy git I'd lean towards the latter, which means I'd probably end up ordering from elsewhere.

 

Thank you for your feedback - I appreciate both positive & negative so all is helpful

The reason for the low seed count is specifically because I offer more than one variety in each pack. I am not trying to be the cheapest supplier, I am trying to offer a convenient way for people to try growing lots of varieties without having to buy lots of packets of seeds.

I understand that many of the forum members will have allotments, grow large numbers of vegetables and will prefer to buy large quantities of seeds. I am aiming at people who only have a small raised bed, patio or balcony and therefore will have no need for hundreds (or thousands of seeds).

In regard to the sweetcorn, the pack contains 3 varieties with 8 seeds of each. The varieties are all sugar-enhanced and therefore can be sown in a block of 24.

In order to reduce paper usage I have decided not to provide printed cultivation information for every order. Instead I offer everyone the option to either download the information for free http://www.simplygro.co.uk/cultivation-information-20-w.asp or purchase a printed copy for a small charge.

I am in the process of updating this information as I realised it was an issue as since I created the variety list you can now access the long description without seeing the short description.

 

Happy New Year everyone!

I just wanted to update you all on changes I have made to my website. I have taken all of your feedback on board and have reviewed my business plan and costings.

I am now offering 'mix & match' seeds where the customer can select their own varieties. I have also increased the seed quantities so the packets are better value for money.

I have added more flowers and will be looking out for unusual varieties of veg, herbs & flowers to add to the range.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to look at my site and thanks to the moderators for allowing me to post this thread.

SimplyGro

 

Happy New Year

Hope it takes off for you

 

Looks a lot more competitive now, especially http://www.simplygro.co.uk/compact-courgette-4174-p.asp Compact plants are not only suitable for small raised beds and containers, but also for planting in smaller poly tunnels.


P.S. The £1.99 P&P still remains rather high compared to other seed suppliers (T&M charge £1.49), and some charge nothing or regularly offer free P&P. (but things are constantly changing with free P&P thresholds/costs)