I have always considered the quality of the plants to be exceptional. However, last year I purchased approximatety $1500 worth of foundation shurbs. I came to pick them up with my landscaper. I was told that I could get the shrubs/trees at the landscaper cost but that I would then not be able to get the 1 year warranty. I opted to pay the additional amount so that I would get the warranty. Now, one year later, I had 2 shrubs completely die and one tree and one shrub nearly dead. I dug them up and brought them back to exchange them. I had all my paperwork in order. When I arrived, I was told that my shrubs were not covered by the warranty because of the draught we suffered this year. I told them that all my other shrubs did fine and how did she know that these died as a result of the draught. She said she knew it was because they survived for a year and that the other two (which were nearly dead) were not dead and therefor not covered either. I asked her what the point of a 1 year warranty is if they would not honor the warranty a year later. She had no answer other than to say she would not exchange or honor the warranty. I will never patronize this place again as I feel I was grossly misled. I could have had my landscaper buy the shrubs at a discount and foregone the warranty which is nonexistent anyway. Very bad business practice. Don't be fooled like I was. I plan to send an article to the Tennessean editorial page as well so that others will know how Bates honors their warranty.
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