Some years ago I bought some seeds from a major supplier which included two packets where the seed count was considerably less than stated and one other packet where the seed quality was really poor. I then had further problems getting a refund rather than replacements.
Since then I generally check and count most seeds I buy, and I’m happy to say that with very few exceptions they’ve all been okay. I tend to buy from smaller suppliers or occasionally use Ebay if I only want a single packet and look for free postage, as that can cost more than the seeds nowadays.
A couple of months ago I bought a packet of carrot seeds which on opening I immediately guessed contained a lot less than the stated quantity. I was right as there were less than 700 rather than 1500. In contrast I’ve just bought two packets of seeds of a particular flower elsewhere which each contained well over 250 rather than 200.
I’ve now bought all the seeds I need for this year so, thankfully, I won’t have to do any further checking and counting for a while.
Today’s archive picture is from July 2018 and shows a common blue butterfly on a white Candytuft Fairy mix flower.
Have a good weekend, take care and keep warm!
Flighty's plot 
I love the blue butterfly on the candytuft. You are correct that it sometimes appears that the shipping and handling of seed orders exceeds the cost of the seeds themselves! Not a good thing.
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Liz good for you. I agree it’s certainly not a good thing, and can be annoyingly costly. xx
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Glad you are all set for the new growing season. Lovely photo, take care and keep warm! xx
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Karen thanks, on both counts. You too, and likewise. xx
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Yes, I definitely agree about shipping. One outfit charged $8 to ship 6-7 packets of seeds. They later offered a discount (on the seeds) that, in my mind, was a discount on the shipping. If organizations want to charge for handling, they should call it what it is rather than “shipping”.
Glad your seed-counting days are over for now!
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Nikki it’s called post and packing here, which varies from the price of a stamp to what I consider to be an excessive amount, especially to send one packet of seeds.
Thanks, me too. xx
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That is a lovely archive photograph 🙂
All the best Jan
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Jan thanks I’m glad you like it. For you too. xx
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Seed counting is a consuming ‘hobby’ and painstaking if they are minuscule. Patience required!
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Menhir I consider it to be a necessity rather than a hobby, and that’s certainly true. xx
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Ai is a pain, it changed the word exercise into export; I didn’t notice.‘Hobby’ is deliberately
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Beautiful photo Mike xx
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Rebecca thanks. xx
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