Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:30:38 -0400
From: Tom Glendinning
Subject: Subject: Dark purple crape myrtles wanted
Use a landscape professional. They can obtain the plants, plant them and guarantee them.
BTW, it’s crepe myrtle.
The market strategy imposed by the big box stores in the last five years has changed the marketplace. In an effort to dominate the market and convince homeowners that they can “do it all,” they have monopolized the wholesale market purchasing large stocks of popular plants, increased the price by two hundred percent and attempted to put dependable professionals out of business. The whole strategy is a market monopoly ploy with an unsound basis.
I will not demean the intelligence of homeowners as a whole. However, this market strategy has attempted to replace professional services. It fails on many levels. Some repairs and installation are done effectively. Most trades, however, require technical knowledge which surpasses the seemingly easy advice given by big box employees (all using their products not industry standards.)
Plant bought at a big box can be installed by a landscape professional and guaranteed at their retail price. (Limits to quantity apply as many plants are necessary for the economy.)
Caveat emptor.
Do you really think that I will turn over my wholesale supplier list earned from forty years in the trade? Hmmmm
Tom Glendinning