Though having this guarantee is important, we want you to know before reading it that you likely won't need to use it! We hope not, anyway!
First, the required legalese version: We guarantee our plants to be true to name and will replace or refund, at our option, any which prove to be misnamed. In no case shall we be liable for more than the purchase price of the plants. Though we can't guarantee the viability of our plants after they leave us, we'll do our utmost to ensure your satisfaction.
And then, the way we feel: We at Forestfarm like plants! We work hard at growing them and keeping them healthy and happy. And, we care about you; you're important to us. We guarantee that we won't knowingly send you a plant that is in ill health, dead, or misnamed; rather, we will do our utmost to send you the very best that is available. That's the way we are, but in the long run, it's the only way that makes sense, too.
However, plants being plants, things sometimes do go wrong! And, then Mother Nature adds her two cents worth to muddy the waters further! Whenever problems have occurred, we've always tried "to make things right" in a fashion which is honest, fair and reasonable ... to you and to us. However, we feel that some people (everyone?!) might be more comfortable with a more 1-2-3 clear-cut policy. There are too many uncertainties when dealing with plants to make it Quite THAT Clear-Cut, but here's a try:
1) Many nurseries say they'll only refund for claims within 10 days. This doesn't seem very reasonable to us; plants just don't seem to follow a rigorous time schedule! We (and the plants!) really appreciate it if you give a somewhat bedraggled-looking plant a bit of TLC and a chance to recover (most will!). You should know, however, if recovery isn't going to happen within a couple of months. Please let us know within that time, too, and we'll generally (see below) be glad to send a replacement/full credit (if we've sent you the wrong plant or have had problems with the plants ourselves), or a partial credit.
2) In spite of everyone's best efforts, plants occasionally do die -- but it's usually only "1 or 2" out of a larger order, for which we will be happy to send a credit. However, if you ordered 20 different plants & lost 18, we need to know why?? Something's going on and we (as well as you) would like to try to understand what. It's likely that, in a case such as this, unless a shipping delay was involved, the plants themselves aren't at fault. But, we'll do what we can for you, as well as try to figure out what happened so that it can be avoided in the future. We really do have many happy customers & we'd like you to try again.
3) We guarantee our plants to be alive, but we have no control over how/where/when you plant them or how "Mother Nature" treats them. For instance, planting them in cold soil or in wet spring weather may cause roots to rot away; planting tubes out in full hot summer sun after being in a box can be traumatic (they may "sunburn"); frost may damage young leaves and stems on otherwise hardy plants; etc & etc & etc! Please empathize with the plants and we'll empathize with you!
4) If you get a plant and it grows fine all summer or fall and then dies over winter, it probably isn't our fault. We try to estimate hardiness zones conservatively so that won't happen. Sometimes it's fun and worthwhile to try something of borderline hardiness, especially if you're willing to give it special protection to get it through the first couple of winters. But we can't guarantee plants under these circumstances.
5) We recommend that anyone in zone 6 (0 F) or lower not plant tubes in fall; they may not have time to establish themselves well enough to survive winter. We can't guarantee the survival of any size plants planted after Oct. 1 anywhere. Instead, why not order tubes in fall for spring shipment? ... something to look forward to! Hardy Size1 & Size5 plants may be planted through mid-October, before the ground freezes, in colder climates.
6) We really do hate to see our customers disappointed. If you are, call and let's talk.