Plant Hauls - Johnny's Selected Seeds - Strawberries

This was an interesting experience. Back in early November I preordered a pack of 25 Mara de Bois strawberries for shipping the week of April 20th. Back in January, I heard of other people who had their orders for Mara strawberries cancelled due to crop failure. Most of these places all source their strawberry starts from the same big growers. I was suspicious that perhaps I also wouldn't get mine, but, was hesitant to try to order elsewhere and risk getting two orders of the same berries. 

Unfortunately for me, Johnny's didn't notify me that I wouldn't be getting mine until April 2nd, well after all other suppliers had sold out. The offered the option of a substitution of Charlotte. There was a handy button in the email where you could opt out of the substitution and I opted for the refund instead. Then, 6 days later I got another email prompting me to respond, so this time I made sure I was signed into my account on their site before clicking the button. I once again opted for the refund. 

Then I got a ship notification and a box full of Charlotte strawberries arrived. 

I have mixed feelings. Fortunately I didn't already have Charlotte strawberries so I'm not entirely opposed to trying them. Maybe I'll like them better than I would have liked the Mara's, I don't know. But, this could have been a lot more annoying as I currently already have several kinds of strawberries and they could have just as easily selected a substition I didn't want or already had. 

There are 25 roots, two smallish less viable looking ones, but, they are strawberries, so I'm sure they'll be fine. They arrived in decent condition for bareroots. Packaging was reasonable.

Lesson in this is, you shouldn't trust the little menu, especially not if you get a second email and are certain you already picked the refund option. Next time I would just call and make sure.