Home Depot seeds 50% off......

mldollins · #1 04/08/10, 05:59 PM

I went to the home depot here in southern Illinois and purchased the green bean type I grow every year which is greencrop. The price on them read 97 cents which is usually cheaper than I've paid in time past. Then went to the auto checkout and I was charged half...actually 47 cents. If you are near one, check it out. I may be headed back there tomorrow.

Paquebot · #2 04/08/10, 07:46 PM

In Wisconsin, it's a 4-day sale, today through Sunday, of buy one and get one free for all vegetable, herb, and flower seed packets.

Martin

quietstar · #3 04/08/10, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the timely heads up...Glen

Danaus29 · #4 04/08/10, 08:38 PM

Seeds are buy 1 get 1 free here too.

Willowynd · #5 04/08/10, 10:52 PM

I will have to make a detour to Home Depot tommorrow

I only bought my ones I was starting inside and my cold weather veggies. Still need beans, peas, corn, etc. Thanks for the heads up!

Paquebot · #6 04/08/10, 11:23 PM

Their site also has annual 6-packs in the deal but printed flyer doesn't. Probably not included since Northern stores wouldn't have them yet.

Martin

ronbre · #7 04/09/10, 07:46 AM

thanks i'll remember it if i'm near a home depot this week, even 97 cents is cheaper than i've been paying

geo in mi · #8 04/09/10, 09:01 AM

It may just be me, but it sure seems like some of the big box stores have adopted a new policy on things they call "seasonal" merchandise. Garden seeds must fit that category, in their thinking. It seemed to me that the day after New Year's, the day after Valentine's, and the day after Easter, everything just went 'poof', just vanished from the stores--no more lingering clearance sales to get rid of it. Rather, the space was instantly cleared and then next seasonal stuff in line magically appeared in the same spot.

I think they may be keeping the inventory low, discounting it heavily as the end of season approaches, then, anything left over goes to the dump? Many of these things have their own palletized displays that can be moved in and out on a small pallet transport. Maybe the candy maker, or in this case, the seed company in on the hook for the leftovers?

MMMMM, Monday all the chocolate bunnies were gone.....

geo

Paquebot · #9 04/09/10, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

It may just be me, but it sure seems like some of the big box stores have adopted a new policy on things they call "seasonal" merchandise. Garden seeds must fit that category, in their thinking.

No, it's just you in the case of seeds. There's a seed glut right now which came about due to some shortages several years ago. The demand in 2008 led to more seed production in 2009 for sale in 2010. And due to outrageous claims by certain anti-WalMart factions a few years prior, any leftover packaged seeds can not even be given away. Both factors dictate that as many seeds must be sold as possible even if there is little or no profit.

Martin

Txsteader · #10 04/09/10, 12:13 PM

My local ad shows the sale on 6-pack annuals but doesn't say anything about seeds. Guess where I'm going this afternoon.

ETA: Thanks for the heads-up.

mistletoad · #11 04/09/10, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

It may just be me, but it sure seems like some of the big box stores have adopted a new policy on things they call "seasonal" merchandise. Garden seeds must fit that category, in their thinking. It seemed to me that the day after New Year's, the day after Valentine's, and the day after Easter, everything just went 'poof', just vanished from the stores--no more lingering clearance sales to get rid of it. Rather, the space was instantly cleared and then next seasonal stuff in line magically appeared in the same spot.

I think they may be keeping the inventory low, discounting it heavily as the end of season approaches, then, anything left over goes to the dump? Many of these things have their own palletized displays that can be moved in and out on a small pallet transport. Maybe the candy maker, or in this case, the seed company in on the hook for the leftovers?

MMMMM, Monday all the chocolate bunnies were gone.....

geo

Yep, you're right. DH used to be the garden center manager at the local Lowe's and seeds were not part of his inventory - ie. they were considered seasonal, not garden supplies. Any seeds that are unsold go back to the vendor. All the seasonal items are stocked for a very short time, but the time on all of them seems to be getting shorter. He went to Home Depot after working at Lowe's and only the color of the aprons was different! lol

geo in mi · #12 04/09/10, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

No, it's just you in the case of seeds. There's a seed glut right now which came about due to some shortages several years ago. The demand in 2008 led to more seed production in 2009 for sale in 2010. And due to outrageous claims by certain anti-WalMart factions a few years prior, any leftover packaged seeds can not even be given away. Both factors dictate that as many seeds must be sold as possible even if there is little or no profit.

Martin

Can you explain the outrageous claims? I shop Menards and Meijer. Wal-Mart is down the street, but I don't seem to go there very often. In those stores, the Burpees, and NK displays are basically cardboard kiosk affairs, right out on the main floor--not back in the garden shop area. They used to be back in the inside garden supply area with the hoses, rakes, etc, but now they are in the aisle--basically seasonal--just like the candy and cheap presents for the holidays. I fully expect them to be removed and out of the stores after Memorial Day. Then I suppose we'll see Fourth of July streamers and picnic supplies in those spots.

I have a feeling that it has become like many things in the big stores--CD's, books and magazines, name brand bread, beer, and others. The store doesn't pay up front on the full kiosk, but only for what has been sold, and settles with the vendor at the end of the 'season'. The vendor takes back the unsold seeds.

I know that many kinds of seeds can be stored for use the next year, but I'm wondering if the labeling doesn't have something to do with it. I often see "Packed in 2009 for sale in 2010", or something similar. Next year, if folks see that label, they won't want to buy year old seeds, but 'fresh' ones..... Did Wal-Mart have something to do with that?

geo

Paquebot · #13 04/09/10, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

I know that many kinds of seeds can be stored for use the next year, but I'm wondering if the labeling doesn't have something to do with it. I often see "Packed in 2009 for sale in 2010", or something similar. Next year, if folks see that label, they won't want to buy year old seeds, but 'fresh' ones..... Did Wal-Mart have something to do with that?

geo

Beginning in 2006, every over-the-counter seed packet must have a "sell by" date printed on them, not labeled. This came about due to claims the previous year of WalMart placing new year labels over previous year labels. Some claims even reported labels over labels over labels, 3 deep. Of course, WalMart has never been in the business of packing their own seeds so it was quite ridiculous. The seed companies were then ordered to have a definite sell date after which the packets may not even be sold for 1¢. Locally, we used to be able to get free SSE and Jung's packets through various garden charity groups and even the food pantry. That practice ended abruptly along with the "sell by" regulations. Some others didn't believe that on the Baker Creek forum but the owner, Jere Gettle, confirmed it.

In the local Jung's stores, all seed racks are emptied the final week of December and all seeds returned to the company headquarters. If the seeds are of enough value and germination rate to be salvaged, the packets are emptied and the contents repackaged for the following year. Those which do not qualify are simply destroyed since the time and expense is worth more than the seeds.

For all of the above mentioned, don't blame the seed companies or retail stores for any of it. The gardening community demanded it and the gardening community got what they demanded plus a little bit extra.

Martin

geo in mi · #14 04/09/10, 06:57 PM

I guess I haven't looked that closely at the seed packets on the racks at the chain retail stores to really see what is written on them. Thanks for the update. And thanks to mistletoad for confirming why those displays disappear shortly after Memorial Day and don't hang around until December 31 like you say they do at Jung's own stores in your area. Makes sense to me that after the "triple lable" debate, there may have been some parlays in Bentonville to 'persuade' the vendors to handle their own displays, and thus transfer the EOY losses to the vendors. All the others--Lowe's,. Home Depot, etc. must have followed suit. I know, we can blame it on bar coding.......

geo

Paquebot · #15 04/09/10, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

Makes sense to me that after the "triple lable" debate, there may have been some parlays in Bentonville to 'persuade' the vendors to handle their own displays, and thus transfer the EOY losses to the vendors. All the others--Lowe's,. Home Depot, etc. must have followed suit. I know, we can blame it on bar coding.......

geo

Order came from Washington, not Bentonville. Seeds always went back to the vendors. "Sell by" date was established to prove to the consumer that they weren't seeds which had been stored in a hot storeroom for 8 months. Such a thing may have happened somewhere and became blown so totally out of proportion, via the Internet, that it became totally preposterous. All it takes is one such instance to change the world forever. James Lewis supposedly spiked some Tylenol capsules with poison in 1982. How just about anything edible is packaged worldwide changed with that event.

Martin

longrider · #16 04/09/10, 10:39 PM

I was wondering if the seeds at Home Depot and Lowes are hybrid or Non-hybrid.

Or are they both there?

Paquebot · #17 04/09/10, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longrider

I was wondering if the seeds at Home Depot and Lowes are hybrid or Non-hybrid.

Or are they both there?

Some of both. Closest HD to me had just about everything possibly available from Ferry Morse and Burpee.

Martin

Lyra · #18 04/10/10, 09:31 AM

I am not that concerned with the dates on veggie seed packets anymore. This winter I found a stash (several years old) that a deceased grandparent had hiding away. A month a go I started some of the seeds and they are doing well.

Don't get me wrong...I do believe that large companies should label the seed packages correctly.

Paquebot · #19 04/10/10, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyra

I am not that concerned with the dates on veggie seed packets anymore. This winter I found a stash (several years old) that a deceased grandparent had hiding away. A month a go I started some of the seeds and they are doing well.

Don't get me wrong...I do believe that large companies should label the seed packages correctly.

The "Sell By" date has to be there, it's mandatory. Only exceptions are those companies which only sell by mail. SSE must do it because they have seed displays in stores around the country. SESE does not since they are the only distributors of their seed.

Martin

Lyra · #20 04/10/10, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

The "Sell By" date has to be there, it's mandatory. Only exceptions are those companies which only sell by mail. SSE must do it because they have seed displays in stores around the country. SESE does not since they are the only distributors of their seed.

Martin

Like I said, I am all for better packaging. In general, their needs to be more regulations on seed packet labeling. Before I got into gardening, I would pick up a packet and not realize it was a hybrid.

I had always heard that you shouldn't use old seeds. I have found that it isn't always the case.