My friend, Flowerishous, and I decided to do a nursery tour the other day. We planned to visit two of our former workplaces that have moved onto new owners. We were excited to see the changes, and planned on finishing at another favorite nursery.
Good thing that we did, because the first two have left such a bad impression, that I don’t think that I am ever going back to them again.
I take my camera everywhere with me, and I am always politely asking for permission to take photos of the flowers before I do anything. At the first “just reopened under new owner’s” store, I asked for, and was given permission by a staff member to take photos of the flowers. Flowerishious and I had introduced ourselves as former employees, and asked about the nursery cat, whom we loved.
The new owners were a bit standoffish, and unwilling to communicate, but we thought they were just busy.
As I was approaching the flowers preparing to photograph them, I was rudely yelled at, and told that the offer was rescinded. No explanation was given, and rather annoyed, we left, we had planned on purchasing items, but didn’t.
We won’t be back, and I have doubts that many former customers will either.
The second nursery also just reopened under a new name, was a similar story. I politely asked permission to take some macro shots of flowers. Both times I had made it very clear that I was only interested in the flowers, not shots of the store, fixtures, or giftware.
“Oh no, company policy, no photographs of anything! Especially if there is a chance that the photos might be used in a commercial way. We wouldn’t want you to make any profits off of any photographs that you took.”
I had wanted to feature both stores on my blog, and was about to tell them that when the “no photographs” situation unfolded.
I am so tempted to ask what the difference is if I photograph a flower at their store, or purchase it and take it home to photograph. Do they want to charge me a royalty because it came from their store?
Yes I realize that it is their store, and they can make the rules.
But I doubt that the poor reception at the first store will increase business for them.
So it’s company policy not to allow taking flower photos flowers in a nursery? Just how are you going to stop all those customers with camera phones?
We ended up at our friend Min’s beautiful nursery workplace.
Click on the link to see their web page.
I highly recommend them.
All these gorgeous flowers are from their nursery.
Birds singing, flowers blooming, staff happy to greet us. And best of all, they sell my cards, and allow me to photography anything I want.
Guess where we will do all of our shopping from now on?
Jen
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Don’t forget to visit my new micro blog call Blu oom.
Full of blue flowers, and more.
Whatever happened to folks who appreciate your business and word of mouth advertisement? Min of West Coast Gardens has it right! Gorgeous pictures and a lovely nursery.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I am sure this owner will be glad you liked her store. Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteI ran into the same thing at Christmas time at a big nursery out your way. You know the one with the huge Christmas displays.....whatever.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand my local Triple Tree nursery welcomed my photos with open arms.
I have featured their store twice on my blog.
Seriously? You would think if the first two stores were new owners they would want to please customers from the get-go. So odd and unwelcoming. I doubt if they will do very well with that kind of customer service. The shots you took at West Coast Gardens are fabulous. Love the pinks and greens.
ReplyDeleteI remember doing a round of all the nurseries several years ago when visiting my mother. Maybe I met you at one of them. :) Sorry to hear about you bad experience.
ReplyDeleteI would have reminded the first two stores about the free "advertising" they had just missed because of their misguided policies. I really don't get it. Glad you had a good day, though!
ReplyDeleteJen, How frustrating and how very rude. You would think they would relish any opportunity to advertise, instead they turn folks away. Apparently they do not need the money or the customers. Glad you finally found a greenhouse that allowed and openly Welcomed your camera and you. I wonder what kind of a reception I will get at my favorite places.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day...the chartreuse leaves on the bleeding heart is captivating.
Bless You
Thanks for the support, I am still a little perturbed about this.
ReplyDeleteOur friend Min, only works at West Coast Gardens, I thought I had better clear that one up. Her boss might not think that is toooo funny.
And I do agree with everyone, you think in such a small economy new business would try to do more to attract and keep customers.
Jen
With that kind of customer service we will see how long those first too last. What psychos! Not allowing you to profit from photos of flowers is very silly. How would they prove that the close up of a flower is indeed there flower!
ReplyDeleteDon't they know that a dissatisfied customer tells many more people of their experience than a happy one!
That sounds very strange. That kind of negative energy will only repel people and, sad to say, I don't predict a long life for their businesses. You are the least offensive person I know. I can't understand their behaviour at all.
ReplyDeleteThose are really beautiful photos, Jen! Glad you found a place that welcomes your talent.
Muy buena imágenes, de gran colorido y definición.
ReplyDeleteExcelentes.
Un abrazo.
Well, I am so surprised that those folks are so narrow minded. It is their loss. I take pictures at my favorite nursery all the time, and they don't mind at all.
ReplyDeleteI just do not understand that at all. You would think they would welcome the publicity. It is not like they were selling top secret plant or something.
ReplyDeleteYou should have been straightforward and honest, saying on your way out, "Well, I WAS going to give you free advertising on my blog, showcase your plants, and make a few purchases but I won't do that now."
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful flowers. I have not really seen ones quitw like those in a while. I cannot wait to see what my garden will produce during the summer time. Keep up the great work with your blog.
ReplyDeleteHow rude!! Apparently they don't need your business huh? I just don't get some people anymore......they have no idea what they missed by 'almost' being featured on your blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessin' those two warm fuzzy customer friendly stores will be short lived. Very ridiculous that you can't take pictures of flowers.
ReplyDeleteWay to go West Coast Gardens! They rock!
Ugh. Why are people like that? I don't understand the "we don't want you to make any profits..."
ReplyDeleteWhy Not? We're all in this together... living on this planet... why wouldn't we want each other to flourish? And they are flowers for goodness sake! Business 101- the customer is always right.... in other words, let your potential customers take pictures! Then, they tell their friends, put pics on their blog, etc, then & their business flourishes too! How short sighted. Glad you found a good one!
My daughter photographs everything and she has had the same problem. When she asks to take pictures, she explains that she will post them on her Flickr site, and possibly write a blog or article about them. Most people are thrilled but there are a few who flatly refuse. Oh well, that is there loss.
ReplyDeleteLove the grogeous pinks today:)
What a missed opportunity for those nurseries. Just think, they could bring in a photographer to offer flower photo workshops and charge a small fee. Everyone would shop and linger. Bad business sense to shoo away those who love flowers.
ReplyDeleteThe first two places are obviously idiots. Soon to be out of business idiots..I had people ask me all the time if they could take photos..heck yes..knock yourself out and tell everyone !! Recently I was in ans Antique Shop..I asked they said No..I said ok. I bought some stuff and then as I left I said " I was going to do a story about this place, but my readers like photos" I can be a real bitch sometimes:)
ReplyDeleteIt's odd to me that more businesses don't have a much more generous attitude toward people, after all we are all prospective customers. I'm a real believer in what goes around comes around. And really taking photos of flowers, how can they object?
ReplyDeletejen,
ReplyDeletei don't even ask anymore...i just snap away till i am told otherwise. those are some weird policies. what if you were trying to decide what to plant?
well glad you were able to finally find a great place to shop and photograph.
happy springtime.
Like you, I always ask permission, and I haven't been told no yet. The first two businesses were very short-sighted. They might have had free advertising via your blog post, but now they get a negative review.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, time for a springtime header, sunflowers say "autumn"......meant kindly.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone who owned a garden shop, I was always happy to allow people to take photos in the store, as long as they asked first. Surprisingly, very few people actually did ask first. I can't count the number of times I was forced to walk up to someone taking pictures and say, "I don't mind if you take pictures, but I like to be asked first." The reason? I felt it was a sign of disrespect - with the photographer making no effort to honour or acknowledge the creator or owner. The store displays were a subject that we spent A LOT of time and creative energy working on, similar I would imagine, to an artist applying paint to her canvas. I would never dream of walking into an art gallery and rudely whipping out my camera to take a picture of the artist's work without determining first that it was permissible. By the same token, I'm surprised that any business would actually refuse permission once asked, ESPECIALLY to a blogger! That's a blown marketing opportunity! In this case it's their blunder, Jen, not yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Jen - I just stumbled upon your blog and I just LOVE your photography! You've got a fantastic blog and I'm going to follow. Oh, I'm from BC too over in Victoria but I'm from Vancouver! Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeletePeople are strange out in the world now. Glad I live in blogland.LOL
ReplyDeletePatsy
I always ask permission before taking photos. The weird thing is that the response I get (at the same nursery) depends on who I ask, like there's no standard policy. Also, I've noticed that they're nicer when I have the REALLY LONG LENS on the camera so I look like a better photographer than I am. LOL I was really dismayed to see that this nursery recently updated their Website with photos taken by someone just firing off willy-nilly when they have such beautiful displays to photograph.
ReplyDeleteP.S. My RSS feeds bit it with my laptop, which is why I'm accosting you with comments on all of your post tonight. Getting caught up.
Amazing, in this day and age where everyone is looking for free marketing, it's amazing they would be so closed minded when it came to taking photos- especially when you explained it would be on your blog and probably a nice recommendation to visit their store- that is free press and most would welcome that..so it's odd, but obviously not people worth wasting your time on...the right store for you showed up and the photos are gorgeous..if I was in your area I'd definitely shop where you were allowed to take photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Wow! That's crazy....I can not imagine what they are thinking. We are a wholesale grower....and don't have the liability insurance that a retail would have. But I can not imagine saying no to someone who want to putter around and take photos.
ReplyDeleteCome to New Wilmington Jen....you and your camera are more than welcome here!
Beautiful photos Jen...yea...I would have walked out too never to go back...very rude.
ReplyDelete