FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.         How can you provide so many seeds per packet and sell them so cheaply?
We offer a professional seeds supply only service.  We keep costs to a minimum by carefully selecting and sourcing our varieties direct from growers and by only using quality packaging which is essential to protect your order. Our vegetable, herb and flower seeds are dispatched in plain, clearly labeled grip-seal clear packets with no outer pictorial packet. Full variety names, seed quantity, packaging and sow by dates are on every packet with cultivation advice provided on the listing pages for those that require them. Also, although we have a stock list of our varieties which can be sent to customers on provision of an email address, we don't produce an expensive, glossy catalogue.

2.       Are your seeds from a trusted source?
As the largest professional seed seller on Ebay we source our seeds from over 30 well established and respected professional commercial growers in many different countries.  Our high turnover ensures we have only the freshest seed in stock. All ours seeds are independently tested by the grower and on arrival by ourselves.  Our own minimum germination standards are set considerably above the requirements required by EU/UK law and from experience far above those of the major garden centre brands.  

3.       How long can I keep the seeds?

Different seeds can be saved for different lengths of time. Viability charts are available via the wonder of the World Wide Web. They will give you the average number of viable years for each variety. Parsnip seed viability drops after the first year, Watermelon can be stored for 5 years and Poppies can live in the soil for over fifty years, germinating only when the conditions are correct.

All our packets have clearly labeled sow by dates of 2 seasons unless otherwise stated on the listing page, although if stored in a cool dark, dry location in many cases will far exceed this.  Seed viability usually steadily decreases over time, rather than a sudden drop.

4.       What is a DEFRA (FERA) registration?

This is a legal requirement in the UK for any person or company who packages and sells seeds (Ignored by many small sellers).  All legal registered seed suppliers are thoroughly inspected annually to ensure correct records, standards, Bio security and quality of products. Any seller who does not have a registration is trading outside the law and their product should be treated with caution.

5.       I don't live in the United Kingdom - can I still buy your seeds?
We supply to all countries in the European Union with a single charge of £1.20 for the entire order regardless of content.  Countries outside the EU have widely differing Phytosanitary arrangements and customers should check that no legislation exists to prevent the importation of seeds before contacting us. We do not supply outside the EU through Ebay, but would be would be delighted to provide quotes to all requests through; sales@premierseedsdirect.com

6.       How do I activate the postal discount offered?

 In order to obtain free delivery charges on any additional items ordered,

•           The order must be paid for in a single payment within seven days of ordering.

•           The order must be combined with other items ordered, prior to payment.

Only one postage amount is charged per combined order.  The postage amount applied to your invoice will be the amount for highest single item P&P purchased.

How to Combine the Invoices

•           Buy each of your items first (but do not pay for them yet)

•           When you have finished shopping, click on any item in your purchased items section.

•           The Ebay system will provide instructions and prompt you to combine your order with your other purchases.

•           It will then apply the postage discount.

•           Check that ALL items that you have purchased appear on the one invoice and the single P&P charge is correctly shown.

 If you have any problems at this stage, or are unsure, stop before paying and contact us to do the invoice for you and we will send to you a link which will enable you to make payment with the correct postage charge.

Due to Paypal charges and automated processing of orders any items paid separately are treated and dispatched as separate orders and the postal discount does not apply

7. Postal Charges?

The sum expressed is towards the cost of post and packing, it includes the cost of postage (large letter / packet due to our quality padded envelopes), collection charges, protective packaging, labels, ink and the multitude of minor stationery items.  For the majority of multiple packet and large seeds we subsidise the actual dispatch costs as a discount to you for larger purchases.

8.       When will you dispatch my order?

We package and dispatch at least once per day with the majority of orders dispatched within 12 hrs on working days.  We guarantee to dispatch your order within 48 hrs of payment being cleared.

9.       When should I receive my order?

Once your order is dispatched we are all in the hands of Royal Mail, who collect from us daily on weekdays and at Midday on Saturdays, there are no collections on public holidays.  The delivery time depends on the service selected and the time of year (please be patient during Bank Holiday periods as Royal Mail service is slower).  On average this will be 3-5 working days from collection for second class mail in the UK and 5-10 working days for EU deliveries (Please note Bulgaria is averaging 15 working days).  At 10 working days from dispatch we email all customers who have not left feedback to confirm safe delivery.  We ask in the unlikely event you have not received your order that you reply to this email confirming your address and we will resolve the matter immediately.

10.     Do you offer bulk discounts?

We offer bulk packets listed separately for those that require larger quantities; these can be accessed from the index on the left of our main shop page.  If you cannot see the variety you require, or need larger quantities we can offer any of our varieties in bulk quantities, with discounts, which will be packaged to your requirements with discounts quoted on request varying by variety (Minimum size equivalent to 10 standard packet sizes).  Please simply email us your requirements.   Our standard listed packets already contain the highest seed numbers and quality at the best price you will find anywhere on EBay, therefore we regret there are no discounts applied to standard sized packet sales.

11.     Any Problems?

We pride ourselves on our customer service and in the unlikely event of there being any problem with our service or product, please inform us immediately so we can resolve the issue to your entire satisfaction and ensure it does not re-occur for any other customer.   We reply to all messages received via Ebay messaging within 24 hrs.  If you have not received replies please re-send the message as your message or our reply may have been lost in the system.