[Stonehenge]

Running a landscaping business and this site has me plugged into the industry almost around the clock. Oftentimes it means that I forget to order materials until about 11pm, when I need the materials two days from now.

Email to the rescue.

If you're participating in this site and have posted a picture or two, you're probably already in the top 5-10% of tech-savvy landscape professionals. But I'm wondering if you use email to place your orders.

In the last few years I've found it invaluable. You can place orders anytime, and it creates a paper trail. If I need materials delivered to a site, I can include a link to a map on Mapquest in the email, so the driver can quickly find our site.

It's a great tool; I just wonder how many of us use it to it's fullest?

[Green4Me]

I would use it more if my suppliers made it available.

[NCSULandscaper]

My main nursery that i use just started offereing online ordering, i place orders at 2 in the morning sometimes and can have it the next day. If they all started offering that i would do it all the time.

[dan deutekom]

I never really thought about it before. It would be great as long as your suppliers are tuned in but most of the suppliers that I use in my neck of the woods don't use computers very much and most run on Indian time so I find the phone the most effiecient way at this time.

[HardDaysKnight]

That's very interesting. I will have to look into it.
Sometimes you just have to speak with them or
they will screw things up.

[HRLand]

I received an e-mail last week from a local nursery announcing that they will be set up for this within a week or so. Unfortunately I don't use them anymore because of all the screwy bills I would get from them for things I didn't purchase. If they couldn't get things right when I dealt with them in person, I can't imagine the problems with online orders. The place I use currently is also in the process of setting up a system and I will use it when it's ready.

[Stonehenge]

It's true that you have to first find out which suppliers use email every day; I sent a plant order to one company, and when I called 3-4 days later, they told me "we usually check email once a week." This has sinced changed for them, but still worth remembering.

Most of our suppliers are either on board with email or are working on it. I like the paper trail it creates, and you can't beat the convenience. Sometimes a phonecall is still needed for follow-up, but that's also often the case when placing phone orders.

[NC Lawnscapes]

This is an intersting way of doing ordering for plant materials tht Isnt available from any of the suppliers around here yet.

I so use the internet to order Parts for equipment and check availability for said parts at my local dealers that way I can just stop in and pick up the needed part insted of having to drive from one to another looking for a part

[rye]

The plant wholesaler in my area only has paper invoices, no computer system. Lucky if they check the fax without a call or two. So no - no emails for purchases. However, this family run nursery will, with a phone call by 10 am, select and ship plants often the same day. Low tech, but it works. Sometimes i like this better.

[RottieMommy]

If I know I need something well in advance, I will send via email. The wholesaler generally I use doesn't check their email every day and fax or phone is much more reliable.

My other sources don't have the internet option yet, so it's phone and fax for them.