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has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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Posted by nasj z4/5 and z7 NY (My Page) on Mon, Apr 14, 03 at 0:15
| Has anyone used Cheap Sam's Plant Bargains ?(on the Long Island Expressway somewhere (I forget which exit but it is on the North side)
Wondered if they were a reputable place -- or perhaps better for some things than others, etc...
Many thanks
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I've shopped there a few times. It's so much fun!! You simply drive thru the place & load your car up! It's a good think I don't live closer... I'd be there all the time. lol. Most of the shrubs & trees looked fine but I do remember a load of camellia's that looked pretty ratty. But then they were only $20 & I did buy 2...which have grown just fine. When you say, "used Cheap Sam's Plant Bargains", do you mean their services? I've only shopped there so I couldn't vouch for anything else, sorry. It's definitly worth the trip to check out the place.
~~Nancy |
Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Sam's directions
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Nancy That link sent me to plantamerica.com in Arlington VA. Is there a different link? Or can you tell me where on the LIE it is? I may have a car this weekend... |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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- Posted by nasj z4/5 and z7 NY (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 15, 03 at 22:43
Exit 62 -- Holtsville I think -- on the north side of the LIE -- quite visible from the highway
631-654-3020 |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Sorry about the link. :o/ It takes me to cheap sam's info page. Hours
9am to 6pm Mon.-Sat.
9am to 5pm Sun. Store Location
Exit 62 off L.I.E. (North Service Road)
148 Morris Avenue
Holtsville, NY 11742
Phone 631-654-3020
FAX 631-654-3022 |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I've used them and have had NO luck with them. There is NO plant guarantee, the plant material is not native to the region, and driving thru the place is NO fun to me. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| wow talk about two different opinions. i guess it's up to you if you think it's worth it or not lol |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Hi, I bought a bunch of things from them 2 years ago, including shrubs, small trees, and some annuals - have had great results thusfar. I think you just have to pick and choose well, I'm also glad I live at exit 34 so I won't go there too often and blow all our dough! |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I have bought a few things there that are nice quality and reasonably priced. Try it! |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I pass it on my way to somewhere else. I am going to have to catch them one trip this spring. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Actually, rickw919, Cheap Sam's does have a plant guarantee. I think their plants are excellent. The place isn't fancy, but the plants are big and healthy. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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- Posted by kars z7 LI, NY (My Page) on
Wed, Jun 11, 03 at 21:12
| I am just a few miles away. They have nice plants mostly but it depends when you catch them. There are times when many of the plants left are beat up. I just leave and go back in a week. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I just went to cheap Sams today and bought a really nice Crabapple 'Indian Magic'. I was surprised to be able to get such a large tree, at least 8 feet not counting the pot, for such a great price. Will definately try them again. They had an increadable selection of trees I thought. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| My Crabapple settled in nicely after being planted. Honestly, this is the largest plant I have ever put in my yard at planting time. I almost bought a Crabapple at Franks Nursery and Crafts this Spring that would have been the same price as the one I got at Cheap Sams but for some reason I didn't buy it. Now the tree I have is about four feet taller at planting time than the other tree was. Prices at Cheap Sams, at least on trees, are very good!!! |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I have! it is an awesome place! amongst many things i bought 33 arbovitaes emerald green 2 yrs ago and they are all great! good stuff - awesome prices! good thing i dont live near! |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Wish it was Spring so I can go out there and check out Cheap Sams again. I liked the place and prices on the larger items, such as trees, were exceptional. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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- Posted by Jimy N.J. (My Page) on
Wed, Feb 25, 04 at 23:26
| I would be embarrassed to even be seen walking into a place called Cheap Sam's. First; I would feel like some cheap, pathetic, bargain-hunting vulture. Second, it does not sound like a place that would have quality plants. They probally sell bundles of poplar, siberian elm, and privet as well as the most common, and gaudy of annuals and perennials,... the type of plants normal garden centers don't want. You get what you pay for! Buy cheap, get cheap! Unless; your the type that wouldn't know the difference. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Actually, that's not true. In spite of the cheesy name, Cheap Sam's has high quality at exceptional prices. The prennials and annuals might be similiar to what one would see elswere, but the large shrub and tree selection is hard to beat. Last year I shopped for a crabapple tree. I saw nice sized crabapples at local nurseries anywhere from $90 to $179.00 per tree depending on the nursery and variety. I bought my tree from cheap Sams where they had a very good selection of Crabapple types, for $40.00 and the tree was at least 8 feet tall 'Indian Magic' crabapple. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| "Indian Magic" is pretty susceptable to scab, there are cultivars that have better resistance. Maby thats why some are $40 and others are $179. And thats to say nothing about age, branch structure, and how it was grown. I have seen way too many trees at reduced price nurserys, and big box retailers not worth the 3/4 off price tag. Often it is the runts,(funky branch structure) the unpopular, or over planted that wind up in the bargain stores. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Well Jimy, have you ever shopped at Cheap Sam's? I think it would be difficult to make a judgement if you have not even SEEN the place! I purchased several small Gold Spot Eunymous, an Aucubia, a Weeping Cherry, White Dogwood, Flowering Plum, and Flowering Cherry from them 4 years ago...they're all flourishing and growing beautifully now. Even after the weeping cherry had to be taken out of the ground, left in the shade for a few days, and replanted when I had the back yard graded...it still came back like a champ. I have given them no special treatment and they're all doing great. I've only been there once since it's not in my neighborhood and I believe that shrubs and trees are where their strengths are from what I hear. I don't really need any more shrubs or trees, but I might wander over there for a look at some perennials and groundcovers this year. I'm a happy customer. You sound like you've been burned one too many times Jimy. I just don't think it's fair for you to judge sight unseen. Li |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Cheap Sam's is a great place to go if you want to do some mass planting. I could never afford to buy as much at other nurseries. I've gotten some crappy/mismarked stuff at the fancier named places...you really can't judge a place by its name. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Here is the link for Cheap Sam's. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Sam's
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Jimy, you are an insecure mess and in need of some self esteem. I cannot imagine there is a person in the world that would give a half a turd what nursery you walked into. On your way home from the shrink, pick up some reading glasses. One does not WALK into Cheap Sam's, you drive, and the fact that you are most likely too insane to possess a driver's license, you are angry you will never have the chance. You have also shown to this forum that you are indeed a cheap and pathetic vulture. Anyone who claims not to be cheap only does so because that trait has been questioned in the past, and correctly so in your case as I have inquired at local nurseries in the Tri-State area. They tell me that Jimmy (not Jimy, you're not in Hollywood and/or famous, grow up you jerk-off)is known to haggle over only the most run-of-the-mill annuals and perennials. I also had a private eye tail your nursery activity and he reports trips only to the Home Depot for impatiens, vinca vines and hosta, and only on clearance in September. There is also some evidence you purchased an arborvitae and an azalia in 1992. And upon inspection of your property, they are deemed dead as a doornail. You, Jimmmy, are a fraud. A sham. A buffoon. A wannabe poser. Your thumb is no greener than a Swede's backside in January. You speak of scab; perhaps only the scab from your lobotomy is worth mention, as to draw pity rather than the disgust and loathing this forum feels at this sad moment of a lovely spring. Gaudy annuals and perennials? God has yet to create a flower that could be described as such; no that is a label created for individuals too stupid and out of touch to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature. Anyway, Cheap Sam's is GREAT for trees. And they will extend the guarantee if you ask. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| My Crabapple that I bought from Cheap Sams is thriving this year. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| Have to try and get out there this spring. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| All I can say is that you get what you pay for! My cousin went out to Cheap Sam's and purchased golden variegated euonymous. Within a year, I noticed all of them that he bought developed scale!!! What good is purchasing a cheap plant if it is a magnet for certain insects? Then you have to spend $$ on insecticides or new plants if they die. For the poster that said they saved on the taller crabapple; just because the crabapple is taller doesn't mean its better! That taller crabapple has more crowded roots in that pot and if you had purchased the smaller tree, that smaller tree would have caught up and surpassed the larger crabapple by now! Jimy definitely sounds like he knows what he is talking about re: cultivars of crabapples. Tell me does Cheap Sams have 'Sugar Tyme' there? That cultivar of Malus (crabapple)has excellent disease resistance. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sugar Tyme Crabapple
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I live about 5 minutes away from Cheap Sams. They have a terrific selection, especially if you're looking for trees, shrubs, etc. I bought an Atlas Cedar there 2 years ago and it's doing great and last year we bought some vinca vine that is taking over our "no man's land" in the back yard (about 3 feet between yard proper and a fence). I know I haven't done a lot of buying there, but no one I know has ever had a problem with any of their plants or trees. As far as bargains are concerned though, pick a nice day, take a ride and head out to Route 25 in Jamesport. Can't beat the deals! |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| I have been to Cheap Sams many times. I live on Long Island but it is at least a 45 minute drive. I like it much better than most other nurseries for several reasons. First, the prices are quite good. You can typically get much larger size trees than at other nurseries for a lower price. As a caveat, I have only bought trees/bushes from Cheap Sam's. Never any perennials. I bought ten 10 foot pines at least 8 years ago. They are doing very well. I have brought some things that have died. In particular, I brought some birch trees that are known to be short-lived, and some evergreens that are not native to the area (I knew this when I bought them but needed instant green and paid very little for them). While these died, they lived for what would be considered normal lives given their circumstances and I certainly have no gripes against Cheap Sams. I need to buy some Thuja Green Giants in the next few weeks and there is nowhere I would go other than Cheap Sams. Second, the drive through is very convenient, especially for trees. All in all it is a very comfortable place that is worth checking out. |
RE: has anyone used Cheap Sam's?
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| First off, you don't *have* to drive through the place if you don't want. Most people don't. I prefer to walk through, and I only go back for the car if I decide to buy a lot of stuff. The prices are not cheap per se, but relatively speaking, the place is significantly cheaper than most independent nurseries in Suffolk County. The selection is great, and though I've lost the occasional plant from them over the years, most of the stuff I've gotten from Cheap Sam's has thrived. Some people in this thread have complained about bad merchandise. It's important to note that the nursery has a specific section that's devoted to less-than-optimal specimens. They get special yellow tags, and the prices are usually a fraction of what a top specimen costs. So yes, you can get subpar stuff there, but the yellow-tag stuff is sold as-is, and buyers know that they're taking a risk. I bought two globe-form Montgomery spruces from the yellow-tag section, at $9.99 each. They were big, and in most independent Long Island nurseries, a comparable Montgomery spruce would cost $99. Well, one died, but the other thrived. So for $20, I got a great deal. I visit the nurseries almost every weekend, and I would say Cheap Sam's is one of two I never fail to check. Like every business, it has its good and bad qualities, but it's definitely worth visiting. |
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