[allot2learn]

Two weeks ago, I ordered some seeds from DT Brown. I have used them many times before and delivery is free, usually within one week.
I do realise that they are probably busy at this time of year, but after two and a half weeks there was no sign of them, so I sent them a very polite email giving the order No and the date of purchase. DT Brown.

A short while later, I received a reply......................... from Mr Fothergills seeds. Yes they have been dispatched.

After a little bit of research they also own Johnsons seeds.

Do you know who you are spending your money with?

[compostqueen]

They're probably the same firm as Thompson and Morgan too. Don't worry, they're fine and you'll get your seeds

Seeds of Italy is very good as is Real Seeds 

[allot2learn]

I'm not worried CQ, it can just be a little bit confusing when you place an order with one company, and then get information from another one.

[compostqueen]

They must have had the wrong hat on   

I got a shallot order from D T Brown today 

[Gandan57]

Over the years I`ve ordered seeds for many companies and given them my email address. I now get identical junk emails from different scources.

[pdblake]

Doesn't do much for competition. It's a bit like the PCWorld thing. They own several companies, big ones too, and all have the same price and product list.

[arugula]

It's a bit like the PCWorld thing.

Dixons Store Group? Now even perhaps Dixon Retail. They've been around in that form for iirc well over 20 years. I know, I went for a job with them about 25 years ago.

Regarding many brands being owned by the same company. It probably does limit choice to a degree, in any retail area, but it seems to be the way things are going. Only smaller businesses with a very different idea seem to survive, but even then if their very different idea is that good, they are likely to be approached by a big fish.

Seeds are seeds and there's nothing that different about one or another retailer selling them.

[ryetek]

I may be wrong but aren't Dobies and Suttons one of the same too?

[mumofstig]

yes 

[ryetek]

yes 

I thought so MoS because if you go to the Dobies information page on their website the title in the top of the browser reads "Suttons Seeds Customer Service - Dobies of Devon".

[surbie100]

Even if they are owned by a parent company, they will be run as individual subsidiaries and competing with each other for your business, so product ranges and prices will be different between them. Would be interesting to map out who owns what.

Having said that, I do prefer to give my business to smaller and if possible family-run businesses.

[ryetek]

Even if they are owned by a parent company, they will be run as individual subsidiaries and competing with each other for your business, so product ranges and prices will be different between them.

I agree with that statement. DT Brown are typically cheaper than Johnsons for equivalent seed quantities/varieties but they appear to be all owned by Mr Forthergills as stated above. Also, as you say, each company do offer some different product ranges also.

[Ema]

There's thug like a good old privately owned garden centre or nursery

[sion01]

It can be a dead giveaway sometimes because different seed/plant catalogues will have identical pictures for the same plants

[solway cropper]

I haven't ordered seeds from any of the major companies for years. There are plenty of smaller companies offering a much greater variety at far cheaper prices. The only difference is that they don't produce lavishly illustrated catalogues but once you know what a parsnip looks like you don't need pictures anyway.