I've never had the problems you describe (pitiful looking plants, incorrectly
identified), but many of their plants are *very* small (commensurate with the
extremely low prices on many of them) and if you aren't right on top of an
order when it arrives you'll see it in the plants condition very quickly.
I have had them send me something I didn't order a couple of times (looking at
what I got versus what I ordered made it clear it was the result of someone
miskeying the order number at their end) but since they have this endearing
habit of throwing in free plants, selected based on what you ordered, I have
always felt that I came out ahead.
Their selection of CP is not very big or varied - the Nepenthes are about all
I remember without checking the catalog, and prices are in the $25 US and up
range for those - but their overall selection of unusual tropicals is the
best I've ever "seen" in one place. (Any one catalog lists only a part of
their overall collection, and if you don't see what you want it often pays to
call them up and ask; if they have it, Tom Winn or Ken Frieling will often
make up a price on the spot to let you order it.)
Obviously I'm pretty happy with them, and while I've had no problems of the
kind you mention, in an attempt to be unbiased I should add that I like their
selection of odd things so much I'd probably tolerate a lot of abuse.
Steve
SAMARAK@UAFSYSB.BITNET or SAMARAK@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU