Less than a year ago, I waxed lyrical about building two VegTrug that I purchased from a big hardware store locally.
They were easy to put together and have grown some great produce. Up until now I have been starting off most of my seedlings before transplanting them into the main garden beds.
That is of course before the liner started turning to powder and disintegrating. They are only 11 months old.
VegTrug Fail – Liner is rotting in less than 12 months
Direct sunlight, which you would think is kind of beneficial to plants, is not in turn, kind to the woven liner that is supplied with the VegTrug. As I don’t have the receipt any more I will not be able to ask for a new one from my supplier.
Here is the second one with a similar issue. I am going to have to dig all the soil out of both beds as they are currently unusable. Not happy.
Second VegTrug liner rotting
I haven’t approached the parent company as yet, but will send through an explanatory email, politely describing my dilemma. They may have come across this issue before, and I may not be aware of a recall or some such issue. Or maybe they are simply not designed for our conditions here in Australia.
I will post an update once I have learned more.
Sic em rex……. If you dont ask you dont get is my motto.
Totally agree Lynda. I have sent them a message, but no response as yet.
I put in a feedback form one day when i received some truly excellent service from an older ex tradesman working in the garden tools section. I ticked the box saying that i wanted a response by email. I wanted to make sure he received due credit. I have received nothing. So, dont hold your breath.
Thanks for the heads-up about the B, but I went straight to the manufacturer. x
“As I don’t have the receipt any more I will not be able to ask for a new one from my supplier.”
Proof of purchase is adequate, Gav. So if you purchased on plastic, you’ll be right – just go online and bring up the statement.
Hi Gavin
Many thanks for your contact and sorry you have had a problem. Also, apologies for a slightly late response. We check our Facebook messages weekly. I would have responded immediately with an email (but of course you were not to know)!
The liner is designed to be biodegradable so that we are not accused of clogging landfill with material that takes years to break down. When used correctly and in accordance with the instructions, the liner should be tucked back inside and under (level with) the soil so that it is not exposed to the wind, rain and elements. In this instance it will last for 2 or 3 years. We do state this very clearly in the instructions and on our build videos.
Customers that leave the liner ‘flapping’ outside the VegTrug will find that it degrades in the sun, wind and rain and it looks very unsightly. The core of the liner not exposed will be fine however. You should be able to cut the top part off and the liner that has not been exposed will be fine for another season at least.
Unfortunately, this is a case of “we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t” Gavin. We have made replacement liners extremely competitive price wise so that customers may wish to buy new when replacing the soil after a couple of seasons anyway.
Replacement liners can be purchased from our retail stockists. If you send me an Email Gavin with your address, telephone etc. I will ask my Australian colleagues to call you and solve it locally very quickly!
With best regards.
Joe Denham
CEO, VegTrug
Hi Gavin
I have not heard from you after answering your query above. Please note that I am now travelling on business for a few weeks so there may be a delay in any response from me due to time differences.
Regards
Joe
Hi Joe. Thanks for your update and explanation. It makes sense now, and I will write an update based on your comment in a new post for my readers. I will shoot my email address through to you tonight so I can buy a replacement.
Regards, Gavin
No problem Gavin. Any issues with VegTrug please do email me directly and I will resolve them. Our sister company in Melbourne – Takasho – have now taken over the distribution of VegTrug products in Australia from this season and they have a superb team led by Andrew Hogg. You will see a lot more of VegTrug with the work they are doing now. They have the same customer service ethos we have which we hope is second to none.
My personal email is joe@vegtrug.com. Regards from a sunny UK!