Castle Seed Bank Review
- Thread starter Dr. Yo
- Start date
grobofotwanky
Well-Known Member
Cheap enough. Even a high priced seed isn't that bad given it's not a dud. 50 bucks for a seed would seem outrageous, yet you can grow pounds and pounds from that one seed.
asurah
Member
I ordered from them like 2 or 3 days ago and they haven't sent me a tracking number yet. It's it normal for them to wait a few days before shipping? Or should I email them about it? Its regular shipping (no guarnatee or anything) so I'm not sure if such gets a tracking number or not.
I ordered them because I couldn't hold out, not even for Attitude's promotions...was expecting to have them by next weekend at least.
I ordered them because I couldn't hold out, not even for Attitude's promotions...was expecting to have them by next weekend at least.
Indicator
Active Member
If you didn't pay for guaranteed shipping, you won't get a tracking number. Unfortunately they declare the parcel which makes it more vulnerable to inspection... as opposed to simple first class, non-declared letter. Their method is NOT stealthy. Now Sannie's knows how to do stealthy. It just sucks that I lost $, that was one expensive seizure notice... sorry, just sour grapes. I'm sure you will get your beans just fine... unless they have to go through the Chicago customs office, then it may be seized... particularly due to their method... it has been seen by customs for a long time now.
asurah
Member
Thanks man. LOL. I live around Los Angeles and I think the customs here is more tough than anywhere in the US. Part of the reason I even bothered with Castle was cuz they say they rarely get complaints about lost or intercepted packages and I thought they have a unique way of stealth shipping (I guess not now). And not to mention their cheap prices lured me. If this doesn't come through, I'll try Sannies. Thanks again.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
Hey Asurah, don't listen to that guy. He had his order intercepted, and has since then made it a special effort to dissuade anyone from using Castle Seeds.
I put my TWO separate Castle Seeds orders up for review by starting this thread. Didn't have a problem. Seeds were very viable and healthy (click on my profile name, and look at the two grows that were started from my Castle Seeds orders if anyone wants proof).
Do what you like, but if you want single seeds delivered safely, in mint condition, and at a good price, you could do a lot worse than choosing Castle.
Just my two cents...with two actual documented examples, unlike this Indicator kid.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
Just a few more points of clarification: All packages that are sent to the U.S. from these UK seedbanks go through ONE customs checkpoint before becoming part of the United States Postal Service mail. All mail is processed at a large Customs location located right at John F. Kennedy International airport in Jamaica, New York (New York City).
This guy that posted above, Indicator, said he received a customs letter from Chicago and part of his already open package, without any contents.
#1, if customs seizes someone's package, that's it: you don't get partial remenets of your package. You get your standard We have seized these items, but if you would like to start the process to reclaim them, take this and this step...etc.
#2, international mail isn't sent all over the country...before it's even screened...and THEN screened by some regional customs locations. That's just dumb. Think about the security risks of just random international packages floating all over the postal system, packages that have supposedly never been screened for contraband (be it drugs or something more dangerous...like a bomb or biological toxin), but then screened at regional customs checkpoints like L.A. or Chicago? That just doesn't make sense.
If you don't pay for guaranteed shipping, you don't get a tracking number. Just like The Attitude, but there, you have to pay $10 for a T-Shirt that acts as a buffer for guaranteeing your package. Same cost, more or less, same service that you have to pay for if you want it.
This guy that posted above, Indicator, said he received a customs letter from Chicago and part of his already open package, without any contents.
#1, if customs seizes someone's package, that's it: you don't get partial remenets of your package. You get your standard We have seized these items, but if you would like to start the process to reclaim them, take this and this step...etc.
#2, international mail isn't sent all over the country...before it's even screened...and THEN screened by some regional customs locations. That's just dumb. Think about the security risks of just random international packages floating all over the postal system, packages that have supposedly never been screened for contraband (be it drugs or something more dangerous...like a bomb or biological toxin), but then screened at regional customs checkpoints like L.A. or Chicago? That just doesn't make sense.
If you don't pay for guaranteed shipping, you don't get a tracking number. Just like The Attitude, but there, you have to pay $10 for a T-Shirt that acts as a buffer for guaranteeing your package. Same cost, more or less, same service that you have to pay for if you want it.
Indicator
Active Member
Hey Dr. Yo, not going to go around with you, BUT, first off, show me where I have made special efforts to dissuade anyone from Castle. Other than this thread, I have never mentioned their name in any other thread... just telling my experience.
Second, I am not a kid or a guy. I am probably old enough to be your mom. Finally, there are several ports of entry into the US, mail is routed to the appropriate customs office... not everything goes through Jamaica New York... need to check your facts. Finally, I did receive an EMPTY CD case along with the letter. Believe it or not, is up to you. I have no intention of posting a pic of a stupid empty case and a letter. I have nothing to gain from sharing my experience... I still maintain that there is nothing stealthy about their shipping methods.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
My FACTS are just that, verifiable facts. Packages sent from the UK to the USA are first processed at the US Customs port in Jamaica, New York.
THINK ABOUT IT...why would the USPS ship packages ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, and THEN screen them for dangerous or illegal contraband at regional customs facilities, where they have to first travel thousands of miles within the U.S to get to these facilities???
If someone lives in L.A., and they order a package from the United Kingdom, how do you think that package gets to L.A.?
It's flown there ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM THE EAST COAST. So do you really think the US government would allow the transportation of possibly dangerous material from international packages WITHOUT SCREENING THEM AT THEIR ORIGINAL PORT OF ENTRY?
You're just wrong.
Second, anytime someone has posted something about shipping and Castle Seeds in this thread, you've had something stupid to say about it.
You honestly have provided ZERO proof of anything you're talking about.
You keep bitching about Castle Seeds stealth, and how everyone at customs knows about it and looks for it.
More garbage and bullshit.
Do you actually expect people to believe that U.S. Customs has the time/resources/ability to look at the outline of every single package, determine what the stealth is, and then be able to accurately identify possible contraband, because (in your words) they're looking for it?
What's especially amusing is you admitting that you're crying over sour grapes.
You're just so wrong and off on so many points, it's really hard to decipher where the truth starts, and the garbage begins.
asurah
Member
Actually, I have gotten packages from Asia that were screened by customs in Chicago and then it was screened again in LA. And yeah the weird thing is that it went straight from Asia to Chicago's customs (as noted in tracking) first passing LA and then back to LA customs. So sometimes they do indeed do stupid things that not only frustrates anxious folks like me, but make me scratch my head.
Anyways, I take everything with a grain of salt. I've yet to see how stealthy their shipping is. And if I see it's not really stealthy and probably got here by luck, then I might not order from them again.
smokebros
Well-Known Member
agreed, no way they could do that3-4 days is a pretty hard promise to make for transnational companies.i dont know where castle is from - but if its uk then i disbelieve that claim.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
Well actually, this discussion isn't about getting packages from Asia, it's about getting packages from Seed Banks located in the UK.
So in keeping with the point of this thread, and not just some random facts by you, I'll once again repeat myself: Seed orders that originate in the UK, are sent via Royal Mail to the USPS customs screening at their Jamaica, New York location at JFK Airport.
What is your goal? To get your seeds safely? If it is, you're not going to have any problems with Castle Seeds.
It doesn't really matter if it meets your lofty standards for stealth: as long as it gets through Customs, it really doesn't matter, does it?
It's stealth if it doesn't get intercepted...case closed.
asurah
Member
I was just pointing out, what may seem obvious does not always occur like you believe. How are you sure all UK shipments go through JFK? What if some of them go to Chicago first because they might be overloaded. It happens. I was just using the package from Asia as an example, that usually most packages coming from Asia go through LAX, especially if it's shipped to someone that resides around LA. However in one case, it went straight to Chicago first. The same could be true for shipments coming from the UK. Sometimes it might be sent to Chicago first and rescanned twice again. It's not set in stone man.
Well, if shipping method doesn't meet my standards for stealth, then that leaves future purchases open to possible interception. Such packages most likely won't ever be intercepted, but I rather not take the risk considering how expensive seeds are. I could just find another seedbank that will give me peace of mind for a more discreet method. Like I said though, I'm still giving Castle a chance and waiting to see for myself.
What I mean by stealth is if it gets opened by customs and they cannot figure out there are beans inside and think it's just a regular shipment of candy, electronics, gifts or whatever.
When a baggie of seeds in a padded envelope makes it through customs, I don't call that stealth. I call that luck. Fortunately with beans I guess the chances of it making through are pretty high, but there are those that do not make it past customs at all. And like I said, I rather not risk losing money.
Well, if shipping method doesn't meet my standards for stealth, then that leaves future purchases open to possible interception. Such packages most likely won't ever be intercepted, but I rather not take the risk considering how expensive seeds are. I could just find another seedbank that will give me peace of mind for a more discreet method. Like I said though, I'm still giving Castle a chance and waiting to see for myself.
What I mean by stealth is if it gets opened by customs and they cannot figure out there are beans inside and think it's just a regular shipment of candy, electronics, gifts or whatever.
When a baggie of seeds in a padded envelope makes it through customs, I don't call that stealth. I call that luck. Fortunately with beans I guess the chances of it making through are pretty high, but there are those that do not make it past customs at all. And like I said, I rather not risk losing money.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
Listen, you might just not be getting this, so I'll repeat it...for like maybe the 5th time on this thread.
UK packages are handled by the Royal Mail Service in the UK. From there, they are flown to JFK. This is THE central customs depot for ALL UK MAIL bound for the United States. It's true. Freakin Google it if you need more clarification.
Look even on RIU, using the advanced search feature. Search for others that have reported their delivery experiences with ANY UK based seed bank. Invariably, everytime, you'll see some sort of notation about the Customs location at JFK, in Jamacia, New York (New York City).
So let me get this straight then: wrapping some seeds in a T-Shirt is your definition of stealth?
I honestly think some people just want to be a contrarian, in a failing effort to appear right.
You order seeds, they get to you. What more do you want?
If you're using that guy above as your comparison to this thread, you're misinformed big time, and need to do a lot more research. Check out Castle Seeds reviews at other sites. You'll see that people are, by and large, very happy with their experience.
Lubda Nugs
Member
Last shipment for me went through Bethpage, NY.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
Which is basically the same area (Long Island) as Jamaica, New York...where customs very likely screened your package.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
I've been checking out Castle's website for the last few weeks, and it appears they've made some major stocking changes.
Castle is no longer offering many (most) of their strains in single-seed form, but instead you're forced to buy 10 packs of regular (or 5 packs of feminized) seeds.
That's too bad. Castle was in a unique position to be one of a handful of single-seed vendors who could maybe compete with Attitude.
Who knows, maybe it wasn't a profitable business model over the long haul to sell single seeds?
Glad I was able to take advantage of Castle's single-seeds when I had the chance.
You can no longer find regular Diesel Ryder seeds anywhere, or Automatic Blueberry and Querkle, and I picked up 4-5 of each from Castle.
Also glad I took advantage of Attitudes Birthday Bash with all their freebies....and it looks like I'll be an Attitude customer for the foreseeable future.
Castle is no longer offering many (most) of their strains in single-seed form, but instead you're forced to buy 10 packs of regular (or 5 packs of feminized) seeds.
That's too bad. Castle was in a unique position to be one of a handful of single-seed vendors who could maybe compete with Attitude.
Who knows, maybe it wasn't a profitable business model over the long haul to sell single seeds?
Glad I was able to take advantage of Castle's single-seeds when I had the chance.
You can no longer find regular Diesel Ryder seeds anywhere, or Automatic Blueberry and Querkle, and I picked up 4-5 of each from Castle.
Also glad I took advantage of Attitudes Birthday Bash with all their freebies....and it looks like I'll be an Attitude customer for the foreseeable future.
asurah
Member
I'm guessing single seeds are more trouble than they are worth. They have to open a new package, cut off a piece of the packaging, bag the seeds, print labels. It must be time consuming and they end up having an open package of seeds that can't be sold as a whole. If breeders produced bulk seeds but packaged them individually (say like candy), then this might allow smaller shops like Castle to sell more of them I guess. But this would never happen...
Anyways. Got my seeds a few days ago. I ordered only single seeds and it did take them a few days before it was sent out. It took a little over a week for the package to arrive and I am quite pleased with their stealth. I won't mention how they stealth it, but I feel confident about making future purchases from them.
Anyways. Got my seeds a few days ago. I ordered only single seeds and it did take them a few days before it was sent out. It took a little over a week for the package to arrive and I am quite pleased with their stealth. I won't mention how they stealth it, but I feel confident about making future purchases from them.
Dr. Yo
Active Member
That's cool Asurah, glad to hear you got your package.
Yea I think you're right about being too much trouble.... I'm really disappointed though. Every strain that I wanted is now re-classified so that you can only order 10 packs...grrrrr.
I actually just received my Attitude order (their birthday promo):
The order took 10 fewer days than Castle's...and the extra freebies were very cool.
Until Castle stocks and sells individual seeds, I won't be using them again.