How do I avoid receiving dead or rotten live plants in the mail?

Specialist-community feedback is mixed on mail-order plants. Reviewers across r/PlantedTank report both glowing and rancid-arrival experiences from the same sellers, so the consensus is to order during moderate weather, inspect immediately on arrival, quarantine or dip new plants for pests and snails, and document condition with photos in case a refund or replacement is needed.