I think they will survive. My neighboour had some but didn't like irises. She asked me if I wanted them so we made plans for me to go dig them up the next afternoon. Well, she couldn't wait to get rid of them so she dug them up, threw them on thew hot pavement and left them there in full sun. When I saw what she had done, I almost cried. I took them home and planted them anyway. Today I have a large clump of variegated iris that smell heavenly when they flower! Don't underestimate the power of the iris! Marg

I've always had great success with the bagged bulbs. They're cheap and sometimes they're the only way you can get certain varieties locally.

Okay, thanks. I don't feel so foolish now. I'll pot them up and hope for the best.

On a related note, I bought 3 bags of Oriental lily bulbs on sale from a garden centre. They had new growth on them, which I realized in the store, but it wasn't until I got home that I realized that for 2 of them, the new growth had broken off. I potted all of the bulbs up anyways but I was just wondering on whether anyone has had any experience with this - will the bulbs with the broken new growth stems survive?

With lilies, my experience has been that once the growing tip is broken off, it may not re-grow this season. But the bulb is still alive and may grow next year. So even if you don't see new growth, plant them anyways. Just mark where you put them, in case they don't come up this year.
But, I'm no lily specialist. I could be totally wrong.

Thank you for your advice, north53! I'll try planting the broken ones out when I plant the non-broken bulbs and cross my fingers!

You're right, Marie. It has happened to me.

My insanity happened last fall, and i'm finding out now. I planted dozens of daffs and tulips from Walmart bags in the two sidewalk beds and nothing has shown. Tulips and daffs would be up by now. I'm soooooooooo mad!