How you can avoid the most common problems when sending flowers

February 20th, 2008 by Greg Johnson · Comments

Now that the dust has settled on another Valentine’s Day, I’ve had a chance to take a look at some of the consumer message boards. It’s no surprise that most complaints about flowers concern delivery. Either it didn’t get delivered, it was delivered too late, or it wasn’t delivered by the promised time. Another common complaint is that the flowers that were delivered weren’t what was ordered, or didn’t look like the picture shown online.

Some of the delivery problems we hear about during the winter months are weather-related. Sorry, but there’s nothing anyone can do about the weather.

Aside from that, many of the problems that people complain about could be avoided or minimized at the time the order is placed. Here are some important basics to consider to help prevent similar problems from happening to you:

Purchase flowers from someone you’re already familiar with.

Due to the nature of the web “cyber florists” are everywhere.
If you’re shopping online, make sure the florist you’re dealing with has a physical location in the area, and preferably in the same zip code, where your flowers are being delivered.

When placing your order, communicate directly with a responsible, full-time employee. Florists employ a lot of temporary help, especially at holidays. Often part-time or seasonal employees are not well trained in sales. They’re just order-takers. If you have specific requests for flowers, delivery, or pricing, speaking with an experienced salesperson will save you both time, money and headaches should there be a problem with your order.

If you regularly do business with a local florist, place your out-of-town orders with them. They rely on your repeat business, and will usually go out of their way to see you are satisfied. If they don’t, it’s time to find a new florist.

Allow some flexibility.

When you purchase flowers from an online or in-store catalog, you should expect your order to be delivered pretty much as pictured. Some flower substitution may be necessary, per market conditions, but the look and feel should be maintained.

If you have a specific floral request that can’t be accommodated, any reputable florist will be sure you know that up front. It will save you some disappointment and possible embarrassment.

When we sell any floral order, we usually sell in generic terms, like “seasonal fresh flowers in a vase”, or “green plant in a basket”. Doing so allows us to take advantage of local market conditions, rather than using specific flower types or plants that may not be at their best. That way we can substitute flowers appropriate for your situation and price range, giving you maximum value. We apply this same philosophy to out-of-town orders. In our experience, this has provided the highest level of satisfaction for our customers.

Don’t be undersold.

The reason you are sending flowers is to express your emotions. You want to make an impact. Keep in mind that the amount you spend in Milwaukee (or your home town) may or may not have the same impact in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, or Tokyo. Probably the best national online catalog you can check out for price guidelines is Teleflora.com. Or for international delivery, try Fleurop.com.

For Milwaukee area flower delivery, check out our catalog.

Give your florist complete delivery and contact information.

Nothing is more frustrating than not having your flowers delivered as you requested. Much of this can be avoided by having complete delivery information, including the recipient’s phone number. Many florists no longer accept orders without it. Nearly everyone has a cell phone now, so it’s become the most important piece of information needed for timely delivery. If you’re worried that the florist will call ahead and spoil the surprise, don’t be. Most of us only call a recipient if delivery cannot be completed.

Since most florists handle deliveries in much the same way, you can check our delivery info page for our guidelines.

I hope these tips help you avoid the most common problems you might encounter when sending flowers, and become a better floral consumer.

If you’ve had a good relationship with a local florist, let us know. We’re always on the lookout for quality florists in other locations to work with.