ALT-1 Tips for Ordering Flowers Successfully
Okay, so you want to send your sweetie some roses. Or maybe you want to send a bouuet to your aunt and uncle in another state. You have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a florist. Just type flowers into your search bar and you'll get thousands of "florists" telling you that they can get the job done. But can they? And at what cost? Will you get exactly whats in the picture? Here's ten tips to help you get the inside track when it comes to buying flowers.
1. Not all Internet Florists are really florists. In fact, most Internet Florists are simply order gathering portals that do nothing but put an extra layer of costly service between you and the shop that actually will make and deliver your flowers. Look for a real local florist with a physical address as close to your recipient as possible. If the florist you click on doesn't have a physical address listed on their site, you'd do better to keep looking.
2. Get your full Value! When you order from someone that is just passing your order down the foodchain to a real florist your money gets eaten up along the way. That $100.00 you spent becomes about $73.00 by the time the real florist gets the order. Fees and commissions eat up the other $27.00. When you call a real florist directly, your $100.00 is just that.
3. Most real florists answer their phone themselves on the first or second ring. If you get a computerized voice telling you to "press 1, press 2, please hold for the next available floral consultant", beware. If you have a problem with your order, good luck getting back through to customer service. At a good, real, local florist, the owner will get on the phone with a customer. In fact, many times it will be the owner who answers the phone, and them ultimately designs your bouquet themselves. Try getting that at "BIGFLORISTDOTCOM"
4. When looking at pictures of products, realize that what you see is not always what you get. Flowers come in and out of season, vary greatly in quality from grower to grower, or maybe just plain didn't come in shop that nice on that particular day. Always speak to the designer and have a second choice. No good floral designer wants to turn out a substandard product. But sometimes, in an effort to recreate what you see in the picture, they have to use flowers that just don't look as nice because of quality variations. Work with the designer to create an idea of what you like, and then let then do what they do best. And again, at a real local florist, a designer will be happy to get on the phone with you.
5. Have all your information ready to go. Have the recipient's full name and complete address. Provide the florist with the recipeint's phone number, as well as a cell phone number if available. When sending to the job, include all relevant information such as floor, suite number, department, job title, etc. The more information the better. Incomplete information may hold up your delivery. Think about your card message beforehand so that you have just the right sentiment ready to go. Have your credit card information at hand.
6. You want express delivery? Last minute? That's no problem for your local florist. Most shops can get a delivery out in their local area within a couple of hours. When you order from "BIGFLORISTDOTCOM" the delivering florist may not even get your order for an hour or so. Late delivery? Just remebered about her birthday at 3:00 in the afternoon? Again, call the local florist directly and most times they will be happy to take your same day delivery order at 3, 4 or even 5 o'clock. "BIGFLORISTDOTCOM" will have an early afternon cut-off for same day delivery.
7. Order early for major holidays such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Christmas. Get your order in at least 3 days before the big day. Your order will likely get prepared with more care the night before, rather than in the frantic rush of the holiday itself.
8. Ask about the shop's freshness guarantee. Most shops will guarantee their products for several days to a week. If your flowers arrive in poor condition, or last just a day or two, let the owner know right away. A reputable shop will be happy to replace your flowers.
9. While it may be convenient to grab that bouquet at the supermarket or gas station, you may want to make an extra stop and buy your weekly bouquet from your local florist. When you develop a quality relationship with the owner and staff, you will get extra special service when it comes to the important occasions like funerals, weddings, and parties that only a professional florist can handle. When you spend that five, ten, or twenty dollars a couple of times a month, the owner and staff will remember you, and will go the extra mile to keep you happy.
10. Sending out of town? Out of State? Out of the country? Your local florist can do that just like the big guys. Most professional florists network with over 30,000 independent shops throughout the country and the world. There is usually a minimum amout that you have to spend for this service, around $40.00. If you are looking to spend less, ask your local florist to give you a toll free number of a reputable shop, and then call them directly. Most shops will take a customer direct order starting from as little as $15 or $20 dollars for local delivery.
Keep the above tips in mind the next time you need to order flowers. They will help ensure a satisfying experience and full value for your money.
