Has anyone used an 'online' flower delivery service? I am looking to send flowers but not sure who to use. Thanks.
No, but I have just gone to my local florist and they've been able to have flowers sent via FTD anywhere in the country. If you do use someone online, I'd use FTD if possible. They've been around for eons.
Yes! My husband has used Pro Flowers several times to have flowers delivered to me. They are always so pretty and really fresh. I am going to use them to send my mother flowers for mother's day.
My DH has used Pro Flowers as well. They are gorgeous and very fresh. I want to suggest an alternative, I saw this in a local publication from our town, but they have a website an will deliver anywhere. Check it out, fruit bouquets: http://www.ediblearrangements.com/ They are pricey, but so pretty. I asked DH for the Mickey Mouse Club House one for our anniversary coming up in May.
Last year I sent some to my dad in the hospital and all went well. I had never used them before. They said the plant was beautiful.
*cringe* I truly think it dpends on your geographical location and what time of year you order as to whether you will end up with results you are happy with. When you place a flower order online it goes through the following: 1. All online floral delivery services are just that, a delivery service. When you place an order online that goes through places such as Pro-Flowers, 1-800-Flowers, etc, your order gets taken by someone who knows nothing about flowers or plants. Nothing specifically bad with that but it often makes for a lot of frustration further on in the order process. Your order is sent to a LOCAL florist in the delivery town MINUS 15-25% of the value because the order taker (online company) keeps that as their portion for processing your order. The "filling florist" receives your order and this is how they determine what type of arrangement will be sent if AT ALL. You Order: $50 Mixed Spring in Basket Florist receives Order: $40 florist choice basket Details: No Daisy, light colored basket, tall. Card: (whatever the occasion) Notes: Price is to include delivery. Break down from Florist: Basket $5.00 Delivery $10.00 (average priced) Foam $2.00 Greens $2.50 Pompons (small mums) .50/each - used 7 blooms - $3.50 Japanese Iris $2.00/each - used 3 - $6.00 Bow $1.25 Card $0.50 Labor $9.25 Total 39.98 (fits right under the $40 limit so considered "good") So for your $50 your loved one is only getting 3 iris and 7 tiny mum blossoms in a basket with a bow on it. Now if you google the town where the delivery is to be made and find a local florist from there who handles online orders or even better call them yourself so you can know exactly what is being arranged instead of hoping that your first choice online is sent, even better! Direct Order: $50 Mixed Spring in Basket Florist receives: ALL the details directly from you so there is no mix-up as to what colors you want, what types of flowers the recipient doesn't like, and often the florist can email you a photo of the arrangement sent. Breakdown of direct order:items in parenthesis would have been my personal choice) basket $5.00 delivery $6.00 foam $2.00 greens $1.50 (no leather leaf, moss, springerii, looped variegated hosta leaf) Bells of Ireland $6.00 3 full stems (used for height) Rananculus $3.00 3 opened blooms (blossoms plus all the stems/leaf for the wild spring look, they look like whimsicle wild roses) Tulips $6.00 5 (plus their leaves arranged for effect) Lily $6.00 3 stems (would have included the buds) Tiny ceramic frog $2.00 Card $ .50 bow $1.25 Labor $11.40 Total $49.40 So for your $50 direct order you get something completely different. A custom arrangement that isn't a cookie-cutter look that includes 14 much larger flowers in an unusual design. Obviously not all florists are the same in determining what is "value" for the customer but the end result is usually a more satisfied customer when the people deal with the delivering florist directly. I am just suggesting to use your local florist to have them wire your order (some do this for free, some don't) or to contact the delivering florist directly. Another word of caution, having the association of FTD etc is not a guarantee that your flowers will be what you want. The association itself could care less whether you are a satisfied customer and does nothing to the florist if the order is messed up. I personally would try to find a small local shop that doesn't have to charge higher prices in order to cover the association fees which are exorbitant. Okay, sorry, off my soap box now... I just love to see people support their local florist instead of the box companies. I'm a former professional local florist
Wow MTNest! That was a great explanation. I am all about supporting local businesses, which is why I've never sent flowers via an online service. I rarely do anything online unless it's a product I just can't find in town. I also rarely shop big box stores for the same reason. I guess I never knew that a florist could wire the flowers unless they were in the FTD network. That's good to know.
When we send flowers out of state I use a local one, I find them in the phone book takes out the middle man which cost less, they usually take credit cards over the phone. Reason why is because once we did the online stuff and they delievered it to wrong place it was really bad looking and they wouldnt give us our money back.
To add another word of warning....I used one of the online florists about a year ago, Proflowers I believe. As a result of that credit card transaction, someone stole my credit card info and had several thousand dollars charged on it in just a few hours. Since this had been the only credit card purchase I had made in a while, it's where we traced the theft to. Just a FYI... Carol
The flowers I have received from ProFlowers have always been awesome and dh was very happy with his purchase when he got home and saw them. Last year at Valentine's Day he sent me 2 dozen multicolored roses and they came with a vase and a card and they only cost him $40. Now that is a good deal at valentine's day. They were simply beautiful and lasted a good 3 weeks. This year I got 3 dozen tulips with a vase and a card for the same $40. They lasted 2 weeks. It's a personal preference of course and people will have good and bad experiences. To me ProFlowers is great because you can order online, the flowers are so fresh and last forever, and they are very reasonable on price. Of course only you can make that call.
I was wondering if anyone had used the edible arrangements. I looked at them over the weekend!!! They look so good!!!
We use Proflowers and have been very satisfied with their service. As it has been shared, their flowers are fresh and beautiful.
I have used ProFlowers many times, too, and the people have always LOVED them. I think their prices are very good, and I love their arrangements. they are very simple--not lots of filler stuff.
This is what my MIL really likes about the flowers, when we send them. The flowers are large so a lot of filler isn't necessary.
