There are so many snazzy websites out there offering what look like real good flowers from real good local florists – but too often the reality falls way short of that first impression.
So many of these sites just make up the arrangements in some warehouse somewhere and then ship them out by carrier for next day delivery. Having some delivery guy from FedEx or UPS or whatever (no offence guys!) turning up at some random time with a bashed and dented cardboard box of flowers is just not my idea of making a grand gesture. And what if I’m in a hurry and want flowers delivered same day???Other sites gather orders and pass them on to a local florist (which is great), but only after the site operator has harvested a healthy percentage of your order (which is not great!).
Well, I just found what might be the answer to this problem.Direct2florist is a network of "Real Local Florists in America Canada and Worldwide". There are no hidden corporate costs, no middlemen, no percentage discounts, no advertising deductions, and no hidden charges. This site passes 100% of your flower money to the florist giving you bigger and fuller bouquets – and all from a real local florist.
Direct2florist is different to the other ‘wire services’ and ‘order gatherers’ websites because it only charges a small service fee to operate the site, promote the site and transmit your order - there are no hidden charges!
The money you spend on flowers is exactly that - your flower money! By going direct you receive better value from direct2florist. By ordering from the site your order is instantly transmitted to the florist of your choice. The confirmation email sent to you provides you with the florists contact telephone number. So you are safe in the knowledge you are in contact with the florist.
With direct2florist "It’s just like you walked in to the shop and paid over the counter!" This site has been up and running in the UK now for a while, but has just recently launched in the USA.Coverage is not great at the moment, but new florists are joining every day. Just for an example, say you wanted to send flowers to Cambridge MA, just go to the direct2florist website, search for Cambridge, or the ZIP code, and then choose from the shops that come up in your search.
You can see the actual shop, their actual work, and real comments left by customers – so it’s all pretty transparent. And, more of your $$ will go into flowers and less into the hands of middlemen – cool! The US direct2florist web site was only officially launched in March 2008, so it’s still very much in its infancy. Despite that it looks like there are lots of real florists all over the world signing up to the idea and allowing the consumer to get best value when they send flowers.
I know that the next time I need to send flowers – to Jacksonville, Anaheim, London England, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia or WHEREVER – I’ll turn to direct2florist first.
There are several pieces of information that you need to communicate to your local florist. A good florist knows these pieces of information and will ask the right questions. If you do not have a good local florist, you may need to take matters into your own hands and order flowers online. Either way, if at any point during the ordering process you don't feel you're getting through, don't be afraid to ask for what you want. If you still don't feel comfortable, politely cancel the order and try again elsewhere.
What date do you want the flowers delivered? Many florists offer same day delivery and some even offer timed delivery. If the timing is important to you, understand that you may have to pay for a special service. A good florist will meet your needs and charge you accordingly.
To whom and where are the flowers to be delivered?
Do your part and have the recipient's name, address and phone number ready.
What is the occasion and what do you want the flowers to say?
Here's where you may need to interject the details. If it's a Congratulations for a new baby, there's a big difference in what you'd likely say to a business associate upon the birth of her baby than for your beautiful wife on the occasion of bringing your precious little girl into the world. If you would say different things to the people, then you'd send different flowers. When the clerk asks what the occasion is, give the details he or she will need to help you choose the right flowers. For instance, for the associate, you might end up sending a pretty basket of pink and white flowers with a balloon attached. For your wife and new baby girl, you might end up sending 12 light pink sweetheart roses arranged with baby's breath in a silver mint julep cup. Big difference
What is the budget?
Unfortunately, many florists will ask this question before any of the others, it sounds like "how much do you want to spend?". You're not a professional florist; you don't know how much it will cost to say exactly what you want to say. Still, there is probably a budget you have in mind, so answer this question with another question like "the flowers are for my dearest Uncle's funeral. I want a special tribute that includes his love of rose gardening. Can you give me some suggestions and tell me how much they would cost?".
This is where ordering online appeals to many customers. If your local florist has become so accustomed to the "how much do you want to spend?" manner of sales that you cannot have a meaningful conversation about the options they can provide, it's time for you to do some shopping online. Find a site where you can see photos and prices and take your time choosing the product that is right for you. Be sure to pay attention to order processing and delivery fees.
How will you be paying for the flowers?
Very few florists still have house accounts, and if you are ordering online, a house account is out of the question. Be prepared to pay by credit card or to go to the store to pay in cash.
Armed with a little knowledge and some confidence, you can order flowers that say just the right thing. Take a minute to be prepared before you pick up the phone and once you have, gently and firmly insist upon good service. If you take the time to be clear about your expectations, you won't be disappointed.
Both Daniel Spivey & Jaden Sloan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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