Flower Arrangements: Should You Order Them Online?
Buying flower arrangements online is becoming a great option for sending flowers to someone. Before flower sales become popular on the Internet, you would have to call directory assistance for the town where you wanted to send the flowers, find a flower shop, call during business hours and speak directly to a florist. Now, it’s very easy to shop, click and send flowers to anyone, anywhere.
One challenge to buying flowers via a web site is knowing how to pick the right company. You want the flowers to arrive looking as good as they do in the photos. Flowers are extremely delicate and perishable, and improper handling can make the difference between flowers that WOW and flowers that wilt. It will take you a little extra time and effort to find the right company, but it’s worth the time. Here are some helpful tips.
Check to be sure they offer same-day delivery. Most flower web sites will display this information prominently, but if you do not see it, check around for information on delivery. The less time the flowers spend in transit, the better they will look and the longer they will last. Some companies will offer same-day delivery for all their items, some will only have certain arrangements eligible for this service. Make sure you only get a same-day delivery arrangement.
Check and see who is going to deliver them. A real florist? The grower? A chain delivery company? What you want to know is if the flowers are being shipped a long distance, and if so, who is handling them. For example, flowers delivered by a chain company have a lot of other types of packages to deal with and may not give a box of flowers extra care. They could be left in the heat, put under a stack of heavy items, or driven around in a hot truck all day. If they are going to be shipped, make sure it is by a company that handles flowers only.
If the company advertises local florist deliver or FTD service, do not worry. This is a good thing. All it means is that a florist in the area of the final destination address is making and delivering the arrangement. Florists are trained not only to design arrangements, but also to properly care for the flowers. You do not have any control over which florist they use, but chances are in your favor that it will look great.
Something you should note is that substitutions of flowers is common. What you see online is a close approximation of what the arrangement will look like. If you order a specific flower, like a vase of orange lilies, you should expect that (if you do not get it, call and complain). But for mixed arrangements, do not be upset if some of the flowers are different. The florists often have to work with what is available to them and what looks fresh.
When the flowers are received, make sure you know what you paid for. Have the recipient send you a photo of the arrangement. If it looks bad, you might be able to use the picture to get your money back. At minimum you will know not to use the company again!
If you need to send flowers to someone, getting flower arrangements online really is an easy way to do it. Follow the tips above and you should be able to find a great company. When you do, be sure to share your new find with friends!
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