by Erin O’Neill
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, you are probably considering ordering a flower arrangement offline to send to her. The BBB warns consumers that not all online florists are the same! While some people are extremely happy with their online floral purchases, others find themselves disappointed when the flowers don’t arrive on time, don’t arrive at all or are not what they ordered or expected.
Follow these tips when ordering flowers online:
• Start with trust. Find a BBB Accredited florist and check BBB Business Reviews at denver.bbb.org. BBB Reviews can tell you what other consumers’ experiences have been.
• Ask about guarantees. Request a written receipt for the order and ask about the business’s refund policy if the delivery is late, never arrives or is in bad condition.
• Don’t get too swept away with photos. An online florist’s depiction of its flowers and arrangements don’t always arrive looking the way they did on your computer screen. Colors may appear darker or lighter. Arrangements may not be made exactly like the picture or even contain all of the same flowers in some cases.
• Make sure the florist has information on where to reach you. Delivery instructions may need to be confirmed or a driver may need additional directions. Check to see that the flowers can still be delivered even if the recipient is not home. Try to plan the delivery around a time that Mom is home to avoid damaged or stolen flowers.
• Read the fine print. Read the terms and conditions before making any online purchase to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Find out is there are additional delivery fees or charges for canceling your order.
• Allow time for shipping. Check with the retailer to make sure that you have allowed enough time for delivery by your specified date. Make sure that this date is specified clearly and guaranteed when you order.