Insider Tips When Buying Flowers Online
Consumers purchasing flowers online continues to be the top product exchanged on the internet. For as little as $20, you can send well wishes to a loved one and brighten their day. A flower delivery not only surprises and impresses someone in the short term, but also has been proven to have a lasting effect on one’s mood. People who receive flowers are generally happier, more sociable and more relaxed. Nothing says it like natural flora!
First of all, when buying flowers via the internet, you’ll need to be aware who you’re ordering from. Since anyone can open a website, you’re not necessarily ordering from an established florist. Some mom-and-pop flower shops service just a small area and have a website taking online orders for local deliveries only. Other times, a national website will be equipped to handle online orders, yet will expect local affiliates to fulfill the arranging and delivering for them. A third possibility is that you’re ordering from floral growers, brokers, shippers or marketers that ship unarranged flowers in a box by overnight air. It’s easy to assume that all flowers are delivered by hand in a beautiful vase, yet when you’re ordering from these guys, they will send flowers in boxes and you’ll need to do the arranging when they arrive. If the price seems “too good to be true,” then you may be ordering directly from a grower.
There are a number of “order gatherers” online who pocket a nice commission before having local flower shops pick up the slack. “Consumers receive less than what they pay for and have little recourse for resolving problems,” explains Amy Stewart, author of “Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers.” She adds that order gatherers often appear local but are usually based elsewhere. If you’d like to avoid the middle man while ordering flowers online, then she advises checking out local business directories like www.bbrooks.com or www.flowershopnetwork.com.
If you have waited until the last-minute for a special occasion, then you’ll be happy to know that same day flower delivery is available at www.ftd.com, www.1800flowers.com, www.bloomstoday.com, www.proflowers.com, www.fromyouflorists.com and more. Buying flowers online is the best way for an under-achiever to transform himself into an over-achiever with the click of a button. Just be sure you take into consideration your loved one’s favorite flowers, colors and personal tastes.
