Ordering Flowers Online: Worth It?

(CBS)  Valentine's Day is a time for flowers. In fact, more than a-third of gifts given on Valentine's Day are flowers.

It used to be that you went into a florist and hand-picked what you wanted.

Now, ordering online has become a major part of the equation, enabling people to shop for gifts from their home or office.

But, are you really getting what you ordered? Are your flowers thriving and open when you receive them? Do they all show up alive? Are the flowers you get true to the picture you ordered from?

Early Show financial contributor Vera Gibbons addressed those issues Monday, testing some of the major flower-peddling Web sites to see if you really get your money's worth.

Gibbons discussed what to look for when you order online, and how to keep costs down, focusing on what your price points should be, delivery costs, and the deadlines you should be aware of.

She ordered a dozen roses from roughly a half-dozen online florists and, on Tuesday, viewers will see whether what Vera bought is what she receives.

To read her report, click here.

POINTERS

ORDER EARLY

The first piece of advice to consumers who plan to order online: Order early. The earlier you order, the cheaper the flowers will be. A lot of people ask if the prices of flowers go up around this holiday. And the answer is ABSOLUTELY. All prices go up according to demand. In fact, the prices of flowers on V-day will go up about 30 to 50%. It's a given. But the closer you get to the actual Valentine's Day holiday, the higher the demand will be. So, if you want to save money, don't waste time. Not only do many florists offer incentive discounts and freebies when you order ahead of the holiday (and stats show you can save as much as 15-20 percent by ordering early), but the earlier you order, the more likely companies are to fulfill your order to specifications. Retailers sell out this time of year! Place your order about one week in advance; don't wait until last minute, particularly if you have your heart set on specific colors or floral combinations.

SPEAK WITH THE FLORIST

Even though you're ordering online, the best way to avoid mistakes and problems is to follow up with an actual phone call to your online florist. Also, it's a way to make sure you're getting what you ordered. When you go online, you'll see all the different arrangements, and the bottom line is that it's impossible to keep all the different arrangements in stock. So, you'll have to tell your online florist exactly what you want. Remember: If online orders are contracted out, the quality of your flowers is only as good as florist fulfilling the order. They may stuff your bouquet with whatever they decide looks best; if you don't like, for instance, baby's breath, carnations, or ferns, speak up, or you're leaving it to their discretion if you don't call them!

SAVE WITH COUPONS, CREATIVE DISPLAYS

There are lots of ways you might be able to save when you order online. Before you commit, look online for coupons or promo codes. An IMPORTANT TIP TO remember: The longer the stem, the higher the grade, the steeper the price; if you want to save, go with short stems instead of long. Also, consider incorporating other flowers into the bouquet. Another way to save, if you dare: Go with a color other than red. Since it's not as in demand, it's probably cheaper!

TALLY EXPENSES

Do NOT assume that the price of your flowers is going to be your total bill. Remember that vases, teddy bears, shipping and balloons will add to your final cost. Prices for 12 red medium-stem roses generally start at about $40, but a simple vase is another $10. Crystal vases, teddy bears and balloons are also extra. There's also taxes and shipping; they run from $12 to more than $20. Make sure you have a realistic estimate for yourself.

[ezbloomers]

EZBloomers.com is a web service for buying no service fee flowers online; we match the customers flower needs with the most qualified local florists across the country.

Our Mission: To provide the customer with the product they want at the best possible value directly from the florist.
Our Promise:
-You will never pay a service fee for the use of our site.
-There will never be any hidden fees - the price you see is the price you get.
-All of your dollars will go towards your purchase - no commissions or clearing fees deducted.
-All products are designed, arranged and hand delivered by professional florists.
-You will receive the best possible service directly from the florist.

How We Do It:
-Customizable products, so you can choose to have a say in the design of your arrangement.
-Removing the middlemen - your orders go directly to the closest florist.
-We are a "virtual green company with freeform work environments".
-With unlimited computing power and greater reliability - our system lives in the "Cloud".
-Our long term commitment and determination to improve the floral industry.

At EZBloomers.com, you'll get the most for your money directly from the florist.

Kimba Vasquez, CEO
321-396-7778

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.

A Real Florist

Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[oakhillflori]

Vera - Let''s start with the basics. Selling flowers (especially online)is all about marketing. All the bouquets you selected were photographed in a studio, when the flowers were at their optimum. They were also designed ''forward facing'', with perfect lighting to enhance the bouquets.
If we florists sent out roses as ''opened'' as the images shown, we would be inundated with phone calls from unhappy customers. The roses in those images have peaked and will die any day. Florists usually send out roses that are ''tight'' in order to give the recipient the maximum vase life.
Year after year the media tries to compare on-line flower companies. YOU CANT DO IT!!!!
FTD, Pro-flowers, From You Flowers are not florists!! They are all companies that send orders through florists to be filled. All you are truly rating in this test is how 5 individual New York florists design.
If you want a real florist in greater Portland, Maine to fill your Valentine''s order, call 1-800-348-5424. Oak Hill Florist. A real florist!

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.

A Real Florist

Kenny Marshall
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[apfdaleys]

As a real florist, I am flabbergasted at the inaccuracies of your report on Valentine''s day flowers, from price gouging to ordering early so you get a better price. If the consumer would like us
to hold roses for two weeks we could certainly honor the lower price, but roses are like lobsters, it is consumer demand and availability that increases the price.Most florists lose money on roses as our price is doubled but we do not double our increase. Your local florist as well as Teleflora and FTD offer 100% guarantees. Use your local florist''s web site to see what they have to offer and do not rely on 800 numbers. Also the fact that you reported this story without concern for the brick and mortar florists that keep people working is a slap in the face to the floral industry, the local floist and the present economy. Do your research like a real reporter and leave the advertising to another department. Contact any state florist organization for factual information

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[leahlitin]

I too am outraged at all the misinformation givin in this report. As a REAL florist this has been very insulting. To suggest price gouging is a very uneducated statement. If the amount of reserch that went into this segment is the norm for the early show, then I will disregard any further information discussed on this show. A florist runs on a much lower margin of profit during this holiday. As far as using a on-line clearing house to order flowers, thats like throwing $20.00 out the window. Always contact a local florist with a local address to get the best quality and service. And to the producers of The Early Show, you really should have slept in.

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[sarasflowers]

As a former florist, I take exception to the story on ordering roses for Valentine''s Day online. Research in the field, like speaking to a real florist might have served you better. Online florists are not florists. They are warehouses with phone banks and these people know nothing about flowers so speaking to one about your order is futile. Teleflora and FTD are the exceptions. They are wire services of networks of florists but you still pay a premium ordering through them since it adds another layer of expense. The best route always is looking up a florist in the town you are sending to and ordering direct. Why would you want to promote a practice like ordering through online services that takes money out of the local communities while risking quality for convenience? Valentine''s Day is a florist''s worst nightmare. Volume is high but profits are minimal. The wholesale price of roses more than doubles, you need to hire more help to get the orders out on time and it is exhausting! Please go to the source for the true story and everyone please order from a real florist!

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[keaydin]

Saying online florists are not florists is not 100% accurate. There is always layers in any commodity. Do you buy your potatoes from Idaho farmer? Or, get your cow from Texas?

[CassidyGR]

I worked for a florist years ago and remember the amount of orders that would come through from groups like FTD and 1-800-Flowers, etc. Florists are required to produce what these groups offer (in photos) and do work very hard to reproduce what is expected from the sender. I would recommend in today%u2019s internet savvy world that to really get your money''s worth would be to get on line and find a florist in the area you are sending flowers. The benefit of this is that you get the full worth of the money you are spending on flowers and you also get to speak directly with the florist allowing you to find out what flowers they have available. Most florists have their own websites where you can even see what types of arrangements they produce.

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[snatalino]

First of all, in response to the airing of this story Monday morning, the generalization that Vera Gibbons made that florists gouge consumers is entirely FALSE.
Does she know how all of these millions of stems magically appear for delivery Feb.14. First. Growers of roses all over the world "time" their plants for even production year round, a rythem if you will. In order to meet the increased demand for Valentine''s Day, the grower must sacrifice an entire crop, disrupt the cycle or rythem. Second. During most other months, roses are brought into this country from South America using air-freight companies that bring freight into South America and the cost of transporting that rose isn''t too bad. But during Valentine''s Day shipping, these air freight companies
need to add extra freighters to bring these millions of stems into the country. Since the economy isn''t booming, we are not exporting extra goods to South America. You guessed it. These extra air freighters are flying to South America EMPTY. That doubles the amount an importer is paying to get the roses here.
Who knew it was so complicated to please your sweetheart on Valentine''s Day. But, Vera, please don''t slam an industry that employ''s thousands of hard working people trying to bring a little happiness to all of the doom and gloom we are bombarded with.

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083

[eavalo]

On the segment aired on monday morning Vera Gibbons incorrectly stated that florist would be gouging the consumer. Had she researched the effort and cost it takes the floral industry to make it all happen on one day she would realize this an unfair statement. If she is going to speak as an authority on comsumer issues she should do her research. It should be a profitable holiday for all in the industry based on the volume but in our competitive industry i doubt anyone can gouge the consumer. Price are higher simply because of the effort to make it all happen on one day.

[kennymarshall123]

Please help your local florist. I?m on a mission to explain to the world how Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 answering services operates. They keep most of the money that is paid to them. They send the actual florist about ½ of the payment made, just to wire the order to a real florist. Tell everyone that you know, to call any local florist directly. Teleflora, FTD, Blooms, 1-800 are only answering services.

The service charge, (about $14 dollars) they keep that, (it?s not the delivery fee) plus about 30% of the total amount paid to them.

Example: Total payment made: $54.00
Less service fee: $-14.00
Less 30% surcharge $-16.20
$23.80 Total payment made to the florist to send the arrangement.

Imagine ordering a large pizza pie. The guy making and sending you the pizza is only going to be paid ½ of the amount that was charged to you. Do you think you would receive a large pie or a small pie?

Today it does not cost any additional money to make a long distance phone call, ask information for a local florist in the city you would like to send flowers. Everyone uses the internet, goggle a florist in the city you want to send flower. Just make sure they are a local florist, some claim to be but are only answering services.


?A real local florist?

Kenny Marshall
Galloway Florist
www.gallowayfloristandgifts.com
609-652-0083