It's now easier than ever to order flowers, having them sent to your friends or members of your family, your love interest or as an expression of sympathy. Flowers are the perfect gift, and almost always appreciated. Whether you're showing your love, a celebration or condolences, they are highly personal. If you're the forgetful type, they're also a quick and easy fix!
The internet enables us to organise a flower delivery quickly and easily. It might be to someone just around the corner, or on the other side of the world. Internet flower companies including the major chains you've probably heard of are – to coin a phrase – blooming. This suits you well as a customer, giving choice and competitive prices.
So here's what to look for in your internet florist. Firstly, they need a good website. You should be able to use it easily, navigating and searching for what you want without having to hunt around or go through lots of annoying screens. It should be intuitive, with helpful menus guiding you to suitable bouquets or arrangements for different occasions or people.
Secondly, price is important. Cheap doesn't necessarily mean quality, but shopping around reputable retailers can yield you some real savings. Look out for hidden extras, however. To compare like for like, ensure VAT or sales tax is included, and check out delivery charges. These can vary enormously, particularly if you want flowers delivered in a hurry. The big networks however have branches and agencies all over the world, so distance should not put up delivery charges prohibitively, even if you're sending flowers overseas.
The flowers don't fly: your order does, to a local provider.
Go for pictures. A picture paints a thousand words, and rather than trying to imagine what your bouquet might look like, you should be able to browse through and accurate display of what your delighted recipient will get. You should be able to click on the image to make it larger, so you can really get a good idea of exactly how it will look.
Some people worry about ordering anything off the internet, because of credit card fraud or identity theft. But, with a secure site, this should never be an issue. Look for the gold padlock in your address bar, the prefix “https://” before the website address and all should be well. You may well be told “you are now being redirected to a secure site” or see a VeriSign logo. Your credit card company may also provide additional security checks.
Also consider signing up for an instant pay service like PayPal. This also offers security and convenience. Only PayPal or other provider knows your payment details, and this can be from a balance, your checking account or registered credit or debit card(s). Again, you'll be redirected to their site to complete your payment. The whole process should be quick and straightforward to follow, and you should always receive a receipt and confirmation number by email afterwards. Remember: don't refresh pages during the checkout or payment process, as you could end up submitting your order or paying twice.
Finally, do ask the person receiving the flowers that they got them delivered on time and in good condition. You may be able to track delivery right to their door, but only the person you sent the flowers to can confirm what they got. Ask them to be honest! Then, all being well, you can use and recommend that internet flower delivery service time and again with confidence … and never miss another important occasion again.
