by ☆ ƒåitĥ ☆
Member since:
August 8, 2006

Ordering flowers online - a rant!

June 20, 2008 01:06 PM EDT (Updated: June 21, 2008 04:39 AM EDT)
views: 94 | comments: 35

Yesterday I ordered some flowers online for a loved one from FTD.com and I was STUNNED by the service charge they added to my order! I chose FTD.com because I earned a gift certificate from e-Rewards.com and let me tell you, even with the gift certificate... I was so close to not even ordering from them!!!

Flower total = 29.99
Service total = 28.99

Who even does that?!? Why would any company charge just as much for delivery (or what they call 'service') as they do for the actual product they're delivering?

Since I'm extremely frugal, I searched everywhere online for promotional codes that would either give me a discount off the total purchase price or knock off shipping all together, but I was completely out of luck. Unfortunataly I found out that FTD.com doesn't allow you to apply discounts of any kind or allow you to shop through mypoints, inboxdollars, bondrewards or greenbackstreet when you're using a gift certificate, ugh.

I guess I'll have to say that the dang service charge was worth it because I can't wait to hear how those flowers brightened her day.

Showing someone how much you care = PRICELESS

~ Faith
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 35

Karen M. Jun 20, 2008, 1:11pm EDT
Those fees always drive me crazy...I don't mind a slight fee, but some get so out of control...I am sorry Faith
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Jun 20, 2008, 1:18pm EDT
It's OK, Karen. Thanks for commenting about it... I'll most definitely write a follow up article on this once the person gets their delivery.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Jun 20, 2008, 1:19pm EDT
I can't believe how much they charged you. That is ridiculous. But you are right seeing how much they can brighten someones day by showing that you care is pricesless.
Sarah (I want points) Jun 20, 2008, 1:21pm EDT
Man! That's quite a fee! How horrible... I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience with them.
Bridget ♥ Jun 20, 2008, 1:22pm EDT
That service charge is out of control! Talk about ripping a person off! Be sure to contact the company directly and complain! Maybe it will make a difference.

After all that, I really hope your loved one ENJOYS the flowers!
DiAnA D. Jun 20, 2008, 1:32pm EDT
ridiculous.. i use 1800flowers
flit . Jun 20, 2008, 1:34pm EDT
that's a crazy price!

I recently was looking online for an arrangement for my kid's birthday ... the prices were SO stinking stOOpid that I ended up just calling a place in her city and asking what they could do for me for a reasonable price... I was really pleased with the arrangement and the service; they were excellent.
jennifer b. Jun 20, 2008, 1:34pm EDT
Wow, that is alot. I use ProFlowers but they have been adding a fuel surcharge to their orders lately.
CyberGwen ! Jun 20, 2008, 1:35pm EDT
I sent some from FTD for Mother's Day and had the same thing. On top of that, they wanted to charge us another $10 if we wanted them delivered on Saturday. Heck, they could get them on Friday and like it.

Still, the phone calls from our mommies were really nice. They were priceless, like you said. My mom even sent me pictures of them, she liked them so much.
Marianne R. Jun 20, 2008, 1:37pm EDT
That's really high. I have used Pro Flowers before and it's a $10 delivery charge.
Samantha C. Jun 20, 2008, 1:38pm EDT
wow...that is absurd
Bridget ♥ Jun 20, 2008, 1:40pm EDT
If the person complains a tiny bit - make THEM pay the service charge LOL!

I love your "PRICELESS" addition to the article though, afterall that IS what it's all about!
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Jun 20, 2008, 1:40pm EDT
I saw on the news you really have to watch who you order flowers online from.
They say it is better to go to the local city or town and go directly to the florist. Not through someone. That is why they mark it up so much I guess.
I'd rant to.
Has any one tried those edible fruit planters. They are awesome. But expensive.
Donald M. Jun 20, 2008, 3:07pm EDT
When Tracy had Liposuction, she was in pain, stupid elective surgery, I thought. But the girls in her office took turns staying with her day and night. Only leaving when I was there for a break. I appreciated it from them, so I called , rather had Tracy call the Florist around the corner from the office where the girls were. Can you believe delivering a mixed arrangement of non expensive flowers cost $79 in cheap vase.
Ok it was done so I thought from that day foreward I would go deliver them myself, or send them a card.
Larry H. Jun 20, 2008, 4:35pm EDT
They always jack up the prices on shipping, I was going to have flowers delivered to someone. I went in the flower shop to order the, they wanted more than the flowers cost to deliever them.
**AngelEyez** a. Jun 20, 2008, 4:57pm EDT
what crap.
Shirley ♡ ☮ M. Jun 20, 2008, 4:59pm EDT
I went to buy some from them a month or so ago online and found the same thing...needless to say I didn't go all the way through with the order.
Amy B. Jun 20, 2008, 5:05pm EDT
That's why I always search the net for a local florist and call them directly. FTD charges their "referral" fee to that local florist and they also include the florist's delivery fee, so you end up paying at least double the charge (probably more). FTD was great before the internet when you had no clue how to find a distant florist, but now I don't find them necessary at all.
David C. Jun 20, 2008, 5:17pm EDT
Calling a local florist is always a good idea if you can. I've used ProFlowers on a couple of occassions and though steep, their service/delivery charges wasn't quite has bad as what you got stuck with.
Ryan M. Jun 20, 2008, 5:30pm EDT
That sounds a little pricey.
Rodney R. Jun 20, 2008, 5:43pm EDT
good rant
A K. Jun 20, 2008, 11:38pm EDT
holy cow, thats alot of moolah
Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Jun 20, 2008, 11:52pm EDT
YIKES! I used to work as a flower designer many years ago...FTD was no where that high way back then??!! I've ordered flowered through a local shop had them delivered via FTP, they were no where near that, or call a florist directly in the town you want them delivered and use your credit card, that works too...
Sherry W. Jun 21, 2008, 1:45am EDT
Iiiish. Yeah, a lot of that is probably fuel-cost related. But still, yikes.
Edward W. Jun 21, 2008, 3:02am EDT
That appears to be a deceptive business practice, if they don't disclose such an outrageous delivery fee in their advertising - which I don't recall seeing in the last 'FTD' advertisement that I came across.

Btw, your 'bondrewards' and 'greenbackstreet' links don't work.
These should:

bondrewards

greenbackstreet
Jill~Sexy Back~ V. Jun 21, 2008, 8:00am EDT
that's a crazy amount for a service charge. WOW! I don't think I've ever ordered from them, but it's been so long since I ordered flowers for anyone, I really can't remember. I know I've ordered from proflowers.com before and those were always lovely. I can't remember if there was a big service charge like that since it was quite a while ago (I mean like years ago). Maybe places like that are having to up their service charges to account for the high gas prices and things like that. Hope your loved one enjoys the flowers. I'm sure they will appreciate the loving gesture.
Jennifer- Very lucky mommy S. Jun 21, 2008, 8:14am EDT
itis crazy thats why I go through mypoints it is nice because I get points for every dollar spent
Amanda T. Jun 21, 2008, 3:39pm EDT
I hate service fees
Suze P. Jun 21, 2008, 3:50pm EDT
Wow..that's crazy!! I would have said the heck wth that even though I had the GC from erewards and went with one I could use through Mypoints, etc.. or sometimes you're better off to look in the y ellow pages for a local florist close to the person's home and order directly from them. ..even though you can't see a picture of the bouquet.. I'm sure they have ways to deal with that. Might just be cheaper.
Robin G. Jun 23, 2008, 11:59am EDT
Thank you for the heads up. That is insane!!!!!!
Mary G. Jun 24, 2008, 3:37am EDT
10
Shannon W Jun 24, 2008, 2:44pm EDT
Wow... I didn't know that! That is terrible.
Bijou *~MotherGrizzly~* M. Jun 24, 2008, 3:25pm EDT
That is a crazy fee!! I don't understand why it would be so high. :(
Alex In Wonderland Aug 12, 2008, 12:16pm EDT
I had a friend call me because she wanted to send flowers to another friend. She said she checked a few places online and they all charged as much for delivery as the cost of the flowers. One site even gave her a total over $100 for a simple, low-cost arrangement. When she asked why they told her that the delivery driver would be driving out of state to get them to her because it was the closest location!
I found her a nursery right down the street from my friend's apartment that also did delivery and arrangements. It ended up being the cheapest place because everything was done in one place from ordering to arranging to delivery. They ended up being the freshest and most beautiful for her money too!
If I ever get a certificate like that I will sell it and just buy local!!

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.