It's Valentines Day and I really don't want to say what I have to say. However, I am going to take the advice of the owner of Graser's florist who said "Well, you may not want to say it, but just say it. I have other stuff to do." So here are my issues . . . in writing.
I ordered online the deluxe Teleflora's Sapphire Skies Bouquet. This bouquet (after fees) cost $107.50. I have uploaded the picture I saw online. What was delivered to my boyfriend today . . . well, just see the other photo.
1.) The arrangement is much smaller than in the picture. The owner stated that the lilies were not in full bloom and that it would look much fuller after they opened (which is a very fair point). However, the online picture has (by my count) 8 long-stem white roses. The bouquet my boyfriend received had 4.
2.) The color contrast is significant. As with all florists, I understand that some substitution is necessary (maybe a flower is not in season or just subpar). However, why would you substitute pink/fuchsia flowers for purple/blue flowers. The owner's response "They probably didn't realize this was going to a guy." Uh . . . my boyfriend likes pink just fine, the issue is . . . in the love note I wrote (connected to the bouquet) I mention purple/blue flowers . . . and there aren't any.
3.) Under special instructions, I advised that my boyfriend is working 1PM - 9PM today, and I requested the flowers be delivered somewhere within that time frame. There is something to be said for surprise and a stranger calling your name out of a group of coworkers unexpectedly. The bouquet was delivered in the morning and just left on his desk.
4.) When I went to register a complaint at Graser's florist on Amherst St., they said I would have to talk to the owner. I drove to the Graser's florist in Kenmore (the Delaware location) to speak with her directly. She gave me the recipe for the bouquet (a recipe not posted online, I might add). It apparently should contain: 2 stems of white lilies, 4 stems roses (white), 3 stems white spray roses, 2 stems mini-white carnations, 1 stem purple statice (this was substituted by the pink/fuchsia flower). She advised that I check the recipe. The truth is . . . I don't care about a recipe. I just want what I saw online and thought I was ordering. If something doesn't taste good or doesn't look right at a restaurant, then I really don't care what's in it or how it was made (I just don't want it).
In defense of Graser's florist, the bouquet was "technically" correct and within their substitution policy. But I won't trust them anymore when ordering flowers because at the end of the day, it wasn't what I wanted for the love of my life. From now on, I will pay for what I can see.
This may be a one time occurrence and many people have had positive things to say about Graser's florist. Please do not discount this. On the other hand, I leave it to the public to decide. Which picture would you want? Which one is worth over $100? Is the quality and value between these two bouquets equal?
~Seth read more