I want to begin with saying that I have NEVER been so inclined to write a negative review of an…read moreestablishment in my entire life. Upon sharing my recent experience with Radford City Florist with friends and family, I decided to write this review.
I currently live in New York City but Dublin, VA is and always will be my hometown. I recently had the misfortune of losing a relative back home in Pulaski. When this happened I was 5 weeks into a new job in New York and I was unable take time off work and get home for the funeral proceedings. Since I wasn't going to be there for my family, I decided I would send flowers to the funeral home for my family to view in my absence.
Since I was informed of the death late and my new work schedule is very busy, I thought it would be best to call during my lunch hour, my only break during their operating hours. I understood I was cutting it close, as the wake was that evening of placing the order but given my late notice of the death, a quick turn around time for the wake, and a hectic day at the office, I made the order in the best time frame I could have. I actually looked forward to the call knowing that I would get to speak with someone from my hometown, and was comforted by that.
I placed an order with the owner, Jeff Corbin. At the time he was sympathetic and took my order with care. He informed me of the time of the service and the time of the family viewing. At that time I asked him if my flower arrangement would make it to the funeral home in time for the family viewing at 5:30 PM, and he said yes.
At 6:30 I got a call from my mother, this was 30 minutes into the public wake. She said my flowers were not anywhere to be found at the funeral home. I was extremely disappointed and called Radford City Florist immediately and left a message, as they were closed for the day.
Someone called me back the next day and put owner Jeff Corbin, on the phone. I explained to him my disappointment that the flowers had not arrived before the family viewing as promised. His first response was "well what would you like me to do for you?" I was very thrown off by this and hoped that he, as the owner, would begin by offering something to ME, a common business practice everywhere except Radford City Florist apparently. He then told me that he personally hand delivered the flowers to the owner of funeral home at 6:45. Again, 45 MINUTES into the wake and I was promised delivery at 5:30. Even if the flowers were not delivered for the family viewing, they should have been present for the start of the actual wake. BOTTOM LINE.
Jeff then offered me something completely outrageous. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD BE GLAD TO GIVE ME A REFUND FOR MY PURCHASE BUT WOULD HAVE TO SEND SOMEONE TO THE FUNERAL HOME TO PICK THEM UP. This call was at 10:00 AM and the funeral service began at 11:00 AM. He was fully aware of what time it was and that he would be removing my flowers as the service was beginning.
I explained to him that I WANTED to pay for the flowers as I WANTED to be at the service. I hoped that since I was not given what I was promised he might be willing to waive some of the price, a delivery charge, etc. He said the best he could offer me was picking up the flowers prior to the service and giving me a refund.
We went around on the phone for quite sometime when he finally began to criticize me for my late order and thought I was trying to "beat him down to get something for free". I OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE FLOWERS AND EXPLAINED THAT I WANTED THE FLOWERS TO BE PRESENT, so I'm not exactly sure how that is "asking to get something for free". At this point I began to get very upset because he was unaware, and did not even take into consideration, that my circumstances were less than ideal. I can honestly say I did the best I could with the timeframe I had.
Ultimately, I paid full price for the arrangement and did not receive any compensation for the broken promise of delivery time.
After telling this story to numerous people here in the city and back home, I have gotten one prominent reaction: disgust. I am completely appalled by the insensitivity of owner Jeff Corbin. I thought his offer to remove my flowers before the service began was cruel, unusual, rude, and just tacky.
As someone who grew up getting prom corsages and numerous flower arrangements from Radford City Florist for graduation and good grades, I am just heartbroken that my "hometown flower shop" has lost the nostalgia that it once held for me. I have received better customer service from better human beings in a large, overpopulated city like New York than a hometown establishment, and that makes me very sad.
