You can do better.
Written: May 09 '00
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Here's the thing. FTD, although convenient, is simply not the best buy for your money. If you're ordering through FTD or a similar florist service, you're probably pressed for time and possibly trying to send flowers to someone far away. So you look for what's the most convenient way to get those blooms to your mother/friend/sweetie. Picking up the phone or jumping on the net to dial up FTD seems like a good choice, right? Not so much.
Yes, you're right. FTD is convenient. But add on the service charges and the lack of a real selection and you're looking at one mediocre bouquet of flowers. Lots of filler, no killer. And chances are your floral display will look like everyone else's - it was the first service that came to your mind, right? So what's to prevent it from being everyone else's first choice too? Not much. Ok, let's add on a simple fact about pricing: FTD is nationwide and so are their prices. That means that sometimes you'll get a deal on your arrangement and sometimes you'll get rooked. Actually, add on those shipping and handling charges and the answer is that most of the time you'll get rooked.
So what's your alternative? Pick up the phone book. Flip through the yellow pages and browse the florists. Want to deliver in-town? Order locally. Believe me - that's what FTD does. By calling your local florist yourself, you'll be able to custom build your floral arrangement, take advantage of any specials that the florist is offering, and ensure fresher flowers. 90% of the time your effort will show in the distinctive arrangement your mother/friend/sweetie will receive. If you pick a good florist, your arrangement will be bigger, fresher and more attractive.
What if you're sending flowers to someone who lives out of town? No problem. Keep that local yellow pages open and look for a florist that offers world-wide delivery. You might not get as wide a selection of flowers, but you'll still get the benefit of a little more personalized attention than FTD offers. Ask questions. Find out what's possible from your local florist. You may be able to customize that floral arrangement more than you think. Another good tip is to call a florist that actually *is* local to the recipient. If the recipient is in a relatively sizeable area, the yellow pages are probably on-line. Pretty much all florists take credit card orders, which makes ordering from far away a snap.
The bottom line is: flowers should be a special way of getting a message across, whether that message is one of love, friendship, sympathy or congratulations. Nationwide services like FTD are all well and good for most people, but if you want the quality of your flowers to match the quality of your message, it's a good idea to have a more hands-on approach. It doesn't take much time, it doesn't cost more money (and in most cases will cost less) and it will make a world of difference.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
MBJ91
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Location: York, PA
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 2 members
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