FTD, You F'ed Up

Published on August 4, 2007 By Texas Wahine In Blogging

I'm going to tell you a tale of flowers and money and ruined surprises...

It was a dark and stormy night. Err...it was a couple of days ago and my phone rang and it said FTD on the caller ID.

The lady on the line asked for Adrian and I told her he wasn't home at that moment. She was about to hang up when I decided, hey, this lady from FTD is probably not going to come stalk me and kill me, so I told her he was deployed.

She then apologized because she had ruined a surprise. Adrian had ordered me a "welcome home from Texas" bouquet. And none of the local shops had the makings of the exact bouquet he had ordered. She wanted to know if it would be ok for the flower shop to substitute something similar? She was very nice and of course I told her it was fine since I was so excited to get flowers.
BR> Today while I was taking baby girl in for pictures my cell phone rang. My ring tone is Stewie from Family Guy saying "Mom, Mommy, Mama, Mom, Mommy, Ma,...". I am just telling you this to flesh out the story. I feel like it's an important detail. So I answered the phone and I talked really loudly in the store. I honestly wasn't doing it to be obnoxious, I just can't hear on cell phones very well and it makes me talk really loudly. Annnnyways...

The girl on the phone was from the flower shop and she wanted to know which house was mine. I told her how to identify it and she asked if I was home. I told her no, that I would be home in 30-40 minutes. I kinda expected her to tell me she would come back by in an hour or so, but no. She said she would sit it outside my door in the shade.

For some people this would be no problem, but my yard has flip-flops and Scooby-Doo snack wrappers of mysterious origin popping up constantly. Who knows what child (or adult) might plunder or destroy my lovely flowers.

But I am nice so I told her cool, thank you.

I was greeted at my door by a cute little basket of sweet white daisies. It is a nice little basket, but a bit underwhelming compared to what I am used to. So when Adrian called today I told him I got my flowers. He asked what they looked like and I described them to him.

"That's not anything like what I ordered. At all," he told me.

He explained to me what he had purchased: The Blooming Brilliance Bouquet with hot pink Gerbera daisies and Asiatic lilies. From the website:
"Brilliant blooms to brighten even the darkest of days! This bouquet is a wonderful mix of 3 hot pink Gerbera daisies, 3 orange Asiatic lilies and 3 pink and white alstroemeria. Your bouquet will arrive wrapped and ready for the recipient to arrange in their own special way. FTD.com has selected the best growers who take great pride in demanding only the finest flowers for you."

$39.99 and absolutely spectacularly beautiful.

And here is what I received:

Now, my question to you is this: Does that look like a $40 arrangement to you? Does it even remotely remind you of the original bouquet Adrian ordered?

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Aug 04, 2007

I know, I know, I should just be glad I get flowers. There are starving kids in Africa who don't get any flowers at all.

MarcieMoo

on Aug 04, 2007

lol...it was sweet that he sent you flowers.

As Meg Ryan would say "Daisies are the friendliest flowers..."

Locamama

on Aug 04, 2007

I would complain to FTD. I would send the pictures. Daisies are sweet but he paid for more than daisies. I would say that you assumed when they said they were going to substitute that you assumed it would be a similiar arrangement, similar color scheme, similiar value. Not to belittle the thought but I could put that daisy basket together for under $5 at Walmart. And what the crap anyway, you are in Hawaii land of plumeria and hibiscus. Daisies were the best they could do? Don't be nice, complain maybe you'll get a fabulous arrangement as a replacement or hubby's money refunded. Maybe FTD will buy you a new washer and dryer or at least a new washboard -lol.

I had to look it up. FTD has 100% satisfaction guarantee. Are you 100% satisfied? I thought not.

btw, I wish my hubby would buy me flowers.

I would be happy with a single, lonely daisy. I would be even happier with a huge lush bouquet.

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 04, 2007

They're right, TW, you should say something. That's a $10 basket at best...even in the overpriced world of FTD (maybe a LITTLE higher accounting for your living in Hawaii, but still!). And it's nowhere close to what your hubby ordered.

If I'm not mistaken, FTD contracts with the local florists. So they actually might appreciate hearing that one of their affiliates isn't fulfilling their end of the bargain.

terpfan1980

on Aug 04, 2007

Definitely doesn't look like an appropriate substitution to me. Hard to say for sure what would have been a good one, but perhaps checking online for for something in the same price range (and up) would give a good idea.

Just my opinion, but to me the arrangement that was delivered looks like it should be about 3/4 (or less) the cost of the intended arrangement. Enough that FTD should be offering up a refund of some sort, or perhaps another delivery of something small to help make up the difference.

SanChonino

on Aug 04, 2007

What were they thinking? "Oh, it says they need white asiatic lilies. But we don't have any. White daisies will work."

"But man, we don't have any gerbera daisies, either. I was gonna replace them with shasta daisies, too."

"Hell, dude, just send a whole f***in' basket of shastas, call it good. She'll never know, said her husband was deployed . . ."

Toerags.

Ravenblack

on Aug 04, 2007

Was there a mix up somewhere?

Texas Wahine

on Aug 04, 2007

I called FTD and as it turns out, they have ALREADY refunded the $$. It's not in the bank yet, but that can take a few days. I guess the daisy basket was a bonus. Which is really nice, but a call or email letting one of us know that the money ($53) was being refunded would have been nice.

According to the site, they make the substitutions based on color scheme primarily but also flower type. I KNOW they could have done a similar project because I've had similar items delivered to me. And like Loca says, this is Hawaii. They could have made something really pretty and I wouldn't have complained.

But I can't be mad. Cause I got free daisies.

Texas Wahine

on Aug 05, 2007

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, he uses FTD since he can do that online. His phone time is very limited (and he uses it to call ME, hehe).

That is really good to know, though.

foreverserenity

on Aug 05, 2007

They don't even look fresh, and the basket looks like something leftover from Easter

I agree! Pathetic!~

It is a good thing you're getting a refund.

Whip, nice tip about the local florist!

Texas Wahine

on Aug 05, 2007

LW: Haha. I am careful about jinxing it too! I don't know if I have emailed you with an update, but if I haven't let me know and I'll let you know what's up.

(Oh, and I still haven't mailed my package out to you! Sorry, but soon. I am really bad about getting distracted and forgetting to do things!)

I will definitely keep the flower shop info in mind. I like to send flowers, and the fees FTD charges are ridiculous. I mean, it went from $39.99 to $53!!

I agree about the daisies. They look all wilted. Of course, the girl did leave them out in the heat by my doorstep. And the basket is...yeah.

But they were free. Haha.

FS: Thanks. I am happy with the resolution, but I wish they had let me know that they were giving us a refund.

straniera

on Aug 06, 2007

It's pretty much all be said, but I'll say my piece too:

When I saw that white basket I said, out loud, "I could buy that at walmart!" Pretty pathetic and absolutely nothing like what he ordered. It is pretty ridiculous to think they had nothing better than that! Good thing they are refunding you the money because that is outrageous.

Exciting to think that your man will be coming home soon. I will be praying for both of you.

Gene Nash

on Aug 07, 2007

I would complain to FTD. I would send the pictures. Daisies are sweet but he paid for more than daisies.

That's what I was going to say.

but a call or email letting one of us know that the money ($53) was being refunded would have been nice.

They definitely should have told you what was what.

That white basket and arrangement were just sad. I'm sorry, that's what you send a girl you're breaking up with. She sees it, breaks into tears, and knows it's all over. Works like a charm.

stevendedalus

on Aug 13, 2007

It's a delight to drop in on you--you have such interesting photos.

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