Flowers Valentines

Let’s Shop Smart for Valentine’s Day

It’s very easy to get duped when shopping for Valentine’s Day. So I’m going to pass on some tips from someone that has weathered Valentine’s Day in a couple of prime areas.

Let’s talk flowers. Valentine’s Day is the second largest flower giving day of the year. It’s usually the first thing most people think of when they think Valentine’s Day gifts. It’s quick, not necessarily cheap and what girl doesn’t like to get flowers. It’s very easy to get cheated when ordering flowers.

First, I can’t emphasize enough, go through a local florist for Valentine’s Day flowers. Luckily you can easily do this online through the links on this page. You’ll pay a little more than the ads you see on TV, but you and your recipient will be happier with the results. A local florist will make sure your flowers get there. It’s a good idea to be flexible about the date for delivery. Some florists will charge extra for delivery on Valentine’s Day. Since Valentine’s Day is on Sunday this year, you are much more likely to run into this. When you order through a florist, a floral designer will actually arrange your flowers in a vase and make it beautiful. They will also have a person deliver it to the recipient or their workplace. Most florists will not leave a bouquet on the doorstep unless instructed to do so, thereby protecting your investment.

Now I know you may be thinking, “But I see the deals on TV/Internet/Etc. for 2 dozen roses delivered for like thirty bucks.” Having worked for a company that provides flowers over the internet/phone, unless you’ve ordered them before for another occasion, you will most likely be disappointed with what you receive. The roses offered in those ads are shipped in a cardboard box via one of the major delivery companies. They do not come arranged in the vase with water. If the weather is bad, your roses can be damaged because the delivery company is going to leave it outside if no one is home. The vase could arrive broken if the package is not handled correctly. And I do not think any of the delivery companies are delivering ON Valentine’s Day this year since it’s Sunday. Also, unless you know, by name, the specific type of rose you are ordering online, you could wind up with a bunch of mini-roses and not the beautiful long-stemmed ones you wanted. I’ve seen better bouquets bought from the grocery store that look better than the ones delivered in a box.

If you don’t want to pay premium prices for roses on Valentine’s Day, you can ask a local florist to make an arrangement for you in the price range you specify. Keep in mind, if you specify a bouquet by price, you should ask the florist about what the size will be. The florist will make you a beautiful bouquet because they want your business again. If your recipient has a favorite flower, you can ask for it to be included, but don’t count on it unless you know for sure that it is in season. Even then, the florist may not stock it and if you want it, you should order ahead of time.

A good general rule if you want flowers for Valentine’s Day is to order early. The earlier the better. You may get a deal for ordering before January 15 or maybe even before February 1. Be flexible on your delivery date. That may also save you some money. If the flowers get there on the 12th, they should still be beautiful by the 14th. Besides, if you have them delivered on the 12th, your recipient can receive them at work and be the envy of the rest of the staff.

Expect to pay for delivery. Don’t tell the florist to make you a $35 dollar bouquet unless you really want a $20-$25 bouquet to be delivered. Make yourself clear what you expect for the money you are spending, but be reasonable. They have to make a living to and they are hiring on extra staff to be able to get your orders out.

You can also get on good terms with your florist by ordering your out of town flowers through them as well. Most florists have access to one network or another that allows them to send orders to florists all over the world, in most cases. Valentine’s Day gifts can be sent anywhere you need them and a florist will send the order to another florist to be completed. They won’t ship flowers crammed in a box.

One last thing. You can also pick up flowers locally. Most towns have a florist within a reasonable distance these days and many local grocers have excellent floral departments.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

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