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Buying Flowers on-line
steveninthesun
Posts: 53 Forumite
Hi moneysavingexperts,
I just wanted to share my experience buying plants/flowers on-line. The first and last time I've had done so, and never again!!
Recently it was our Wedding Anniversary, and my wife is very found of orchids.
As I am unable to take lunch breaks at work, and with a 5 month year old at home, I am either at work, or at home; and so I chose to buy on-line at https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk ...I also thought it would be a nice surprise when they arrived.
I found https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk on a google search, couldn't find any bad reviews, and chose a plant from them and placed my order at £16.99.
Although the delivery was fast (2 days), the orchids arrived broken. I contacted them to ask (friendly) if they compensated for broken deliveries, money back or even some extra flowers - to let them decide.
orchids-direct.co.uk came back to me rather sarcastically to say that the other flowers would eventually grow and that my wife could enjoy them then one day.
They also sent a completely different colour plant. Although there is a disclaimer on their site that this may happen, I did not expect it to be so different.
I contacted them again (friendly) to add that it was not the right plant, and now they are no longer responding to e-mails.
Basically, they have a license to sell broken and damaged plants, and any colour they choose. Their 'customer service' is also a joke, to the point of being insultive.
A complete waste of money at £16.99!
As https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk appeared quite high in google, I thought it would be a safe company to buy from. But stay clear... and at least others can now read my review of orchids-direct.co.uk.... 0 STARS!
I just wanted to share my experience buying plants/flowers on-line. The first and last time I've had done so, and never again!!
Recently it was our Wedding Anniversary, and my wife is very found of orchids.
As I am unable to take lunch breaks at work, and with a 5 month year old at home, I am either at work, or at home; and so I chose to buy on-line at https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk ...I also thought it would be a nice surprise when they arrived.
I found https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk on a google search, couldn't find any bad reviews, and chose a plant from them and placed my order at £16.99.
Although the delivery was fast (2 days), the orchids arrived broken. I contacted them to ask (friendly) if they compensated for broken deliveries, money back or even some extra flowers - to let them decide.
orchids-direct.co.uk came back to me rather sarcastically to say that the other flowers would eventually grow and that my wife could enjoy them then one day.
They also sent a completely different colour plant. Although there is a disclaimer on their site that this may happen, I did not expect it to be so different.
I contacted them again (friendly) to add that it was not the right plant, and now they are no longer responding to e-mails.
Basically, they have a license to sell broken and damaged plants, and any colour they choose. Their 'customer service' is also a joke, to the point of being insultive.
A complete waste of money at £16.99!
As https://www.orchids-direct.co.uk appeared quite high in google, I thought it would be a safe company to buy from. But stay clear... and at least others can now read my review of orchids-direct.co.uk.... 0 STARS!
0
Comments
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valueflora is good - and costs alot less!If my typing is pants or I seem partcuarly blunt, please excuse me, it physically hurts to type. :wall: If I seem a bit random and don't make a lot of sense, it may have something to do with the voice recognition software that I'm using!0
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i have bought and sent flowwers multiple times online and they ahve always been well received. I usually find a florist local to my mum and order via them online if that makes sense. Have visited 3 weeks after flowers were delivered from other sites and they were still going strong!
shame you had such a bad experience0 -
Hi steveninthesun, I took the liberty of emailing the firm you dealt with to ask them what would happen in the circumstances you describe. The response I got was as follows:
Firstly there cannot be 100% guarantee although with our packaging we hare happy the flower will arrive safely. We can confirm that in 99% of cases we have no problems with delivery. In the case of specific day delivery we can guarantee compensation in the case of damage. However this is worst case delivery and 99 out of 100 arrive with no problems.
We endeavour to supply the ordered flower and again it is only in a few cases we have to substitute and if we do it is always similar ie another white if you ordered white.
I hope we can assist you and am sure you will not be disappointed.
If you think this is useful information in support of your case, and would like me to forward you the complete correspondence, by all means pm me and I will do it.
If on the other hand, this covers their behinds for your scenario, then I am afraid I can't see a way round it.0 -
Err, what the hell kind of excuse is taht meant to be? Most of our deliveries get through ok but not yours. so that's ok then?
They can send a substitute if they provide for it and you agree (or rather dont disagree). However where a substitute is sent and you do not like it then it can be sent back (the exclusion under the Distance selling regs does not apply to substitutes).
The fact that they are damaged means that they should either reduce the price for you or provide a substitue. A price reduction would be the most proportionate and convenient.0 -
theres lots of decent compaines available. Arena Flowers is a good choice.
You can see a list of flower delivery services and get 10% off codes on www.one-stop-flowers.co.uk0 -
Hello again,
And a special hello to uganda and baddiebasher... I wanted to post an update, and thank you for contacting orchids-direct also, as well as poting your views!
From their response, they are more or less saying then that they are neither responsible for suppling the correct order, nor that the plant arrives in one piece.
UPDATE
During the week the buds have been falling off. Today there were none left, only a few poorly looking flowers.
I have written to them again asking now for a full refund or a replacement, and have let them know that I will be posting their reply here so that they can at least defend themselves if that is at all possible.
What did they say to uganda?... "Firstly there cannot be 100% guarantee..."... well basically that is 100% unaccetable. So with that attitude they can always sell damaged goods without ever offering compensation. A shop must make a 100% guarantee to each customer, otherwise they should not be selling any product in the first instance.
The plant is obviously dying, and they could care less. Worst Anniversary gift ever.
I will post their reply here.0 -
steveninthesun wrote: »Hello again,
And a special hello to uganda and baddiebasher... I wanted to post an update, and thank you for contacting orchids-direct also, as well as poting your views!
From their response, they are more or less saying then that they are neither responsible for suppling the correct order, nor that the plant arrives in one piece.
UPDATE
During the week the buds have been falling off. Today there were none left, only a few poorly looking flowers.
I have written to them again asking now for a full refund or a replacement, and have let them know that I will be posting their reply here so that they can at least defend themselves if that is at all possible.
What did they say to uganda?... "Firstly there cannot be 100% guarantee..."... well basically that is 100% unaccetable. So with that attitude they can always sell damaged goods without ever offering compensation. A shop must make a 100% guarantee to each customer, otherwise they should not be selling any product in the first instance.
The plant is obviously dying, and they could care less. Worst Anniversary gift ever.
I will post their reply here.
I have never used the company you did but have ordered from others without problems in the past.
I would not expect anyone to offer a 100% guarantee for anything - as it would be impossible.
Off topic - why can't you get a lunch break at your work?0 -
Off topic - why can't you get a lunch break at your work?
...we're a small team of 2 (and my manager makes three). We eat at our desks, and there's a small garden where you can take a 5 min break. By the time I leave, everything is closed in the town... but it's not as bad as it sounds!!0 -
Right. Sale of Goods Act 1979 s.14. Not of reasonable quality or durability. They will try and hit you with Distance Selling Regs not covering flowers. That is the case generally (if you change your mind) but not with where the item is faulty. And if they blame anyone else, that is their problem. Your contract is with the seller and it is the seller who is responsible for the performance of the contract.
If you want, I will try and do a letter for you but it my be tomorrow or sunday before I can do it.0 -
baddiebasher wrote: »Right. Sale of Goods Act 1979 s.14. Not of reasonable quality or durability. They will try and hit you with Distance Selling Regs not covering flowers. That is the case generally (if you change your mind) but not with where the item is faulty. And if they blame anyone else, that is their problem. Your contract is with the seller and it is the seller who is responsible for the performance of the contract.
If you want, I will try and do a letter for you but it my be tomorrow or sunday before I can do it.
Hi baddiebasher... thank you very much! Yes, please a letter would be very helpful if you have time.0
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