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The UK's cheapest dozen red roses for valentine's day.
Former_MSE_Lawrence
Former MSE 975 Posts
Forumite
Oh yes, Valentine's Day is descending upon us again, leaving thousands of men (and women) baffled and causing marketing people to gleefully rub their hands together. So, what to buy your loved one?
If you're feeling a resolute lack of originality then you can't go wrong with the classic gift of a dozen red roses, but it's the thought that counts, so here's the cheapest deal...
Cheapest In-store Roses At Major Retailers
Morrisons - £2.50 (re-wrapping strongly recommended...)
ASDA - £3 (if you can find the regular ones in red) or £8 ('extra special')
Tesco - £4
Sainsburys- £4.99
Somerfield - £6
Make supermarket roses look more special
If you’re worried that supermarket roses don’t exactly scream romance, simply replace the packaging with some posh-looking wrapping paper, preferably more than five minutes before handing the flowers over...
Red Roses delivered by courier
If you want to impress with courier delivery, Asda Online has 12 red roses for £18 including delivery. Opting for tulips or 'non-red' roses cuts the cost further still.
I've focused on the supermarkets and main stockists above, and concentrated on delivery by courier rather than by mail. Yet there are a couple of others to consider if you don't mind catching the post.
If you've spotted a cheaper deal, post where and how much below, and the best results will be included in next week's tip.
MSE Lawrence
Quick Note From Martin
If you're looking for super-long stem or other specialist roses they're going to cost more. For the purposes of this thread, I asked Lawrence to focus on not breaking the bank rather than longevity. I'm sure some florists will come on here and berate us for doing so... if that happens please look at the title of the website and you'll understand why.
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If you're feeling a resolute lack of originality then you can't go wrong with the classic gift of a dozen red roses, but it's the thought that counts, so here's the cheapest deal...
Cheapest In-store Roses At Major Retailers
Morrisons - £2.50 (re-wrapping strongly recommended...)
ASDA - £3 (if you can find the regular ones in red) or £8 ('extra special')
Tesco - £4
Sainsburys- £4.99
Somerfield - £6
Make supermarket roses look more special
If you’re worried that supermarket roses don’t exactly scream romance, simply replace the packaging with some posh-looking wrapping paper, preferably more than five minutes before handing the flowers over...
Red Roses delivered by courier
If you want to impress with courier delivery, Asda Online has 12 red roses for £18 including delivery. Opting for tulips or 'non-red' roses cuts the cost further still.
- ASDA - £18 (Now sold out)
- Valueflora - £18.98 (Now sold out)
- Tesco - £19.50 (late delivery only- up to 18th Feb)
- M&S - £19.50 online-only offer. (Order by 5pm 13th for delivery - not guaranteed)
- Sainsburys - £20, fairtrade roses. (Order by 3pm 13th for delivery - not guaranteed)
- Interflora - £45
I've focused on the supermarkets and main stockists above, and concentrated on delivery by courier rather than by mail. Yet there are a couple of others to consider if you don't mind catching the post.
- Woolworths - A dozen red roses for £16, but delivered first class registered (so there's no date guarantee).
- Waitrose Entertaining - 16 cerise roses in a pretty pink vase for £25 delivered, but must be ordered with a week's notice (so do it now!). You can also get a colossal 60 yellow roses for £30 if you order soon enough.
- Balloons By Post is a wonderful charity that offers great balloon-based presents and donates profits to help sick children.
- Check out the 'Great 'Cheap but Romantic Valentines Gifts' Hunt for more inspiration.
If you've spotted a cheaper deal, post where and how much below, and the best results will be included in next week's tip.
MSE Lawrence
Quick Note From Martin
If you're looking for super-long stem or other specialist roses they're going to cost more. For the purposes of this thread, I asked Lawrence to focus on not breaking the bank rather than longevity. I'm sure some florists will come on here and berate us for doing so... if that happens please look at the title of the website and you'll understand why.
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Two posts- both promoting same company . . . . . . . . mmmm
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=221812
Have a look at those before you start ordering your flowers from the internet retailers or online Asda's. Tescos etc. Just see how many were late, or of rubbish quality.
Bear in mind that any flowers delivered by a courier are going to be delivered in a brown box, and that doesn’t look very exciting.
Why not use your local florist, or one in the area where you want them delivered?
If you use a web based ordering system, one of 3 things will happen
1. They will be members of Teleflorist or Interflora and relay your order through their system.
2. They will ring a florist in the area where the flowers are to be delivered and place an order with them and pay over the phone with a credit card (The same way as you could do!)
3. They’ll send them through someone like City link or Royal Mail (remember Christmas?). Please bear in mind that any flowers delivered by a courier are going to be delivered in a brown box, and that doesn’t look very exciting.
I find Valentines Day and on here quite ironic. Everyone bleats on about the multiples selling roses at £2.99 a bunch, that’s because they are only cheap short roses, bought from a farmer in Kenya that is being screwed by the supermarkets.
If your all so much in love then you're going to get married and if you all bought your flowers from Tesco, then you'd put the florists out of business and there'd be no one to do your wedding flowers!!!
I'm guessing you're a florist then?? Cheap is good for me - well done to the supermarkets for driving down the cost of goods. If there are people prepared to work for next to nothing then let's use them; if we didn't then they would have nothing and surely that's worse than next to nothing??
Validating ripping people off by saying its better than nothing condones these big buyers actions. If everyone bought fair trade, the business would still be done, but you wouldnt save a couple of pounds by screwing some farmer in the poorer country and it would send a clear message to those that buy that its no longer acceptable for them to profit like that.
Saving money doesnt mean you have to hide your moral compass under the blanket of denial.
Please sir, where can I buy a blanket of denial?
It sounds pretty handy to have!
Here here! Too often cheap is used as an excuse for poor behaviour. Most of the cut flowers sold in the UK are imported, often traveling on refrigerated aircraft and lorries, sometimes for many thousands of miles. Fertilisers and pesticides commonly used when growing flowers commercially can have a harmful effect on the environment. Add to that the low wages and conditions of the workers and "valentines day roses" don't have much love included! Try UK grown flowers from your local florist of if you must have roses make sure they're fair trade.
If we want to take a stand against high pressure marketing that tells us "love means buying her a bunch of roses" then lets take a stand! Instead of buying cheap roses buy something that's sold at the normal price because it's not associated with Valentines day.