So mad at Interflora - what can I do?

[Wassamatter]

I went online first thing this morning to order flowers for delivery tomorrow. It had to be tomorrow as my friend is going into hospital the following day for serioius treatment and these were to cheer her up and wish her luck for the operation. I selected a special, which had a widget that enabled you to check that the bouquet was available in your area before purchasing. I checked and it was, so I ordered. 2 hours later I get a call from their call centre. Their agent informed me that the florist in that location did not have the flowers requested (despite having checked) so would offer an alternative. When I asked what alternative, they said 'other flowers'. I was not happy with this option as it meant trusting the florist to provide a good alternative, despite the fact they didn't seem to stock basic blooms. I was told that in order to order another option off the site I would have to cancel this order and go and re-order from the site. So I did, only to be called 3 hours later to be told the florist did not have these blooms either. I asked what alternative they could offer and was told that as it was after hours they could do nothing until the morning and that they could not guarantee delivery the following day. I was furious and cancelled this order also. It is now to late to find an alternative and it's too far for me to travel to deliver myself. I am beyond upset at their service and dismissive attitude. On both occasions they charged my card before confirming the order was possible, so I am now left to chase refunds from them. Has anyone else had a similar situation and is their anywhere i can report them for such poor service? I know I'm probably being overly sensitive, but it was really important to me to get these flowers to her before she went in for this treatment :(

Unfortunately I’ve only ever had bad experiences with inter flora too, they are essentially an unreliable middle man. I prefer bloom and wild now, and cancer research uk’s flower site.

I think the best thing you can do is write a complaint email to them detailing each issue and how it caused difficulty for you. Sorry you weren’t able to get want you wanted!

Ring a local florist to your friend. A lot of them will take orders over the phone and deliver the same day.

Can you search for a florist local to your friend and give them a call in the morning?

If you are happy to give an idea of area, maybe someone can recommend a good local florist for you?

Agree with the others about phoning a local florist in the morning - they will usually send the flowers out that day and you tend to get more for your money.

Next flowers do next day delivery if you order by 9pm tonight.

Echoing what others have said, I've always had good, same day service from florists local to where I'm sending the flowers & it's better value.

Good luck with getting your friend her flowers. Will be avoiding interflora! 💐

I would always Google a local florist to the recipient, check a few reviews if you can, and then phone the one that you choose and ask them what they have and pick your selection from that. If you phone in the morning she will be able to get them in the afternoon.

Interflora is a total dinosaur, I don't know why flower shops still sign up to it.

Try Bloom and Wild.....I’m amazed by their flowers and professionalism. Couldn’t recommend them enough.

Another vote for Bloom and Wild. I’ve also rung a florist in a remote location and paid by debit card over the phone and they were fabulous. Interflora has been a disaster.

Love Bloom & Wild too. But for tomorrow could you call local to your friend florists first thing and see if they can deliver tomorrow, this has worked for me with local florists before, and you can explain the importance/urgency. Good luck!

I always ring a florist who is near the person I'm sending to. They often deliver within an hour and the flowers are always fresh.

Interflora are terrible.

My mum was super stylish and loved flowers. She ordered me a bouquet when my DS was born. When she came to visit she was absolutely appalled at what she’d sent me! It was basically dyed blue chrysanthemums. Just that. With a teddy bear pick in it. She’d have never ordered dyed flowers or anything so basic, but I guess whatever is shown on the Interflora website is open to interpretation by the individual florist.

How long is your friend going to be in hospital for?

I wouldn’t use interflora - they failed to deliver some special funeral flowers for a family member recently, which was very upsetting for them.

I second all the advice to call a local florist, then you can talk through exactly what you want and what they have. I’ve had some lovely flowers delivered this way over the years.

All those sorts of websites are rubbish, they charge the earth and offer very poor value for money.

It;s far better to google for a local independent florist near your location and email or phone them, tell them what you're after and trust them to put together a nice arrangement.

Just call the florist direct. I do that...even from Australia. I phone the flower shop near my Mum's and they tell me what they have. They send a photo to my phone too. Then only they're getting the money....not some massive corporation.

I appreciate they were shit, but aren't flowers a bit of a waste if she will be in hospital? Order them for her return home instead, serenata are fab for flowers.
I would send a little box of treats and a card to the ward. Nice moisturiser, magazine(s), sweets, facial spray, lip balm etc

Lots of good ideas from people but I would echo what BloodyBosch says - if she will be in hospital for a few days she will not really get to enjoy them.

My parents sent me flowers for my birthday once the day before I was leaving the country which they knew as I was going to stay with them! Gorgeous flowers that I ended up giving to a friend.

Lots of hospitals don’t allow flowers any more due to allergies or risks of having heavy vases of water standing around. I wasn’t allowed them when I gave birth. DH had to take mine back out to the car and take them home.

I'd recommend Freddie's Flowers. Stunning flowers and very reliable. I've got a code for a free box if you're interested? SheilaM1

Cancel with interflora and ring a local florist. I live abroad and always do this for flowers for family and friends. You can ask the florist for particular colours or flowers. It's cheaper than interflora and better service.

I've ordered from interflora and the flowers haven't arrived, there was no apology or notification from interflora that they hadn't sent them. I only knew because I asked my mum if she got the flowers! I got a refund and they sent the flowers as well but a week later - I'd wanted them for my mum's birthday.

Although it's nice to see exactly what you'll be getting it's not always a good thing - my mum was sent lots of identical interflora bouquets by different people when my dad died. Lovely that they sent flowers but it was so obvious that they'd all been ordered from the same place.

bloom and wild are fab.
not sure your allowed flowrs anymore.some really refuse them point blank.depending on what ward she will be on and what for?what about biscuiteers.they do lovely little things.and have expended their range to cakes chocs and biccies now.i love them.
post your op to twitter wassamatter and link to this page of how crap they are.they will soon respond!

www.biscuiteers.com/