How much would you pay for these flowers?

[fmama]

AIBU to think that lovely as this bunch of flowers is, there is a certain price beyond which makes them a plain rip off? What would you have paid for this? First photo shows how it arrived from the florist - priced for 10 stems+ foliage. Jar not included. Would like to know what others think. Thank you!

Email the provider, attach the photos. Tell them how disappointed you are and explain you feel even more so for the person who sent them in good faith. They will fob you off with “oh they need 48hrs to rebloom but don’t let it go. I can guarantee you will receive a new bouquet. Unfortunately I can pretty much guarantee they will be pathetic also.
These companies rely on the fact you aren’t going to complain to the friends who sent them, so get away with sending rubbish. It’s only if we complain and it ends up costing them extra flowers, packaging and delivery will they change their dreadful service.

@mnp321

I understand where you're coming from. It's not a question of gratitude but that you feel bad at the amount he spent. I'd feel exactly the same in your shoes.

To answer your question, I'd pay around £15 locally or £25 somewhere like Marylebone station for that particular bouquet. Supermarket flowers are better value but appreciate that he wanted to buy something more "special" (money wise at least!).

I had a similarly embarrassing situation at my local florist where I'd asked them to make me up a £30 bouquet. The finished product was tiny and looked about £15 worth. My husband thought the same but was too embarrassed to say anything. I called them (I've had plenty of bouquets from them before with no issues), they said to come in and redid it for me. It was a little awkward but it looked a crap gift for the money.

You put it far better in your opening line than I managed in so many replies - I really truly liked what DH chose for me, and fully appreciate the thoughts behind it, how the DC were involved, etc., so it's definitely not an attack on him. Also, value perception is a strange thing but maybe more difficult at present because costs have gone up and there's also costs which are hidden/ not apparent to the retail consumer. Difficult times. DH will get even more stressed in a supermarket without a florist to guide him. Thank you for understanding

@Bebethany

@ fmama they are beautiful and have come from a good source. I was a florist back in the day in Highgate London and could of sold these all day long for £45. Im in a different job now. Out of interest I did a friends wedding in October as a gesture, the anemones had to come from South America and worked out at £4 each!

£4 at cost to you makes WAH's £5 seem quite reasonable now, doesn't it Always pays to buy in season, or whatever florist has most of, right? Sometimes I ask as if I'm buying fruit, I'll ask her, what's good, and they'll let me know what's good value, what has just arrived from the suppliers, the "catch of the day" equivalent etc. And I'll learn new names, learn more about where they've come from, etc. Always a good conversation with the florist. Thank you

@CockSpadget

For all those commenting about "cheap filler" or "cheap foliage" you couldn't be more wrong. Foliage, especially eucalyptus varieties, is just as, (and in some cases more) expensive as the flowers. The majority of flower stock comes via Holland, after Brexit, wholesale prices went through the roof, and stayed there, and choice and variety is much reduced (I'm a florist, but have packed up because of it) Long stemmed anemone, out of season will be at least £2.50 per stem wholesale. White and green based flowers are also far more expensive in the run up to Xmas, as they are in much higher demand than other colours (apart from red), people don't tend to want pinks and yellows etc in their homes at this time of year (look in the supermarkets over the next few weeks and you will see what I mean). Also, to those trying to compare supermarket flowers, to florist bought, you may as well be comparing apples and oranges. So, while £55 does seem a lot for the bouquet to the untrained eye, in reality, bearing in mind it was also from a high end florist, it's actually not over the top.

ARGH BREXIT RUINING BOUQUETS - this means war . Sorry you've closed shop - I hope you find some opportunity/outlet for your skills in future, maybe for private clients or for your fans. Where I used to live, there was a lady who worked for one of the more famous local florists - she had to quit because of childcare issues and started offering once a month bouquets via WhatsApp - they were absolutely incredible. You don't really get to choose, but you won't have to, because they're all wonderful - a bit like a sushi omakase - just trust them. She can't commit any more time professionally, but once a month she gets up early, goes to market, and she gets to flex her flower power, and we all get to benefit. Love also what you say about the pinks and yellows - will have a glance at the flower section next time I\m at the supermarket and smile to myself thinking of your comment! Thank you

@flowersforbrains

Flower longevity depends on how long those flowers have been hanging around, how they have been cared for, how they have been stored and the type of flower.

5 days - delicate papery flowers like anemones, delphiniums and ranunculus
7 days - roses, lilies, lisi and veronica
Long lasting - chrysanthemums, carnations and alstro (all the flowers your granny would like!)
Very long lasting - anything waxy or tropical like anthuriums

Really useful to know about longevity. Also a special mention for granny flowers -I know they're granny but I like them too. I've seen such flowers displayed in high end shops, where it might just be a particularly excellent varietal, but mainly I think it's left to its own splendour. They only look sad when clashed with gerberas and baby's breath with no care - churned out, as you've said. Poor carnations!

@diddl

I think if he was told it was fiver per stem & decided to buy 10 it wasn't really a rip off was it?

Agreed. My poor phrasing. He was offered a price which he accepted, thinking it was reasonable - he had no benchmarks. If he had known that £5 is a lot to pay for any single stem of flower, he might have chosen something else. Maybe florist is extremely professional, offers no comment on market prices, and she just thought - give the customer what they've asked for. No suggestion of any deceit at all against her. Silly of us, wanting out of season flowers and taking on all the extra Brexit Covid costs, on top of the usual winter premium. I think DH rightly expected it to be expensive having decided to buy them there, but £55 is still quite a lot more than what I thought they would cost. I go past Liberty often, the same florist also does jam jar posies for £15-25, so there are more affordable things to buy from them. The main shop Liberty is a wondrous emporium of many lovely and often expensive things, but I think those things will cost the same anywhere else - Selfridges, Matches, etc., I don't think there's a special mark up just because it's Liberty. Hope it's the same with their famous store florists! (Now, the stupid prices at Hamleys.... that's a different story...)

The bouquet is full of beautiful anemones. I’d wait for them to open before quoting a price. They’re very fresh.

[quote fmama]@flowersforbrains absolutely agree it is a fine art - as in my earlier comment - the aesthetic judgement, the physical dexterity wrangling all that different geometry into a balanced, cohesive whole, a hand-tied arrangement is a joy to give and receive, to have in the home, but also just to watch it being made - a wonderful performance to behold. You florists always make it look so easy!

As to an earlier comment about the ladies who lunch brigade - I think DH tries to buy a simple colour so that he can't go far wrong (I know he is really trying) but I've once received this S&V Ophelia - the sender paid £60 for the "smallest" (priced £60 upwards) and the real thing looked even better in real life. It lasted ages, individual stems might wilt and the bouquet gets trimmed, but there's lots more to keep going, and it sort of "evolved", as there was just so much texture and interest in the arrangement, and it's mainly still greens and whites. Flowers are how Mother Nature shows off, isn't it? Slight shame about the current economics.... I really envy people with a cuttings garden. Or any garden. [/quote]
Yes, that's stunning. You clearly have great taste!

It is utterly awesome when you get a really good bouquet that isn't a run of the mill supermarket bunch. The majority of people just don't get it though.

Crikey, this is my £50 purchase in my local village florists for a friend’s birthday including balloon & Reeses chocolates but not the vase.

@Tigger1895

Email the provider, attach the photos. Tell them how disappointed you are and explain you feel even more so for the person who sent them in good faith. They will fob you off with “oh they need 48hrs to rebloom but don’t let it go. I can guarantee you will receive a new bouquet. Unfortunately I can pretty much guarantee they will be pathetic also. These companies rely on the fact you aren’t going to complain to the friends who sent them, so get away with sending rubbish. It’s only if we complain and it ends up costing them extra flowers, packaging and delivery will they change their dreadful service.

But the Op's DH was quoted the stem price before it was even made. He chose ten stems at £5 per stem with eucalyptus at £5. He knew it was going to be £55. He wasn't conned.

I said upthread that I dread making bouquets where people pick the flowers themselves because spindly stems make spindly bouquets that don't look very good value. I will always say it's not going to be very big if their flower choice is rubbish but people often insist. I'm then thinking to myself, "I wouldn't pay £xx for that", but I can't say it.

All florists mark up by a certain percentage. Flowers are sold through the auctions and the prices are not static. If there is low supply and/or high demand then prices will shoot up. We don't charge ridiculous prices for a laugh. Wholesale prices are high at the moment and this gets passed on to the customer. The same is true for Valentine's, Mother's Day, etc.

Believe me, if we could sell 10 anemones with eucalyptus for a fiver it would be a bloody dream come true.

Op, I think you need to leave it a bit then educate your DH.

Find yourself a local florist who is good value and whose flowers you love. Drop it into the conversation that you dropped in for a nose and they were sending out some beautiful flowers. Mention that they were very helpful and recommended the budget/colour combination when ordering. Say you hadn't even thought of that but it sounds like great advice. It's a bit manipulative but hopefully he might remember next time and everyone will be happy.

Too much greenery and nit neighbours flowers, fgs! The flowers haven't even bloomed yet. Some people on mumsnet make me laugh, wake wake!

I think they're lovely. I rarely buy flowers tbh and if I do I just grab a bunch from costco, though they don't last as long as aldis do!

[quote MilduraS]Anemones are quite expensive, the longer the stem the more expensive they are. They don't flower profusely and aren't in season right now so will have been imported. Add to that the location of the flower stall and I'm not particularly surprised by the price.

Do you have a garden? If so, I'd really recommend growing your own to pick next summer. I bought a mix of colours of the Mistral anemones from farmer gracy and they were lovely. www.farmergracy.co.uk/collections/anemone-bulbs-uk[/quote]
I have these, too. And the white ones with black centres.

[quote Thursdaymiami]@BritWifeInUSA
you think liberties is a shop you go to when you think “oh shit I’ve got nothing, better get some flowers”
Hahaha[/quote]
Liberties? 🤣🤣🤣

I don't really have a garden but have a few planter boxes. I would love to grow these and will definitely try. Thanks for the tip!

Anemone corms are really small and easy to grow in pots. You just soak them in water then plant them and leave them to it.

@Thursdaymiami

Anemones with long stems are v hard to grow. You would never get them like that unless you had professional growing conditions. I do grow them, they’re sweet and short, but nothing like these.

That's not true at all IME. And I am not an expert gardener!

Slightly off-topic, but for those seeking good value, my local Morrisons has two flower sections. In-store the usual cellophane wrapped bouquets and a few house-plants. But outside, in the entrance porch, it sells more co-ordinated arrangements with a 'florist' look. You pay at a big bench which seems set up for flower-arranging and the two regular staff seem very knowledgeable -actual florists?

Prices are £5-£10 for a few blooms in a jar, £15-£25 for a nice medium sized hand-tied arrangement in water/gift bag and £30 plus for the sort of size you'd give as a new baby/leaving gift. I'm sure the arrangements are crafted around just a few statement blooms in each, then filler, but they do look good and last well.

Not sure if they're everywhere, and whether Morrisons gets all the profit or it's a local florist?

£8 tesco/sainsbury

We have that at two of our local Morrisons too @Undertheoldlindentree, so it might be quite common.

OP, unless you're genuinely struggling financially, I wouldn't stress about the cash spent here. Sometimes it's about seeing something lovely and being 'in the moment' that adds value to an impulse buy. That's why people might buy a £4 latte from a stall at the Christmas Market instead of stepping over the road to Greggs to get one for £2. I guess here it's your husband who got the delight of buying from the florist at Liberty and not you, but hey-ho. Like you, I would be privately horrified at the price, but enjoy the flowers and the thought behind it all. I'd also put £15 each back into the children's money boxes to make it a more reasonable buy for them.

Well I've been thinking about planting some bulbs, it's probably too late for this year, but that probably depends on type, but I've just had a quick google, and this Sarah Raven webpage seems useful.

It appears that there are different varieties of anenome and you want the coronaria variety, which is described as the vibrantly colourful flower that you buy in bunches from the florist. She (assuming Sarah Raven is a real person and not just a 'brand') goes on to say that 'they are easy and rewarding to grow in pots or in the garden and planted regularly will provide cut flowers for months on end'

Oh, just read on further and now find that these flowers are poisonous to cats and dogs and seeing as we have cats that like using plant pots as sunloungers, that's a non starter here.

Thanks @BarbaraofSeville - very handy to know. Though guess it means it's a Morrisons initiative and they get all the profits, not a genuine florist

@MrsSkylerWhite

Probably 3.99 in Aldi. Honestly if you paid more, you were fleeced.

(As an aside - sorry OP - does everyone know that B&M now does flower deliveries? They’re fantastic. Sent mum 50 roses when she was recuperating. Various colours and foliage. Ordered at 10pm, they arrived before 11am next day. £39 inc. delivery. 50 roses! B&M is not printed on the packaging.)

I had no idea, I just looked this up and wow! Were they as impressive as the pictures make them look? I am definitely going to try this service, was quite tempted to send myself some while we are stuck in covid jail!

£2.99 max