What to Look for in an Online Florist

On April 7, 2012

With the range of florists on the web these days, buying flowers online can be an overwhelming task. How do you search for an online florist? And how do you choose one from the thousands of results?

Free Delivery

Lots of florists online will charge for delivery – but some don’t. Looking for flowers that can be delivered free of charge is often a good way of finding a great deal. Delivery charges generally range from $10 upwards depending on the location, so saving that money – or spending a little extra on a nicer bunch – can be worthwhile.

Location

Looking for a florist near to where your recipient is located is also a good idea. If you live in Sydney but you’re looking for flowers in Melbourne, for instance, a florist in Melbourne is going to be a much better bet. Similarly, if you’re only sending flowers within your city, you might be able to find a florist in the same suburb as your recipient who would waive the delivery fee and also provide you with a more customised bunch.

Competitive Prices

Flowers range greatly in price depending on what you want. There are usually bouquets available for under $50 and there are those that cost $100+

If you’re still struggling to find something you love within your price range, giving your chosen florist (or florists) a call usually works best. You can let them know what you want and they’ll be able to design a customised bouquet for you that works within your budget. They can also give you great flower advice and help with choosing a colour and style if you’re unsure about what particular type of bouquet to buy. This can save you the time and hassle of having to look through dozens of sites to find something you want.

Deals and Sales

If you’re buying something as a one-off purchase, checking out deals and sales with online florists can also be a great way of saving a few bucks. While these may not be the latest flowers currently in fashion, they can still turn out to be beautiful bunches that will wow your recipient. Most online florists will have a ‘specials’ section, so take a look through this if you love the website but you’re looking for a cheaper bargain.

Reviews

Researching the florists you’ve taken a liking to can also help with your decision. Check out any awards they’ve won, along with customer feedback on various forums on the web. Looking at their social media places like Facebook, Twitter and Delicious can also give you an idea of how good they are.

If you’re buying flowers for corporate or business reasons or for an event, sticking to a trusted brand name or to a larger florist is probably ideal. They’ll be more experienced when it comes to ‘supplying’ flowers and will most likely be able to produce something much more professional.

Reliability

Of course, finding a reliable and trustworthy company is always the challenge when searching for anything on the web. If your research on reviews and feedback doesn’t turn up anything, there’s a chance that the florist may not be legitimate. Likewise, if the site looks like it doesn’t have a secure or trustworthy payment method, you might want to ask yourself if it’s worth the risk.

When in doubt, stick with a larger brand whose name you know you can trust or with a business that has received lots of great feedback over a number of years.