A question about sending flowers.

[Raven]

I don't think I have ever used Proflowers. I like to use local flower shops. I have always assumed that my local shop will contact another local shop. If I use a local shop to send flowers out of state or some distance where they can't be locally delivered, is it likely that my local store will use Proflowers? Does Proflowers use local stores for their orders? Bottom line...does anyone know if boycotting Proflowers will hurt local businesses?

[appleannie1]

1. Your local florist could probably answer your questions best.

[mdmc]

3. 1

[Raven]

4. I will certainly ask next time I order but

I just thought someone here might know.

[MerryBlooms]

2. I Google the local shops in the area I'm sending to and call direct.

[obamanut2012]

6. I was just going to post this

That's what I do, too.

[Fla Dem]

10. I do exactly the same thing. Then I know my order is actuallycompleted

by a small business in the area, not a large franchise operation.

[Atman]

5. Your local shop will probably use FTD...

Or something similar. The thing I hate about ProFlowers and 1-800-Flowers is that the end product is about as romantic as sending a box of sneakers. Whereas a florist will send a guy to the recipient's office/home with a vase full of pretty blooms, making everyone else ooh and ah, ProFlowers sends a sealed cardboard box with flowers wrapped in plastic. Your loved one has to unpack them, find a vase (or unpack the free included vase, too) and assemble and arrange the stuff themselves.

Aw...how sweet! Not.

[2pooped2pop]

7. I've been reading here on DU that proflowers

is bad. I just read the headlines. Were they just being sarcastic then?

[eShirl]

8. from what I understand ProFlowers bypasses local florists altogether

I guess the flowers are shipped directly from the grower to the consumer? Something like that anyway.

[Sienna86]

9. Google search for a local flower shop close to the recipient

Help a small business and get great service.

[cynatnite]

11. I call a local shop directly...

I can ask them what they have on hand and go from there.

I don't want to pay for one thing through a national florist and get something different at a local level.

[HopeHoops]

12. Use yp.yahoo.com and search for a flower shop near the address you want to send them to.

If you aren't familiar with it, try it on something close to yourself to get the feel. Call the flower shop directly. All the 800 number flower places do is inflate the cost to pass on your instructions to a flower shop and THEY probably use yp.yahoo.com or something similar to find one. Cut out the middleman.