so last night on my ride home from work, I decided to stop into my local florist, which happens to be a large flower shop.
I do realize it's Easter time, and then Mother's Day, however the 'welcome' and reaction from the front desk was kind of odd.
I asked if they did weddings, and the woman at the counter said yes, and asked me the date. When I said July 2012, she gave me a frown and said 'we don't even do meetings until 6 months before the event.' Really???
She went on to say 'and now it's Easter, and then Secretary's Week, and then Mother's Day, so if you want to talk to our designer, you need to wait a month.'
Clearly they dont need my business with that attitude! Of course I realize the time of year, but they could have posed the idea of waiting until late May in a nicer way. What has happened to Customer Service these days?!
midnight26
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
I got similar responses from some local shops. Honestly I think it's because they aren't getting their door busting with business, so they usually can plan things more last minute (six months in advance is last minute to us brides here haha)
they don't see the need to plan so far in advance. also, I think it's more of a modern thing to have such long engagements....when I told some coworkers i was looking at halls 1.5 years in advance, they were like, why?
Jill52787
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
Wow, even if you were coming in 3 years in advance-there is a better way to handle things.
I got some similar reactions when I started to call doing the hotel block- one of the hotels said I'd have to call back in 2012...leaving 6 months until my wedding. She said I was rushing things to be doing the hotel block so early, so I politely said I would take my 15 rooms somewhere else and was done with it.
Sometimes I feel like bad customer service at the beginning is a blessing. At least you know to stay far, far away!
mara1017
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I can not believe the customer service of some places. I understand that it is a busy time of year but why would they not take an hour out of their time to site down with you.
I mean come on,,,,, they will make a lot more money on a wedding then a bouquet for someone's secretary!
CaughtMyFish
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
My issue with 6 months for flowers is that I can't really figure out a specific budget without knowing the cost, and adjusting to accommodate a higher price if needed.
As for the hotel block, I seriously hope I dont get the run around with a year notice. I want the information on my wedding website before I sent out STD's!
midnight26
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
I think most places do a year in advance.....
mara1017
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I did mine a year and a half out and they did not give me a problem at all. Basically we went over my vision and the types of flowers I like/don't like. I will give them a swatch of the girls dress when I order it this summer and then he is going to do a sample in January. Everything can be changed and I am not bound to what I said when I booked initially
CaughtMyFish
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
Thank you, Mara! This is what I thought was normal. She even went as far as to ask if I had my BM dresses picked out, and when I said no, she frowned again.
That lady sure is going to have some big lip line wrinkles!
mara1017
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I would have told her that I will bring my money and spend it at a nice flower shop!
wishingwell1230
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Posted by mara1017
I can not believe the customer service of some places. I understand that it is a busy time of year but why would they not take an hour out of their time to site down with you.
I mean come on,,,,, they will make a lot more money on a wedding then a bouquet for someone's secretary!
true dat!
irisheyezrsmilen
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
seriously rude!!!
i meancommon there is a much better way they could have delt with that. since when did customer service get so ******, if i treated my customers like the way most of these places did i would be outta work
i just dont get it
Jill52787
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
To me customer service is just as important as actual talent of the vendor.
jenclifwed
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When i was looking for our florist i had called somewhere and they said they wouldnt even talk to me about the wedding until 6 months before. That makes no sense to me either. I just went to another way nicer florist! People can be so rude!
pixietina
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Re: Weird Flower Shop Experience....
Posted by Jill52787
To me customer service is just as important as actual talent of the vendor.
ITA! I would think small flower shops would want big business such as weddings. Their loss.
StephanieJoy
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agree with the attitude but i heard the same thing at one florest that it was too soon that you can go 6mths before
Watermelon5
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seriously, people really are crazy to turn away the work!!! i dont get it! def keep on truckin' haha and find a shop that will accomodate you
FutureMrsGTL
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Wow, that would seriously annoy me!
I booked my flowers almost a year and a half in advance!
gf1025
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Try another local florist!! Some local shops are really welcoming and nice to you as a customer and even as their neighbor! I went to two local shops and the second was a sweetheart. He even did a sample for free, before I even signed anything even similar to a contract! When we both agreed something a bit bigger would be nicer he said, call me back next week and we'll keep working on it! Mind you he had 10+ regular Easter orders going on and was totally wiped out. Good customer service is good customer service regardless of whether it's a year or a month in advance!
